I do wonder what this indicates about the Texas Rangers' long-term plans at first base, since they don't appear to have been in that hard on Fielder or Pujols. Mitch Moreland can't be the long-term answer at first -- he's probably a platoon bat at best -- and they don't have a good first-base prospect in their upper levels, although they do have a top third-base prospect, Mike Olt, coming up behind Adrian Beltre. It's not necessary for them to upgrade at first to contend in the AL West, but it seemed like an obvious area for them to target heading into the offseason. Unless Moreland has an unexpected breakout and starts to hit left-handed pitching, it's probably their biggest untapped opportunity to add a few wins.
4 months ago
Adam J. Morris
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And unless the Rangers have Yankees pockets, they shouldn't be drastically overpaying just because that fills a need with a star player.
Improve elsewhere and just deal with first base being silly. Or make DH a kickass position of rest for your players.
SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!
Yeah,
I disagree with him here about Moreland probably being a platoon player at this point. That may be what he ends up being, but I don’t think it’s clear yet. I’m not as high on him as others around here, but I think he’s at least earned half a season where he is healthy to show if he can be a league average 1B.
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
by GhettoBear04 on Jan 25, 2012 11:09 AM CST up reply actions
Plus,
a contingency with Napoli and Young makes this less of a gamble. The Rangers can still get their big bats into the lineup.
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
by GhettoBear04 on Jan 25, 2012 11:10 AM CST up reply actions
What sort of slash line does he need to put up against LHPs to avoid the "platoon player" label?
"I have thought a lot about why people get so hostile online, and I have come to believe it is primarily because we live in a society with a hypertrophied sense of justice and an atrophied sense of humility and charity, to put the matter in terms of the classic virtues." --Alan Jacobs
Depends on PA
and how well he does against RHP.
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
by GhettoBear04 on Jan 25, 2012 1:53 PM CST up reply actions
The Moreland optimists
Are an interesting bunch. His minor league numbers don’t exactly affirm that we should expect much more than an average platoon player.
Exactly.
I think the Rangers need an answer to the question, “What is the long term solution at 1B?”
The answer is not, “Spend $200M+ on aging players.”
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
His contract
Is his age 28 through 36 years.
The bulk of the money paid will be to an aging player.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
is the contract backloaded?
I think he’ll be worth the money until perhaps the last two years of the deal.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
nobody feels that way clark.
will be a great deal by ilitch if he produces for 7 years
Go Cubbies and Go Rangers!
That is crazy optimistic.
I mean, he hasn’t really been worth the AAV of that contract at his BEST. His very best, in his peak years. Barely. And he’s now going to a more difficult league. And not getting any younger or trimmer.
There’s probably some hidden value in his last name being in a Tiger’s uniform, and where the Tigers are on the win curve, but still.
SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!
So
it looks like Prince Fielder will cease being a productive player by age 31
"If the Saints can reach the Superbowl, the Rangers can reach the World Series." - PhilKid
The Animated Ballpark in Arlington
Not aging, but.....
He’s getting fatter and fatter….
Mariano Rivera? Nope - I'll take Dale Mohorcic anyday....
by woodenskillet on Jan 25, 2012 2:55 PM CST up reply actions
At some point, he's going to lose a bit of power.
And when that happens, the balls will no longer have enough escape velocity to make it out of Prince’s gravity well and over the fence.
Every single baseball player is aging.
So, yes, he is.
And he is at an age when his aging starts to become more of a problem. Especially for someone of his body type. As Match points out, more of his contract will be past the typical prime than within, and that’s for a size of player that falls off a cliff more often.
SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!
Of course.
Insane markets are bad for acquiring any position.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Jan 25, 2012 1:12 PM CST up reply actions
Gammons said on twitter this morning
That he expects Votto’s price to be $250+
by Dirk Diggler on Jan 25, 2012 11:13 AM CST up reply actions
Votto will be 30 years old as a FA
So the likelihood of him getting a long enough deal to get 250 million is unlikely
But I do believe his AAV to be 24-26 million and probably 7-8 years in length
We just saw 2 GM's do stupid shit.
I wouldn’t be so sure another GM wouldn’t do more stupid shit when Votto hits FA.
"If he ain't struck you out, then you ain't nobody." - Ricky Henderson after Nolan Ryan's 5,000 strike out game
Well
One of those GMs signed arguably the best player of this generation which has outside benefits other than just on the field performance (record chasing, new TV deal, etc)
The other signed a insane deal that still only runs through the players age 36 season.
Votto will be 30 years old as a FA. Hes been great no doubt but I dont see him getting a 9 or 10 year deal which is what it’ll take to get him to the 250 number Gammons theorized.
Damn
I thought Vottos usually worked cheap.
/dat’s racist!
"Those cocksuckers asking me if I thought we were gonna go up there and try to work his fuckin’ pitch count ‘cause he’s on three fuckin’ days rest…you know what I told those cocksuckers? He pitch ball, ball cross plate, we gonna knock the shit out of it."
- Wash
Young would be off the books
plus vottos is a much better all around player than Prince is. Plus we were supposidly in on Prince hard until the Tigers came in, drunk, and money whipped him.
by texrangers31 on Jan 25, 2012 11:19 AM CST up reply actions
*in on him hard
I think there’s a joke in there somewhere
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
Well, Votto is going to the better player.
"I have thought a lot about why people get so hostile online, and I have come to believe it is primarily because we live in a society with a hypertrophied sense of justice and an atrophied sense of humility and charity, to put the matter in terms of the classic virtues." --Alan Jacobs
I'd wager he gets 8 years at a minimum, barring some unforeseen injury over the next couple of years.
"I have thought a lot about why people get so hostile online, and I have come to believe it is primarily because we live in a society with a hypertrophied sense of justice and an atrophied sense of humility and charity, to put the matter in terms of the classic virtues." --Alan Jacobs
Better bet to age well, I'd guess.
Though, at 30 instead of 27…
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
by GhettoBear04 on Jan 25, 2012 1:56 PM CST up reply actions
Olt is the long term answer at 1B as of right now
with Moreland being a capable stop-gap (alongside Young and Napoli)
Josey Wales: "And if you think intangibles really do exist, how in the F could you vote Ellsbury as the MVP?"
Adam J. Morris: "If it weren’t for my horse, I wouldn’t have spent that year in college."
Moving Olt to 1B loses a lot of value though.
He seems like an obvious trade piece.
Defending Big D Check it out
Twitter
"You guys are talking about living forever like it’s a real thing, but I bust out a man shoving his head into a vagina, and it’s srs time?"
--iorange555 8/23/2011
It's possible,
but Beltre has been so good at 3B throughout his career that he can regress and still be above average.
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
by GhettoBear04 on Jan 25, 2012 1:57 PM CST up reply actions
Olt is not the long-term answer at 1B
by Adam J. Morris on Jan 25, 2012 11:31 AM CST up reply actions
He is going to need to stay healthy and advance to RR this season.
Not that the injury last season was anything he had any control over. But he is 23 and never played above A+, he is going to have to perform at the upper levels before I start proclaiming him long-term at any position.
May not hit enough.
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
by GhettoBear04 on Jan 25, 2012 1:57 PM CST up reply actions
Yes, we are really getting ahead of ourselves
if we assume Olt is going to hit that well. Way ahead of ourselves. And that’s not even addressing the issue of whether or not it’s a good idea to use him at 1B instead of maximizing his value as a 3B when there just aren’t that many good 3B out there.
Some see a glass half empty, some a glass half full. I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be. - George Carlin
I would like for Olt to make it out of A ball before we even guess as to whether he'll hit enough to be a 3B
Much less a 1B.
His hit tool will probably shape up enough to hit .270… probably.
Lotta strikeouts though.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
Yeah, he still has some work to do
Some see a glass half empty, some a glass half full. I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be. - George Carlin
Lotta walks, too.
More encouraging than the same numbers from Chris Davis.
Garoon: Banned on LSB. Available Only Via Supplement.
I'm having a hard time imagining any scenario where Olt is still in our organization at the end of next year.
"I have thought a lot about why people get so hostile online, and I have come to believe it is primarily because we live in a society with a hypertrophied sense of justice and an atrophied sense of humility and charity, to put the matter in terms of the classic virtues." --Alan Jacobs
He'll be in Cincinatti
Some see a glass half empty, some a glass half full. I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be. - George Carlin
And...?
"I have thought a lot about why people get so hostile online, and I have come to believe it is primarily because we live in a society with a hypertrophied sense of justice and an atrophied sense of humility and charity, to put the matter in terms of the classic virtues." --Alan Jacobs
He'll buy a bow tie.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
Who will the Reds be giving us???
"I have thought a lot about why people get so hostile online, and I have come to believe it is primarily because we live in a society with a hypertrophied sense of justice and an atrophied sense of humility and charity, to put the matter in terms of the classic virtues." --Alan Jacobs
Oh... there'll be no players in return.
But when Jon Daniels dies, on his deathbed, he’ll achieve total consciousness.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
by Brad on Jan 25, 2012 2:16 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Thank you.
Took 30 minutes… I was starting to worry.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
not Pittsburgh
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
by GhettoBear04 on Jan 25, 2012 2:13 PM CST up reply actions
McCutchen to the Rangers simply makes too much sense.
He’s a great, young player. And the Rangers both have and covet great, young players. It just makes sense.
"I have thought a lot about why people get so hostile online, and I have come to believe it is primarily because we live in a society with a hypertrophied sense of justice and an atrophied sense of humility and charity, to put the matter in terms of the classic virtues." --Alan Jacobs
I may eventually write something up about that
[what the Rangers want, not McCutchen]
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
by GhettoBear04 on Jan 25, 2012 2:26 PM CST up reply actions
Pretty good, I think.
Though somebody who will have to move off the position as he ages.
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
by GhettoBear04 on Jan 25, 2012 2:57 PM CST up reply actions
Triples defense.
I believe it was a positioning issue by his previous manager that kept him very close to the wall.
Hurdle came in and had him play a more typical alignment.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
Good stuff, that's encouraging
I was just making sure he didn’t just post a Carlos Lee-esque UZR in ’11
Guzman is the long-term answer at 1B as of right now.
Garoon: Banned on LSB. Available Only Via Supplement.
And he's 16.
Score!
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.
"do you a jet ski rental place would work here" - Mike E, 5/10/2011.
lets wait until he is at least 17
20 youngest players to debut since WWII
Some well known names on the list
What would it take to get Paul Konerko?
2011 .300 .388 .517 .906
"God dammit TAG I swear to God if you keep this "It was a close play" shit up all night I will send you cookies made from my own shit" -River Fenix 8/26/2011
"this is a big reason I decided not to convert to Islam now if it was 72 skanks? Different story, my friend" Bob Loblaw 9/2/2011
by I am Neftali Feliz on Jan 25, 2012 11:26 AM CST reply actions
I'm interested.
what would that package look like?
by texrangers31 on Jan 25, 2012 11:31 AM CST up reply actions
They would ask for a lot
because that would be like finding the Pepe Frias baseball card to complete your 1979 Fleer set.
"the PGT isn’t about alerting drunk guys on their mobile as to what the score was." --goET 7-24-11
"Replace Ace? Done. Ace's was too long anyway." --Micah 1-17-12
white sox are rebuilding..... I doubt konerko would say no to go to a contender.
"God dammit TAG I swear to God if you keep this "It was a close play" shit up all night I will send you cookies made from my own shit" -River Fenix 8/26/2011
"this is a big reason I decided not to convert to Islam now if it was 72 skanks? Different story, my friend" Bob Loblaw 9/2/2011
by I am Neftali Feliz on Jan 25, 2012 11:39 AM CST up reply actions
that was supposed to be a reply to woowoo
"God dammit TAG I swear to God if you keep this "It was a close play" shit up all night I will send you cookies made from my own shit" -River Fenix 8/26/2011
"this is a big reason I decided not to convert to Islam now if it was 72 skanks? Different story, my friend" Bob Loblaw 9/2/2011
by I am Neftali Feliz on Jan 25, 2012 11:39 AM CST up reply actions
Fleer didn't make baseball cards in 1979.
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.......
by matthewbschultz83 on Jan 25, 2012 1:56 PM CST up reply actions
Konerko has 10/5 rights
I believe he has put the kibosh on leaving Chicago.
I like where your mind is at.
by BTWooWoo on Jan 25, 2012 11:35 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
WooWoo? Is that you?
Defending Big D Check it out
Twitter
"You guys are talking about living forever like it’s a real thing, but I bust out a man shoving his head into a vagina, and it’s srs time?"
--iorange555 8/23/2011
we never doubted you
NO This is why i dont come here so much anymore. it has become a destination for certain types which i am not. Love the rangers, not this -- Mark from OC on Arrested Development
Justin Verlander? I piss on Justin Verlander --AJM
oops...
white sox are rebuilding….. I doubt konerko would say no to go to a contender.
"God dammit TAG I swear to God if you keep this "It was a close play" shit up all night I will send you cookies made from my own shit" -River Fenix 8/26/2011
"this is a big reason I decided not to convert to Islam now if it was 72 skanks? Different story, my friend" Bob Loblaw 9/2/2011
by I am Neftali Feliz on Jan 25, 2012 11:39 AM CST up reply actions
He was willing to go to DBacks last year. He lives in Arizona.
DBacks put the waiver claim on him lat year, but DBacks weren’t willing to give up Paul Goldschmidt + prospects.
Everybody needs somebody to love... I need Yu, Yu, Yu! I need Yu, Yu, Yu!
I hope I haven't offended the Blues Brothers with this.
Didn't they briefly flirt with the idea
of making him a player manager. It would be a complete 180 to turn around and trade the guy.
"Calmer than you are dude"
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Jan 25, 2012 12:29 PM CST up reply actions
ITS THE WOOWOO !
NO This is why i dont come here so much anymore. it has become a destination for certain types which i am not. Love the rangers, not this -- Mark from OC on Arrested Development
Justin Verlander? I piss on Justin Verlander --AJM
Don't encourage him.
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
by Ryin A on Jan 25, 2012 12:55 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
and furthermore
he’s going to be paid something like $25M over the next two years at age 36-37.
Some see a glass half empty, some a glass half full. I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be. - George Carlin
If the Rangers sign Hamilton to a long-term deal
Would he not be a candidate for 1B in a few years as he starts to age?
by Rangers Fan Mike on Jan 25, 2012 11:42 AM CST reply actions
Let's not think about the subject part of your idea.
by kchorton on Jan 25, 2012 11:46 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
I'm not for the Rangers signing Hamilton to a long-term deal
But if they do, it makes sense that he could eventually transition into a first base role.
by Rangers Fan Mike on Jan 25, 2012 11:51 AM CST up reply actions
34 year old Chris Davis at 17 mil a year.
Where do I sign?
Defending Big D Check it out
Twitter
"You guys are talking about living forever like it’s a real thing, but I bust out a man shoving his head into a vagina, and it’s srs time?"
--iorange555 8/23/2011
Josh seems to think so...
“It comes down to what you want,” Hamilton said on Monday night. “I see people comparing us. Put him in center field and see how long he lasts. Put me at first and see how long I last. He’s played 160 games in a season a lot. I haven’t. There are pros and cons. It’s pretty fun to watch.”
by dblbgy on Jan 25, 2012 11:51 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
....
It’s not necessary for them to upgrade at first to contend in the AL West
Truth. Some teams have beastly 1B
along with weak hitting catchers. We had the opposite for most of last year and that worked out OK.
"the PGT isn’t about alerting drunk guys on their mobile as to what the score was." --goET 7-24-11
"Replace Ace? Done. Ace's was too long anyway." --Micah 1-17-12
"they don't appear to have been in that hard on Fielder."
Well, they didn’t offer the player nine-years, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t trying to find ways to acquire the player. I hate it when the national media makes such black and white proclamations. It’s lazy.
by jparks77 on Jan 25, 2012 11:53 AM CST reply actions 2 recs
Thad definitely disagrees with this statement.
Everybody needs somebody to love... I need Yu, Yu, Yu! I need Yu, Yu, Yu!
I hope I haven't offended the Blues Brothers with this.
You can go in hard without going in with nine.
"the PGT isn’t about alerting drunk guys on their mobile as to what the score was." --goET 7-24-11
"Replace Ace? Done. Ace's was too long anyway." --Micah 1-17-12
I meant the statement of the national writer.
Thad is on record that the Rangers went hard after Fielder through extensive creative contract/trade ideas.
Everybody needs somebody to love... I need Yu, Yu, Yu! I need Yu, Yu, Yu!
I hope I haven't offended the Blues Brothers with this.
Exactly
Everything is not so black and white. If you take the time to required to meet with either player/agent, formulate (internally) what you are capable/willing of spending on said player, that speaks to the inherent interest in the process of signing that player. Showing an unwillingness to go nine years and $214M doesn’t indicate that the team wasn’t making efforts to acquire the player. It was ubiquitous in print that the Rangers were a team that needed to get creative to work out a deal that fit the parameters they outlined. Taking the time to think outside the box in order to land a player that you can’t afford to go big on speaks to the effort involved.
Reverend!!
"If he ain't struck you out, then you ain't nobody." - Ricky Henderson after Nolan Ryan's 5,000 strike out game
Hey, if the Tigers and Angels miss the playoffs this year, what do their fans do?
SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!
Lament the rise in ticket prices next year.
"the PGT isn’t about alerting drunk guys on their mobile as to what the score was." --goET 7-24-11
"Replace Ace? Done. Ace's was too long anyway." --Micah 1-17-12
This is exactly what was said when they got Cabrera.
SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!
I would've said the same thing before they acquired Prince.
That division sucks.
My point is that guarantees are fragile things in sports.
SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!
The Indians are going to compete.
"I have thought a lot about why people get so hostile online, and I have come to believe it is primarily because we live in a society with a hypertrophied sense of justice and an atrophied sense of humility and charity, to put the matter in terms of the classic virtues." --Alan Jacobs
If they can get Roberto Hernandez back.
"the PGT isn’t about alerting drunk guys on their mobile as to what the score was." --goET 7-24-11
"Replace Ace? Done. Ace's was too long anyway." --Micah 1-17-12
Heredia, dammit. HEREDIA.
"I have thought a lot about why people get so hostile online, and I have come to believe it is primarily because we live in a society with a hypertrophied sense of justice and an atrophied sense of humility and charity, to put the matter in terms of the classic virtues." --Alan Jacobs
Mind = Blown
"I have thought a lot about why people get so hostile online, and I have come to believe it is primarily because we live in a society with a hypertrophied sense of justice and an atrophied sense of humility and charity, to put the matter in terms of the classic virtues." --Alan Jacobs
I hear he's really a Molina
but his inability to catch caused him to take on a different name.
"the PGT isn’t about alerting drunk guys on their mobile as to what the score was." --goET 7-24-11
"Replace Ace? Done. Ace's was too long anyway." --Micah 1-17-12
Just Mauer's legs and Morneau's brain
@AdamLikesBeer If you are in Minneapolis I can tell you where to get a good brew.
by TargetField on Jan 25, 2012 12:33 PM CST up reply actions
all it takes is a couple of key injuries
NO This is why i dont come here so much anymore. it has become a destination for certain types which i am not. Love the rangers, not this -- Mark from OC on Arrested Development
Justin Verlander? I piss on Justin Verlander --AJM
Fielder for VMart is not that great of an upgrade.
Avila will probably regress a bit. They’ll probably be a couple of wins better, though. Although, we’ll see how much, if at all, the Indians starters regress.
I shortened my sig so I wouldn't be frowned upon at Lookout Landing
strained hammy for Prince or Cabrera?
and some regression to the mean for Valverde and Verlander?
And some luck dragon magic, a la Arizona, from the Royals?
ask Eagles and Red Sox fans for advice
Dallas Stars Examiner
used to be under name hinduplaya
by MayurP on Jan 25, 2012 12:32 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
The same thing Phillies fans did when their dream team lost in the 1st round
Nothing.
by Rangers Fan Mike on Jan 25, 2012 11:56 AM CST reply actions
I guess Ryan Howard is their Pujols or Fielder.
Just even more so.
SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!
Cliff Lee
was their Pujols or Fielder last winter.
by Rangers Fan Mike on Jan 25, 2012 11:59 AM CST up reply actions
Is he as drastic an overpay?
I would not have been fine with giving Lee that contract, but it wouldn’t have sent me in to a rage.
If the Rangers had topped the Angels or Tigers for Pujols or Fielder, I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.
SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!
No, I don't think his contract was a huge overpay
I was looking at it from the perspective of the big contract that provides the missing piece to the puzzle that will get them to the WS. I lost sleep last winter because the Rangers didn’t get the deal done.
by Rangers Fan Mike on Jan 25, 2012 1:06 PM CST up reply actions
Wow, I was sad there was no Lee on the Rangers, but not because I wished the Rangers had top the Phillies.
SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!
Is the 5 year $125 mil deal for Howard
A better or worse investment than 9/214 for Prince. I think the Howard deal is worse still?
my better is better than your better.
by rangerjake on Jan 25, 2012 1:05 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Did Law get passed over by Houston?
Everybody needs somebody to love... I need Yu, Yu, Yu! I need Yu, Yu, Yu!
I hope I haven't offended the Blues Brothers with this.
He turned them down.
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
Or did he?
"Calmer than you are dude"
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Jan 25, 2012 12:29 PM CST up reply actions
Along those lines...
http://paullebowitz.com/blog/?p=3705
Everybody needs somebody to love... I need Yu, Yu, Yu! I need Yu, Yu, Yu!
I hope I haven't offended the Blues Brothers with this.
He seems mad
And his site tagline is quite a humblebrag
by Dirk Diggler on Jan 25, 2012 1:21 PM CST up reply actions
Meh,
Law can be overly snarky, but that was a painful piece of writing.
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
by GhettoBear04 on Jan 25, 2012 2:02 PM CST up reply actions
Had "I'm a conspiracy theorist"
written all over it.
The Moneyball review and subsequent discussion was quite interesting.
I think Law is a very smart man with good knowledge… I think he loses perspective from time to time about his actual knowledge and doesn’t second guess himself enough. I think this is true of many many many smart people.
It’s an easy trap to fall into.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
Yeah
His tone is very off-putting, but I think he’s been a step ahead of the curve regarding stats and how much they can tell us. That last part sounds more optimistic/positive than I’d like, but I don’t know how to phrase it properly.
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
by GhettoBear04 on Jan 25, 2012 2:06 PM CST up reply actions
I got a malware warning earlier in the day that referenced this site. What the hell is going on? Suggested that LSB may have been hacked?
"I have thought a lot about why people get so hostile online, and I have come to believe it is primarily because we live in a society with a hypertrophied sense of justice and an atrophied sense of humility and charity, to put the matter in terms of the classic virtues." --Alan Jacobs
I don't know, but he's definitely not the best writer I've never heard of.
Garoon: Banned on LSB. Available Only Via Supplement.
In fact, he seems to have trained at the Galloway School of Sportswriting.
Garoon: Banned on LSB. Available Only Via Supplement.
I wondered if the Astros preferred Fast to Law.
Everybody needs somebody to love... I need Yu, Yu, Yu! I need Yu, Yu, Yu!
I hope I haven't offended the Blues Brothers with this.
Nice to have that cleared up.
Everybody needs somebody to love... I need Yu, Yu, Yu! I need Yu, Yu, Yu!
I hope I haven't offended the Blues Brothers with this.
x
DKnobler @DKnobler
Teams are waiting for the OK to start bidding on Cespedes. There’s still a feeling that Cespedes really doesn’t want to go to Marlins.
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.
"do you a jet ski rental place would work here" - Mike E, 5/10/2011.
x
DKnobler @DKnobler
Also on Cespedes: He has told teams he would prefer not to play in Miami. If so, he has interesting decision if Marlins still bid big.
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.
"do you a jet ski rental place would work here" - Mike E, 5/10/2011.
He doesn't want to go to Miami, and the Nats think he's a LF or 1B
This should be a fun process.
Defending Big D Check it out
Twitter
"You guys are talking about living forever like it’s a real thing, but I bust out a man shoving his head into a vagina, and it’s srs time?"
--iorange555 8/23/2011
Would ya?
"Calmer than you are dude"
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Jan 25, 2012 12:56 PM CST up reply actions
Are you asking if I would have sex with Yeonys Cespedes?
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.
"do you a jet ski rental place would work here" - Mike E, 5/10/2011.
*Yoenis
I butchered that.
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.
"do you a jet ski rental place would work here" - Mike E, 5/10/2011.
Your overeagerness lead you to err
We’re not about sending messages. We’re about winning ballgames.-Wash, 04/03/11
Hell to the fucking no. -Wash, 10/07/11
Goldstein called him the best five tool player from Cuba...
I don’t recall the context. Perhaps ever… perhaps recently. Can’t remember.
I would certainly be interested… especially given the lack of obvious options to add close to ML ready position player talent.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
I'm intrigued as well.
And his Winter Ball showing means very little to me. I think it’s funny how much people are freaking out over that.
"Calmer than you are dude"
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Jan 25, 2012 1:16 PM CST up reply actions
Reeeeeeeeallly?
That’s interesante.
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
by GhettoBear04 on Jan 25, 2012 1:55 PM CST up reply actions
Certainly makes the Rangers seem more in the picture, doesn't it?
Garoon: Banned on LSB. Available Only Via Supplement.
Yes, but
Yankees Moneypenis is not small. Cubs moneypenis is smaller than Yankees Moneypenis, but still nothing to scoff at.
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
by GhettoBear04 on Jan 25, 2012 3:23 PM CST up reply actions
I did everything I could to help 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.
"do you a jet ski rental place would work here" - Mike E, 5/10/2011.
I'm starting to believe the Yankees really want to get under the luxury tax threshold for one year.
Just to reset the escalating percentage.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
I agree.
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.
"do you a jet ski rental place would work here" - Mike E, 5/10/2011.
Yeah,
that was an interesting piece of information, that resetting bit. Also helps explain that odd Scutaro trade.
But…would offering him a giant bonus still count towards the tax limit?
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
by GhettoBear04 on Jan 25, 2012 3:28 PM CST up reply actions
I think so.
And it’s not as much a commentary on someone like Cespedes… just the big long term contracts. Their goals 2014.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
I haven't heard any rumored interest from TX
but Preller and Daly were at the NYY complex on one of the days of his 3-day workout with them. However, they were there to see a previously scheduled game between the club’s DSL teams.
Not having heard anything about Cespedes makes me think Soler will be donning the Rangers’ cap. Though I wonder if he really gets what Martin got much less the 20m he is rumored to be going for, given how far he is from contributing( unless its like for a 6-7 year contract or something). At least the club was positive that Martin would compete for a spot in 2012 when they inked him to the 5 year deal.
That was Nov 7
This Badler article paints a pretty positive picture for Cespedes. The only question seems to be whether or not he’ll be ready to start the season in a lineup or if he’ll require some seasoning; he hadn’t played in almost 10 months before his brief WL stint.
Make them eat the contract and give us Morneau
Could be gold, or we are still with Mitch :D
@AdamLikesBeer If you are in Minneapolis I can tell you where to get a good brew.
Morneau's head scares me
"If he ain't struck you out, then you ain't nobody." - Ricky Henderson after Nolan Ryan's 5,000 strike out game
Yep.
"I have thought a lot about why people get so hostile online, and I have come to believe it is primarily because we live in a society with a hypertrophied sense of justice and an atrophied sense of humility and charity, to put the matter in terms of the classic virtues." --Alan Jacobs
And it's kind of appropriate to the thread's central topic!
My mind just says throw ball throw hard and strike. - Marteen
Hahahah.
He even has a boring last name and a beard…he’s perfect for them.
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
by GhettoBear04 on Jan 25, 2012 1:54 PM CST up reply actions
Didn't pursue Fielder? Really?
I’m getting really frustrated by the idea that the Rangers aren’t pursuing Fielder. I believe that they pursue every option available. To them Fielder for $200 million wasn’t an option and they remained open to Fielder as long as his price came down. I respect Keith Law but get frustrated by his assumption that they “don’t have plans at first base” and “should have” pursue Fielder. The Texas Rangers have dominated the AL West the past two years without an elite first baseman and believe that not being hindered by a $200 million contract will allow them the affordable to find an elite first baseman. If Jon Daniels can upgrade a position, he will but he won’t do it at the sacrifice of a financially responsible organization.
hmmm
ML rank for Rangers from 1B position
fWAR: 5
wRC+: 6
wOBA: 6
I know Napoli and MY did the heavy lifting at 1B for the Rangers last year. But just how much of a need is 1B right now when Wash has the options that he does?
It's been exaggerated greatly
People are underrating Moreland a bit and forgetting how nice it is to have Napoli in the lineup when he’s not catching, but still have DH open for Young, Hamilton, Beltre, Cruz, etc.
Some see a glass half empty, some a glass half full. I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be. - George Carlin
This doesn't seem accurate.
Even with Napoli and Young… I don’t think FanGraphs limits it’s team data by position to only the actual performance when playing that position.
Baseball Reference does… but it doesn’t derive those values.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
Yes, what you said.
I think they act as if Napoli and Young got all their PA at 1B.
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
by GhettoBear04 on Jan 25, 2012 2:27 PM CST up reply actions
Or Moreland for that matter.
Some of his best offensive periods were with him in RF.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
IIRC,
FanGraphs FUBARs the PA on that.
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
by GhettoBear04 on Jan 25, 2012 2:27 PM CST up reply actions
The "need" isn't so much for 2012 as it is looking long term at the organization
Both to upgrade over Moreland, and to replace some of the lost offense when Josh and/or Napoli leaves in FA after 2012
It was the only real position you could insert someone new for the 2012 squad thats why its the position most talked about. Only other area you could possibly get someone new for would be CF but that hasn’t been talked about as much because of Leonys who the Rangers obviously feel is the CF of the future here given the committment they made to him.
Interesting read on whether or not to sign Josh long-term.
"the PGT isn’t about alerting drunk guys on their mobile as to what the score was." --goET 7-24-11
"Replace Ace? Done. Ace's was too long anyway." --Micah 1-17-12
X
One afternoon a few years ago, Josh Hamilton was sitting in the video room at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, talking about his return to baseball after a four-year hiatus. “I’m surprised that [my] body has done as well as it has, the way I treated it all those years, the hell I put it through,” he told me. “I’m surprised that I haven’t been hurt more than I have been. Hopefully I can play 150 [games] or so every season.”
"the PGT isn’t about alerting drunk guys on their mobile as to what the score was." --goET 7-24-11
"Replace Ace? Done. Ace's was too long anyway." --Micah 1-17-12
I think this has been discussed before but..
Does it make any sense whatsoever to have Josh at 1b later in his career?
He preemptively denounced it in a recent interview
which is clever, on his part.
But, it makes too much sense. You really lessen his value, though, so the tough question would be when?
I didn't read that as denouncing the possibility
We all know it would take a lengthy adjustment period.
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.
"do you a jet ski rental place would work here" - Mike E, 5/10/2011.
Not in the Rangers situation
You really don’t have anybody to replace him in the outfield. He is a better bat in left field, and a better fielder than anyone in the organization in left. He also gives you some utility in Center. If you find a hotshot to play left field, then you can talk about moving him, but right now it is probably counter productive.
Cespedes is officially a FA.
Get ready for the frenzy.
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.
"do you a jet ski rental place would work here" - Mike E, 5/10/2011.
Wake me when Soler is there to be signed
"If the Saints can reach the Superbowl, the Rangers can reach the World Series." - PhilKid
The Animated Ballpark in Arlington
Did you see what I posted the other day from Badler?
I asked him if Soler would make our top 10 prospects and he said “absolutely,” which makes me believe he’d make it with ease.
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.
"do you a jet ski rental place would work here" - Mike E, 5/10/2011.
he'd probably be 3rd or 4th
maybe 2nd if you don’t count Yu Darvish
"If the Saints can reach the Superbowl, the Rangers can reach the World Series." - PhilKid
The Animated Ballpark in Arlington
Better than Perez?
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.
"do you a jet ski rental place would work here" - Mike E, 5/10/2011.
Maybe
probably not
"If the Saints can reach the Superbowl, the Rangers can reach the World Series." - PhilKid
The Animated Ballpark in Arlington
I think it will be 20+
"If the Saints can reach the Superbowl, the Rangers can reach the World Series." - PhilKid
The Animated Ballpark in Arlington
Soler
Would have been a top 10 draft pick in the Rule 4, and most certainly a top five prospect in the Rangers deep system.
1. Profar
2. Perez
3. Soler
4. Olt
5. Ramirez
How does he compare to a guy like Akins?
How much more polished is he?
"If the Saints can reach the Superbowl, the Rangers can reach the World Series." - PhilKid
The Animated Ballpark in Arlington
I haven't seen him, so I can't really speak to how polished he is
He has a lot of tool projection, which excites me (of course). Akins was a multi-sport athlete that only switched his focus to baseball after being drafting. Big emphasis on “athlete.” Soler is a baseball player, coming from an environment where that sport is of great importance.
Having seen scouting reports and spoken to some in the international market, if forced to choose, I’d go with the younger player that has more room to develop and acclimate to professional baseball in the states. Cespedes has crazy flashy tools, but I’d go with Soler.
What is your take
on Cespedes? What kind of hitter will he likely be? Think he sill need time in AAA?
As for Soler, can you give us the thumbnail on his tools (per your sources), what level he likely starts off at, and what OF position he likely sticks at in the bigs?
Cespedes
I have reservations about him, but I haven’t seen him person so my opinion is heavily influenced by sources and the brief viewings of him in the DR winter league. He has enormous tools, but probably ends up in a corner, where the power will certainly play at any level. His hit tool might present a bit of a problem, as he struggles against arm-side off-speed stuff, which could eat him alive in the majors. Given his age, I’d be hesitant to give him the $50M+ he is set to receive, mostly because he isn’t a finished product and the developmental window isn’t exactly wide open.
As for Soler, his tools aren’t as crazy as Cespedes, but the power potential is said to have plus (to plus-plus) projection. He’s an up-the-middle talent right now, but will probably end up in RF, as the body is big and the athleticism will likely tick down as he continues to mature. The speed is good (but not great), the arm is strong, the hit tool has a chance to be at least average and perhaps more. The total package isn’t as promising as Cespedes, but from a developmental standpoint, acquiring Soler at age 19 has more benefit. The younger the better, when it comes to player development.
I'm on board for any legit
RF prospect.
And due to the uncertainty surrounding Cespedes’ ETA, 50m is really really steep (I’m betting 5-7m AAV). I’m thinking Soler doesn’t get more than Martin as that would be just crazy for a 19yo.
Thanks for taking the time to ponder these 2 guys.
Scouting info
Are teams allowed to have scouts in Cuba? It they are not getting reports directly from staff in Cuba, are their reports limited to intl. tourney play?
I think teams were very aware of his talent
but until they could work him out and see the player in a controlled environment, it was more abstract than your average evaluation.
Well I'm sold now.
Thank you for your input, Jason. I hope everything went well with your friend. I’m sorry that happened.
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.
"do you a jet ski rental place would work here" - Mike E, 5/10/2011.
I want both
Couldn’t care less about Cuban Robbie Ross, but an all Cubano outfield in a few years = OK.
"The Rangers system just happens to be stupid with depth." - Jason Parks, 7/14/11
2011-07-25 17:44:05 - benjihana: Ahh my backdoor!!!
"It appears I made a mistake. I did not know what pegged meant" - Schultzy, 11/13/11
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