Cordero is making Buck pissy

by Adam J. Morris on Apr 26, 2006 7:42 PM CDT in News

T.R. Sullivan's game story today is all about CoCo Cordero...

And apparently, the struggles of the Vulture have gotten Buck a little snippy:

The Rangers don't want to change closers. Antonio Alfonseca and Otsuka have both pitched well as setup relievers and the Rangers' bullpen fits better if Cordero can close. But they can't wait forever.

Otsuka and Alfonseca have closer experience but Showalter snapped, "There is a reason why they're not closing anymore."

Well, great, Buck...

Cordero sucks, but you are also going to come out and say that we can't use Otsuka and Alfonseca because they apparently suck too...

Apparently, there are going to be discussions on the issue tomorrow...but if I had to bet, I'd say that Otsuka is going to be the closer on Friday.

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Ah Buck

He must know that him slagging off the only two real options we have for closer is going to inspire so much confidence in them if they take the ball in the ninth come Friday.

It's a shame Coco sucks just now, because I really do like the way the bullpen is supposed to work in theory and it's a shame that it's going to have to be re-worked now. (I guess Benoit would take over the 7th, Alfonseca would get the 8th and Aki would get the 9th in the new set-up.)

I'm not fickle, I just don't like you.

by shrinking violet on Apr 26, 2006 7:49 PM CDT reply actions

Yes Buck...

Otsuka hasn't been given a chance to close here since he has been playing in Japan until 2004 when he came over and had Hoffman(one of the best closers in baseball) closing for the Pads.

So my question to you Buck is how do you know Otsuka can't close?

Koronka is Krunk...

by boomer1 on Apr 26, 2006 7:49 PM CDT reply actions

wow...

i really don't think thats a smart thing to say about players that are performing well

Troy I.

by tdi1985 on Apr 26, 2006 8:03 PM CDT reply actions

Thats

what I was thinking. Is he dissing them because the person who he should be dissing is the guy with a 12 ERA that blows.

First place Texas Rangers, may I help you?

by miles on Apr 26, 2006 8:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Wasn't

Otsuka the closer for Japan's WBC team? And wasn't he pretty dang good at it?

by cosa on Apr 26, 2006 8:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Yup..

But Buck's mind isn't that developed...

Fire Buck

by miles on Apr 26, 2006 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Ichiro

said Otsuka was the best relief pitcher he'd ever faced. He was the 2006 closer on the WBC champions.

I'd say Buck owes him an apology. Otsuka has a longer track record than Coco, Buck.

"I could be wrong-but I'm not." Dan Jenkins

by Brian Thomas on Apr 26, 2006 9:36 PM CDT up reply actions

re:

Not in America.

by Alan Smithee on Apr 27, 2006 12:23 AM CDT up reply actions

re:

Which, I'm told, is where Texas is.

by Alan Smithee on Apr 27, 2006 12:23 AM CDT up reply actions

So

everything accomplished outside of MLB (WBC, Japanese league) doesn't count toward a players track record?

Odd.

"When you can hit you can hit, and he can hit." -Tom Grieve on Michael Young

by thedirkatron on Apr 27, 2006 4:28 AM CDT up reply actions

re:

A player's accomplishments in the Japanese leagues doesn't count much towards their track record in America, no.

by Alan Smithee on Apr 27, 2006 2:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Elaborating:

Different hitters, different ballparks, different levels of pressure.

I really shouldn't even say "America". A player can have a great track record in the minor leagues, or the independent leagues, or in whatever other league.

by Alan Smithee on Apr 27, 2006 3:01 PM CDT up reply actions

sigh

Has anyone "told" you they play some pretty decent baseball in Japan?

A little pompous?

"I could be wrong-but I'm not." Dan Jenkins

by Brian Thomas on Apr 27, 2006 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions

re:

I wasn't saying one was better than the other. Merely that they're different.

by Alan Smithee on Apr 27, 2006 2:56 PM CDT up reply actions

fair enough

"I could be wrong-but I'm not." Dan Jenkins

by Brian Thomas on Apr 27, 2006 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Turning on his own bullpen?

That's nice. I'm sure they appreciate the comment. I know I would.

by Dustin on Apr 26, 2006 9:19 PM CDT up reply actions

What a complete retard

Seriously. How does this guy still have his job?

by tlt29 on Apr 26, 2006 8:12 PM CDT reply actions

More hard-headed Buck

Isn't this typical Buck? He had a perfect opportunity to preview Otsuka and Alfonseca in the closers role with CoCo throwing 30 pitches the night before a day game. Instead he brings in CoCo on short rest just to prove that he can.

The problem is that he's such an egomaniac that he's willing to go to extraordinary lengths(see Barajas vs Laird amongst others) to not only make sure everyone knows he's in charge, but also to let everyone know he's RIGHT.

A part of me questions whether or not he actually gives two shits about Cordero's confidence.

by Hang the Jury on Apr 26, 2006 8:21 PM CDT reply actions

You

nailed it, imo.

by Brett Perryman on Apr 26, 2006 8:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Werd.

"I was so successful in [social engineering] that I rarely had to resort to a technical attack," Mitnick

by Andrew F Medina on Apr 27, 2006 2:57 AM CDT up reply actions

Buck

Not very mature, but you can't blame a guy for being in a rather foul mood after a loss like this. I also think either Otsuka or Benoit will be the closer in the next game.

"never doubt Michael Young.... never" -- T.R. Sullivan

by trza on Apr 26, 2006 8:25 PM CDT reply actions

You know....

I don't like Buck.

But I can empathize with him in this situation.

He's been asked constantly about Cordero for the past few days and he's made his decision to stick with him (one that I agree with).

So, I can see how he wouldn't be in the right mood to answer yet another question about Cordero.

It doesn't excuse him for basically dogging on his two relief pitchers who ARE doing well. But I can understand the context of that response.

Look.

I want Buck out as much as the next guy on this blog. And I think he made a mistake going with Cordero today considering the usage and performance issues, but I think he's under a lot of pressure right now which probably isn't that much deserved (at least with relation to Cordero) and I can understand when he says something that he shouldn't.

Req

by Requiem on Apr 26, 2006 8:31 PM CDT reply actions

Yay

I support Otsuka for closer.

Or Benoit.

Random Hilary Duff picture

by Sharky on Apr 26, 2006 8:45 PM CDT reply actions

Or

Maybe Hilary Duff.

Random Hilary Duff picture

by Sharky on Apr 26, 2006 8:50 PM CDT reply actions

lol

what a terrible comment to say.

There are reasons they arnt the #1 closer on any mlb teams to start the season.

but ive got one hell of a reason why they should be the closer on the rangers today: coco cordero is killing this team.

Im not saying freakin DFA the guy, but dont put him in a 1 run game in the 9th until he strings together 3 good outings.

by DShep on Apr 26, 2006 9:07 PM CDT reply actions

No Benoit....................

Benoit folds under pressure. Alway has and maybe always will.

by Nawbo on Apr 26, 2006 9:16 PM CDT reply actions

re:

How many saves has he blown in his career?

by Alan Smithee on Apr 26, 2006 9:18 PM CDT up reply actions

According to ESPN

Benoit has never blown a save, and had eight holds to his credit coming into this season.

As for the one save he did convert, I'm sure most of you will remember that game:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/news/2002/09/03/rangers_orioles_ap/

I don't know if he'd make a good closer, but if I'm the Rangers, it's worth finding out. Of course, the same could be said for Otsuka. Feldman probably wouldn't be bad at it either, once he comes back.

by RCCook on Apr 26, 2006 9:37 PM CDT up reply actions

re:

It was actually a rhetorical question, but thanks for reminding me about that save. That was a bizarre game and probably one of best Ranger pitching performances I've ever seen.

In any event, I don't know if Benoit will handle "the pressure" or not, and neither does anyone else. I can only look at the numbers and say who I think is the best fit, and I think that's Benoit. His numbers as a reliever from last year combined with his season so far(around 54 innings):

1.82 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 9.2 K/9IP

by Alan Smithee on Apr 27, 2006 12:45 AM CDT up reply actions

Benoit

Those numbers you posted at the end there make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Benoit has been awesome out of the 'pen. IF (and that's a big if) we're going to go away from CoCo, I'd advocate trying Benoit. If he takes to the job then we've got a cheap long term solution in the role, whcih would be worth a TON and certainly worth exploring. If not, then we can still try Otsuka or The Octopus.

"When you can hit you can hit, and he can hit." -Tom Grieve on Michael Young

by thedirkatron on Apr 27, 2006 4:34 AM CDT up reply actions

Huh?

Where does this come from?

"When you can hit you can hit, and he can hit." -Tom Grieve on Michael Young

by thedirkatron on Apr 27, 2006 4:31 AM CDT up reply actions

This board doesn't like Benoit..

So I dont wish for him to be closer..because he WILL blow one sooner or later, even if he saves 100 in as row first ..and then the backlash will be too much. Let alone if he actually blew two out of three or something.

Really Benoit has always belonged in the rotation, and the Rangers have hurt themselves a lot the past two years, and indefinitly going forward, by not doing that. There's no doubt.

Random Hilary Duff picture

by Sharky on Apr 26, 2006 9:23 PM CDT reply actions

re:

I'm not sure Sharky even knows if he's being sarcastic.

by Alan Smithee on Apr 26, 2006 9:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Benoit has found his place as a reliever.

I don't think he'll convert.

In unrelated news, am I the only one that wishes Pedro Gomez would get off of Barry Bonds' jock?

by chief on Apr 26, 2006 9:30 PM CDT up reply actions

re:

Pedro Gomez's job is to follow Bonds around. He was assigned specifically to him last year.

by Alan Smithee on Apr 26, 2006 9:32 PM CDT up reply actions

I know.

I just think it's a little too.. I don't know, pretentious?

by chief on Apr 26, 2006 9:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Did you guys see

That hilarious thing on sportscenter where Bonds started telling "Pedro you have issues, dude" "Seriously dude"

That shit was funny.

Pedro asked some steroids question and Bonds said he would only talk baseball. Next guy asks about the field or something, Bonds answers, Pedro comes back with "that wasn't about baseball". Prompting Bonds little..tirade.

Random Hilary Duff picture

by Sharky on Apr 26, 2006 9:35 PM CDT reply actions