This Day in LSB History

by Adam J. Morris on Aug 23, 2011 10:02 AM CDT

Two years ago today, we learned that, because of the awful performances of Hank Blalock and Andruw Jones, the Rangers were going to recall Chris Davis from Oklahoma to take over at first base.

Davis was demoted in July of 2009 after being terrible throughout the first half of the season, and it was hoped that Davis would, upon his return, resume hitting like he did in 2008.

We know how that turned out. Davis is now in Baltimore, albeit on the disabled list with a shoulder injury that was apparently bothering him while he was with the Rangers (although he didn't tell anyone).

As you can imagine, the discussion in the comments section of that post two years ago was rather spirited.

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causation/correlation, great war, STBF, Nolan Ryan, this thing, boy blunder

EOT

by SaltyDawg on Aug 23, 2011 10:08 AM CDT reply actions

Josey has really calmed down in his approach since then

by Plum on Aug 23, 2011 10:18 AM CDT reply actions

For the record, the Rangers finished that season 18-21 and were out of the AL West /

Wild Card race within 3 weeks of CDavis being called up.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."

"You want false modesty? F that."

by Josey Wales on Aug 23, 2011 10:20 AM CDT reply actions

Thank you for clearly illustrating the causation/correlation argument, Mr. Wales

Any children caught doing the Wave will be sold to the circus.- Chuck Morgan
I've decided that the Angels are really zombies. You shoot them, club them, hammer them, decapitate them, and they just keep shambling on after you.- iblum

by WildcatPhoenix on Aug 23, 2011 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs

Yeah

in his defense, lots of people refuse to learn anything new once they turn 50

by Jobu. on Aug 23, 2011 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions

I don't think it is a refusal to learn.

I think it is just more difficult.

by Heebs on Aug 23, 2011 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions

That makes sense

by Jobu. on Aug 23, 2011 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions

Although I'm sure there are plenty of instances of both

by Jobu. on Aug 23, 2011 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions

A team that goes 30-20 the first two months of the season suddenly goes 11-15 and has one of their worst

offensive months in the history of the franchise (the ’72 Rangers hit .217 for the season).

When Hank F starts playing every day (beginning July 1) the Rangers go 28-19.

When Davis comes back up the Rangers go 18-21 and endure a humiliating 1 run / 5 games streak highlighted by a Brett Tomko (who immediately had surgery because his arm was fried) shutout along the way.

All a coincidence I’m sure.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."

"You want false modesty? F that."

by Josey Wales on Aug 23, 2011 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions

Just like its coincidence the Rangers had their best month in franchise history to that point in May with Chris Davis playing everyday

See this game is fun

by bigsteve on Aug 23, 2011 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions

The Rangers scored the most runs they've scored in a single game in franchise history

with Kasson Gabbard on the mound. We need Gabbard back.

by Heebs on Aug 23, 2011 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions

And let's bring back Jorge Cantu while we're at it

He has a history of AL West-winning RBI.

by WildcatPhoenix on Aug 23, 2011 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Or maybe the hitters that were carrying This Thing in April / May cooled off and

the kid who was throwing down a 3 for 44 with 24Ks was really starting to kill the offense.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."

"You want false modesty? F that."

by Josey Wales on Aug 23, 2011 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions

and if Hank Blalock continued his performance to date

he wouldn’t have been killing the offense?

by Heebs on Aug 23, 2011 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions

From July 1 to August 23

The period you are referencing, Hank Blalock hit .238/.264/.439.

So his bat wasn’t helping the team.

Is it your position that it was his glove that made the difference, or was his presence in the lineup just inspiring to his teammates?

by Adam J. Morris on Aug 23, 2011 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions

presence in the Room, obviously

by ab03 on Aug 23, 2011 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions

I don't think the team suddenly losing, suddenly winning and suddenly losing again was coincidental.

And for the month of July, Hank F threw down an .847 OPS which was a huge improvement over what Davis was doing.

Hank STBF in August but also had a .191 BABIP and was in need of a few days off that he never received.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."

"You want false modesty? F that."

by Josey Wales on Aug 23, 2011 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions

So you don't know why the team played better

You just know they played better because Blalock was starting every day, and they played worse because Blalock was out of the lineup.

I have a magical pen I can sell you that keeps tigers away. I know it keeps tigers away because, since I started carrying it around, no tigers have come around me.

by Adam J. Morris on Aug 23, 2011 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions 7 recs

Josey would be great at writing questions for the LSAT haha

"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 Aug 23, 2011 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions

oohh, how much for the pen?

- sports are fun. -

by b.pate on Aug 23, 2011 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions

Did you give Josey a TO?

Josh Hamilton: "I just show up, look at the lineup and play where I’m told. If they want me to catch, I’ll catch."
Jon Daniels on relationship with #Rangers Young: "I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." 2/19/11

by boomer1 on Aug 23, 2011 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions

He turned Josey into a tiger

by Heebs on Aug 23, 2011 3:35 PM CDT up reply actions

One of the reasons they immediately started playing better in July 2009 (17-8) is because

Hank F hung up an .847 OPS. They were no longer playing somebody who had 114Ks in 277 plate appearances not to mention an unsightly .250ish OBP.

An upgrade like that is probably going to make a difference and whaddya know, it did.

The team that scored 99 runs in 26 games (11-15 record) during June put up 123 runs in 25 games in July.

Was Hank F solely responsible for that improvement? No but the team was collectively more productive with him in the lineup than it had been CDavis.

Hank F struggled mightily from August 1- 23 and the Rangers wobbled as well …offensively (103 runs in 22 games) and with their record (11-11). …but burying him and giving the job back to Davis (with you, The Newberg, EGrant and several others beating the drum of influence) was a huge mistake and I said so at the time.

When they brought up Davis, they were out of post-season contention within three weeks. I think I quoted Carmela Soprano’s psychologist and proclaimed “You can never say that you weren’t warned or that nobody told you this.”

The magical pen you wrote about is going to play well with vast segments of LSB but Josey Wales got this one right.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."

"You want false modesty? F that."

by Josey Wales on Aug 23, 2011 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Obviously the fact that the Rangers gave up 5.3 runs per game in that 39-game stretch had nothing to do with it

In those last 39 games, the Rangers scored 186 runs, which is just under 4.8 per game. That’s a full-season pace of 772.6. The team scored 784 runs over the whole season, which is just over 4.8 per game.

The team gave up 298 runs over the same span, 5.3 per game. That’s a full-season pace of just under 864 runs allowed. Over the full season, the team allowed 740 — 4.6 runs per game.

So the team, in that 39-game span, scored at a similar pace to the full season, but gave up a lot more runs. Obviously Chris Davis’ bat is to blame for that.

by Inkara1 on Aug 23, 2011 6:17 PM CDT up reply actions

The Rangers fell 7.5 games behind the Angels on Sept.20 that year and were effectively done (7.5 back with 14 to play).

In the 27 games after Davis returned, the Rangers went 12-15 and scored 112 runs.

That’s a pace of 4.15 runs per game and 672 runs over 162 games.

Hank F started playing again after getting buried on September 19 and the Rangers scored 81 runs (5.4 runs per game) in those last 15 games.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

"Don't become the '82 Milwaukee Brewers."

"You want false modesty? F that."

by Josey Wales on Aug 23, 2011 6:45 PM CDT up reply actions

So everyone here claims you don't understand causation v. correlation

And you reply in turn by saying the reason he caused success is because it couldn’t have been a coincidence. …

by Jobu. on Aug 23, 2011 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions

What?

I can’t hear you with Hank F.’s balls in your mouth.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

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.

Dear Rangers, Make me forget about 2010.......

My Sports Stuff on Ebay

by matthewbschultz83 on Aug 23, 2011 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

JD has a knack for trading injured players.

by RangerMad on Aug 23, 2011 11:01 AM CDT reply actions

Honey Badger don't give a shit

by boomer1 on Aug 23, 2011 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions

I need to watch the video.

One of the guys here keeps using that phrase.

What are we at the park for except to win? I'd trip my mother. I'd help her up, brush her off, tell her I'm sorry. But mother don't make it to third. ~Leo Durocher

by Texfan1996 on Aug 23, 2011 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions