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Around SBN: On Hazards And Hulks And Tigers, Oh My!

Feliz-Rotation-Parks





Not surprisingly, Professor Parks with a great breakdown of the Feliz situation. Let's discuss the situation here, as the morning thread often gets fouled.

I still don't see this move to the rotation happening this year. I could very easily see the development of the cutter ninth-inning role, permitting a move to the rotation next year. The oddest situation that I could imagine happening, though not at all likely, is to see Feliz starting the year in the rotation and reclaiming his closer position when Webb is ready. This would give Feliz some extended development time and build his innings for next year, even though it's hard to imagine he would be more effective than a typical 5th starter that might be as good as the options already available for the 5th spot.

Poll
Tell us what role you would have for Feliz when ST breaks.
Closer
30 votes
Rotation with a move to Closer when Webb is ready
9 votes
Rotation
96 votes
Other, specify below
3 votes

138 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 124 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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Interesting
I’ve yet to talk to a scout that thinks the closer-to-starter transition is to the point that his impact in the rotation would offer more than his impact in the 9th.

I agree in that my biggest question is that if he closes this year, realistically how do they get his pitches developed to the point of starting? I’m honestly asking how the logistics of that would happen? Winter ball? Starting in the AAA rotation next year?

by FuturePants on Mar 15, 2011 8:51 AM CDT reply actions  

At some point you have to bite the bullet and make the transition

Perhaps you do that by sending him to AAA for a month or two and letting him refine his stuff and approach there. But of course that thins out your rotation and bullpen depth for that part of the year. Or, you just let him be the 5th starter, skip his turn now and then as he works on stuff and cross your fingers.

There are no easy answers here, and if Feliz moves to the rotation we’re going to have to accept growing pains.

Nelson Cruz - 2011 MVP

by t ball on Mar 15, 2011 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions  

agreed

there are going to be growing pains no matter when you try to make the transition, but the growing pains of letting Feliz be the #5 starter is acceptable as I believe he’d still perform at a higher level than most #5 starters. And, considering his potential is much greater than a #5, and we are likely to not have CJ and his innings next year, it makes sense to make the transition now.

A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.

by NothinG on Mar 15, 2011 9:10 AM CDT up reply actions  

I don't think he needs to go to AAA

to develop anything. He has 4 pitches to work with. His FB and slurve are good enough to get him out of most situations.

I agree with the rest of your post. Lets get the growing pains over with this year and so we can have 4 years of an actual TORP.

by RangerMad on Mar 15, 2011 9:15 AM CDT up reply actions  

4?

"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels

by GhettoBear04 on Mar 15, 2011 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions  

FB, CU, Slurve, Change

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.

"I am on a drug," Sheen said. "It’s called Charlie Sheen. It’s not available because if you try it you will die. Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body."

by Aqua on Mar 15, 2011 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions  

But he doesn't throw the change any more...

"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels

by GhettoBear04 on Mar 15, 2011 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions  

True, but I'm not sure we should assume he has abandoned it completely.

He’s been working on the cutter to go with the slurve and FB, obviously, but his change was a great pitch at one point and we have no reason to believe it can’t be again.

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.

"I am on a drug," Sheen said. "It’s called Charlie Sheen. It’s not available because if you try it you will die. Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body."

by Aqua on Mar 15, 2011 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions  

Um.

His change was great, but that he doesn’t throw it now when he needs to develop a third pitch is a pretty good reason to think that he won’t throw it again.

"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels

by GhettoBear04 on Mar 15, 2011 10:52 AM CDT up reply actions  

Or he's been told to work on the cutter and not throw the change.

Yesterday he was about 70% fastball, 30% everything else. If he’s being told to work on the cutter, that doesn’t really leave a lot of room for the change when he’s only throwing 60 pitches or so.

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.

"I am on a drug," Sheen said. "It’s called Charlie Sheen. It’s not available because if you try it you will die. Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body."

by Aqua on Mar 15, 2011 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions  

Sure.

But that suggests that his approach to starting this year is going to be to rely heavily on his fastball, then subsequently using his Slurve and then cutter. Perhaps he brings back his changeup at a later date, but I think we would hear talk of it if he was going to use it this year.

"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels

by GhettoBear04 on Mar 15, 2011 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions  

From what I recall, he threw at least 3-4 true changeups in the 3 inning outing last week.

Then people started noticing a difference between that changeup and the new pitch, the cutter.

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.

"I am on a drug," Sheen said. "It’s called Charlie Sheen. It’s not available because if you try it you will die. Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body."

by Aqua on Mar 15, 2011 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions  

Hmm.

If that’s the case, then, ok.

I like his changeup a lot. I would have preferred he went with that instead of the cutter, but I’m not near as knowledgeable about these things as people/horses like Parks.

"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels

by GhettoBear04 on Mar 15, 2011 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions  

Yup

"Look if you want a journalist hire a UT grad. If you want a doctor you pick a Baylor grad. If you need a vet you see an Aggie grad. And if you need a pizza you call a Tech grad." -BUBacker

by Mike E on Mar 15, 2011 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions  

I really hate using CU as an abbrevation.

Too hard to tell whether someone is trying to say curveball, changup or cutter.

CB, CH, and CT, people. Much clearer.

A nightingale in a golden cage
That's me locked inside reality's maze

by LSJ on Mar 15, 2011 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions  

If you go CH and CB for change and curve, respectively

CU works fine.

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.

"I am on a drug," Sheen said. "It’s called Charlie Sheen. It’s not available because if you try it you will die. Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body."

by Aqua on Mar 15, 2011 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions  

It would if people would stop using it for change or curve.

Parks uses it for change, I think, and it drives me fucking nuts.

A nightingale in a golden cage
That's me locked inside reality's maze

by LSJ on Mar 15, 2011 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions  

He used it for cutter yesterday on twitter.

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.

"I am on a drug," Sheen said. "It’s called Charlie Sheen. It’s not available because if you try it you will die. Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body."

by Aqua on Mar 15, 2011 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions  

Well I swear I've seen him use it for change too

So now I’m even more confused.

A nightingale in a golden cage
That's me locked inside reality's maze

by LSJ on Mar 15, 2011 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions  

yeah

I’m confused too. CU is clearly not curve ball, but it is used for both ChangeUp and CUtter. No good.

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Mar 15, 2011 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions  

Not shocked that you are confused

I’ve never used “CU” for cutter. This shouldn’t confuse you:

FB: Fastball
CB: Curve
SL: Slider
CU: Changeup
CT: Cutter

This isn’t rocket science.

by jparks77 on Mar 15, 2011 1:04 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions  

My apologies for stating otherwise, then.

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.

"I am on a drug," Sheen said. "It’s called Charlie Sheen. It’s not available because if you try it you will die. Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body."

by Aqua on Mar 15, 2011 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions  

To clarify:

I think LSJ is complaining about a widespread inconsistency with abbreviations for pitch classifications, not individual inconsistency. You consistently use the ones you listed, FanGraphs (along with most pitchFX sites) uses “FC” for cutter, “CH” for changeup, “CU” for curveball.

Then again, it’s usually pretty easy to tell in context, so it seems like an empty complaint.

by AsDevilsRun on Mar 15, 2011 5:51 PM CDT up reply actions  

Yeah, it's just an annoyance.

I need the world to work more like my brain works.

A nightingale in a golden cage
That's me locked inside reality's maze

by LSJ on Mar 15, 2011 6:10 PM CDT up reply actions  

Or...

you could adjust your brain to how the world works.

Just throwin’ it out there.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Mar 15, 2011 9:08 PM CDT up reply actions  

No. Fuck the world.

A nightingale in a golden cage
That's me locked inside reality's maze

by LSJ on Mar 16, 2011 8:07 AM CDT up reply actions  

Don't think so

I looked back at his posts and almost positive he uses CU for changeup and CT for cutter

@lonestarball Feliz only threw 1 CU (might have been a CT); his SL wasnt used in the 2nd and almost hit two batters in the 3rd. AAA

by ab03 on Mar 15, 2011 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions  

Also
Simple Miguel De Los Santos scouting report: 65/70 CU; 50/55 FB; 40/50 CB (pitch breaks too early/slow); fringy-at-best command.

by ab03 on Mar 15, 2011 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions  

I hate saying this

but I agree with LSJ. I read CU as Change Up and CB as Curve Ball always. I hate seeing CU as a cutter.

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

by Gdawg on Mar 15, 2011 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions  

No doubt we will endure growing pains, whenever he goes to the rotation (if he does).

This is compounded by the fact of where the Rangers are, and where they see themselves being the next couple of seasons…

by FuturePants on Mar 15, 2011 9:34 AM CDT up reply actions  

Hmm.

I hadn’t considered that 5th starter skipped start thing. Maddux doesn’t like to do that though, right? I think I might like that solution best…

..it would be a way to limit his IP as well.

"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels

by GhettoBear04 on Mar 15, 2011 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions  

I think it might make sense

if they put Feliz into the rotation. They’d have to skip him sooner or later to hold his innings down, and it might as well be when he can throw on the side refining stuff early on.

Nelson Cruz - 2011 MVP

by t ball on Mar 15, 2011 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions  

Yeah,

I would rather he develop under Maddux, too.

"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels

by GhettoBear04 on Mar 15, 2011 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions  

I studied the April schedule

there aren’t too many opportunities for skipping starts. It isn’t like some years when you don’t really need a 5th starter until May 10th except for 2 games

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Mar 15, 2011 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions  

Doesn't really matter

they weren’t going to skip starts anyway. Maddux hates it.

by ab03 on Mar 15, 2011 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions  

well

generally the added value of skipping the worst guy in the rotation is offset by the benefit of giving the other guys an added day of rest. (suppose your 5th starter is 30% worse than the #1, but the top 4 guys each get a 10% improvement by pitching on an extra day [warning: completely made up numbers]; not to mention long-term benefits of keeping innings down).

The algebra stops working when your #5 is just awful (this is why it mattered a lot 4-5 years ago when any off day meant that we could skip Koronka or whoever else was brutalizing the rotation spot). But also if there is an added benefit to easing guys into the rotation while keeping their innings low. Skipping a start every 3 or 4 times through the rotation seems to be a better way of keeping a guy’s innings below 160 than limiting him to 5 or 6 innings a start (yes, the latter is probably a bit better for his arm, but certainly not good for the bullpen)

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Mar 15, 2011 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions  

maybe

I don’t think we conclusively know yet whether preventing innings 7 and 8 consistently is better than preventing starts 30-40.

by ab03 on Mar 15, 2011 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions  

one or two opportunities is enough

and all I’d want to use anyway.

Nelson Cruz - 2011 MVP

by t ball on Mar 15, 2011 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions  

that's because a lot of people overvalue the impact of that 9th inning guy

the value of Feliz starting is greater than him relieving, especially if you think Ogando could do the job as he has really good stuff for the back end of the ’pen.

A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.

by NothinG on Mar 15, 2011 9:06 AM CDT up reply actions  

Not entirely

No, I don’t think it’s because the people Parks is talking to (or even people in general) overvalue the closer role. It’s because Feliz may struggle mightily as he makes the change to a role that requires more stuff and a very different approach. He might pitch like an ace at times and then look like Tony Mounce for a few innings as he makes that adjustment. His end of year stats might look like those of a 5th starter, which would not really be more valuable than a good closer.

Even very talented pitchers who stayed in the rotation all the way through the minors and then started immediately in the majors struggle. We should expect Feliz to be inconsistent and look like crap for a while. It’s a hard choice to make when your team is favored to win the division.

Nelson Cruz - 2011 MVP

by t ball on Mar 15, 2011 9:11 AM CDT up reply actions  

oh

weird. Wouldn’t have even made sense if you said every with that syntax

by ab03 on Mar 15, 2011 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions  

This would piss some people off more than others I bet

but if that’s what it takes to get Feliz looking more like the ace we think he can be in September and October, I’m willing to put up with that inconsistency.

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

by Gdawg on Mar 15, 2011 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions  

He didn't develop squat in the 9th inning role last year

And one shouldn’t expect him to be out there working on shit in the closers role anyway. That’s not a role guys are gonna be able to throw new pitches or stuff they’re not confident in very much.

So I don’t see why he’s gonna be better off moving to the rotation next year with another season of closing under his belt. He’ll just be right back where he is right now, only with a year of potential starting development and future value knocked off.

Ideally I’d want him sent to RR to start the season, to iron things out and limit his innings, but if starting the year in the big-league rotation is the only way he gets a shot at starting this year, then I’d go ahead and try it. I think it needs to happen this year, or you might as well leave him in the bullpen for the bulk of the time he’s under team control.

A nightingale in a golden cage
That's me locked inside reality's maze

by LSJ on Mar 15, 2011 8:59 AM CDT reply actions  

I was replying to rooster, actually

But I did do that before I read the article though.

A nightingale in a golden cage
That's me locked inside reality's maze

by LSJ on Mar 15, 2011 9:47 AM CDT up reply actions  

horse

"Look if you want a journalist hire a UT grad. If you want a doctor you pick a Baylor grad. If you need a vet you see an Aggie grad. And if you need a pizza you call a Tech grad." -BUBacker

by Mike E on Mar 15, 2011 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions  

Where would you

rank Feliz on the SP depth chart?

by RangerMad on Mar 15, 2011 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions  

Right now?

Too early to say. It’s tough to evaluate pitching performance (outside of the “stuff”) against split squads. I think the three lefties of the apocalypse have put together a good camp and deserve to be in the running for a spot. Hunter is Hunter: a solid 4/5 type. Wilson/Lewis are locks. I’d put Feliz in the mix, but it’s not in the lead pack.

by jparks77 on Mar 15, 2011 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions  

Do you think there's any chance outside of injury Hunter doesn't make the rotation?

"I'll bet you an Internet he puts up a higher OPS than Beltre." | Scoop16 on Michael Young, 2/17/2011

by Brad on Mar 15, 2011 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions  

Very slim, is that Hunter's new nickname?

Godspeed Mike Olt. Oops. Sorry, to see you're trade bait now.

by rooster on Mar 15, 2011 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions  

Fat... Nick... BLACKBURN!!!!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

A nightingale in a golden cage
That's me locked inside reality's maze

by LSJ on Mar 15, 2011 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions  

As funny as that nickname is

I wouldn’t call him fat to his face. I don’t think there’s anyone in the Rangers locker room I’d want to fight less.

"By MLB.TV, we can see J. Hamilton's homer, M. Young's clutch, and N. Feliz's explosive. All about Rangers things can be our interest" --South Korean Rangers fan

"LSB is big on the sanctity of life for some reason." ---LSJ

Rangers Fan Radio

My Cliff Lee TV Package

by Conjunction on Mar 15, 2011 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions  

And then accidentally write "DH" on Michael Young's locker

A nightingale in a golden cage
That's me locked inside reality's maze

by LSJ on Mar 15, 2011 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions  

Accidentally?

"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels

by GhettoBear04 on Mar 15, 2011 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions  

I like Big Slim also, but you're right, it's hard to unseat Big Game.

Unfortunately, the day may be fast approaching that Hunter gets traded.

Think about it, unless the Rangers don’t extend both CJ and Colby, steps have been taken by Holland/Harrison/Feliz to be solidly in the rotation by next season. I guess that could move Big Game to the longman, but, really, he could fetch a couple of decent prospects in a trade.

Godspeed Mike Olt. Oops. Sorry, to see you're trade bait now.

by rooster on Mar 15, 2011 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions  

Can we get Dan Haren for him? ;)

"I'll bet you an Internet he puts up a higher OPS than Beltre." | Scoop16 on Michael Young, 2/17/2011

by Brad on Mar 15, 2011 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions  

CJ

"Look if you want a journalist hire a UT grad. If you want a doctor you pick a Baylor grad. If you need a vet you see an Aggie grad. And if you need a pizza you call a Tech grad." -BUBacker

by Mike E on Mar 15, 2011 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions  

from TR's article yesterday

it sounds like Feliz gets to decide what he does. However, Maddux and company are trying to nudge him towards the rotation.

by RangerMad on Mar 15, 2011 9:09 AM CDT reply actions  

Rotation.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Mar 15, 2011 9:10 AM CDT reply actions  

I say closer

If he did start though, how many innings would you let him throw this year?

by Judy'sLewinsky on Mar 15, 2011 9:13 AM CDT reply actions  

I would say keep him below 150 innings

"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 Mar 15, 2011 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions  

I was going to say about 160 would be fine.

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.

"I am on a drug," Sheen said. "It’s called Charlie Sheen. It’s not available because if you try it you will die. Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body."

by Aqua on Mar 15, 2011 9:27 AM CDT up reply actions  

I'd be fine with him starting in the bullpen

But transitioning to the rotation at some point in the season if guys like Lowe and Ogando are solid enough late in games.

That way you could limit his innings.

I guess the issue would be how would he work on his secondaries as much if he’s still just closing games.

by Dirk Diggler on Mar 15, 2011 9:20 AM CDT reply actions  

If he goes to the bullpen, he's not coming back this season.

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.

"I am on a drug," Sheen said. "It’s called Charlie Sheen. It’s not available because if you try it you will die. Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body."

by Aqua on Mar 15, 2011 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions  

Well yeah I don't think so either

But, that’s what I would like to happen I guess.

by Dirk Diggler on Mar 15, 2011 9:27 AM CDT up reply actions  

Putting him down there to (potentially) work every couple of days in short bursts means you'll have to stretch him out to re-enter the roto.

So you’re talking 4-6 weeks in AAA when you decide to do it.

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.

"I am on a drug," Sheen said. "It’s called Charlie Sheen. It’s not available because if you try it you will die. Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body."

by Aqua on Mar 15, 2011 9:29 AM CDT up reply actions  

I absolutely don't think we do that

If Feliz is going in the rotation it is completely independent of Brandon Webb.

"I'll bet you an Internet he puts up a higher OPS than Beltre." | Scoop16 on Michael Young, 2/17/2011

by Brad on Mar 15, 2011 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions  

Developing as a closer

I agree that there are more diverse closers out there but I wonder if it wouldn’t be easier still for him to develop as a starter. Let’s say he repeatedly gets into trouble throwing secondaries as a closer. The situation is so high leverage that after a few bad starts, Wash and co. might lose patience with him getting behind and putting runners on base every outing.

But if he’s starting, they might let him work through an inning throwing secondaries, even if it means giving up a run or three. You could only take it so far – after a string of bad starts, they’d probably have to figure something else out. Still, I think it would be hard to argue that he wouldn’t get a bit more leeway (at least appearance to appearance) as a starter than reliever

by ab03 on Mar 15, 2011 9:55 AM CDT reply actions  

I have no doubt that he would revert to the fireballer mentality

Wash said as much last year when he told him to just go out and throw heat.

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.

"I am on a drug," Sheen said. "It’s called Charlie Sheen. It’s not available because if you try it you will die. Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body."

by Aqua on Mar 15, 2011 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions  

Well

It’s Wash and not Feliz. And Wash would have a different mentality coming into the season because the focus would be on possibly developing his arsenal. I just wonder how long that would last. It’s one of those things where a GM might give an edict but a manager might come back and say “You can’t handicap my closer like this when I think I have closers who are better than this guy struggling with his secondaries.”

by ab03 on Mar 15, 2011 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions  

How much repetition is necessary?

How many times does Feliz need to throw his new cutter in a game before everyone is comfortable with him in the rotation?

by cstorm15 on Mar 15, 2011 10:04 AM CDT reply actions  

He can throw it on the side

for a while before he uses it in games that count.

Nelson Cruz - 2011 MVP

by t ball on Mar 15, 2011 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions  

I voted other

I say give him some time in RR to develop his command and mechanics while limiting his innings. When the inevitable injuries occur there will be a spot for him to move in to.

I have discovered in twenty years of moving around a ball park, that the knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats. ~Bill Veeck

by TheDutchOven on Mar 15, 2011 10:10 AM CDT reply actions  

Yes,

I strongly considered this as well. The issue is whether the Rangers are willing to deal with the backlash from fans and Washington over it.

"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels

by GhettoBear04 on Mar 15, 2011 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions  

The fans will just have to deal with it

Feliz is a future TORP and if they don’t understand then fuck em.

Washington will have to do what he do with whatever he’s given.

I have discovered in twenty years of moving around a ball park, that the knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats. ~Bill Veeck

by TheDutchOven on Mar 15, 2011 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions  

I don't think fan backlash is a big problem

as they could easily explain the need for transition. The bigger problem might be putting someone else in the rotation early and then bumping then later. It essentially says that Feliz “won” the spot, but you need to hold it for him. But even that isn’t a big problem to me.

Nelson Cruz - 2011 MVP

by t ball on Mar 15, 2011 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions  

If the Rangers weren't contenders, I would agree, but you have to break camp with your 25 best players.

I doubt RR is even an option in the Rangers minds, but I’m glad to see it added to the discussion here. I considered having it as a poll entry.

Godspeed Mike Olt. Oops. Sorry, to see you're trade bait now.

by rooster on Mar 15, 2011 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions  

But considering the Rangers are strong favorites for the division,

doesn’t it seem like they could withstand this, especially given their other starting options?

I think the bigger issue with this is what to do with Webb.

"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels

by GhettoBear04 on Mar 15, 2011 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions  

Too much pitching

What have they done

I have discovered in twenty years of moving around a ball park, that the knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats. ~Bill Veeck

by TheDutchOven on Mar 15, 2011 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions  

Acquired many throws of the dice.

I’m ready to dance with Jack of the Shadows.

"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels

by GhettoBear04 on Mar 15, 2011 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions  

Danse with Jack O' the Shadows

We’ll drink the wine till the cup is dry,
And kiss the girls so they’ll not cry,
And toss the dice until we fly,
To danse with Jack O’ the Shadows.

We’ll danse all night until the moon runs free,
And dandle the lasses upon our knee,
And then you’ll ride along with me,
To danse with Jack O’ the Shadows.

We’ll sing all night, and drink all day,
And on the girls we’ll send our pay,
And when it’s gone, then we’ll away,
To danse with Jack O’ the Shadows.

There’s some delight in ale and wine,
And some in girls with ankles fine,
But my delight, yes, always mine,
Is to danse with Jack O’ the Shadows.

I have discovered in twenty years of moving around a ball park, that the knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats. ~Bill Veeck

by TheDutchOven on Mar 15, 2011 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions  

=)

.

"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels

by GhettoBear04 on Mar 15, 2011 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions  

I always think of

The Shadow Rising with that song, my favorite in the series.

Nelson Cruz - 2011 MVP

by t ball on Mar 15, 2011 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions  

and now that I think of it

I may be remembering the wrong book. Which is the one when Mat kills Couladin? TSR is still my favorite, the FOH and LOC are right up there with it. Must be FOH when Mat does the deed, since they’re already in Cairhien by LOC.

Nelson Cruz - 2011 MVP

by t ball on Mar 15, 2011 8:53 PM CDT up reply actions  

It's been so long since I've read them

that I have no idea how I’d rank them. I have a vague feel for books in the 8-10 being not so good and I remember liking Book 4 best for a long time, but I’m not sure late 20’s me would think the same as teenager me.

"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels

by GhettoBear04 on Mar 15, 2011 9:47 PM CDT up reply actions  

So...

Do I need to read the Wheel of Time series?

I’ve read all of the Sword of Truth, the first six of Robin Hobb’s Fitz series, both Kingkiller Chronicles (just finished the second this weekend), Butcher’s Codex Alera.

That’s about it on fantasy I can name off the top of my head.

"I'll bet you an Internet he puts up a higher OPS than Beltre." | Scoop16 on Michael Young, 2/17/2011

by Brad on Mar 15, 2011 9:51 PM CDT up reply actions  

I'm not sure.

I’m so invested at this point that it’s hard for me to say.

I feel like it doesn’t force you to ask yourself tough questions like a lot of good SciFi and Fantasy does, but the story has so many moving parts and the characters are so good that it really pulls you in. Obviously, the series is quite long and it bogs down in the 3rd quarter, so to speak, but I feel like it’s been worth it to me. I’m not sure if it would be if I was starting from Book One….depends how much time you have, I s’pose.

"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels

by GhettoBear04 on Mar 15, 2011 10:27 PM CDT up reply actions  

Wheel of Time

I, too, and so invested in the characters that I’m not terribly objective, but…
Pros: Very strong characterization, even the minor characters have extensive backstories and are three dimensional people. I’d disagree with the Bear from the Ghetto in the tough questions, since I feel like it delves deeply into politics, war, the evil within ourselves, and the way the ordinary people respond to extraordinary situations. It also seems to be a reasonable examination of just how complicated saving the world would be, and how most of the people that should be helping you are too interested in looking out for themselves.

Cons: Much too much detail. The first 6 books are excellent, but the story REALLY slows down in the next few books. The two most recent books are very good again, the plot moving forward some, though you have to deal with a different author trying to finish Jordan’s outline and some inevitable changes in tone and character.

It’s worth a read, but it’s so damn long. I did a reread of all the books last year before The Gathering Storm came out, and it took me 3 months to get through all the books…and I read 100 pages a day most days. Read the first book, and maybe the first 5 or 6. After that you could almost read the chapter summaries at one of the fansites and skip to The Gathering Storm to finish out.

Nelson Cruz - 2011 MVP

by t ball on Mar 15, 2011 11:10 PM CDT up reply actions  

I think part of it was

how disillusioned I became with Rand as he became corrupted by power. I’m sure that it was part of a point being made, and perhaps it isn’t entirely unrealistic, but I felt like it went too far.

"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels

by GhettoBear04 on Mar 15, 2011 11:15 PM CDT up reply actions  

Yeah, I got to that point, too

and it was compounded by the incredible length of time it took to get there and how many POVs you had to slog through on the way.

I’m halfway through the first book of the KingKiller Chronicles, The Name of the Wind. Very good read. I’m glad to know there will only be three books…

Nelson Cruz - 2011 MVP

by t ball on Mar 15, 2011 11:33 PM CDT up reply actions  

Have you read Elantris?

"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels

by GhettoBear04 on Mar 16, 2011 9:10 AM CDT up reply actions  

not yet

might get around to that eventually, too. I’m also interested in The Way of Kings.

Nelson Cruz - 2011 MVP

by t ball on Mar 16, 2011 9:38 AM CDT up reply actions  

Let's talk about this in today's OT thread.

Books are the topic of the day.

"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels

by GhettoBear04 on Mar 16, 2011 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions  

ugh

by the time I got near a computer there were already 500 posts.

Nelson Cruz - 2011 MVP

by t ball on Mar 16, 2011 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions  

Well, I mean yeah I guess he did after the box

But in a list of WoT’s problems for me, this is way, way down on the list

>mfw

by MonkeyEpoxy on Mar 16, 2011 12:01 AM CDT up reply actions  

I saw it as part taint, part

“holy shit, everyone is trying to kill me and I’m supposed to save the world, and even if I succeed, I’ll die doing so.” A legit reason to lose your marbles, but still, the pace of it all became tiresome. I’m dying to read the last book, even so.

Nelson Cruz - 2011 MVP

by t ball on Mar 16, 2011 12:51 AM CDT up reply actions  

You're a George RR Martin fan too, right?

Are you as excited for A Game of Thrones (Not to mention A Dance With Dragons in July) as I am?

>mfw

by MonkeyEpoxy on Mar 16, 2011 1:22 AM CDT up reply actions  

I actually haven't read his books yet

the Wheel of Time experience has made me wary of diving into another series that will take so long to finish. I’ll get around to it eventually, but right now I’ve got a long list of books ahead of it.

Nelson Cruz - 2011 MVP

by t ball on Mar 16, 2011 1:39 AM CDT up reply actions  

In this last book,

I’d argue that a lot of his personal issues came from the fact that he had that access key/s’angreal thing that made him think he could solve all of his problems by using the One Power.

"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels

by GhettoBear04 on Mar 16, 2011 9:12 AM CDT up reply actions  

I was about to say that we seem lucky to have so many young guys looking good.

But then I realize, JD makes his own luck.

"I'll bet you an Internet he puts up a higher OPS than Beltre." | Scoop16 on Michael Young, 2/17/2011

by Brad on Mar 15, 2011 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions  

Who voted for the second one?

I don’t see how that makes sense

by ab03 on Mar 15, 2011 10:10 AM CDT reply actions  

agree

that would be the one decision the team could make that I just could not ever get behind.

Nelson Cruz - 2011 MVP

by t ball on Mar 15, 2011 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions  

Whoa don't know what happened there

I think if this year they told him to go out and if the situation allows to use his secondary pitches more to get better at them then he would do that. So maybe if Feliz comes into a “save” situation with a 3 run lead he can work on his secondary stuff until it hits a point where enough fooling around and he needs to blow guys away.

Maybe it also means if Feliz hasn’t pitched in a few days and we are down by several runs or way up you put him in there even in non-save situations and let him throw his other stuff.

I think Feliz can make the transition to rotation pretty smoothly without much struggles but not if it happens this year. I think his most value to the Rangers in 2011 will be as the closer and then we can look at the big picture again next year.

by bigsteve on Mar 15, 2011 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions  

Heh
Let’s discuss the situation here, as the morning thread often gets fouled.

"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels

by GhettoBear04 on Mar 15, 2011 10:12 AM CDT reply actions  

There's an app for that.

"I'll bet you an Internet he puts up a higher OPS than Beltre." | Scoop16 on Michael Young, 2/17/2011

by Brad on Mar 15, 2011 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions  

=)

PT

"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels

by GhettoBear04 on Mar 15, 2011 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions  

Is there even a morning thread up yet?

The RSS feed is slow and I’m limited on the number times I can check at work.

"I'll bet you an Internet he puts up a higher OPS than Beltre." | Scoop16 on Michael Young, 2/17/2011

by Brad on Mar 15, 2011 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions  

Yeah, and already in full swing.

A nightingale in a golden cage
That's me locked inside reality's maze

by LSJ on Mar 15, 2011 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions  

Yup.. for a while now.

"Look if you want a journalist hire a UT grad. If you want a doctor you pick a Baylor grad. If you need a vet you see an Aggie grad. And if you need a pizza you call a Tech grad." -BUBacker

by Mike E on Mar 15, 2011 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions  

Feliz in AAA

that wasn’t an option, but that is my vote.

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Mar 15, 2011 11:22 AM CDT reply actions  

Hey JP...

what are your thoughts on Ogando starting?

by coolaid on Mar 15, 2011 1:19 PM CDT reply actions  

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