Tuesday a.m. Rangers things
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 9, 2010 10:39 AM CST
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PrintJosh Hamilton was in the lineup yesterday, and had a successful spring debut, going 2 for 3. He also had some comments about his struggles last year, and how the injuries impacted his approach:
"Last year, I was probably too aggressive and wanted to do too much and gave a lot of at-bats away because of my injuries and wanting to make up time," Hamilton said. "I really want to focus on, especially in spring, going deep in the counts and making pitchers work for it. The pitcher will make a mistake, but if I don't give him enough opportunities to make a mistake, he's not."
Evan Grant has some notes from yesterday's game, and the S-T has some notes from the B game, where Tanner Scheppers continued to impress.
Anthony Andro writes that the Thoracic Outlet Syndrome surgery Matt Harrison underwent last year resulted in added velocity on his fastball, with Harrison touching 97 now. I'd like to see what Will Carroll has to say about this...
Jeff Wilson has a story on Vladimir Guerrero.
Randy Galloway says that the Angels are still the team to beat.
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God that Hamilton quote is so refreshing to hear
Players in denial that they need to work the count to be successful
Kinsler
Hamilton
Salty → Let’s hear you say it
Salty does work the count
He just does it very unsuccessfully
Good lord.
He struck out in 31 of 46 full counts. He did have a .413 OBP, so he was doing okay there, but still: struck out almost half the time. He either K’d or walked in all but two of them.
Does he just sit there on 3-2 to find out what happens or is he completely incapable of making contact?
salty
for all his faults, I’ve never heard him say the wrong thing and generally he’s always seemed to have the right attitude. Never seemed entitled to me.
That’s why I was surprised to hear those reports that he came to camp a little heavy and looked sluggish. Wonder how much truth there is to that
CD on with Norm right now
JD on a bit later, ~11:30.
Tried to get Hammy on…evidently he is getting treatment almost every moment he is not on the field, so he declined.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
Good, but that kinda makes that shoulder seem worse
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
Yep...
exactly how much treatment can you give to a guys shoulder if it’s just a bruise?
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
I was working/listening
But I think they alluded to other areas being treated too. But, I am sure someone was listening 100% and can give a more accurate replay than I.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
Good god,
Norm sure didn’t beat around the bush. How many times did Norm tell Davis he was awful last year? 12?
Crush took it like a man though. He’s an easy guy to root for.
Heh, true.
And to Davis’ benefit, he didn’t shirk or try to downplay anything. I like that guy.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
Yep, all through his struggles last season, and after being sent down, he was upfront and 100% honest about everything
He’s a guy you really want to see do well.
"Dying ain't hard. It’s living in the wake of a thorough public humiliation that’s hard.--JDT217
+ 1 Chris Davis is a cool dude!
If the Rangers don't make the play-offs this year I'm gonna go all Epic Bearded Man on your ass.
Prediction of what Carroll would say
It’s that the TOS was robbing him of velocity, and the surgery only helped to allow him to unleash what he’s capable of. Why could he not touch 97 three years ago when he presumably didn’t have TOS? He’s a 6-4 24 year old. It follows that he would potentially add some velocity in his early 20s on his frame, particularly when he’s in better shape.
Harrison
According to the 2007 propect handbook, he was 220 pounds in 2007 and only throwing 89-92 mph.
He was only 21, but he was already a big guy and not getting anywhere close to 97.
by Darrell McKown on Mar 9, 2010 10:50 AM CST up reply actions
Most prospect handbooks (I have all of them)
have him topping out at 93. 93 is a good ways from 97, for sure, but I don’t think that there isn’t a rational explanation for how the combination of physical maturity, improved conditioning, and recovery from injuries – remember, he had injury issues in 2007 and 2008 – could add 4 mph.
by Brett Perryman on Mar 9, 2010 10:54 AM CST up reply actions
I'll vote conditioning
Combined with more muscles, from said conditioning/working out/etc.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
that's it...
If the Rangers don't make the play-offs this year I'm gonna go all Epic Bearded Man on your ass.
It could also be that he always had more velocity in him
but didn’t have the optimal mechanics for it.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
True.
I think you see this sometimes when a player is injured. Meaning, they are forced to a degree to start over, usually under the close watch of trainers & coaches. They work at low effort to regain strength/stamina, and that slowed down approach under watchful eye cleans up/uncovers/corrects mechanics and such.
Jeez, thinking about the above, I may have just recapped an old Carroll column or something, heh.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
As Derek Holland did
at about that age.
Freude, schoener Goetterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische dein Heiligtum.
This is kind of funny
When we got him, Harrison was supposedly a command pitcher with borderline fastball velocity and good feel for secondary pitches
Now he is a flamethrower with poor fastball command and questionable breaking pitches
post TOS syndrome velocity increase
I think I remember Kenny Rogers gaining some velocity after that procedure, as well.
Hey Tom - It's over now, so do you know how - to pick up the pieces and go home?
Kenny
thought I remembered that as well
One thing to watch on Harrison will also be the ‘bite’ on his breaking pitch. He didn’t seem to get much tilt on that pitch, even when he was going strong. If he has more fastball and a bit more break on the slider, then we may have something …
it just makes sense
your body is so tight at that point (with TOS) that the muscles, nerves, even bones and ligaments are restricted. I have the same problem, too (not TOS but everything is just locked up) and my power is certainly robbed. I tore both my left and right labrum as a result of it all I think…
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Mar 9, 2010 6:11 PM CST up reply actions
Harrison
If he’s really touching 97, that’s signficant.
A lefthanded starting pitcher with good control who can hit 97 is a valuable thing.
two of them is an even better thing
Hey Tom - It's over now, so do you know how - to pick up the pieces and go home?
three of them is even better
lefties with above average velo and good control, I mean.
Freude, schoener Goetterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische dein Heiligtum.
Are you counting Ceej or Marteen?
Or Captain Kirkman?
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
Marteeeeeen
Freude, schoener Goetterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische dein Heiligtum.
You know
I like Kirkman. Gut feeling that he helps us out somewhere this year- maybe takes the DoMath or Dusty role over
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
Grilli is down. He can start there...
"grilled cheese punches like a bitch" -Gdawg
"i feel like k-rod after a save." -by reagan on Jan 23, 2010, that glorious day Hicks was out of our lives.
I don't know that I'd really want a lefty dominated starting rotation
There’s an awful lot of RH hitters out there…
Seriously,
not only does he have to be the favorite for a 4/5 spot if he can show 94-97 with consistency, he could put up some really good numbers this year
Yeah, if you have 94-97 with consistency and command in the 4/5 spot
You’ve potentially got a 2-3 capable guy on the back end of your rotation. That’s sick.
"Dying ain't hard. It’s living in the wake of a thorough public humiliation that’s hard.--JDT217
but he has the capability and has shown it in the past
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Mar 9, 2010 6:13 PM CST up reply actions
It is starting to feel good that I have had a seat at the front of the Harrison bandwagon
though I took some crap for it for a while last year
Go Rice Owls!
Bodog over / unders out this morning.
Texas Rangers check in at 84.5
LAAA – 84.5
Seattle M’s – 83.5
Oakland – 79.5
http://sports.bodog.com/sports-betting/mlb-baseball-team-props.jsp
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
Interesting
I think that’s a pretty conservative O/U on the Rangers but not terribly unreasonable.
If I was a betting man, I’d jump on the over in a heartbeat.
"Dying ain't hard. It’s living in the wake of a thorough public humiliation that’s hard.--JDT217
It may be a hair low but
you’ll still have a lot of drama.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
OT: Hurt Locker
I watched it last night. It was pretty good. Was anyone else waiting for some huge turnaround in the movie, and then it never happened?
Oh Alec you should have said Spoiler Alert!
We need to not always make hard work out of sex- Rick Carlisle.
Heh
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher
by Suicide Prince on Mar 9, 2010 11:38 AM CST up reply actions
To answer though
yes, I was waiting for it also.
"calmer than you are dude" Walter (Big Lebowski)
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Mar 9, 2010 11:04 AM CST up reply actions
Nolan Ryan's team, Nolan Ryan's rules
For Pitchers:
1. Work out in the off season
2. Running and weight training during the season
3. Work quickly on the mound
4. Mandatory rib removal
Plus a diet of Beef with their daily Advil
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
I think it had more effect on Harrison
because it was a 30lb rib.
haha, toc surgery adds velocity?
i can see the line forming now. i’d attribute his added velo to his ditching of his painfully slow milwood-esque delivery to his current one that has him moving his entire body much quicker.
Giving Feliz TOC surgery would be like one of those lab experiments in a comic book
I don’t think the world is ready for a super-Feliz.
"Dying ain't hard. It’s living in the wake of a thorough public humiliation that’s hard.--JDT217
JD on with Norm right now.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
Um...
Durrett with a long story on JD
"I was going to say, 'You’re gay for Elvis.' But then I realized that I, too, am gay for Elvis." ~Adam J. Morris.
This should be up on the front page
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
x
@jonmorosi #Rangers lefty Derek Holland looks behind this spring, but they have enough No. 5 starter depth to cover. I like that team’s potential. #MLB
"I was going to say, 'You’re gay for Elvis.' But then I realized that I, too, am gay for Elvis." ~Adam J. Morris.
JD Recap
Three questions of happy talk about JD’s alma mater (Cornell) and their chances in the NCAA this month. Really, Norm?
Talked about improved local and national coverage of the team and he credited presence of Nolan Ryan. Always the corporate survivalist/kiss-ass.
Talked about how bad Kinsler was after May 1 and Josh was all year and how they were still able to win 87 games. JD says last year’s team did not overachieve.
Asked if he was worried about Josh always getting hurt. Said it was a reality when they traded for him. Said there aren’t a lot of documented stories of world class athletes who have had that kind of abuse.
Talked about composition of roster and options they have at pitching. They are a little thin on the bench where decisions have to be made and they need to work out the catching.
Said there may be somebody come available around April 1 as a back-up infielder.
Asked if he’s looking forward to the days his hands aren’t going to be tied monetarily. JD said yes and that having more money to spend is an advantage. He says the teams that utilize the best scouting and development plus use their monetary resources are the best teams.
Confessed to a handful of times when he simply didn’t have enough money (especially at trade deadline last year) to spend on players.
Payroll talk…asked if he could foresee Rangers being a big player in free agency next off-season. JD said it’s possible but he doesn’t want to get ahead of himself or this season. JD says it all starts with winning on the field.
Single biggest worry. JD says injury and player position depth. Says they can’t go down and get a Julio Borbon in July because he’s now here.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
UNT going for an NCAA berth tonight!
We need to not always make hard work out of sex- Rick Carlisle.
Thanks for the recap, I like what I see
"Dying ain't hard. It’s living in the wake of a thorough public humiliation that’s hard.--JDT217
hmm
Not sold on the in house options?
Said there may be somebody come available around April 1 as a back-up infielder.
Vladimir Guererro - 2010 AL MVP
I'm not.
I think we need to leverage our pitching depth to accomplish the following: 1) get a backup infielder 2) pick up a 5th outfielder, who can hopefully hit lefties real well. 3) restock our farm system with some more power prospects, in particular athletic outfielders….
Candidates to move: Mendoza, McCarthy, Mathis, and Strop
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
What's to understand?
Low cost acquisition of a guy who strikes out a lot of people, but has flaws.
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
Today's game vs. the A's is being delayed by rain
Gameday link:
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2010_03_09_texmlb_oakmlb_1&mode=gameday
It's baseball. You don't always get what you want, and you don't always want what you get. --Ed Coffin
thank you sir!
If the Rangers don't make the play-offs this year I'm gonna go all Epic Bearded Man on your ass.
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