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

ESPN Predicts Rangers as Baseball's Best Over Next Five Years

So we should get used to it, then?

Jim Bowden, Keith Law and Buster Olney have been jointly running a feature attempting to measure the potential for each team in baseball over the next half decade. Using a formula for ranking each team in five different categories (Major league roster quality, minor league system quality, finances, management and mobility [the age and cost of players on roster]) the troika of writers have determined that the Rangers are "baseball's model franchise these days."

The article is behind the ESPN Insider wall, but I'll give you a little taste. Bowden's "Next Step" for the Rangers begins with:

Perhaps the biggest issue facing the Rangers will be to figure out on which fingers their World Series rings will go.

The top five teams listed are Texas, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay, St. Louis, and Boston. As for the rest of the AL West, the Angels are ranked 7th, the Mariners are ranked 18th, the A's are ranked 23rd, and the future AL West Astros are ranked 29th.

Richard Durrett has a pretty lengthy piece on how the Rangers were able to transition from small market disaster to, as Olney writes, "a superpower."

It's a pretty good time to like Texas Rangers baseball.

At noon Law will be answering questions at ESPN here. You can go ask him questions about how awesome the Rangers are or about Leonys Martin's hit tool if you like.

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chin up buddy

"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 Feb 16, 2012 11:38 AM CST up reply actions  

On the scale they came up with...

Rangers came in at 91.1, Yankees at 83.4 and Rays at 74.1.

Go Rangers! Go Cowboys! Go FSU!

by tdi1985 on Feb 16, 2012 11:17 AM CST reply actions  

Rays...

They came in with that high of a score and their composite score on finances was 2 out of 30.

Go Rangers! Go Cowboys! Go FSU!

by tdi1985 on Feb 16, 2012 11:18 AM CST up reply actions  

So the Rangers and Angels have the ratcheting up rivalry thing going on...

but how long will it be until the Rangers and Rays are considered rivals? Rays fans have to already kind of hate the Rangers in the way we hated the Yankees back in the 90s, right?

by ghostofErikThompson on Feb 16, 2012 11:28 AM CST up reply actions  

I remember ESPN calling the Yankees our rivals mid-season in 99.

All it might take then is it looking like a rematch this postseason.

SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!

by philkid3 on Feb 16, 2012 11:36 AM CST via iPhone app up reply actions  

Speaking as someone that lives in Tampa...

I can tell you that Rays fans really do not like the Rangers.

Go Rangers! Go Cowboys! Go FSU!

by tdi1985 on Feb 16, 2012 11:40 AM CST up reply actions  

Rivals

implies the teams don’t like each other (or the fans don’t like each other).

Texas and LA Angels are rivals. we don’t like them, they don’t like us.

Now we hate the Yankees, but we’re still beneath their notice.

similarly the Rays (and their fan) hate us, but we don’t really pay any attention to that.

(btw, the Twins really don’t like the Yankees, as do the Royals, Red Sox, Orioles, Blue Jays, A’s, M’s, Angels, etc. in other words, everyone hates the Yankees. The only team the Yankees recognize as someone to hate is the Red Sox.)

Nobody here obsesses over hating the Rays. we just hope we get them in the first round of the playoffs so we can stomp them and move on.

Why don't you have a nice big cup of shut the fuck up? - Lisa W 3/4/2011

by iblum on Feb 16, 2012 12:55 PM CST up reply actions  

I had sports hate for Garza

But other than that, and since he’s gone, I’d agree

They’re a good team, that we’re lucky doesn’t have more payroll room to be better. And it’s been nice to get past them to the ALCS two years in a row … hard not to like, really.

by CO Ranger on Feb 16, 2012 1:48 PM CST up reply actions  

I've been wondering about that.

Which version do you think makes them more mad?

2010: Beat you at your own game

or

2011: This time, there’s a moneypenis

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 1:43 PM CST up reply actions  

That would imply the Rays have fans.

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 Feb 17, 2012 1:07 PM CST up reply actions  

BTW... that score is insane.

The Rangers are basically top five at worst in every category. Top 2 in several.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 11:56 AM CST up reply actions  

I haven't looked yet,

but I’m surprised that Law is that high on the org. Anecdotally, It seems like he’s often a bit more ‘pessimistic’ about the Rangers farm system.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 1:45 PM CST up reply actions  

Guess so.

Now that I’ve looked at it…it’s at the same time well done and so very sad that the only perfect 30 is the Yankees Finances. Le sigh.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 1:56 PM CST up reply actions  

This scale

Pessimistic or not about the specific players, this seems to be weighing the players as well as the minor league operation, and the Rangers surely grade out well there. They spend on scouts, complexes, players and they have a range of high-upside guys to solid-average/better bet guys throughout the levels.

by CO Ranger on Feb 16, 2012 1:50 PM CST up reply actions  

I've been saying all this for a year

Also, who the heck could possibly be worse than the Astros??

I hate The Angels so much, it's actually cramping my style. (See RevHaloFans SBN profile page)

by Gay For Feliz on Feb 16, 2012 11:20 AM CST via mobile reply actions  

I miss SheaWasBettor.

Garoon: Banned on LSB. Available Only Via Supplement.

by Snark on Feb 16, 2012 11:44 AM CST up reply actions  

I miss Death Snark.

We’re not about sending messages. We’re about winning ballgames.-Wash, 04/03/11
Hell to the fucking no. -Wash, 10/07/11

by Rodney on Feb 16, 2012 1:23 PM CST up reply actions  

The Orioles have some

I hate The Angels so much, it's actually cramping my style. (See RevHaloFans SBN profile page)

by Gay For Feliz on Feb 16, 2012 1:50 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

The Orioles have some young players with really good upside

The Astors have no talent on their team whatsoever.

I hate The Angels so much, it's actually cramping my style. (See RevHaloFans SBN profile page)

by Gay For Feliz on Feb 16, 2012 1:51 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

Yep.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 2:04 PM CST up reply actions  

There's also a terrifying velocity drop on pitchers pretty much throughout the system

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 2:06 PM CST up reply actions  

I wonder if they find a way to ruin Dylan Bundy

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 2:45 PM CST up reply actions  

Also...

five years from now, Adam should make this a “This Day in LSB History” so we can talk about how fun it was when ESPN predicted the Rangers’ five-peat.

by ghostofErikThompson on Feb 16, 2012 11:31 AM CST reply actions   1 recs

If that's the case

Then it will be more of a question of which hands each ring will go on

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."

by Gdawg on Feb 16, 2012 11:34 AM CST up reply actions  

Two words.

Toe
Rings

"Back in Irish's day you had to kill a man before you were taken seriously in polite society." - Aquaman56 06/25/10
If everything I do is wrong, then goddamn, I do it right!

by Samuel_L_Bronkowitz on Feb 16, 2012 11:40 AM CST up reply actions  

/Cuban

I shortened my sig so I wouldn't be frowned upon at Lookout Landing

by chrisR on Feb 16, 2012 12:46 PM CST up reply actions  

Cock Ring

Best Minor League System in baseball, Best Overseas scouting in baseball, Best Front Office in baseball, and, of course, the Moneypenis™ Jorge C 1/28/12

by Parman on Feb 16, 2012 8:57 PM CST up reply actions  

The farm, the front office, the increasing finances, and the talent still being there on the big team. . .

. . . all work together to make the sting from the series way less.

It will always hurt, but it hurts less when you can believe relatively comfortably the team will win one sooner rather than later.

SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!

by philkid3 on Feb 16, 2012 11:40 AM CST via iPhone app up reply actions  

It will stop hurting when they get #1

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

by Josh Lile on Feb 16, 2012 11:59 AM CST up reply actions   2 recs

Right there with ya, brother.....

Amen to that….

"I never argue with people who say that baseball is boring, because baseball is boring. And then, suddenly, it isn’t. And that’s what makes it great." - Joe Posnanski

"And when Josh leaves, The Window closes." JW 2-9-12

by GhostofSteveFoucault on Feb 16, 2012 1:20 PM CST up reply actions  

2006 NBA Season merely makes me frustrated now

as opposed to HoboPunchingMad

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 1:47 PM CST up reply actions  

Totally disagree.

But then I can’t possibly no.

It will hurt less when it was “one strike from having a title” to “one strike from having two,” though. I just doubt it will go away.

SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!

by philkid3 on Feb 16, 2012 2:19 PM CST up reply actions  

Yep.

"The Angels are like the villain in the movie that isn't dead until he's been stabbed 150 times in the bath tub, yet he still might come back up one more time." - Eric Nadel

by TXHC on Feb 17, 2012 1:34 AM CST up reply actions  

If this doesn't get you ready for baseball

nothing will.

I do hate to even read the mention of Elvis in a Yankees uniform….

"I never argue with people who say that baseball is boring, because baseball is boring. And then, suddenly, it isn’t. And that’s what makes it great." - Joe Posnanski

"And when Josh leaves, The Window closes." JW 2-9-12

by GhostofSteveFoucault on Feb 16, 2012 11:34 AM CST reply actions  

I agree.

SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!

by philkid3 on Feb 16, 2012 11:35 AM CST via iPhone app reply actions  

My question about St. Louis: where are the bats gonna come from?

I don’t know much about their farm system, and the Machine is gone, who’s gonna step up?

"Back in Irish's day you had to kill a man before you were taken seriously in polite society." - Aquaman56 06/25/10
If everything I do is wrong, then goddamn, I do it right!

by Samuel_L_Bronkowitz on Feb 16, 2012 11:42 AM CST reply actions  

They still have Holliday and Berkman

And added Beltran who can still hit. Their farm system is high quality as well.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 11:54 AM CST up reply actions  

Berkman is a fossil and Holliday is past his peak at best.

That doesn’t instill hope if I’m a Cards fan.

"Back in Irish's day you had to kill a man before you were taken seriously in polite society." - Aquaman56 06/25/10
If everything I do is wrong, then goddamn, I do it right!

by Samuel_L_Bronkowitz on Feb 16, 2012 11:57 AM CST up reply actions  

Even though I expect him to take a step back,

Allen Craig is another good hitter 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 Feb 16, 2012 1:49 PM CST up reply actions  

Definitely

I don’t think he’s a .400 wOBA guy over a full season, but he’s definitely a good hitter

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 1:50 PM CST up reply actions  

They were 4th in team wRC+ last year.

Again, I see them stepping back a bit, but Beltran and more Craig should help cover up some of the loss of Pujols.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 1:52 PM CST up reply actions  

Where do you see Beltran's wOBA next year?

No way he’s at .390 again?

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 1:55 PM CST up reply actions  

Something around his career average,

which would be pretty good.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 1:58 PM CST up reply actions  

would be .372

They’d definitely be happy with that in STL

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 1:59 PM CST up reply actions  

Yeah, I'd say so.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 2:00 PM CST up reply actions  

THEY'RE HAPPY ENOUGH ALREADY IN STL!

I hate The Angels so much, it's actually cramping my style. (See RevHaloFans SBN profile page)

by Gay For Feliz on Feb 16, 2012 2:02 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

Ogando agrees

Too soon?

I hate The Angels so much, it's actually cramping my style. (See RevHaloFans SBN profile page)

by Gay For Feliz on Feb 16, 2012 1:53 PM CST via mobile up reply actions   1 recs

Yes

Fuck you

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 1:58 PM CST up reply actions  

It's all I can think about when the town is mentioned

I hate The Angels so much, it's actually cramping my style. (See RevHaloFans SBN profile page)

by Gay For Feliz on Feb 16, 2012 1:59 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

That town*

I think of Affleck when “The Town” is mentioned

I hate The Angels so much, it's actually cramping my style. (See RevHaloFans SBN profile page)

by Gay For Feliz on Feb 16, 2012 2:00 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

ZiPS has Craig at .276/.329/.454

think STL would be happy with that?

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 1:57 PM CST up reply actions  

Probably not 'happy'

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 1:58 PM CST up reply actions  

Has anyone looked at the Bill James Baseball IQ iphone app?

It’s got some great graphical data for hitter and pitcher tendencies.

by 3hacks on Feb 16, 2012 12:01 PM CST reply actions  

I've never heard of it

Sounds interesting.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 1:53 PM CST up reply actions  

Yes, yes

until there is one.
Then, one more, repeat annually.

by txranfanted on Feb 16, 2012 12:16 PM CST up reply actions  

one ring to rule them all

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

by shock00 on Feb 16, 2012 12:37 PM CST up reply actions  

One ring to find them.

"Back in Irish's day you had to kill a man before you were taken seriously in polite society." - Aquaman56 06/25/10
If everything I do is wrong, then goddamn, I do it right!

by Samuel_L_Bronkowitz on Feb 16, 2012 1:23 PM CST up reply actions   1 recs

And in the darkness, bind them

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 1:29 PM CST up reply actions   1 recs

In the land of Mordor,

where the shadows lie.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 1:50 PM CST up reply actions   1 recs

Wow.

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.

by Aqua on Feb 16, 2012 1:52 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

What?

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 1:52 PM CST up reply actions  

Neeeeeerds!!!

>says the guy whose favorite movie is probably Return of the King

I hate The Angels so much, it's actually cramping my style. (See RevHaloFans SBN profile page)

by Gay For Feliz on Feb 16, 2012 1:54 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

I like Two Towers the best out of the series

both film and book(s)

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 1:55 PM CST up reply actions  

I can see the argument

and agree with the movie, but I still prefer the third book.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 1:57 PM CST up reply actions  

I was one of the people that watched the flicks before the books

It threw me off when the Shelob and Cirith Ungol arc happened in Two Towers in the books

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 1:58 PM CST up reply actions  

And the Elves didnt come to Helms Deep

I hate The Angels so much, it's actually cramping my style. (See RevHaloFans SBN profile page)

by Gay For Feliz on Feb 16, 2012 1:59 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

That's a very large departure

But I didn’t hate it. And Liv Tyler’s role was certainly expanded from the books.

Which leads me to a very different thought. So Aragorn impregnates her and the kid would be half elf. Elrond was half elf too but could live forever like elves. So Aragorn’s kid would be King when Aragorn died but he could be King forever? That could really suck if he turned out to be a dick.

Football can go to hell. The Rangers aren't ready for football season and neither am I.

by WyoRanger on Feb 16, 2012 2:17 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

The elves to Minis Tirith is one of the departures that irks me a little.

“Last Alliance of Men and Elves” kind of gets ruined there. . .

The only departure I totally hated, though, was the green Deus Ex Machina army.

SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!

by philkid3 on Feb 16, 2012 2:23 PM CST up reply actions  

We work hard so you don't have to.......

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

by t ball on Feb 20, 2012 11:03 PM CST up reply actions  

yeah having the dead men of dunharrow do something mroe than just terrify orcs was balls

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 2:28 PM CST up reply actions  

They went to Helms Deep not Minis Tirith

But yeah, the green, indistructable army was a pretty lazy way to tie things up.

Football can go to hell. The Rangers aren't ready for football season and neither am I.

by WyoRanger on Feb 16, 2012 2:33 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

Yep!

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 2:40 PM CST up reply actions  

That was something that was done very well by Peter Jackson in the movies.

On the other hand, I don’t think they captured the foreboding terror of the Mines of Moria even half as well as the books.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 1:59 PM CST up reply actions  

How did you feel about the giant Balrog?

I like it more than the “man sized shadow” it was in the book

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 2:00 PM CST up reply actions  

It was different

And I was ok with that. I thought they changed Gandalf’s fate the first time I saw the movie.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 2:02 PM CST up reply actions  

I half-listened to the audio tapes before I read the books.

Moria grabbed my attention from whatever I was doing and scared me quite a bit.

The book was no different. Reading the Moria sequence for the first time was a level of anxiety written pages rarely pull out of me.

SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!

by philkid3 on Feb 16, 2012 2:24 PM CST up reply actions  

Indeed.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 2:41 PM CST up reply actions  

I think they improve each time

I hate The Angels so much, it's actually cramping my style. (See RevHaloFans SBN profile page)

by Gay For Feliz on Feb 16, 2012 1:58 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

i tear up every time they all kneel to the hobbits

Don't touch that please, your primitive intellect wouldn't understand alloys and compositions and things with... molecular structures.

by kevinkinsler on Feb 16, 2012 2:02 PM CST up reply actions  

"I can't carry the Ring...BUT I CAN CARRY YOU!"

/Favorite line

I hate The Angels so much, it's actually cramping my style. (See RevHaloFans SBN profile page)

by Gay For Feliz on Feb 16, 2012 2:03 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

Oof.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 2:04 PM CST up reply actions  

Of the three

I hate The Angels so much, it's actually cramping my style. (See RevHaloFans SBN profile page)

by Gay For Feliz on Feb 16, 2012 2:05 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

Yep.

Just because of Astin.

SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!

by philkid3 on Feb 16, 2012 2:25 PM CST up reply actions  

Easily my least favorite of the movies.

Which means I still love it.

But my favorite of the books.

SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!

by philkid3 on Feb 16, 2012 2:22 PM CST up reply actions  

yep

I was really pissed at what they did to Faramir’s character.

and I hate the whole “I’m not a ‘man’ I’m a woman” in return of the king. that was so stupid.

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

by NothinG on Feb 16, 2012 2:29 PM CST up reply actions  

I am no man is almost verbatim from the book

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 2:30 PM CST up reply actions  

Gandalf killed the thing in the book

makes quite a bit of difference

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

by NothinG on Feb 16, 2012 2:34 PM CST up reply actions  

the witch king of angmar?

gandalf got bitchslapped by the witch king. The dude broke his staff

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 2:34 PM CST up reply actions  

There is no reason I can see that scene isn't in the movie.

Makes no sense. It’s better pacing, it’s important to establishing how powerful it’s become, removing it leaves a weird transitional gap, and it explains why Gandalf suddenly doesn’t have a staff.

Plus, it’s cool.

SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!

by philkid3 on Feb 16, 2012 2:40 PM CST up reply actions  

do I have to reread the books

it’s been a long time

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

by NothinG on Feb 16, 2012 2:36 PM CST up reply actions  

Gandalf did stop the witch king from entering Minas Tirith

but the witch king smacked him down and would have finished it there but the Rohirrim arrived

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 2:37 PM CST up reply actions  

I've been looking for a good book to read

it looks like I need to read these again. I always felt like that seemed too hollywood.

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

by NothinG on Feb 16, 2012 2:47 PM CST up reply actions  

Eowyn is awesome.

SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!

by philkid3 on Feb 16, 2012 2:48 PM CST up reply actions   1 recs

Yes.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 2:48 PM CST up reply actions  

Lulz

Too hollywood

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 2:48 PM CST up reply actions  

Yep.

The film handles that part pretty much the same as the book.

SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!

by philkid3 on Feb 16, 2012 2:40 PM CST up reply actions  

No he didn't.

You’re remembering incorrectly.

The Witch King kicked Gandalf’s ass.

SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!

by philkid3 on Feb 16, 2012 2:36 PM CST up reply actions  

In the film.

I don’t remember them actually doing battle in the books — there’s a face-off in Return of the King, but I don’t recall that there’s any ass-kicking involved?

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by Snark on Feb 16, 2012 3:48 PM CST up reply actions  

It happens before the gates of Minas Tirith

Gandalf says that the Witch King cannot pass, the Witch King says that Gandalf cannot stop him and whips out his fiery sword and breaks Gandalf’s wizard’s staff.

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 4:07 PM CST up reply actions  

The breaking of the staff:

I’m 99 percent sure it doesn’t happen in the book.

From the LotR Wiki:

(In the Films, The WitchKing utters “This is my hour….” shattering Gandalf’s staff, throwing him down & rendering the Wizard helpless. However he does not finish the attack & rides off to counter the newly arriving forces. This was ill-recieved by many Tolkien fans as it leads to several conflicts with certain Lore surrounding the stories. The largest of these being that the Wizards in Middle Earth channeled their power through their staffs. Also serving as a “Badge of Office” within the order, Only The White Wizard would have possesed the ability to shatter or “Revoke” a wizards status & power.)

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by Snark on Feb 16, 2012 4:32 PM CST up reply actions  

You're right

in the book it has Gandalf being a bro and Shadowfax not fearing the Lord of the Nazgul. Then the Witch-King talks and ligghts his sword then he has to go confront the riders of theoden

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 4:45 PM CST up reply actions  

Fuckin love Shadowfax

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 4:47 PM CST up reply actions  

Yeah.

I wasn’t thrilled with the film version. The idea that the Witch-King could so easily trash Gandalf just didn’t make a ton of sense.

Garoon: Banned on LSB. Available Only Via Supplement.

by Snark on Feb 16, 2012 6:11 PM CST up reply actions  

The Nazgul in general were hard to transfer to film faithfully.

Displaying ambient fear convincingly is hard.

SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!

by philkid3 on Feb 16, 2012 7:38 PM CST up reply actions  

LotR Wiki.

I’d directly cite the book, but I don’t have it with me here.

During the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, she fought in Théoden’s escort; when he and his company were attacked by the Witch-king of Angmar, lord of the Nazgûl, she and Merry were the only riders who did not flee.

As Théoden lay mortally wounded, she challenged the Witch-King, who boasted that “no living man may hinder me.” In answer, she removed her helmet, exposing her long blond hair, and declared, “No living man am I! You look upon a woman! Éowyn I am, Éomund’s daughter. Begone if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him!”

In rage, the Witch-King attacked her, but she cleaved the head off his Fell Beast. The Witch-King shattered her shield with a blow from his mace, breaking her arm, but stumbled when Merry stabbed his leg from behind with a Barrow-blade. Éowyn stabbed her sword through the Witch-King’s head, killing him, and thus fulfilling Glorfindel’s prophecy a thousand years earlier at the Battle of Fornost that “not by the hand of man” would the Witch-King fall.

SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!

by philkid3 on Feb 16, 2012 2:38 PM CST up reply actions  

did Merry and Pippin get elven daggers from Galadriel in thee books?

or was that just in the film to replace the blades from the barrow downs?

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 2:41 PM CST up reply actions  

I don't think so.

I KNOW that the Barrow sword is what Merry used on the Witch King.

SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!

by philkid3 on Feb 16, 2012 2:46 PM CST up reply actions  

That's a good question!

The movie did not include the barrow down blades, of which the original weapons makers would have been happy that their sword brought down the Witch King of Angmar. And my impression from reading the book was that Merry was not a man, and therefore was at least as responsible for the death of Angmar as was Eowyn. I believe the book talks about the stabbing at the back of the knee separating spirit from sinew or something like that.

by Philar on Feb 16, 2012 4:00 PM CST up reply actions  

Anyone read the Silmarrilion?

I tried 20 years ago and couldn’t get through it. It’s like reading the book of generations in the bible but waaay longer.

Football can go to hell. The Rangers aren't ready for football season and neither am I.

by WyoRanger on Feb 16, 2012 2:58 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

It's LotR history

without any of the humor or development of LotR. Maybe it would’ve been better if Tolkien had lived to finish it.

by AsDevilsRun on Feb 16, 2012 3:02 PM CST up reply actions  

No.

The only person I’ve talked to about it who had used a companion quite liberally.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 3:04 PM CST up reply actions  

Yes.

But in pieces. I didn’t sit down and read it cover to cover over the course of a month or whatever.

SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!

by philkid3 on Feb 16, 2012 3:06 PM CST up reply actions  

ha

touche

although, strangely, i feel like I could watch some thundercats now

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

by NothinG on Feb 16, 2012 2:51 PM CST up reply actions  

On the forum that occupied most of my adult Internet time, my screen name was Witch King of Angmar.

I started at the Cinema Blend forums back before it was called Cinema Blend, and ended up one of the top five or six posters all-time and a Super Mod before it closed.

:(

Anyway, to this day, when someone on the Internet says Witch King, I think they’re addressing me.

SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!

by philkid3 on Feb 16, 2012 2:56 PM CST up reply actions  

NERDALERT !

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

by shock00 on Feb 16, 2012 2:16 PM CST up reply actions  

After reading this subthread,

I’m certain I will never get laid again.

"It’s Advil and beef in the Texas Rangers, you yankee bastard."
- Nolan Ryan

by Flynnyrd on Feb 16, 2012 4:05 PM CST up reply actions   1 recs

5 years from now

people are going to look at this post and laugh when they realize half of the posts are aboud Lord of the Rings. haha At that point I really hope we are known as Lord of the Rings.

by kennyt12 on Feb 16, 2012 7:40 PM CST 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
Beware of Trolls: b.pate, K.S.B., Panorama, TideNtexas

by Mike E on Feb 17, 2012 1:06 AM CST up reply actions  

*evil laugh*
You can go ask him questions about… Leonys Martin’s hit tool if you like.

"...Ron Washington is the Les Miles of MLB." - AJM

by e2drummer on Feb 16, 2012 12:26 PM CST reply actions  

This if from the Law chat. I say yes to this deal if I am TX

Nate (Iowa) [via mobile]
M. Perez and Profar for McCutchen: who says no?
K Law (1:29 PM)
I would guess Texas would say no on that one. But if I’m Pittsburgh, I’m asking for a home-run package along those lines.

by motorcyclegreggo on Feb 16, 2012 12:37 PM CST reply actions  

Yes we say no!!!!

The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ

by NYTXFAN on Feb 16, 2012 12:46 PM CST up reply actions  

wow

I love McCutchen. but NO. Hell No.

I don’t move Perez and Profar for anyone. Batista isn’t young enough, both Pujols and Fielder are too expensive, maybe King Felix. yeah.

I’d do a King Felix for Martin Perez and Profar deal.

Why don't you have a nice big cup of shut the fuck up? - Lisa W 3/4/2011

by iblum on Feb 16, 2012 12:59 PM CST up reply actions  

Kershaw

yeah, him too.

Why don't you have a nice big cup of shut the fuck up? - Lisa W 3/4/2011

by iblum on Feb 16, 2012 1:00 PM CST up reply actions  

yeah, rather Kershaw than Felix

I wouldn’t want to be playing against Perez and Profar down the road that many times a year

by JustinH89 on Feb 16, 2012 5:12 PM CST up reply actions  

Seems like Harrison and Profar would make more sense.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 1:48 PM CST up reply actions  

Good point.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 5:49 PM CST up reply actions  

I knew this would make it over.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 1:44 PM CST up reply actions  

The answer is "yes." A resounding yes.

"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

by JDT217 on Feb 16, 2012 7:57 PM CST up reply actions  

Without a doubt a no.

"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
Beware of Trolls: b.pate, K.S.B., Panorama, TideNtexas

by Mike E on Feb 17, 2012 1:07 AM CST up reply actions  

In a heartbeat.

"The Angels are like the villain in the movie that isn't dead until he's been stabbed 150 times in the bath tub, yet he still might come back up one more time." - Eric Nadel

by TXHC on Feb 17, 2012 1:41 AM CST up reply actions  

Why are the Rays only 6th in Mobility, I wonder?

Their team is young, and nobody is expensive. They have some of the most enviable contracts in baseball.

by Jobu. on Feb 16, 2012 1:06 PM CST reply actions  

With Moore and Longo

and others they should be #1 in mobility. I question how high of a score Philly gets for MLB current team. This is for 2017? They are old now, five years from now they will be that much older. Off the top of my head, Hamels and Brown and ??? for good young talent on their big league team.

Not every squatch is a rocket scientist

by groundingout on Feb 16, 2012 1:18 PM CST up reply actions  

Good point.

They can’t take on any salary.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 1:36 PM CST up reply actions  

Yeah, good point

That’s sort of double-counting salary, but that could definitely be it.

by Jobu. on Feb 16, 2012 1:37 PM CST up reply actions  

Yeah,

that they have to trade some arb guys…

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 1:46 PM CST up reply actions  

they can't get out of St. Pete

Don't touch that please, your primitive intellect wouldn't understand alloys and compositions and things with... molecular structures.

by kevinkinsler on Feb 16, 2012 2:08 PM CST up reply actions  

BOUT DANG TIME

I hate The Angels so much, it's actually cramping my style. (See RevHaloFans SBN profile page)

by Gay For Feliz on Feb 16, 2012 1:56 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

If you had to bet your house

Would you bet that Texas has one WS ring or no ring after these five years?

I’m not sure I wouldn’t bet the latter. They’re just so hard to win.

by Sam Elliott's 'stache on Feb 16, 2012 1:18 PM CST via mobile reply actions  

Vegas can go to hell

They predicted the Rangers would beat SF and StL and got my hopes all kinds of up.

Football can go to hell. The Rangers aren't ready for football season and neither am I.

by WyoRanger on Feb 16, 2012 2:39 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

Ladder.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 1:45 PM CST up reply actions  

heh

"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
Beware of Trolls: b.pate, K.S.B., Panorama, TideNtexas

by Mike E on Feb 17, 2012 1:08 AM CST up reply actions  

The Angels are improved as of now

and Seattle and Oakland shouldn’t be gimmies 3 years down the road….

by ruben_sierra#21 on Feb 16, 2012 1:47 PM CST up reply actions  

I'd bet yes.

Honest to god.

Not comfortably, though.

SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!

by philkid3 on Feb 16, 2012 2:26 PM CST up reply actions  

Yikes.

Here’s a fun one: Who has a better shot- Rays or Rangers?

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 2:44 PM CST up reply actions  

Rangers.

But if the Rays could spend $130M it would be terrifying.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 2:45 PM CST up reply actions  

How many more blue chip talents would the Rays have to uncover

in the next 2 years for you to switch?

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 2:49 PM CST up reply actions  

Depends on how many the Rangers uncover.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 2:51 PM CST up reply actions   1 recs

Touche.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 2:52 PM CST up reply actions  

Especially when you start thinking of how much stupid depth there is in our lower system.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 2:54 PM CST up reply actions  

They're pretty good at unconvering talent, too.

Arguably better at developing it (especially if you just focus on pitchers).

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 2:56 PM CST up reply actions  

Oh sure.

They are better at it.

But are they better by enough to overcome not being able to spend half of what we do?

"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 Feb 16, 2012 2:57 PM CST up reply actions  

Perhaps.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 3:04 PM CST up reply actions  

Rangers.

SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!

by philkid3 on Feb 16, 2012 2:47 PM CST up reply actions  

Man

Bullpen Banter is going to join KG by having Profar in their top 5

Either at 3 behind Moore, Harper, and Trout and ahead of Miller, or behind Miller

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 1:21 PM CST reply actions  

Damn.

We’re not about sending messages. We’re about winning ballgames.-Wash, 04/03/11
Hell to the fucking no. -Wash, 10/07/11

by Rodney on Feb 16, 2012 1:24 PM CST up reply actions  

FWIW

Machado at 8

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 1:26 PM CST up reply actions  

I just watched the video of Olney talking about this on the front page of ESPN

And I jammed my weenie on the underside of my desk.

Honey Badger don't give a shit!

by ILikePizza on Feb 16, 2012 1:27 PM CST via iPhone app reply actions  

Chair won't go any lower.

I just have a really large weenie.

/humblebrag

Honey Badger don't give a shit!

by ILikePizza on Feb 16, 2012 1:33 PM CST up reply actions  

Pfft

You wish that was a brag

I hate The Angels so much, it's actually cramping my style. (See RevHaloFans SBN profile page)

by Gay For Feliz on Feb 16, 2012 2:01 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

The podcast with KLaw and Karabell is a good listen

http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=7578480

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 1:43 PM CST reply actions  

It was better with Peter Pascarelli

I hate The Angels so much, it's actually cramping my style. (See RevHaloFans SBN profile page)

by Gay For Feliz on Feb 16, 2012 1:58 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

What would you trade for Kevin Youklis?

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 2:04 PM CST reply actions  

He's so good

but he’s hurt so often

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 2:05 PM CST up reply actions  

Yeah

and is on the wrong side of the aging curve.

He probably ‘means’ too much to the fans given what he ‘should return’, but I’m not really sure about what those quoted words are valued at here.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 2:09 PM CST up reply actions  

contract shit with Youker

09:$6M, 10:$9.125M, 11:$12M, 12:$12M, 13:$13M club option ($1M buyout)

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 2:10 PM CST up reply actions  

Thanks.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 2:14 PM CST up reply actions  

Wut.

Hell no.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 2:11 PM CST up reply actions  

Youkilis is awesome.

And would fill a very big need for this club. Perfect player to slide into the #2 spot in the lineup.

by Heebs on Feb 16, 2012 2:17 PM CST up reply actions  

and plays where?

Go big or go home!! Bet big to win big!!

by Steamin' Beamin' on Feb 16, 2012 2:17 PM CST up reply actions  

first base

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 2:18 PM CST up reply actions  

he's a shitburger of a 3B

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 2:18 PM CST up reply actions  

well too harsh, but he's way better at 1B

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 2:19 PM CST up reply actions  

First base.

He’d easily be the best defensive 1B on the team.

by Heebs on Feb 16, 2012 2:18 PM CST up reply actions  

so how much better is Youk at first than some version of MM, Face and Nap?

Especially considering the price?

Go big or go home!! Bet big to win big!!

by Steamin' Beamin' on Feb 16, 2012 2:20 PM CST up reply actions  

he'll statistically destroy moreland and young

napoli would be close

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 2:20 PM CST up reply actions  

In this situation Napoli loses 0 at bats.

So that doesn’t matter. Young would lose a few at bats, and Moreland would lose the most.

And the improvement would be significant over Moreland. Youkilis is a perfect fit for this team.

by Heebs on Feb 16, 2012 2:22 PM CST up reply actions  

Mitch Moreland would become some sort of 4th OF.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 2:43 PM CST up reply actions  

For 2013 after we non tender Murphy?

"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 Feb 16, 2012 2:44 PM CST up reply actions  

Basically.

Then you’ve got Gentry/Borbon fighting for the 5th OF role behind Martin.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 2:45 PM CST up reply actions  

I'll be surprised if Borbon is in this organization in 12 months.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 2:47 PM CST up reply actions  

I'll be surprised if he isn't

What are you thinking happens? He shouldn’t make jack in arbitration, and he hardly has any trade value.

by Jobu. on Feb 16, 2012 2:48 PM CST up reply actions  

I think he'll get traded.

I think the only reason he wasn’t traded last year at the deadline to the Nationals for a bullpen arm was that he got hurt.

If he stays healthy and doesn’t fall completely flat on his face I think he’ll get traded.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 2:49 PM CST up reply actions  

Gotcha

I do hope he can manage to put up the numbers in AAA that he needs to get traded.

by Jobu. on Feb 16, 2012 2:51 PM CST up reply actions  

I'm not saying Youk isn't good.

But that’s a lot. Youk is too old to give up that kind of haul.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 2:19 PM CST up reply actions  

"That kind of haul" is overstating it, imo

Both are valuable, obviously, but neither have a true role in our future plans, as a franchise.

by Jobu. on Feb 16, 2012 2:21 PM CST up reply actions  

It's hard to say that a pitcher who profiles to be a #3 in a championship caliber rotation doesn't have a role in our future

especially when said guy works his ass off and could easily eclipse projections

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Feb 16, 2012 2:22 PM CST up reply actions  

No shit.

And Olt has had multiple prospect groups put him in the 50ish range. That’s real value.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 2:23 PM CST up reply actions  

Well...

Yu, Feliz, Harrison, MPerez, Ogando

But, if we’re considering Ogando as perma-bullpen, then you’re right on NeRa.

by Jobu. on Feb 16, 2012 2:25 PM CST up reply actions  

I like Olt and Ramirez

But I’d rather have Youkilis for 2 years than those two guys in the farm system.

And I don’t care about his salary. Right now the team is supposedly so maxed out that it can’t sign Mike Gonzalez. Adding Youkilis’ salary isn’t realistic anyways.

by Heebs on Feb 16, 2012 2:24 PM CST up reply actions  

I'm fine with trading them...

I just want something more valuable than a 33 year old guy who gets hurt a lot.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 2:25 PM CST up reply actions  

If you think his 2011 was a sign of things to come

I’m completely on board with your rationale. However this guy is one year removed from being on a 3 year streak of .950+ OPS. That’s crazy good. And he’s a good defender at first base to boot.

by Heebs on Feb 16, 2012 2:26 PM CST up reply actions  

It's his age.

I’m absolutely fine for trading for him… just not giving up a package like Olt/Ramirez to do it.

That’s a massive overpay IMO.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 2:28 PM CST up reply actions  

If they eat some salary.

He’s owed $25M (assuming option)… so maybe $8M.

I probably would.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 2:32 PM CST up reply actions  

There's not a specific player in mind...

But I’d want someone with cost controlled years that’s probably reasonable to give you surplus value of around $20-30M.

Not a superstar.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 2:37 PM CST up reply actions  

First of all,

they’d be trading him because they ostensibly have a guy in Middlebrooks [or others] who can already take over at 3B.

I’m not sure what Ramirez’s value is around the majors right now, but that feels too high for a guy that old with that injury history. I guess the years aren’t bad…

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 2:13 PM CST up reply actions  

The question is what would I trade.

Not what would they would need. Olt/Ramirez is the top value I’d be willing to give up.

by Heebs on Feb 16, 2012 2:15 PM CST up reply actions  

I'd love to have him

I’d take his 100-130 games at 1b and pray he’s healthy for the playoffs

This is age 33 season.

I’d give up Harrison for him, if we can sign Oswalt and they would eat his next 2 years salary (i.e., with the option taken). Throw in Ross or something, if that’s not quite enough.

by Jobu. on Feb 16, 2012 2:10 PM CST up reply actions  

Harrison for Youklis is pretty interesting.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 2:13 PM CST up reply actions  

Eh.

I think Youk is probably worth something like 6.5 to 7 WAR over the next three years.

I think Harrison is probably worth something like 9 WAR. Harry will cost roughly $16M over the next three years. Youk will cost $37M over the next three years.

If they ate a full $24M I guess I’d consider it.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 2:17 PM CST up reply actions  

Ah yes. Read it wrong. Thought it was two more at $12 and then an option for $13.

Still… Harry’s probably worth $42M in value that we’ll only pay $16M for over the next three years.

That’s a lot of surplus value in a hard throwing left hander.

It’s an overpay IMO and a win now move. I suppose you’d have to consider it… but it doesn’t make me excited.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 2:21 PM CST up reply actions  

If Bos ate the salary, though...

Rangers keep about the same payroll

Replace Harrison with Oswalt and Moreland with Youkilis.

That team healthy in the playoffs would be incredible.

by Jobu. on Feb 16, 2012 2:23 PM CST up reply actions  

You think Oswalt is going to sign for $2.95M?

And you’re positive that Oswalt can even pitch a full season much less give you what Harry might?

"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 Feb 16, 2012 2:25 PM CST up reply actions  

Okay...

I am not confident Oswalt would give you what Harry will. Not at all. Back issues scare the shit out of me.

At best he would cost twice as much as Harry in salary.

No thanks.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 2:29 PM CST up reply actions  

There are obviously concerns, sure.

Other mitigations, though:

Harry is no lock to repeat performance;

we’d have Feldman, Ogando, NeRa, and Marteen to replace Oswalt if/when he goes down;

if Oswalt is healthy in the playoffs, I’m more confident with him on the mound than Harry.

we’d have Youkilis instead of Moreland in the field and at the plate.

We add depth, having Moreland as a AAA player ready to come up, if someone is injured.

Our lineup could be:

Kinsler – Youk – Hamilton – Naps – Beltre – Cruz – Young – Elvis – CF

by Jobu. on Feb 16, 2012 2:38 PM CST up reply actions  

Damn it just got all tingly in here*

*here = my pants

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 2:51 PM CST up reply actions  

I'm not opposed to acquring Youk

But I don’t want to pay the moon for him.

I’m not very interested in Oswalt under almost any circumstance aside from a non roster invite.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 2:52 PM CST up reply actions  

Legit

the back injury is scary. I’m not very interested in him, but I wouldn’t mind him as a #5, if the Rangers want him.

by Jobu. on Feb 16, 2012 3:06 PM CST up reply actions  

Oswalt and Youkilis are beyond their healthy years

and why would Boston trade Youk? They are a contending team and his salary doesn’t hurt them the way it would us if we are already over budget

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

by NothinG on Feb 16, 2012 2:41 PM CST up reply actions  

I'm sort of assuming they are interested in trading him

in this LSB-trade-speculation time.

They do need cheap, controllable starters, and they have Middlebrooks ready to come in and play 3b.

by Jobu. on Feb 16, 2012 2:42 PM CST up reply actions  

Yeah,

it only makes sense if you think Harrison’s peaked and/or isn’t going to be properly used because parts of the FO have a hardon for RoyO

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 2:42 PM CST up reply actions  

The better question is what you would need for Desmond Jennings.

[I don’t even want him, inquiring minds want to know tho]

"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 Feb 16, 2012 2:55 PM CST up reply actions  

Fantasy talk.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 3:07 PM CST up reply actions  

Oh don't be sorry.

Fantasy talk for everyone not involved is the worst thing ever. I think you’d have been perfectly justified in saying, “QUIT SHITTING UP THE THREAD WITH YOUR STUPID FUCKING FANTASY TALK”

"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 Feb 16, 2012 3:15 PM CST up reply actions  

I don't know, what do you think Kenny Loften's 1992 season is worth?

The idea of a Trout/Jennings combo is growing on me quite a bit.

by octoberty on Feb 16, 2012 3:11 PM CST up reply actions  

Jennings isn't hitting .285 next year and he's not swiping 66 bags.

Trout doesn’t even fit in their OF at the moment.

by LiamP on Feb 16, 2012 4:29 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

Including AAA!

"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 Feb 16, 2012 4:39 PM CST up reply actions  

No. Just Excel.

I’ll upload one tonight though with all my ranking and value stuff out.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 4:44 PM CST up reply actions  

I just noticed Desmond Jennings is 25 years old.

I thought he was a bit younger. He’s only one year younger than Delmon Young.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 5:00 PM CST up reply actions  

I have no idea.

I assume he’s keeping Ubaldo and Romero, otherwise there’s no point in acquiring them. Those 2, CC, Teixeira, Jones I would think.

by LiamP on Feb 16, 2012 5:22 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

This is what I have.

I’m expecting Mauer to go to either jon at 5 or vfn at 6.

But who knows.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 5:25 PM CST up reply actions  

Now you can start doing mock drafts.

Which is the fun part.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 5:29 PM CST up reply actions  

BD...

Konerko, Kipnis, Bautista, Hellboy, and Crawford(?)

by octoberty on Feb 16, 2012 5:31 PM CST up reply actions  

I have him keeping Upton over Konerko

Though I could be mistaken.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 5:33 PM CST up reply actions  

Yes.

Though his will change once he finds a home for Beltre and then gets one of Liam’s 3B.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 5:31 PM CST up reply actions  

Weaver over one of the other pitchers.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 5:33 PM CST up reply actions  

I'll be keeping A-Rod in Weaver's place.

Cano
Cabrera
Choo
Napoli
A-Rod

Drafting Prince

"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 Feb 16, 2012 5:39 PM CST up reply actions  

Don't hate.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 5:44 PM CST up reply actions  

I'm assuming C.J.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 5:53 PM CST up reply actions  

This question does not compute.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 3:05 PM CST up reply actions  

Nobody cares about Ty's fantasy team.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 3:08 PM CST up reply actions  

How much value are you expecting from Youk over the next three years?

"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 Feb 16, 2012 2:14 PM CST up reply actions  

The tricky thing

is you can speculate about regression all you want, and his value will still come down to how many games he misses.

I’m less worried about total WAR value (since it would be incredibly dependent on his injuries) since we have a carousel at 1b with Naps, Young, and Moreland.

I’m more excited by the idea of what our club’s ceiling as a healthy team is, come playoff time.

by Jobu. on Feb 16, 2012 2:18 PM CST up reply actions  

He's 33 and gets hurt a lot.

I think that’s optimistic, especially with the positional loss at 1B.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 2:18 PM CST up reply actions  

Ofosho

The batting stance would still drive me crazy, but I’d just focus on signs that the furry creature attached to his chin was about to finally give up and let go.

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

by GhettoBear04 on Feb 16, 2012 2:47 PM CST up reply actions  

Not much

The Rangers don’t need another right handed bat in the lineup.

by Philar on Feb 16, 2012 4:15 PM CST up reply actions  

So best shape of his life - From Olney
Brandon Webb is throwing on flat ground — free and easy and pain free, says agent Jonathan Maurer — and will throw for scouts at some pt.

by Heebs on Feb 16, 2012 2:24 PM CST reply actions  

on a good day

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

by shock00 on Feb 16, 2012 2:27 PM CST up reply actions  

Was Justin Thompson with him?

"I never argue with people who say that baseball is boring, because baseball is boring. And then, suddenly, it isn’t. And that’s what makes it great." - Joe Posnanski

"And when Josh leaves, The Window closes." JW 2-9-12

by GhostofSteveFoucault on Feb 16, 2012 3:18 PM CST up reply actions  

Give him $ 3 million!!!

"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 Feb 16, 2012 3:41 PM CST up reply actions   1 recs

He should probably just go ahead and bow out gracefully.

He’s done.

"The Angels are like the villain in the movie that isn't dead until he's been stabbed 150 times in the bath tub, yet he still might come back up one more time." - Eric Nadel

by TXHC on Feb 17, 2012 2:55 AM CST up reply actions  

The Force is strong with this one.......

"I never argue with people who say that baseball is boring, because baseball is boring. And then, suddenly, it isn’t. And that’s what makes it great." - Joe Posnanski

"And when Josh leaves, The Window closes." JW 2-9-12

by GhostofSteveFoucault on Feb 16, 2012 3:28 PM CST up reply actions  

Help me out here...I understand why the Rangers would be regarded as one of

the best teams in MLB coming into 2012…every team that went to the World Series the previous year gets that love…but how come they think we’re going to be great for 5 years?

As far as everybody knows, Josh is gone after 2012. Same with Naps, Cobra and Adams. Face, Kinz and Cruz are gone after 2013…the only true stud in the minors is Profar.

"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 Feb 16, 2012 11:36 PM CST reply actions  

It's a combination of:

majors, minors, finance, management, and mobility

by Jobu. on Feb 17, 2012 1:36 AM CST up reply actions  

"A" for effort.

"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 Feb 17, 2012 6:14 AM CST up reply actions  

Is

Someone killing them all after 2013? Is that why none of them will be re signed??

by Scott5 on Feb 17, 2012 10:20 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

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