Tuesday a.m. things

by Adam J. Morris on Jan 16, 2007 9:40 AM CST in News Comment 60 comments

Okay, I'm cranky today.

I'm cranky because of Sammy Sosa coming to town.

According to Jan Hubbard, the Rangers are going to offer him an incentive-laden minor league deal.

Bleah.

I know, I know...it would just be an NRI deal, it doesn't hurt to take a look and see what he can do, blah blah blah.

But T.R. Sullivan hits it on the head:

Looks like the Rangers are willing to talk to him about a non-roster invitation to Spring Training, which would not bode well for Jason Botts or Victor Diaz. This could even impact Nelson Cruz as well.

I don't understand why the Rangers seem so bound and determined to not have Jason Botts on their Opening Day roster.

Richard Durrett says, "Why not?". No risk, no commitment, take a look at him in spring training...

But again, if Ron Washington wants a righty bat (as Durrett indicates), then what is wrong with Jason Botts?

Why does it seem like the Rangers are bound and determined to avoid having Jason Botts on their team in 2007? Why are they wanting to send him back for a third year of AAA?

And for what? Sammy Sosa? The guy missed all of last year, was awful in 2005, was okay, not great, in 2004. Plus you have all the ancillary issues that come along with having one of the poster children of the steroids era on your team.

Tom Hicks wasn't willing to bring Barry Bonds to town, but is willing to take a chance on Sosa?

Ridiculous. This pisses me off.

Anyway...in other news...

Joe Sheehan is doing a chat session at BP today at 1:30 p.m. Go ask him some Ranger questions.

And the Mets are working on a minor league deal with Ruben Sierra.

I'm not sure whether that's better or worse than a minor league deal for Sammy Sosa.

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Here's hoping

Sammy Sosa falls flat on his face

by shallrelicme on Jan 16, 2007 9:42 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Calm down....

It's not as though Daniels just traded Alphonso Soriano for a one-armed outfielder or a promising young pitcher and an excellent young power bat for an often injured, free agent-to-be starting pitcher. Oh yeah, he already did that.

by doolindalton on Jan 16, 2007 9:51 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

that's disingenuous

by jtts on Jan 16, 2007 10:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i guess

he did leave out aki - everybody leaves out aki.

but the other parts are legitimate gripes.

by ab03 on Jan 16, 2007 10:21 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

one armed outfielder?

Wilkerson passed a physical. It wasn't like they knew they were getting damaged goods. They had every reason to think they were getting a good player.

by jtts on Jan 16, 2007 10:27 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What reason was that?

Soriano in 2005 was coming off one of his best seasons, 36 hr, 104 rbis and a .268 batting average, whereas Wilkerson, while hurt, hit 11 homers, 57 rbis, and .248. The trade was roughly the equivalent of trading Kevin Millwood for Kerry Wood.

by doolindalton on Jan 16, 2007 11:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Brad / Sori

Brad Wilkerson, from 2002 - 2004, had OPS's of .840, .844, .872. Soriano, from 2002 - 2004, had OPS's of .880, .863, and .807, while playing atrocious defense at a position where he was blocking a younger player who would be under organization control for some time.

So you have one player, with a three year trend of rising OPS production, and another with a three year trend of declining OPS production... the ostensibly improving player is under control for longer and plays a position where we had holes, the declining player plays a position (badly) where we were strong.

by benmor78 on Jan 16, 2007 12:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

disingenuous?

Playfully insincere? Nah, just a bit of sarcasm.

by doolindalton on Jan 16, 2007 11:26 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

the griping

about the soriano trade has to end. we all agree it was a bad trade. it was over a year ago. move on.

www.theTNR.com

by SteveOla on Jan 16, 2007 1:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

and

at the time, the vast majority of prognosticators said it was a good deal. To look back and say it was a horrible trade is the worst kind of hindsight. It turned out badly, but that does not mean that at the time it was a bad trade made for bad reasons.

by t ball on Jan 16, 2007 3:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No "we" don't agree

I thought it was a good trade at the time and I still do. The fact that it turned out the way it did is irrelevant.

The only true way to measure a trade is immediately after it is made based on the information available at the time on the value of each player involved. If you don't, then you end up with people using too much hindsight about a guy like Soriano completely exceeding any realistic expectations. This is also a reason I usually chuckle when people rag on the Rangers for trading away Sammy Sosa. He didn't become a really good player until 4 years and 2 teams AFTER the Rangers traded him.

by Chris Martin on Jan 16, 2007 3:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with coldplay.

and I am unanimous in that.

When all else fails, there's always delusion. - Conan O'Brien

by mtex on Jan 16, 2007 3:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Options?

If Sosa is added to the 40 man roster, would he have options? I would think so since he's being signed to a minor league deal, but I'm not positive whether or not he could refuse a minor league assignment if he's brought up.

Texas Rangers: baby step to 2007. Baby step to 2007.

by WyoRanger on Jan 16, 2007 10:01 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Once he's added to the 40 man

yah he could refuse an assignment.

Jason Botts: 500+ AB's in '07, or bust!!!

by thedirkatron on Jan 16, 2007 10:04 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Push the young guys

I like the idea of bringing in competition. Force the young guys to work harder to earn it.

by mattrpav on Jan 16, 2007 10:03 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Barf on my mother

I'm seriously depressed about what this means for my boy Botts.

Yucky, yucky development.

Jason Botts: 500+ AB's in '07, or bust!!!

by thedirkatron on Jan 16, 2007 10:06 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'm biased

I HATE Sammy Sosa and that little hippity hoppity dance he does after he hits a homer. You know how we probably all have fantasies that we're ballplayers from time to time, right? Well, one of mine was pitching for the Rangers in an interleague game at Wrigley. I have a perfect game going in the sixth, with the Rangers up by something like 15 runs. Sooser hits a solo shot and does his little dance like it was something to be proud of, so the next time he's up I drill him with my Zumaya fastball right in the hip.

That bastard.

http://web.archive.org/web/20030210121425/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=tex

by Dustin on Jan 16, 2007 10:14 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

That little hip-hop shit won't bother me, if......

it wins us a couple of games in October.........I can't see it, though. I'm betting he's washed up. No 'roids, basically 1 1/2-2 years off at his age, and he was already declining. May push Botts, but that's about it. I think Diaz may push Botts back to AAA before Sammy does.

by tklawless on Jan 16, 2007 11:03 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I remember 2 seasons ago...

the Rangers were playing the Orioles at Arlington. Everytime Sosa came to the plate or his name was announced, the stadium errupted in 'boo's. I wonder what the difference would be if he had a Ranger uniform on.

When all else fails, there's always delusion. - Conan O'Brien

by mtex on Jan 16, 2007 11:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I see nothing wrong with this

Hopefully Botts steps up in the face of competition, and gets Rudy enthusiastic about his swing.

I'm all for more outfielders. We don't have a single outfielder I feel confident that you can run out for 140+ games. I really don't know why Sosa's ABs would come at Botts expense when you see the following:

Botts, no record of success in the majors. * Catalanotto, poor against lefties and an injury concern.
Wilkerson, injury issues, and was a big bucket of suck last year.
Lofton, gonna be a 40 year old player.
Victor Diaz, unproven.
Nelson Cruz, no record of success in the majors.

Look, if we see the same withered out husk of a player that we saw in his last year, he isn't making the starting lineup. However, I think there is a chance that some other player, like maybe Wilkerson, just isn't ready to go at the start of the season. Maybe Sosa has found a new undetectable 'roids supplier and can take Wilkerson's slot.

"I told him, 'You (Blalock) are a waste of talent,' " Jaramillo said. "He knows I think he can be the best hitter on our club.

by DJCahill on Jan 16, 2007 10:22 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

problem

i think the problem everybody has is that these vets end up getting playing time even though they are marginally better or sometimes marginally worse than the young guys. nevin is a slightly different case because of his contract but he comes to mind.

by ab03 on Jan 16, 2007 10:27 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I just think its a colossal non-issue

I think Sosa is going to show up with glacial bat speed and he wont make the final cuts. I think the only way he avoids that is if he goes back on the juice.

Nevin is a little different, because he had a guaranteed contract. I'd be more upset if they announced they guaranteed the contract, but so far, I just can't get all that wound up about a NRI.

I still think this is a non-story that only becomes a story due to the lack of other stories. You gotta get wound up about something I guess.

"I told him, 'You (Blalock) are a waste of talent,' " Jaramillo said. "He knows I think he can be the best hitter on our club.

by DJCahill on Jan 16, 2007 10:35 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Last few years

the undeserving veteran problem would have been a major fear, but I'm not as concerned now until Washington shows me to think otherwise.

by rodinuk on Jan 16, 2007 10:43 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

my fear

is that Sosa catches magic in a bottle for 2-3 weeks in Arizona and everyone is suddenly sure that he's back to Slammin' Sammy. Botts gets demoted or worse traded. 6 weeks into the season, Sosa is hitting .202/.285/.350/.635 and they come up with some reason to just move around the current pieces to replace Sosa.

by jtts on Jan 16, 2007 10:31 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

As long as we are playing

extremely unlikely What Ifs,

What If he uses the same steroid supplier as Giambi and hits at the 290/400/600 levels he was hitting in 2002?

"I told him, 'You (Blalock) are a waste of talent,' " Jaramillo said. "He knows I think he can be the best hitter on our club.

by DJCahill on Jan 16, 2007 10:39 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Even if

Sosa does that and Botts has to come up six weeks in to replace him, that doesn't seem like the worst scenario in the world. I also don't think that they'll run him out regularly for six weeks at a .202/.285/.350 clip.

Now, if they're dumb enough to put all of their eggs in the Sosa basket and trade away all other potential alternatives for crappy returns, yeah that would be bad. Do you think they're really that dumb though?

by Brett Perryman on Jan 16, 2007 10:41 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

not to say that any of us would be better

but yes I do think they are dumb enough to give botts away, just look at the history of stupid moves that this and past people have made in this organization.

by shallrelicme on Jan 16, 2007 12:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not that bothered either

It's not like them not believing in Botts is a new development. If I had to bet, I'd bet against Sosa being successful, but we're talking about a no risk deal here.

by Brett Perryman on Jan 16, 2007 10:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah,

I think he is gonna wash out in Spring Training too, and he is gonna have a slower swing than I have. I guess I just don't see the harm in it.

"I told him, 'You (Blalock) are a waste of talent,' " Jaramillo said. "He knows I think he can be the best hitter on our club.

by DJCahill on Jan 16, 2007 10:41 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Anyone think that there's

something bigger happening here?

Ok, before everyone says, "Yes! Botts doesn't get at bats, that's what!" Could JD have another plan in the works?

Suppose he's trying to unload Wilkerson and/or Cruz for another starter? Or something else to help the team?

When all else fails, there's always delusion. - Conan O'Brien

by mtex on Jan 16, 2007 10:27 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

No

Our outfield does not have enough value to bring in a starter better than what we've already got.

by mattrpav on Jan 16, 2007 10:38 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed, no one will give up anything

of value for Wilk (injured) Cruz (unproven) Diaz (again, unproven) or even Botts. Surely not a #3-#4 starter.

by tklawless on Jan 16, 2007 11:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hmmmm......

Gonna be very interesting here at LSB this season. Who will replace Buck as the object of LSB anger. I'm catching a whiff here and there of a list of folks. Rudy, JD, Hicks, Mel Daniels, and Washington have all caught a jab over Sosa. It would seem that JD, Ron W, and Hicks have the biggest targets but I bet Rudy doesn't escape the LSB crew.

Darth Vader is dead....who will represent pure evil for the Rangers?

Sosa....What is so wrong with bringing in a former All-star that might have good pop (which this team sorely needs) at a position that has a serious question marks circling the heads of each player slotted out there?

I don't see this move as all that different as the A's bringing in Frank Thomas last year.

by bdavison94 on Jan 16, 2007 10:41 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I see a big difference

between Sosa and Thomas. Before last year, Thomas was hitting the few times he was healthy.
Sosa on the other hand was complete crap, even when ostensibly healthy.

Still, I don't see the harm in giving Sosa a shot.

"I told him, 'You (Blalock) are a waste of talent,' " Jaramillo said. "He knows I think he can be the best hitter on our club.

by DJCahill on Jan 16, 2007 10:43 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

For power yes....

All Thomas could do at that point was go deep and take a walk I guess. Sosa was playing hurt and Frank wasn't. Not really my point though. Sosa is a guy that if he's actually ok can be much better than any of the OF's we have set to play. If he's not then he's cut.

The whole idea that we shouldn't bring in competition for our players with the concern that our managment will screw up and play horrible players at the expense of better players is funny to me. If people here are concerened that our management team is so inept that we need to protect them from themselves then those people need to be screaming at the top of their lungs to change managment and worry less about Sosa.

by bdavison94 on Jan 16, 2007 10:55 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Point taken and well made BTW

by tklawless on Jan 16, 2007 11:38 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hicks

He's the only evil guy still around.

Washington could garner criticism if he does dumb stuff, but who knows what kind of in-game manager he'll be? We'll just have to wait and see.

Otherwise it will just be players who don't play well.

But we're not going to see anything like the Hicks/Hart/Buck days, hopefully for a long time.

by Brett Perryman on Jan 16, 2007 10:43 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I sense

a lot of angst directed at Daniels. Some of it in the same "ignore the good, scream bloody murder about the bad" mold that's been around for years.

by jtts on Jan 16, 2007 11:04 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

As far as Daniels goes

he's had a mix of good and bad moves. His better moves have been the smaller ones like grabbing Padilla of Phillies scrap heap. So far his big trades haven't helped him any.

Unfortunately, with our weak farm system, we are going to have to rely on our GM to make good trade, free agent and scrap heap moves if we want to be competitive before Teixeira and Young go free agent.

The clock is ticking, and if Daniels isn't successful in the next 2 years, its gonna get a lot tougher on him.

"I told him, 'You (Blalock) are a waste of talent,' " Jaramillo said. "He knows I think he can be the best hitter on our club.

by DJCahill on Jan 16, 2007 11:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think his trades have been pretty solid overall

He's completely turned over a really bad starting rotation in a year with 4 talented players that will be here for years. 3 of the 4 came in trades.

Re: Chris Young-Otsuka; every GM has a trade he wishes he could take back. That's Daniels white whale. I won't crucify and second guess a guy for every move he makes for years because he made one bad deal. And considering VII was the only one bemoaning the Soriano-Wilkerson trade at the time, its really shitty of people to turn around and act like the Rangers just gave away Soriano for nothing.

If Daniels isn't successful in the next two years he's in trouble, but he's only been here for a year. Second guessing everything he does in a race to be able to say "See! I told you he sucked!" is silly.

by jtts on Jan 16, 2007 11:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I so agree

What not Botts? Just give the kid a chance this season. We can pursue a power bat later in the season if things don't work out. Sometimes you just need to give the younger player a go.

Take a look... http://www.baseballfan.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=index&catid=&topi c=13&allstories=1

by UK Ranger on Jan 16, 2007 10:53 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

It's not reasonable

to complain that Hick's is giving Sammy a try when he wouldn't bring in Bonds. Sammy won't get anything like $16 million (and he probably would have cost the Rangers more), even if he could perform to all the incentive levels.

I guess this is what you mena by cranky, huh?

by scourge on Jan 16, 2007 11:00 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Fuck Sammy Sosa...

Let's get Ken Griffey!

by benmor78 on Jan 16, 2007 11:04 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

These are paper bags

I've got enough for everyone.

This is how I see it - Sosa probably contacted the Rangers, because he has some ties to the team but none of the burned bridges. JD figured what the heck, if it works, it works. A's lucked out on the Big Skirt, maybe the Rangers luck out on Sosa. I don't necessarily think this is a statement about Botts, but instead was just an opportunity that popped up.

Texas Rangers: baby step to 2007. Baby step to 2007.

by WyoRanger on Jan 16, 2007 11:23 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yep,

most likely this move will be as important to the Rangers as Garth Brooks spring training time was to the Padres.

"I told him, 'You (Blalock) are a waste of talent,' " Jaramillo said. "He knows I think he can be the best hitter on our club.

by DJCahill on Jan 16, 2007 11:26 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And

the Royals. They could use him now...

by aggierangerfan00 on Jan 16, 2007 11:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Relax Everyone

It's a minor league deal! And Incentive Laden - so those of you who are concerned about payroll don't have to worry. Sosa will have to earn a spot on this team. IF he outplays players, this guy COULD legitemately be a hit. If not, well so what...I think that this is just an opportunity that showed up and has nothing to do with Botts.

by aggierangerfan00 on Jan 16, 2007 11:28 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'm weirded out

By the man-crush that everyone has on Jason Botts.

by hiafex on Jan 16, 2007 11:53 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

its in response to the weird anti-man-crush

Buck Showalter had for him.

by jtts on Jan 16, 2007 12:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The man crush comes primarily from

the stabbing pain in the stomach we get when read something about Travis Hafner being considered for MVP.

by shallrelicme on Jan 16, 2007 5:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Trying to win now

That's why everyone in the front office is uncomfortable with Botts. Sosa doesn't bother me because he's either back close to his old self or he doesn't make the team. However, if Botts can't beat out a washed up player like Sosa then the Rangers should be worried about him.

"My theory of hitting was just to watch the ball as it came in and hit it." --Tommy Lasorda

by BReed on Jan 16, 2007 11:55 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Botts not beating out sosa....

I don't know what to root for there....If Sosa is better than Botts we seem to have found a gem on the cheap. Yet...we really could use Botts and his long term control for cheap.

Here's to hoping they both perform so well that we have to cut Wilky!!!

by bdavison94 on Jan 16, 2007 1:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Botts

If he can't outperform a de-roided Sosa in Spring Training, then I suppose that he doesn't really deserve a full-time gig.

by biff pocoroba on Jan 16, 2007 11:57 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

The argument seems to be

What really is the difference between Botts and a AAAA-journeyman-type Jack Cust? Cust is a year older and walks a lot more. That's about it. Otherwise, neither guy has a true position, they're both extremely old for the level they're at, and they both whiff like crazy. Botts will follow the path of other one-dimensional good-power/high-whiff/no-glove Cust-like AAAA-types like Jon Knott, Jeff Deardorff, Josh Phelps, Tagg Bozied, John Gall, Earl Snyder, Jon Zuber, Robert Stratton etc. who are are destined to spend the rest of their baseball careers floating around the high-minors and going from organization to organization.

I don't see how you can write Botts off before you even give him an extended chance to prove himself. Doesn't he become a 6-year minor-league FA after the season if he spends the year in OKC again? I'd hate to see another organization pick him up and give him a long look. If Teixeira leaves after his contract is up, maybe Botts can maybe step in and play 1B, I dunno. Hope we keep him around.

by Rangerchick on Jan 16, 2007 12:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

nope

Minor League Free Agency only applies to guys that aren't on the 40 man roster.

by jtts on Jan 16, 2007 12:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Cust

Speaking of Cust... I've never understood why he never landed with a team willing to give him a full time shot at making in the bigs. He's only had 144 MLB ab's in his career, which hardly constitutes a "shot", IMO, with a career high of 73 coming in '03 with Baltimore (and he managed a decent .260/.357/.521 line in those ab's).

There must be a huge flaw in his swing somewhere that scouts think MLB pitchers. If there is, they should let AAA pitchers know about it. He hit .293/.467/.549 in AAA last year.

Jason Botts: 500+ AB's in '07, or bust!!!

by thedirkatron on Jan 16, 2007 2:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs