New T.R. Sullivan Inbox up
by Adam J. Morris on Jan 20, 2011 10:42 AM CST
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T.R. Sullivan has a new Inbox column up...
Questions on why the Rangers aren't pursuing Vladimir Guerrero and Manny Ramirez, where Matt Harrison is in the pitching staff pecking order, and why the Rangers aren't considering a three man bench, among other things...
Lots of good stuff...check it out...
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"George, why would I, a Julliard trained dermatologist, send him to another doctor?"---Cosmo Kramer
by Chad Crudup on Jan 20, 2011 10:48 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Ha
I like the question that blames Matt Harrison’s suckiness on Ron Washington’s lack of faith in him.
Only back in the Acolytes days. That JBL character was garbage.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
maybe it's Dirk
he’s in North Carolina right?
Not buying that assessment that they only wanted Thome as a bench bat
Who the hell would he be pinch-hitting that much for? Andrus? I’d think the late-game defensive downgrade mitigates the value of pinch-hitting for him on a regular basis. Murphy and Borbon are left-handed, so acquiring another lefty bat to pinch hit for them seems pretty silly.
And if you’re just gonna pinch-hit him for Young late in the game, Thome should probably just start the fucking game at DH in the first place.
This pinch-hitter angle really doesn’t make any sense at all.
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having sense enough to be lazy.
I think we would
have seen Moreland gone in a trade of some kind.
by Whiskey in my Whiskey on Jan 20, 2011 10:58 AM CST up reply actions
Well if you still have Blanco
why wouldn’t you make that pinch hit for Elvis in a crucial moment? Chances are, you’d be talking about one inning at the most of Blanco unless it happened to go into extra innings. Same with Borbon and likely Murphy to. Adjust the OF as needed for one inning to get the bigger bat into the game, even if its not a platoon advantage.
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
We wouldn't have been paying Jim Thome 4 mil to face left-handers late in ballgames
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having sense enough to be lazy.
That's not the sole reason you're paying him
but I don’t see why Thome against lefties late in the game wouldn’t happen when he would still be better than a few of the options out there.
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
That's still a poor usuage of him though.
There’s no way we where interested in him just to put him in a position he didn’t really fit in as a bench bat.
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having sense enough to be lazy.
I agree with that
I just don’t think that the team would hesitate to use Thome late in the game to pinch hit against a lefty just because he hits worse against them.
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
Well not if he was here, no I can't imagine they would.
I was just disagreeing with TR’s assessment of that being why they wanted him.
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having sense enough to be lazy.
Thome would likely start 70-80 games
The rest of the time he could be a late inning PH.
The majority of closers or late inning guys are RH. If its the bottom of the 9th in a close game you likely are facing a RH reliever and if you have Elvis, or the catcher, or someone up and you need a big bat Thome would be your guy
If the bench is going to be Blanco, Treanor, Gentry, Murphy
who is going to pinch hit for Judy in a crucial late inning situation?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."
"If the Cliff Lee Contract was really keeping me from doing other things, I had no fucking business whatsoever trying to sign him in the first place."
Murphy most likely isn't going to be available because he's playing
2/3 of the time anyways.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."
"If the Cliff Lee Contract was really keeping me from doing other things, I had no fucking business whatsoever trying to sign him in the first place."
by Josey Wales on Jan 20, 2011 11:04 AM CST up reply actions
This is so dumb
If Murphy is playing 2/3 of the time, and thus isn’t available in those 2/3rds of games, then he’ll either be playing for Borbon, in which case there isn’t a need to PH for him late in the game, or else Cruz, Young, Hamilton, Moreland, Kinsler, or Beltre is sitting, in which case whichever of those guys is can PH.
by Adam J. Morris on Jan 20, 2011 11:07 AM CST up reply actions 5 recs
Unless one of that bunch is hurt
2/3rds of the time, which is definitely a possibility…
my better is better than your better.
by rangerjake on Jan 20, 2011 11:17 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
So we need to go sign someone like Manny...
…so that, when Cruz or Hamilton or someone is hurt, and Murphy is in the every day lineup, Manny can PH for Borbon late in close games?
Don’t get me wrong, I’d like a RH bat for the bench. That’s why I suggested Scott Hairston. But if the 4th bench spot goes to Craig Gentry, who at least gives you someone who can play CF against LHPs, then that’s not a terrible option.
by Adam J. Morris on Jan 20, 2011 11:24 AM CST up reply actions
Gentry probably isn't realistically that much better than Borbon vs. LHP's though, he's just right-handed.
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having sense enough to be lazy.
We do know Gentry's always been regarded as a guy who can't hit period, though
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having sense enough to be lazy.
Only 301 PA's last year though, and 2009 was in AA.
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having sense enough to be lazy.
303/378/414 in 2009 and 309/393/413 in 2010
Seems pretty consistent from one year to the next such that the even if in 2010 there were fewer plate appearances, it’s entirely plausible that the line would be maintained.
He has improved his walk rate vastly the last two years, which is a good sign.
How that translates over to the majors is probably gonna be the key, since he has no power.
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having sense enough to be lazy.
I'm just not sure he's a guy really worth giving a shot to if you can help it.
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having sense enough to be lazy.
I think his value defensively and his speed
makes it worth giving him a shot
would you be ok with platooning
Gentry and Borbon?
I think if we can’t find a league average CF (both in offense and defense) then I’m ok with platooning them. Convince them it’s a competition…
by elvis1isking on Jan 20, 2011 1:41 PM CST up reply actions
806 in AAA in 2010
796 in AA in 2009.
And he’s a good basestealer.
I think he can at least be adequate as a platoon CF, particularly given he’d be the best defensive outfielder on the 25 man roster.
by Adam J. Morris on Jan 20, 2011 11:34 AM CST up reply actions
The early reviews for Gentry as a hitter in The Show, albeit SSS...
aren’t …shall we say promising?
27 years old with a .400 career OPS…really?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."
"If the Cliff Lee Contract was really keeping me from doing other things, I had no fucking business whatsoever trying to sign him in the first place."
by Josey Wales on Jan 20, 2011 11:36 AM CST up reply actions
Well, he only has 54 PA's.
I have my doubts as to whether he’s gonna hit any as well, but I don’t think you can look at 54 MLB PA’s spread over two years and make any conclusions based on them.
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having sense enough to be lazy.
It's not definitive but given that Gentry is 27 years old,
it’s not meaningless.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."
"If the Cliff Lee Contract was really keeping me from doing other things, I had no fucking business whatsoever trying to sign him in the first place."
by Josey Wales on Jan 20, 2011 11:40 AM CST up reply actions
don't do this, it's silly...he's had like 50 pa's.
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
I'm not saying he'd be a .400 OPS hitter in The Show
if he played every day or got 250 plate appearances.
I do have a hard time believing he’d be above .600.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."
"If the Cliff Lee Contract was really keeping me from doing other things, I had no fucking business whatsoever trying to sign him in the first place."
by Josey Wales on Jan 20, 2011 11:46 AM CST up reply actions
In his 5 minor league seasons he's had a .744 OPS
not great, but not well above .600.
all sorts of terrible
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
I'm not suggesting his the next Brett Butler
I’m suggesting he could contribute as the 25th man on the roster.
by Adam J. Morris on Jan 20, 2011 11:45 AM CST up reply actions
Above a .600 OPS with 250 at bats in The Show?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."
"If the Cliff Lee Contract was really keeping me from doing other things, I had no fucking business whatsoever trying to sign him in the first place."
by Josey Wales on Jan 20, 2011 11:47 AM CST up reply actions
If the organization thought that was true,
I think they would have had Gentry up here late last May when Borbon had a .252 OBP / .523 OPS.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."
"If the Cliff Lee Contract was really keeping me from doing other things, I had no fucking business whatsoever trying to sign him in the first place."
by Josey Wales on Jan 20, 2011 11:57 AM CST up reply actions
You mean when he had something like 100 PAs in AAA?
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
Yes.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."
"If the Cliff Lee Contract was really keeping me from doing other things, I had no fucking business whatsoever trying to sign him in the first place."
So are you really wondering why Gentry wasn't up here last May?
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
Not really.
I’m thinking if the Ranger organization really thought Gentry could have an OPS in The Show above .600, he would have been up here at the end of May 2010.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."
"If the Cliff Lee Contract was really keeping me from doing other things, I had no fucking business whatsoever trying to sign him in the first place."
That's dumb
even for you
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
Adam said he thinks Gentry can
have an OPS above .600 in The Show .
I’m skeptical because This Thing had a glaring need last May and they chose to leave Gentry in AAA.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."
"If the Cliff Lee Contract was really keeping me from doing other things, I had no fucking business whatsoever trying to sign him in the first place."
recently
I’ve begun reading your posts with the same voice I use when I read Dr. Suess to my kids.
It helps.
A little.
by elvis1isking on Jan 20, 2011 1:47 PM CST up reply actions
I imagine he would be better
than this year’s Shelton, Garko, Cantu or whatever else we can drag off the waiver wire.
"I wanted to go out there and punch Julio" - Ron Washington
The question in my mind
is why folks are convinced that Borbon will be significantly better. Unless Borbon can hit 300 in the majors, his bat isn’t likely to be productive, and its not like Borbon is a better fielder or has a better arm than Gentry.
"I wanted to go out there and punch Julio" - Ron Washington
It seems that
people are overrating Gentry’s floor.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on Jan 20, 2011 2:37 PM CST up reply actions
regardless
its a replacement level bat, and Gentry appears to have the better defense.
"I wanted to go out there and punch Julio" - Ron Washington
Dammit
Mets signed OF Scott Hairston to a one-year contract.
Though this was first reported to be a minor league deal, Hairston has received a major league contract.
"I support you, Wash; I’ve always supported you," Young said
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
It's not dumb if somebody is hurt, Adam.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."
"If the Cliff Lee Contract was really keeping me from doing other things, I had no fucking business whatsoever trying to sign him in the first place."
by Josey Wales on Jan 20, 2011 11:25 AM CST up reply actions
So what are you suggesting?
Should we sign more AAA depth so we have another bench bat in case someone gets hurt?
With this current roster, with no injuries , we're still one batter short going into the season.
I say that, if the goal was to improve the offense (number of runs scored) in the off-season.
We desperately need an OBP Machine to stick in the middle of the line-up for 80 games and it’d be nice to have that same batter be available to ph for Judy or one of your catchers another 30-40 games.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."
"If the Cliff Lee Contract was really keeping me from doing other things, I had no fucking business whatsoever trying to sign him in the first place."
by Josey Wales on Jan 20, 2011 11:39 AM CST up reply actions
I'm not asking what you think we "need," I'm asking what you're suggesting
Who do you suggest we acquire?
He bitches an awful lot about the Rangers
for being a Dodgers fan.
by michael bluth on Jan 20, 2011 11:47 AM CST up reply actions
Manny Ramirez.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."
"If the Cliff Lee Contract was really keeping me from doing other things, I had no fucking business whatsoever trying to sign him in the first place."
by Josey Wales on Jan 20, 2011 11:48 AM CST up reply actions
How does that phone call go?
“Hey Manny, we’d like you to join the team as our RH-bench bat, who we’ll primarily use as a PH for Judy late in games, or when some guy gets injured. Oh, and we don’t want to pay you much money. Interested?”
"Manny? Jon Daniels here."
“Listen. We need a RH big bopper OBP machine. We can’t pay you a lot of money and you probably won’t get more than 200-300 ABs in the season because I have to keep Michael Young happy. You have ten minutes to accept.”
Ever been in a boardroom, or a gang fight? Ever save a life? Ever won a court case against the odds? Ever held a dying buddy in your arms?.- jackanape on "perspective," 11/8/2010.
Bag's a little empty today, waterboy?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."
"If the Cliff Lee Contract was really keeping me from doing other things, I had no fucking business whatsoever trying to sign him in the first place."
by Josey Wales on Jan 20, 2011 11:53 AM CST up reply actions
Please, share your plan to lure Manny here with the rest of the class.
Ever been in a boardroom, or a gang fight? Ever save a life? Ever won a court case against the odds? Ever held a dying buddy in your arms?.- jackanape on "perspective," 11/8/2010.
You aresofucking retarded.
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
by TxStCa on Jan 20, 2011 1:25 PM CST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
Then they should change the philosophy,
and get him 500 PAs in the middle of the order. Make MY the primary 1B, with some utility work/DH for 600 PAs. That leaves 300 PAs for Moreland at 1B/DH.
Que sera, sera.
Yah, you have to think that was pretty much the plan if they acquired Thome
No reason you can’t swing it with Manny.
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having sense enough to be lazy.
I've got a great idea
First, assume we have a can opener…
by Adam J. Morris on Jan 20, 2011 11:51 AM CST up reply actions
I think you need to capitilize and trademark
these phrases so that he will understand you.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on Jan 20, 2011 11:56 AM CST up reply actions
No, he seems to think Vlad & Manny both feel like
they can play every day.
Manny has played what, 104 & 90 games the last two years and is coming up on 39 years old.
It’s late January and he still doesn’t have a team.
He’s the best option available and I’m not taking my sights off him (or looking at others) until he’s off the market.
As far as the actual need…the Rangers told us how desperate they are by what they offered Thome.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."
"If the Cliff Lee Contract was really keeping me from doing other things, I had no fucking business whatsoever trying to sign him in the first place."
This is stupid
He’s the best option available and I’m not taking my sights off him (or looking at others) until he’s off the market.
You’re not interested in considering any non-Manny alternatives?
TUA?
I don't really think there are any gamechangers
left on the shelves.
Is there somebody you’re specifically targeting or do you think this offense, currently constructed, is going to be better (in terms of runs scored) than it was in 2011?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."
"If the Cliff Lee Contract was really keeping me from doing other things, I had no fucking business whatsoever trying to sign him in the first place."
I like the way the roster looks right now.
You’re too focused on bringing in another bat, when you should be concentrating on how to maximize the players on the current roster.
The best way the team can improve the offense over 2010 is to ensure that Hamilton and Cruz both play 150 games.
Well how does the team do that? Well, we can DH Hamilton and Cruz regularly with Murphy playing LF/RF. We can also play guys like Borbon and Gentry in CF to ensure that Hamilton never plays CF in the regular season. Fortunately, our roster is set up to do exactly that.
Shut up cum guzzler.
You are nothing but a prick that brings the same tired argument day after day. Go get bored by a bull up the anus Nancy.
Hi, my name is Josey Wales and I'm a douche. Prove me wrong.
by boomer1 on Jan 20, 2011 4:05 PM CST up reply actions 4 recs
"Cum guzzler" is more of a dumbfuck Oklahoma saying.
“Pillow Biter” or “Goo Gobbler” are more urban and a lot funnier.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."
"If the Cliff Lee Contract was really keeping me from doing other things, I had no fucking business whatsoever trying to sign him in the first place."
I just learned a new one
Thanks for Goo Gobbler. I feel much more sophisticated now.
"Torture you? That's a good idea. I like that." - Mr. Blonde
Welcome to the bright lights and big city of LSB, TJ.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."
"If the Cliff Lee Contract was really keeping me from doing other things, I had no fucking business whatsoever trying to sign him in the first place."
by Josey Wales on Jan 20, 2011 4:37 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
No wonder you hide behind the computer screen
Your childhood must have been a bitch growing up to come out looking like this.
Hi, my name is Josey Wales and I'm a douche. Prove me wrong.
I think I have a reason to go to a porn convention now
To ask around and see which of these sayings is considered the most “urban”.
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having sense enough to be lazy.
If that's how you feel
You totally need to start referring to him as “Manny from heaven”.
Seriously. This has the potential to be the most awesome JoseyNickname™ ever.
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having sense enough to be lazy.
Nolan said no right now....he's your leader
go call him.
"Thumbs/Asses Needing to be Dazzled/The Plan/Ferns " - JW
Murphy most likely isn't going to be available because he's playing
2/3 of the time anyways.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."
"If the Cliff Lee Contract was really keeping me from doing other things, I had no fucking business whatsoever trying to sign him in the first place."
by Josey Wales on Jan 20, 2011 11:04 AM CST up reply actions
She would just swing and miss at the same old junk over and over again.
Where do you think JW learned it from?
I thought we were trying to get younger at that position?
If I had a gun to my head and had to pick one pitcher to pitch a game to save my life.... I'd pick 1999 Rick Helling.
Fire Pat Knight Hire Billy Clyde
by matthewbschultz83 on Jan 20, 2011 11:35 AM CST up reply actions
AJM The next time
you get grief for your profession remember this..
Why is a 50% divorce rate a good thing?
Because the other 50% of marraiges end in death.
You can only be young once but can be immature forever!
OT: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Brett Favre: What Should I Do?
"There's really no way of knowing... Sometimes when I see their big eyes looking up from my lap I think, that's definitely a homeless guy in a fur coat." Betty White on SNL
OT - Sturm asked Hitzges in the mix about Hammering Hank Goldberg "stabbing him in the back"
and taking over his picking games against the spread gig over at ESPN in the early 90s.
Norm said his schedule was overloaded and he just had to quit.
Revisionist history, Norm. To be fair, he talked a good game and had a few decent years against the number locally but on the national stage he STBF going under .500 both seasons ESPN had him. Goldberg has been doing it probably since ’92-93 or so.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."
"If the Cliff Lee Contract was really keeping me from doing other things, I had no fucking business whatsoever trying to sign him in the first place."
maybe his schedule was so busy
he couldn’t research like he wanted to.
So his “excuse” is still valid and points to his results.
by elvis1isking on Jan 20, 2011 1:44 PM CST up reply actions
What is your obsession with the ticket?
I mean dont you have a family or other interests. Yikes! Do you keep a picture of Norm handy for when you need to clean the kitchen?
Middle aged white guys in their 40s tend to like The Ticket.
The really old farts don’t get it and wish they would talk “more sports.”
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."
"If the Cliff Lee Contract was really keeping me from doing other things, I had no fucking business whatsoever trying to sign him in the first place."
Yea...TR's reading the program again
and 1300 AM in Shreveport.
Ummm….Bullshit. They never play Ranger games in Shreveport
Formerly Rangers121032
Closers aren't hard to find
TORPs are
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
by NothinG on Jan 20, 2011 2:51 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Did he really suggest Pujols would be looking for "$20 million to $25 million" per season?
Bill DeWitt, Jr. will be thrilled to hear that.
"Whenever I'm about to do something, I think 'Would an idiot do that?' And if they would, I do not do that thing."
Maybe he meant after taxes?
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on Jan 20, 2011 6:45 PM CST up reply actions
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