Analyzing the Rangers bullpen situation
by Adam J. Morris on May 7, 2010 10:13 AM CDT
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It is May 7, and the Rangers still have the same 12 pitchers on the roster that they had on their Opening Day staff. There have been several rosters move made this year, but they all involve positional players, not pitchers.
I'd wager this is the first time in the 21st century Texas has made it through April with the same pitchers.
That, though, I'm guessing is likely to change pretty soon. The bullpen has been a source of much consternation in the first sixth of the season, and yesterday's gascanning by Dustin Nippert and Chris Ray, along with Frank Francisco coming in and struggling once more, just highlighted the problem.
My gut feeling has been that the Rangers felt that they had some arms in the minors that would be ready fairly early on in the 2010 season, and that they just needed some guys to hold things together until the reinforcements were ready. The time to call on reinforcements, though, may be nigh.
If we take a look at the Rangers' bullpen this year, via data available at Fangraphs, you can see a stratification of the pitchers:
| ERA | FIP | xFIP | |
| Feliz | 4.30 | 3.01 | 3.10 |
| O'Day | 0.00 | 3.66 | 5.11 |
| Oliver | 2.57 | 3.80 | 2.91 |
| Frankie | 7.30 | 5.35 | 5.24 |
| Ray | 2.84 | 5.84 | 6.38 |
| Mathis | 4.15 | 6.39 | 4.86 |
| Nippert | 6.46 | 6.67 | 5.06 |
The first three guys are the pitchers that Evan Grant identified as "reliable," the pitchers the Rangers trust right now, and the data bears that out. They aren't going anywhere.
Then there's Frank Francisco, who is a mess, but who the Rangers clearly want to get on track, and who is going to get more leeway than some of the other pitchers.
Chris Ray has a nice ERA, and I am pretty sure I've defended him before this season, but looking at the numbers...he's not striking anybody out, he's walking guys (he's walked more hitters than he's K'd so far this year), and he's giving up a ton of fly balls. He has an option remaining
Dustin Nippert wasn't great, particularly peripherals-wise, before yesterday, but he was okay...yesterday's outing blew his numbers up. But he pitched well last year, he is out of options, and he has utility as someone who can pitch multiple innings as either a long or middle man.
Doug Mathis made the team because he showed good command in spring training, he can throw multiple innings, and he isn't someone you have to protect or worry about, as far as an asset goes. You can have him go a week without pitching and not fret about what it is doing to his development. You can have him throw 4 innings in long relief and then bring him back a couple of days later in garbage time. He's the guy the Rangers are going to throw out there in low leverage situations and not worry about. He also can be optioned.
Looking at it, what the Rangers really need is another lefty in the bullpen and a power righty setup/middle man. Ray and Francisco should be the power righties, but if you can't trust either of them in a critical situation -- and right now, they aren't doing much to earn that trust -- they don't have much value to you.
I'm not sure who in the minors is ready to come up and contribute in the bullpen right now, and who still needs more time, in terms of stuff/makeup/arm strength/etc. goes. But as far as a lefty in the bullpen goes, Zach Phillips is on the 40 man roster, has been pitching out of the pen for Frisco, and has 17 Ks, 2 walks, and 3 hits allowed in 12 innings, allowing 0 runs.
For power righty arms, Alexi Ogando has gone 13 2/3 innings in Frisco, walked 4, K'd 19, and allowed 4 hits (1 homer). Tanner Scheppers, meanwhile, in Frisco and Oklahoma, has walked 1 batter and struck out 21 in 13 innings, allowing 6 hits (2 homers).
At this point, I'd have to think long and hard about optioning Ray and Mathis, making Nippert your long man, and calling up Phillips and either Ogando or Scheppers. The downside of calling up Ogando, who is on the 40 man roster, is that there apparently is some question about whether his offspeed pitches are advanced enough to be major league ready, even from the pen. The downside of calling up Scheppers is that he's not on the 40 man roster, so you'd have to make a move there, and the organization is apparently wanting to ramp up his innings to groom him as a starter, which putting him in the bullpen as a 1-2 inning guy would make problematic.
You've also got guys like Michael Kirkman, Guillermo Moscoso, and Omar Beltre who could be considered, but Phillips, Ogando and Scheppers have to be the primary options right now for bullpen reinforcements. And I wouldn't be surprised if one of those guys, if not more, is up here in the next week or so.
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Or, as Jamey suggest this morning
and I have been clamoring for since ST opened, Harrison to the pen, Holland to the rotation. Look at Harrison’s first 3 innings last night. He gives us a second lefty. You can afford to remove a rotation candidate because you have Hunter coming back and you could turn to Kirkman in a pinch (or moscoso) and, as you said, they are stretching out Scheppers.
This has to happen.
Jack Daddy
Not if he's hurt.
Maybe after you give him some time off to recover.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on May 7, 2010 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions
Nippert will be fine
His feelings are still hurt after Harden went 7 innings the other night against Oakland. Once they makeup things will be fine.
I think so too...
I like him a lot as the long man/mop up guy. Similar to what Mathis is now, but Wash should (and I think does) have more confidence in him.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Nippert and Francisco are the big problems, to me
You aren’t going to just cut them, so you either have to find a way to DL them or have them continue to take up two of your seven spots and be unreliable.
Ray’s FIP/xFIP reveal how mediocre he’s been. There is some small chance that he could bite you if you dump him, but because of the fact that you really don’t want to lose Nippert or FF, he and Mathis go, for me. If Harrison is healthy, he goes into the bullpen, if not, I might be on board with giving Phillips a shot. Given what Jamey said about Scheppers (they’re working on stretching him out) this morning, I guess you could see Ogando, but I tend to think that I’d just go straight for Scheppers now. He has the best chance of giving the bullpen a real boost.
Hunter could also be an option, if you’re willing to allow him a couple of weeks in AAA to stretch out once the rotation could need him.
Franky
I agree on Franky. It just seems like he has no movement on his fastball at all and must rely entirely on precision location, and he doesn’t seem to be getting many swings and misses with his splitter. I don’t know what you do there. I also agree that you don’t want to lose Nippert, but he hasn’t had the command that he had last year (looks like 08 Nippert).
Jack Daddy
Oh
I missed Adam mentioning that Ray has an option. I wasn’t aware of that. I’d definitely just option him and Mathis.
by Brett Perryman on May 7, 2010 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions
Two options, actually.
But then there’s that pesky three-year rule.
by Jamey Newberg on May 7, 2010 10:36 AM CDT up reply actions
I mean
I’d send him out regardless, so if the three-year thing bites me, so be it. But if everyone would leave you alone, it would be nice to be able to stall a little longer with him.
by Brett Perryman on May 7, 2010 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions
Can they afford
to hang on to that amount of “suckitude” at the moment seems counterproductive. As everyone knows we have late season swoons… we need all the wins we can get… cant sacrifice wins now since this is the year and mgmt has had the quick hook, its time to consider it at least… and agreed Brett if it bites thats the risk for a much needed shot in the arm
I may have an emotional memory...
But I seem to recall thinking if they had been just a few wins closer to striking distance of LAA or Bos then maybe just maybe it could have been different. I dont think the effect some of these devastating bullpen losses have on the team can be swept under the carpet… if we were hanging on to players who flash potential we should have kept Benoit or Robinson Tejada or the penultimate other amounts of players who couldve been TORP
Hard to argue with any of this
Right now, Ray and Frankie are the same pitcher – ineffective power righty arms. You can afford to have one off his game, but not both. Frankie’s been the worse pitcher, but he’s not going anywhere.
And the team really does need another lefty out there.
I think Mathis and Nippert are redundant. Ray and Frankie are redundant. The two pitchers you can option are Ray and Mathis. Do it.
Go Rice Owls!
concur, we have a duplication of sucktitude out there.
I thought it be all warm and shitty, but it just tasted like normal beer. It was still cold.
Mathis and Nippert aren't necessarily redundant...
…when you have a couple of starters who haven’t been going deep enough into games. If Harden has turned a corner and Holland replaces Harrison, then it’s less of an issue.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on May 7, 2010 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions
Only two games has Harrison failed to go 6 or more innings
Which is the same number as Feldman and Lewis.
Only Rich Harden is a real risk to get knocked out in less than 4 innings any given start
Go Rice Owls!
Yeah, thought about adding Feldman in, too...
…but I have more confidence that he will get things turned around (sooner) than the others. I’m not saying every starter goes 6 every time, just pointing out the inherent problem of having one or two guys who don’t go 6 often enough. If you’re using 1 long man every time Harden comes up (TWSS), then you either have to carry a second long man or go be very confident in your remaining starters.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on May 7, 2010 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions
hmm
You forgot Pedro Strop. He has a nice 5.50 SO/BB in OKC. He also has some ML experience. I would take him over Ogando and Beltre right now.
Thank you Houston for drafting Jason Castro.
Ogando
is going to have to first do it in AAA before we lay down the red carpet. I have to believe he’s at least 4 weeks out, and more like 6-8 (at a minimum). Scheppers in 2 weeks seems reasonable. And you make a good point on Strop.
But Ray is the guy I would really try to get right. I think I would send him to AAA and have hime close for a month, and see if I can’t get him in a rhythm. Seems like he would be the perfect candidate to spot Feliz on the back to backs and definitely the 3rd nights.
Jack Daddy
Strop has also allowed a bunch of inherited runners to score
that don’t show up in his otherwise pretty stat line, and he has some pretty high walk rates and control problems in his past. I’d go for Phillips first.
Ceterum censeo, Ron Washington esse delendam
Strop scares me...
he has good stuff, but also strikes me as the kind of guy that could absolutely implode at any time.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
implode at any time
probably describes 1/3 of ML pitchers
Thank you Houston for drafting Jason Castro.
Man, if Warner could have brought whatever it was he was doing in the PCL last year
We’d have been in awesome shape
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!
They are all kind of the same in my mind
Strop, Warner, Moscoso, etc guys who have awesome stuff and then just go nuts for an inning or 12 and then when you wanna bury em they flash that awesomeness and it starts all over…
I really, really want to see what Moscoso could do as a late-inning, max-effort, one inning guy
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!
Agree completely...
Mathis isn’t pitching anyway (and isn’t very good to begin with) so he should go down.
I really don’t trust Ray and his violent delivery very much either. I think he has been very lucky so far this season.
I’m on board with them going down and Phillips and Ogando coming up. This team could really use another lefty in the ‘pen. I also read the other day that JD is planning on pitching Sceppers every 4 or 5 days and starting to stretch him out. Obviously he said that is the plan right now for him , but things could change. He’s also not on the 40, so I think Ogando will probably come up before Tanner.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Harrison
I don’t understand why people want to send him to the bullpen. Are you giving up on him as a SP? He is only 24yo. He has shown marginal improvement this year. He needs consistency. Moving him to the pen also effects the SP depth. Remember, we are talking about the Texas Rangers.
I also don’t know why many are wanting another LHP in the pen. Give me the 7 best RPs not matter what hand they throw with.
Thank you Houston for drafting Jason Castro.
Because Platoon
matchups do exist. There are guys who flat can’t hit lefties worth a damn.
Also, despite Harrison’s velocity, he doesn’t really have much else going for him. There are also other SP options who are probably better, like Hunter.
"No, I'm not a pessimist. At some point the world shits on everybody. Pretending it ain't shit makes you an idiot, not an optimist."-https://twitter.com/shitmydadsays
his velocity is a bit overhyped
definitely a tick faster but FB velo only up to 92.5 from 91.1. Also, a bit inconsistent
they didn't have a LOOGY last year
but still managed a pretty good bullpen.
Thank you Houston for drafting Jason Castro.
Well
They used Guardado as the second lefty in the pen…he just wasn’t good.
by Adam J. Morris on May 7, 2010 10:52 AM CDT up reply actions
Harrison's better than you think he is
His repertoire is actually quite good and definitely improved since past years, but he has flaws in his approach that suggest that he loses focus at times. He gets distracted by men on base, he lets up against players when he gets ahead in the count. This makes him prone to the big inning – I’d wager that Harrison has fewer than average 1 run innings and more big innings than other pitchers with comparable ERAs
The problem with these issues is that they are the type of things that will only be amplified in a relief role. Your arms out of the pen need to be effective from the stretch. They need to be able to focus and harness all of their stuff on one batter.
Harrison may not be ready to be a ML starter, but he’ll always be a starter and eventually a good one for someone. I’m willing to accept he’s best suited for OKC right now, but he’s not a bullpen guy.
Go Rice Owls!
Harrison's repertoire>>>>Harrison's psyche
he gets rattled a little easier than you’d like.
Ceterum censeo, Ron Washington esse delendam
he can't strike anyone out
his repertoire can’t be that good — he can’t strike anyone out.
I do agree he shouldn’t go to the pen… that would not be a good thing for anyone involved here.
Yeah,
I don’t see Harrison as ready for Prime Time, I also think he may not be a good enough prospect to stand out with the Ranger’s depth of prospects.
"No, I'm not a pessimist. At some point the world shits on everybody. Pretending it ain't shit makes you an idiot, not an optimist."-https://twitter.com/shitmydadsays
that may be
but Harrison does have some ability. From a value standpoint I value Hunter more than Harrison, for the curveball Hunter sports. It’s a quality big league pitch. That being said, Hunter probably isn’t much more than a #4/#5 pitcher on a quality big league rotation either.
I do think Harrison could turn into a solid #4/#5 big league pitcher; but guys with his profile tend to need a lot of time in the minors to either figure out how to be effective with lesser stuff, or to figure out pitches that work better for them and help their SO totals.
It’s plainly obvious — to me at least — that Harrison needs that time. I hope he gets it.
and Hunter is better?
I love Harrison. I love Hunter. but we’re not talking Mark Beuhrle and Roy Halladay here. these guys are solid LAIE’s who just happen to be in their early 20’s. What sad is that they probably have 15 year careers ahead of them, much the way guys like Bruce Chen and Jeff Suppan are still hanging around well after their expiration date.
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
I'm not sure
its worth it for the Rangers to suffer through his development if they can get value for him in a trade. He just doesn’t stand out to me as a front of the rotation guy eventually, and he isn’t ready to go now. I’d just as soon see some guy who is ready for prime time now without big upside like Hunter.
"No, I'm not a pessimist. At some point the world shits on everybody. Pretending it ain't shit makes you an idiot, not an optimist."-https://twitter.com/shitmydadsays
i would be interested to see if his velo
goes up if hes in the bullpen
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on May 7, 2010 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions
Matty Ice
has to be healthy (and used correctly, re no more 127 pitch games!!!) but he’s at 32 or so career starts.
I don’t give up on him just yet as a starter.
"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)
What if we see a lot of the same things from Holland as a starter
that we saw last year?
Everybody seems to be assuming that he’s going to come in and be a CJ Wilson bad-ass as a starter and I’m not sure that’s going to happen. If he’s 80% of what CJ became, I’ll be happy…and surprised. He’s a young pitcher, that’s what happens.
If Holland scuffles, is it completely out of the question to leave Matty Ice as the starter (or bring up Hunter) and let him get his feet wet / build confidence as a long man in relief?
"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)
They asked Holland to work on some things in OKC
and he’s done that. I don’t think he’ll have the same problems. Sure, he’ll likely have a few rough outings, but on the whole I expect Holland to be much better than Harrison. Of course, I might be higher on Holland’s short term future than many. I said before the season that I thought he would bust out this year. I think if he comes up now he’s no worse than the team’s 3rd best starter for the rest of the year, maybe better than that.
Ceterum censeo, Ron Washington esse delendam
Holland's stuff > Matty's stuff
so if they are going to struggle every few games… wouldn’t you want the long-term solution out there?
Absolutely
Holland is one of the team’s 5 best starters, I want him out there.
Ceterum censeo, Ron Washington esse delendam
Holland had 6 good starts out of 21 that he made.
I’m encouraged by the numbers he’s put up in OKC but I think it’s foolish to immediately believe he’ll have anything close to the same success this year in The Show.
I’m not proclaiming a Failed Bit but I need to see him do it…in The Show.
It should also be noted that in 2009, Holland’s first 6 appearances came as a reliever. More than once, Holland went 2+ innings and in those 6 appearances his ERA was 1.74 with a WHIP hovering around 1.00. Holland made 5 other appearances from the bully after becoming a starter and he wasn’t very effective.
It’s not a terrible thing to build confidence by working out of the pen and we have a definite need for another LH pitcher in the bully.
"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)
If I told you he'll give you...
on average: 6 IP/start with an FIP of 4.10, would you take that?
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on May 7, 2010 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions
That's probably my ceiling of expectaions with the Dutch Oven this year
and yes, I take it.
"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)
Do you realize that last year his xFIP was 4.38?
And he had 117 starting IP in 21 starts (5.57 IP/start) ?
I expect that his stats will regress towards their peripherals this year. I expect him to progress and develop as a starter at the MLB level this year such that his peripherals improve.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on May 7, 2010 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions
If
you treat the average hitter when you have RISP like Albert Pujols, you will fail, even with that FIP.
"No, I'm not a pessimist. At some point the world shits on everybody. Pretending it ain't shit makes you an idiot, not an optimist."-https://twitter.com/shitmydadsays
Interesting point.
You should have made it before and then repeated it consistently.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on May 7, 2010 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions
Well
we get the same idiotic points about Holland and his FIP repeated constantly.
So many morons like yourself try to apply a linear model to a non-linear game like baseball and you wonder why it doesn’t fit.
"No, I'm not a pessimist. At some point the world shits on everybody. Pretending it ain't shit makes you an idiot, not an optimist."-https://twitter.com/shitmydadsays
Ah yes, moron. I'm hurt.
Some of us keep pointing out that Holland should be a good pitcher this year based on not just his FIP, but his K and BB peripherals both at the major league and minor league levels. Somehow, he keeps getting grouped in with Hunter and Harrison by some around here when he’s been considered a much better prospect by both scouting types and stathead types for a while now. This is why we keep bringing it up.
I see your point about him needing to improve on some specific things and that’s why I didn’t go absolutely crazy when they sent him down to AAA to start the year. But you’re going to have to understand that players need time to develop at the major league level; that not all of them come up and perform like Liriano. It’s the price of developing players from within.
Besides, let’s say that Holland needs to work on pitching with players on base. How is he getting any practice at that in games at the AAA level right now?
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on May 7, 2010 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions
What you have to understand
winning games is a huge priority to this franchise over developing players. If players don’’t help the franchise win, they will get all their development in the minor leagues. The Rangers are not the only franchise in baseball that demands non-Replacement level results from their major leaguers.
I know it’s painful for some of you who just want the franchise to have unending experiments with prospects, at the expense of winning games, but that’s just the way it is.
So given Holland’s results from last year, I was completely unsurprised that he started the season in the minors, where he belonged. It wouldn’t bother me if they kept Holland down til after the ASB and had Hunter come up first.
"No, I'm not a pessimist. At some point the world shits on everybody. Pretending it ain't shit makes you an idiot, not an optimist."-https://twitter.com/shitmydadsays
but was Holland worse than Harrison last year?
would he be worse this year? I don’t know… but I do believe that if you have two pitchers that are expected to pitch about the same, you want to go with your better stuff guy. Holland definitely struggled last year… he skipped AAA… but he also showed flashes of brilliance. I was at the game at the trading deadline where he had a 1-hitting into the 9th. Two games later he pitched that gem in Anaheim.
So many poor inherent assumptions, so little time.
Can we at least all agree we want to see the Rangers win and succeed? I agree that if a player is failing at the MLB level, they need to be sent back down. It’s just a matter of how you define that. Davis should have been sent down. Borbon will have to be if he continues as he is currently.
But you don’t know for sure that they would perform like this. It’s just as possible for a guy you feel more confident about, like a Harden or Sheets or Figgins, to not perform well and need time to figure things out and get back in the groove again. Sure, they at least have done it before. But they are also more expensive and might never do it again. There’s risk in every player, especially every struggling player.
Do you really think that Holland won’t be able to provide replacement level starting pitching right now? Do you really think he couldn’t be better that what Harrison has been in his past couple starts (11IP, 7 R, 4K, 6BB) ?
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on May 7, 2010 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions
Agreed
that we want the same things for the Rangers, to win and succeed.
Young pitchers are soooooo dicey and projecting instant success is a dicey prop.
I love to watch Holland pitch and think he should be up here. How he is actually used and what best serves the team is where things get murky.
He’s one of the better prospects we’ve had but I don’t want to drown him with expectations for immediate success as a starter when there’s a good chance it’s not going to happen.
"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)
I agree with this
I think Dutch has a great career ahead of him but that doesnt mean he is going to be lights out this year. Still, he could struggle some and still be better than Matty and his ceiling is certainly higher
by BEW on May 7, 2010 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions
I think it is very possible that Holland can't match Harrison's performance
It is also quite possible that he surpasses it. But it isn’t at all obvious that Holland is going to be a better pitcher than Harrison, and that he won’t have tough stretches like Harry has had recently. Young pitchers get knocked around a bit. It is very possible Holland comes up and fails.
I think people forget sometimes how hard it is for even the best pitching prospects to come into the major leagues. Harrison, who as a prospect would have been considered a franchise savior four years ago, is sneered at and discounted because he isn’t consistent yet and Derek Holland is waiting.
What I find is funny is that people aroudn here form attachments to players who came up through the system, who they read about on draft day and got daily updates from Newberg, MJH, and Scott Lucas. So they become invested in seeing the Chris Davis’s and Derek Holland’s succeed to irrational levels, whereas other players like Harrison, who came from another organization and was kind of an enigma for a while since he arrived with injury concerns, are dismissed out of hand.
Matt Harrison started the season in the rotation because the front office felt that he was a very talented pitcher who has great stuff and had the best chance at succeeding. This really bothers people, because he hasn’t had as many glowing Newberg writeups, but that is the way things are. Derek Holland isn’t some magic bullet that they are hiding at the expense of his 2010 Cy Young. He’s been in AAA because the Rangers think he needs more time to develop, more time than they have thought Harrison needs, and in a year that they are contending they’re going to use what is best for them.
Go Rice Owls!
Very good post, JB.
"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)
Bullshit. Matt Harrison started the season in the rotation
because Hunter was hurt. Holland had some work to do, and now he’s done it. He’s done exactly what the team asked him to do, and succeeded with flying colors. I won’t be the least bit disappointed if Holland remains in OKC for another month, but to try to say definitively he isn’t ready is baloney. He’s at least as ready as Harrison is.
I don’t want the team to give up on Harrison, but if he’s not healthy why in the hell would you keep throwing him out there? If he is healthy, how can you point to his pitching and say he’s more ready than Holland?
No one here expects Holland to come up and throw complete game shutouts every night. But I have not seen a single person in this thread prove that he’s not going to pitch as well as Harrison has(n’t). Harrison was a worse pitcher than Holland last year, and he’s a worse pitcher than Holland right now. I
I have been very consistent for months saying that Holland is going to be one of the team’s better starters this year – and I’m not saying it because of anything Newberg, MJH, or Lucas said, thank you very much. I want the team’s best arms out there. Holland is in that group, right now. I’m not pushing for the team to make a move now, but if Harrison is not fully healthy than I see no reason to start him next week. Yes, the team is contending now, and it makes no sense to throw Harrison out there unless you feel he’s both completely healthy and a better option than Holland right now.
Ceterum censeo, Ron Washington esse delendam
I'm not necessarily saying Holland should sit in AAA now
If Harry is hurt and Dutch is ready, then by all means switch them out. I don’t pretend to know which one is best for the rotation at any given time.
I’m more speaking about the people here who think of Harrison as just a placeholder in the rotation for Holland; that he has little more long-term ceiling than as a LOOGY; that he’s John Koronka/Kason Gabbard redux; and so forth. That isn’t necessarily you – you’re a bit more well rounded than many people. But that is most definitely the impression lots of people have. Harrison is a nice pitcher with a lot of potential; the type of guy who a few years ago we’d all be clamoring for JD to try to steal from another club. I’m not saying he’s better than Holland, or deserves anything more than Holland. Just that he deserves some of the patience that people are so freely willing to give to other players.
Go Rice Owls!
what I find funny
is your attachment to Harrison. He’s been basically a replacement level pitcher for 32 ML starts now. He didn’t get much time in AAA, and a pitcher like Harrison needs time to figure out how to get hitters out since he cant rely on his stuff to do it.
I truly feel that Harrison can develop into a league average pitcher. As a #4/#5 — there’s a lot of use for that. However, he needs time to develop into that, and I think the more the Rangers continue to put Harrison out there in the ML rotation the less it serves Harrison from a development standpoint.
I also feel that Holland can develop into a legit #2 ML pitcher. I don’t feel this because mjh or Jamey told me he can — I’m able to look at what Holland does and make educated summations based on that. So are a lot of people around here.
Harrison deserves the opportunity to develop in AAA. It isn’t a slight against him. The right path for him is to go to AAA and figure out how to get hitters out down there without the ability to strike guys out — or to figure out how to strike guys out with his less than overpowering stuff.
Holland has done what people on here (and elsewhere) clamored for — he was sent to AAA. He’s owned those guys, he’s ready to go against ML hitters and get the same shot at 30 starts that Harrison has gotten. We’ll see what we see at that point, and I bet what we see is the makings of a legit #2/#3 ML pitcher and quite possibly a little more than that.
Thank you for capitlizing.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
"Harrison deserves the opportunity to develop in AAA. "
I actually have no problem with this. He certainly needs more work, particularly with dealing with guys on base.
What I am certain is that the “Well, the Matt Harrison as a starter experiment is finally over” mindset is idiotic.
Go Rice Owls!
Yeah, that's idiotic
but I can’t imagine he is much more than injury/prospect fail insurance at this point. I doubt they view him as a top pitching prospect.
"No, I'm not a pessimist. At some point the world shits on everybody. Pretending it ain't shit makes you an idiot, not an optimist."-https://twitter.com/shitmydadsays
a top pitching prospect?
probably not.
But I think part of the problem is that there is a middle tier that people ignore. There are the top pitching prospects: Feliz, Holland, Perez. These are guys who have no. 1 or no. 2 ceilings, and almost certainly can be a 3 or 4. Then you have the filler, guys like BMac (now), Koronka/Gabbard in days past,
What people always forget is that most pitching staffs in baseball have guys who fall between the Cy Young contenders and the scrubs that we, as Ranger fans, are used to seeing. We even have had these guys – Millwood, Padilla, Feldman, Drese, Helling, Rogers. But we get frustrated with them because we are told they are supposed to be Aces. But in fact they never were supposed to be, they were supposed to be a no. 3 or solid no. 4 in a rotation. Guys who won’t garner Cy Young votes but give the team a chance to win more often than not.
I think the Rangers still, and probably always have, think of guys like Harrison and Hunter as falling into this category. Blake Beavan and Robbie Ross fit the bill in the lower levels too. We’re jaded now by thinking of guys by their ceilings – and these guys almost certainly won’t headline a deal or make/break a rotation. But this category pitcher is still very valuable, and I think Harrison and Hunter are both very strong candidates to have 100 win careers and make many millions of dollars as steady rotation pieces.
Go Rice Owls!
If Lewis holds up
and they re-sign him, and Holland pans out, and Hunter makes the rotation, where is Harrison gonna get his MLB innings? Feldman’s expense?
They are certainly going to hold onto Harden til years end.
"No, I'm not a pessimist. At some point the world shits on everybody. Pretending it ain't shit makes you an idiot, not an optimist."-https://twitter.com/shitmydadsays
I've been predicting
that either Harrison or Hunter gets traded along with KKKKKKKris Davis for a CF or C.
The nice thing about the Rangers today is that they can pick which of those two (Hunter/Harrison) they want to take their chances with long term and trade the other one for something they need.
Go Rice Owls!
The question is...
…is there reason to believe that his performance with RISP was a material, inherent ability on his part, rather than SSS fluctuation.
by Adam J. Morris on May 7, 2010 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Seems to me
he went mostly fastball with RISP last year. I’d have to look up the stats, but that’s what my eyeball told me.
"No, I'm not a pessimist. At some point the world shits on everybody. Pretending it ain't shit makes you an idiot, not an optimist."-https://twitter.com/shitmydadsays
which is why the org
had him working on secondary stuff and keeping the FB down in OKC the last two months.
Ceterum censeo, Ron Washington esse delendam
I have missed some threads
because I keep seeing SSS… but I have no idea what it means? Can someone enlighten me?
Small Sample Size.
It’s integral to understanding when and how to apply statistics.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on May 7, 2010 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions
yes i would take it
im not sure thats what his FIP will be
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on May 7, 2010 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions
Not foolish
1. His peripherals last year were quite good
2. he’s had nearly a year of major league experience,
3. he went to OKC to work on certain things that weren’t strong points last year, and did it with about as much success as you could possibly ask for
4. he’s extremely talented and showed flashes of pure brilliance as a rookie
I don’t this it’s anything close to “foolish” to expect him to take a step forward right now. I don’t know what else you could want him to do than he’s done so far this year. He’s ready for the opportunity.
You’re not proclaiming failed bit, give me a break. What a sorry joke you are.
Ceterum censeo, Ron Washington esse delendam
You're immediately
green-lighting instant success for Holland for no other reason than the fact that he’s a Ranger hot-shot prospect.
Fucking Homer Cheerleader.
"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)
How is that different than your calling for Smoak earlier?
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!
What do you mean..."your calling for Smoak earlier" ?
"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)
Chris Davis sucked, we had a top 25 prospect killing AAA.
Harrison pitched crappy last night and is injured…we have what would be a top 25 prospect (if he qualified) who is killing AAA.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on May 7, 2010 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions
I seem to remember you being all hot and heavy for Smoak to come up and replace Davis
I do know that your recent history has shifted to painting that as a negative move by the FO, but that’s your MO, IMO.
If I’m wrong, I’m wrong. Our infield defense certainly has been hurt by losing Davis, I know that.
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 winced
every time I saw Davis in the line-up (utter recipe for failure) but I didn’t think Smoak was an option this year or at least this soon. They shipped Smoak away on March 20 and made a big deal out of making sure CD knew the job was his.
I was swooning for Smoak but wasn’t expecting to see him this soon and I thought he’d struggle more than he has.
Have I said lately how much I love having Smoak on this team and CDavis off this team?
"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)
I dunno. Maybe. Probably.
I’ve done a pretty good job of z-ing past your stuff for a while. And when I don’t, I read your posts in Carl Brutananadilewski ’s voice, and chuckle to myself.
Are you worried about how off the infield has looked without Davis’ ability to scoop throws?
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'm real careful (very conservative) about
predicting immediate success for young players and pitchers.
The only things I said about Smoak pertained to the genre of “I hope he’s a Frank Thomas Starter Kit because he is exactly what this line-up needs.”
Am I worried about the infield with Smoak at 1B? No. Smoak was supposedly a good defender in the minors and he made a very nice play on a Kinsler throw in the dirt last night.
The bullshit about Chris Davis needing to be in The Show last year because of his defense (while rocking a .189 average / .253 OBP) is one of the reasons we stayed home last October.
Back to the Dutch Oven…I’m hopeful but not expecting immediate success as a starter.
"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)
I worry more
about a 1B that struggles with a 300 OBP.
Hopefully Washington can work on Young’s and Andrus’ throwing, especially Andrus since he is a strong part of our future.
"No, I'm not a pessimist. At some point the world shits on everybody. Pretending it ain't shit makes you an idiot, not an optimist."-https://twitter.com/shitmydadsays
I have full faith and credit in Elvis fixing it
Because of his youth and the way he’s wholesale changed his approach at the plate suggests that he’ll be receptive to coaching and change.
Young? Not very receptive to change(I’m adamant about not moving to third’, ‘We just need more energy’), mid-thirties. I know his work ethic, and all, and the reputation he has, but I don’t have the level of confidence in him getting his arm straightened out that I have in Elvis. And I don’t have the confidence that Smoak is going to be as good at picking throws as Davis was.
Pro-Smoak, and all, and love what he’s doing and what it suggests he will do for the next six plus years.
But worried, immensely, about Face. If the decline monster is settling in on him offensively, and he doesn’t have average chops defensively, we’ve got a nightmare for the next half-decade.
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!
Whoa, Cahill
You’re longing for Davis to be here instead of Smoak?
He hasn’t hit into any luck (.176 BABIP) yet and still rocks a .760 OPS. This kid’s got the strike-zone command, discipline and power to be really special.
"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)
No
I worry more about Davis than Smoak, because I think Davis will always struggle with OBP due to his K’s and inability to draw walks despite his power.
I think a bad batting eye is more fatal to a 1B than an inability to scoop.
"No, I'm not a pessimist. At some point the world shits on everybody. Pretending it ain't shit makes you an idiot, not an optimist."-https://twitter.com/shitmydadsays
No, I'm not.
You have reading comprehension and baseball analysis problems. Well, those are among your problems anyway, but those are the relevant ones at the moment.
Ceterum censeo, Ron Washington esse delendam
Yup.
I understand the injury and wanting him to work on a few things in a more controlled environment, but he would be a solid pitcher if he did not progress at all in his development from last year. And, uh, it looks like he’s progressed…
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on May 7, 2010 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions
x
Everybody seems to be assuming that he’s going to come in and be a CJ Wilson bad-ass as a starter
This is why I can’t take what you say seriously.
by Adam J. Morris on May 7, 2010 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
I'm not expecting Holland to come up here and
do what he did in OKC.
He’ll be somewhere between OKC and what he was last year in The Show…probably closer to what he was last year.
There seems to be a natural assumption that he’ll be immediately successful – close to what CJ has been – and I don’t think that’s going to happen right away. If you can’t take that opinion seriously, I’m sorry.
"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)
What?
You’re not expecting Holland to post a sub-1 ERA in the majors, the way he is in OKC?
You rebel, you. Everyone else (as you pointed out) thinks he’s going to immediately come up and be Pedro Martinez circa 2000.
You’ve certainly staked out a bold position.
by Adam J. Morris on May 7, 2010 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions
There seems to be a natural assumption in here (and especially with The Newberg)
that Holland will be immediately successful.
Holland is proving this year that he’s got AAA by the short hairs so too much more time down there may become a waste of time.
There’s a good chance Holland isn’t as good as Matty Ice or Hunter has been as a starter.
This organization is dying for a LH in relief and just wait until DOliver gets hurt or starts feeling like he’s 39 years old.
I can see a scenario where it’s beneficial for both Holland and the organization if he splashed around the bully for a while before becoming a starter.
"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)
I know you live on Planet Outlaw..
…but you realize that there is a difference between not being as good as his current AAA numbers at the MLB level or what CJ is doing and what Harrison is doing, right? Harrison’s 5.29 ERA is actually better than his 5.58 FIP, is striking out 5.03 per 9 while walking 3.71 per 9. While he’s gotten a little unlucky based on LOB% (64.9%) and HR/FB% (14.9%), he’s also gotten lucky based on BABIP (.274). Also, his groundball rate has dropped from 46.8% last year to 44.1% this year with a concomitant increase in FB% from 30.6% to 33.2%.
Holland last year K’d almost 7 per 9 while walking a little over 3 per 9. He also K’d more than 10 per 9 at every stop in the minors except for one. Comparing him to Hunter or Harrison is crazy.
I see the need for another lefty as well, but there are other options that allow you to maximize the production of Holland.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on May 7, 2010 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions
Obviously, they're different pitchers.
I’m talking about end of the day effectiveness and what best serves this team, this year.
I think the Dutch Oven is going to be the superior pitcher between himself, Hunter and Matty Ice but between the three of them, I’m not sure who is going to have the most success this season.
Is everybody clear? Holland looks like nails and has a wonderful future but that doesn’t guarantee a freaking thing this year.
I think there’s a good chance Holland reverts to close what he was last year and I’ll be pleasantly surprised if he’s not.
What I keep trying to tell people in here is that there’s nothing wrong with splashing around the bullpen a while before becoming a starter. Worked with the 70’s Orioles and Dodgers. Worked with The Gambler and it also seems to have worked with CJ.
"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)
I haven't seen anyone proclaiming
that Holland was going to post a 1 ERA with the Rangers. My point (and I think others’, too) is that he is probably a better option than Harrison right now. Is that definite? I would say not… just like it wasn’t guaranteed that Smoak would be better than Davis (which he has been) or that Davis would be better than the crap the Rangers rolled out at 1B in 08 (which he was).
I think Hunter
is a better option than either Harrison or Holland.
"No, I'm not a pessimist. At some point the world shits on everybody. Pretending it ain't shit makes you an idiot, not an optimist."-https://twitter.com/shitmydadsays
Not right now he isn't
he has to get stretched out first.
Ceterum censeo, Ron Washington esse delendam
Well, there's no guarantee with any of the starters, young or not
but Holland to me, is a much better bet to be very good than either Harrison or Hunter. No one here is predicting immediate and sustained Cy Young level pitching this year from Holland. You only want to pretend that it’s so in case he struggles and then you get to play I Told You So, your favorite game.
I don’t see why anyone would predict greater success from Harrison than from Holland this year, outside of putting way too much stock into Holland’s rougher outings last year while at the same time conveniently forgetting Harrison’s rough outings this year and last year. And Harrison’s greater health risks. And lower ceiling. And inferior stuff. And more fragile psyche.
Ceterum censeo, Ron Washington esse delendam
Holland may have more longterm success
but if I had to choose which one I wanted to go with in May ‘10, it’d be Hunter.
"No, I'm not a pessimist. At some point the world shits on everybody. Pretending it ain't shit makes you an idiot, not an optimist."-https://twitter.com/shitmydadsays
You know
we always try to predict these moves about who gets optioned or who might get DFA’d and we always forget that the Rangers’ favorite roster move is 15-day DL. So I’m i’m going to be ahead of the curve. Nippert to the DL and…Scheppers up.
Needs another 40 move for the Trifecta
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!
damn
i really don’t see anybody right now.
changing it to the less exciting zach phillips. but if we’re doing that, then I think they would just option mathis to bring up phillips.
I guess they could cut the chord on Arias
But I think they have to wait four more days to do that, given his DL thing (and what we tried to shenanigan with Madrigal earlier)
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!
Yeah.
There’s going to be a roster move once Arias comes off the DL, I bet they wait until then. One of Arias or Blanco will be gone soon.
Pitching coach Mike Maddux on Darren Oliver’s 0.00 ERA this spring:
"Economical work. He ain’t getting paid by the hour."
It afear's me that they'll DFA Boggs and find a Hamburger someone will give us for him
And that will be an unhappy day.
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 don't think that will happen.
Arias, Blanco, and Garko are all at risk before Boggs I think.
Pitching coach Mike Maddux on Darren Oliver’s 0.00 ERA this spring:
"Economical work. He ain’t getting paid by the hour."
Didn't I read that Ogando's
having a little trouble showing too much of his pitches? At least a perfunctory stop in AAA should be on the plate for him.
"Drinks are on me if Lewis posts >168IP and an era lower than 3.86." by RangerMad on Jan 20, 2010 12:36 PM PST
Tipping his offspeed stuff, I believe
"I support you, Wash; I’ve always supported you," Young said
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
Harrison to the 15 day DL
Ray optioned. Scheppers and Holland up. Ogando to AAA. That is my call.
Then in about a week or two. Mathis down, Strop up with Phillips to AAA.
"JD gets complete blame or credit for what happens in 2010 and I think Nolan wants it that way. JD is paid to be a real GM and needs to start performing like one." - Josey Wales
You'd still have to make a 40 move for Scheppers.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Oh, won't someone think of the 40?
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!
haha
my bad, forgiveness please….Take Mathis off the 40. I think he is the least likely to “burn” you down the road
"JD gets complete blame or credit for what happens in 2010 and I think Nolan wants it that way. JD is paid to be a real GM and needs to start performing like one." - Josey Wales
by Michael Cave on May 7, 2010 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions
Forgiveness Friday, it is
So your transgression shan’t be on the permanent record.
And more people should use the word ’shan’t’.
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!
less 'T-Schep'
more ’shan’t’. Anything else?
"Drinks are on me if Lewis posts >168IP and an era lower than 3.86." by RangerMad on Jan 20, 2010 12:36 PM PST
Forgive?
"I support you, Wash; I’ve always supported you," Young said
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
Only today, tommorrow we go back to being the bloodthirsty savages we normally are to each other
And, also, give your mom a call if you can. She’ll enjoy the thought.
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!
And that's not a your-mama joke
Although, it could be be, were today not Forgiveness Friday.
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!
How about tandem starts?
We could have 10 legitimate canidates to go at least 5 innings:
CJ/Harden
Lewis/Harrison
Holland/Feliz
Feldman/Scheppers
Hunter/McCarthy(when healthy—Nippert until then)
then you have two bullpen spots for Oday and Oliver but you only have to use them in games these pairs can’t finish, and probably only one or two innings at a time. I know it won’t actually happen, but I’d love to see it.
my better is better than your better.
by rangerjake on May 7, 2010 10:55 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
Yellow Card.
Keep it up, you’ll be riding the bench the rest of the day.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on May 7, 2010 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions
OT: Joe Posnanski's latest post.
The piece is outstanding (like everything JoPo does), but it makes specific mention to both Feliz and last night’s game.
"Don’t want to spend my night waiting in line unless it’s for more beer."
--EssBee, on LoneStarBall, Jan. 21, 2010
Love reading his posts
"JD gets complete blame or credit for what happens in 2010 and I think Nolan wants it that way. JD is paid to be a real GM and needs to start performing like one." - Josey Wales
by Michael Cave on May 7, 2010 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions
Thanks for sharing,
that was an outstanding read.
Godwin's Law Version 2.0 (Rangers Edition)
"As a Ranger discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Danks, Volquez, or Young approaches one."
by LBBRangerFan on May 7, 2010 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions
extremely low.
"Drinks are on me if Lewis posts >168IP and an era lower than 3.86." by RangerMad on Jan 20, 2010 12:36 PM PST
After a game like last night I wouldn't rule it out.
We tend to sputter out of the gate after a night full of runs.
by lost in space on May 7, 2010 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions
I think we'll see the following:
Harrison to the DL
Mathis optioned
Rapada and Phillips brought up to the pen, the number 5 slot skipped, and then
Holland up, and either of the two guys brought up sent back down, or someone else dl’ed if injured.
Ray and Frank are either going to be pitching in high leverage situations or low leverage. if they get really bad in low leverage, they MIGHT get released. but that’s not going to happen in May. maybe in June though. Nips could get DFA’ed if he continues to suck though…..
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
Need a 40 move for Rapada
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
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