Monday night linkaliciousness

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 5, 2007 8:28 PM CST in News

Some things to throw out there this evening, while I wait for my rods and cones recover after turning on MNF and seeing the Steelers' uniforms...

T.R. Sullivan with a mailbag column up, which says the Rangers have some interest in Kerry Wood and Kosuke Fukudome, and which includes several of the "could the Rangers trade A, B, and C to get D" variety of questions.

You know who else, besides the Rangers, wants to trade for a young centerfielder? The San Diego Padres.

You know what the Padres don't need now? A 40-something bespectacled righty starting pitcher. They already have filled their quota, having re-signed Greg Maddux to a 1 year, $10 million deal.

David Pinto's Probabilistic Model of Range says the Rangers are a better defensive team than just DER suggests. How it's calculated (short version):

Basically, for each fieldable (non inside the park home runs) ball put in play, six parameters are used to determine how difficult it was to field the ball. A probability of turning the ball into an out is calculated, and those probabilities are summed. That gives us expected batted balls turned into outs. We turn that into a predicted DER (defensive efficiency record), compare that to the actual DER and calculate a ranking.

The Rangers look better under this system than with pure DER, finishing in the middle-of-the-pack with this system. A team that finishes near the bottom in DER and in the middle-of-the-pack in this system is a team whose pitching staff gives up a lot of balls that the fielders can't field. That would seem to fit the 2007 Rangers...

Andy Pettitte has declined his $16 million team option to return to the Yanks. And before anyone starts clamoring for the Rangers to sign him, keep in mind he's already said he'll pitch for the Yanks or retire.

Kevin Goldstein has some AFL love for Matt Harrison.

Jeff Van Gundy knows nothing about movies. Or baseball. Or Neil Diamond.

And finally, this isn't a link, but I just wanted to say...Simpson's Treehouse of Horror last night sucked.

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Agreed

Underwhelming all the way around.
I thought the third minishow was simply awful.

sportsdeals.blogspot.com

by BudLight on Nov 5, 2007 8:29 PM CST reply actions

I haven't

seen many of the newer Simpson's, but saw bits and pieces last night.

It seems a lot edgier than in the past. Almost Family Guy-like. Is that a recent trend?

by badradiorules on Nov 5, 2007 9:22 PM CST up reply actions

Simpsons

They've had maybe three episodes the last two seasons combined.

It's sad to say, but it's a legitimately horrible show at this point.

Ben Franklin. Gandhi. Jackie Robinson. Winston Churchill. Martin Luther King. Jesus Christ. And now... Dwyade!!!

by thedirkatron on Nov 5, 2007 9:38 PM CST reply actions

Three GOOD episodes

Ben Franklin. Gandhi. Jackie Robinson. Winston Churchill. Martin Luther King. Jesus Christ. And now... Dwyade!!!

by thedirkatron on Nov 5, 2007 9:39 PM CST up reply actions

Funniest show in years:

http://www.sho.com/site/californication/home.do

Even funnier than Conchords, which you obviously misunderstood, hater...

I will not get my comeuppance!

by Brian Thomas on Nov 6, 2007 12:14 PM CST up reply actions

Conchords

is filmed in my neighborhood but I've never seen it. What is it about?

"On-base percentage is great if you can score runs and do something with that on-base percentage," Baker said. "Clogging up the bases isn't that great to me."

by jparks77 on Nov 6, 2007 12:24 PM CST up reply actions

It is a little hard to describe

You can watch all the episodes on youtube. I recommend trying episodes 1 and 3 to start, if you are interested.

Essentially, it's about two naive, mediocre kiwi musicians, trying to make it in NY. They have an inept agent, and 1 fan who tends to stalk them.

Oh, and they break into song 2-3 times a show. The songs are the funniest parts.

I will not get my comeuppance!

by Brian Thomas on Nov 8, 2007 10:02 AM CST up reply actions

its surprising

that enough people still watch it to make it worth airing. it has been crap for more like 10 years.

by selppuc on Nov 6, 2007 12:36 PM CST up reply actions

Fukudome...

Most likely the only asian player I've had any real interest in.

by cmkelly29 on Nov 5, 2007 9:53 PM CST reply actions

Goldstein

We should probably keep in mind that he is the guy who ranked Harrison #2 in the Braves system (and Feliz 3rd), but still, that is a very positive blip. Also, a reminder of what he thought of him last offseason:

What he did in 2006: 3.10 ERA, 81.1-77-16-60 at High A; 3.61, 77.1-83-17-54 at Double-A
The Good: A six-foot-five lefty with a rare combination of power stuff and plus command. His fastball sits comfortably in the low 90s and has touched 95; his curve and change up are both plus offerings.
The Bad: As good as Harrison's stuff is--and it's excellent--he doesn't miss a lot of bats. At times, he can be guilty of throwing too many strikes and giving opposing batters too many hittable pitches, as opposed to working with the count.
Gap Between What He Is Now, And What He Can Be: Average. Like Saltalamacchia, Harrison needs to work more on refining what he has; with his command of three solid-or-better offerings, he could take off at any point.

by Brett Perryman on Nov 5, 2007 10:35 PM CST reply actions

Not just Goldstein

Sickels had him ranked right behind Saltalamacchia pre-2007. I'm hoping they're right, maybe a darkhorse to join the rotation sometime in '08 and stick. It will be interesting anyway to get a look at him next year -- will he be in Frisco you think?

This winter's hot stove will resemble an Easy-Bake oven.

by t ball on Nov 5, 2007 11:12 PM CST up reply actions

I bet he starts there

Always need the "this is the Rangers after all" disclaimer though.

by Brett Perryman on Nov 5, 2007 11:41 PM CST up reply actions

If his spring training

is like his AFL run there will no doubt be calls for him to be immediately inserted into the rotation.

This winter's hot stove will resemble an Easy-Bake oven.

by t ball on Nov 5, 2007 11:43 PM CST up reply actions

I mean he could definitely start in AAA

with a really good ST. You just have to sort out this group of guys:

Eric Hurley
Robinson Tejeda
Edinson Volquez
Armando Galarraga
Doug Mathis
Luis Mendoza
Josh Rupe
Matt Harrison*

Volquez could make the major league roster, but he has to beat at least a couple of those guys out (or have some injuries) to win a spot in AAA. And in terms of experience he'd be last on the list.

by Brett Perryman on Nov 5, 2007 11:47 PM CST up reply actions

At this point...

I think Volquez has pretty well secured a spot in the big leagues barring any offseason moves to mix things up. Hurley and Galarraga have definite spots in AAA, unless either has an amazing spring training and makes the big club. I don't know what to think of Tejeda at this point...I can't think a player's stock could have fallen more than his has in the last year...maybe it's time to start turning him into a setup man.

I think there is a possibility that at least one of Mendoza, Mathis and Rupe make the big leagues in the pen...maybe two. Even if only one does (let's say Mendoza), then that leaves an Oklahoma rotation of Hurley, Galarraga, Mathis, Rupe and Tejeda or Harrison. If either Tejeda moves to the pen or two of the combo of Mathis, Mendoza and Rupe join the big club as relievers then I could see Harrison making the Redhawks rotation out of spring training...but still it's a rather longshot at this point.

by rangeressary on Nov 6, 2007 5:45 AM CST up reply actions

Kind of an amazing statement you just made here.

Do you realize that Philadelphia traded him for David Delucci right? His stock was only high with overly optimistic fans and gm's. Everyone knew this guy was a Dr. Jeckel/Mr. Hyde type player. That is why Philadelphia didn't want him. I have been of the opinion that the Rangers should put as much distance between Tejeda and their team as possible because he is such a tease and the kind of crap that has gone on the last 2 years could propagate into a never ending story kind of like the RA Dickey saga that just wouldn't die.

by gp on Nov 6, 2007 8:13 PM CST up reply actions

Well....

shows you what I know. I had no idea he had a fastball in the low 90s. I looked for scouting reports on him when the Rangers traded for him, but I hadn't heard that he had a good fastball, just that he had good command. I assumed from his K-rate that he was a soft tosser. Does he really top out at 95? If so, I am quite a bit more excited about him. Sounds like John Danks+. Or maybe that's just Goldstein's take?

Colbert/Colbert '08

by rooster on Nov 6, 2007 9:36 AM CST up reply actions

For some reason ...

... reading your post made me wonder if J.D. felt enhanced comfort in taking a risky flyer on an upgrade over Danks in BMac because he knew he had in pocket the Teixeira trade chip to deal in just a matter of months.

Shrooms - The Movie

by shroomer on Nov 6, 2007 10:16 AM CST up reply actions

That would be a fairly long-range assessment,

if he did.

Colbert/Colbert '08

by rooster on Nov 6, 2007 10:54 AM CST up reply actions

95

I was at the game in Mesa last Friday. He didn't throw anything like 95. He was sitting 88-90 for the most part and may have touched 92-93.

Having said that, I was very impressed with Harrison. He hit his spots very well, working in and out all down in the zone. My impression of him was more of a soft tosser because of the Tom Glavine comparisons, but he throws harder than that and to look at him you'd thing he could throw 95 (big guy) and maybe he could in relief.

Talking with a scout there, the term pitchability came up. He was impressed with how well Harrison set hitters up and kept them off balance. He didn't miss a lot of bats, but he also didn't give them anything to hit.

My only negative take away was that he started with ball one quite a bit, especially in the first two innings, but he still avoided going deep in the count and was able to induce a lot of weak contact. He also missed a few bats, getting four strike outs in the outing with two of them coming in his final inning of work against Matt Laporta (Brewers first rounder) and Sam Fuld (so-so Cubs prospect having a great AFL season).

by Brandon Wilson on Nov 6, 2007 11:51 AM CST up reply actions

Sounds very promising.

I wonder if the Rangers still had Danks if the LSB community would've kept Danks in the top 10, and I wonder if we're slighting Harrison since we don't know him as well as Danks.

Danks did strike out alot more folks in his minor league career, however.

Colbert/Colbert '08

by rooster on Nov 6, 2007 1:04 PM CST up reply actions

Slighting

I think we are "slighting" Harrison because of the low strikeout numbers. Most guys with strikeout totals like his have a limited upside. However, it is one thing to have "pitchability" in A ball or lower, it is another thing altogether to still show it at AA or higher which is what he is now doing. If he keeps it up, he shoudl certainly be more highly regarded.

by Brandon Wilson on Nov 6, 2007 1:52 PM CST up reply actions

just to clarify on Harrison

by "should certainly be more highly regarded" I meant higher than he is regarded now, not necessarily higher than Danks.

by Brandon Wilson on Nov 6, 2007 3:36 PM CST up reply actions

Danks

Yes, I have no doubt he would still be considered top 10, probably top two.

This winter's hot stove will resemble an Easy-Bake oven.

by t ball on Nov 6, 2007 2:55 PM CST up reply actions

It's official...

Ray Lewis snorts coke. Did anyone just see that rambling locker-room interview after the game tonight?

by cmkelly29 on Nov 5, 2007 11:47 PM CST reply actions

Rods and Cones

I don't want to be a nerdy neuroscientist, but it is too late for that. Your rods aren't really involved in everyday color vision. Those crazy Steelers uniforms freaked out your cones, but fortunately left yours and everyone else's rods in tact.

Rods are only black/white, and only used in really dim lighting.

Just felt obligated to clarify that point...

by JBImaknee on Nov 6, 2007 8:08 AM CST reply actions