Monday morning stuff

by Adam J. Morris on Jan 29, 2007 9:44 AM CST in News Comment 16 comments

I'm ready for spring training to start, if only so I can have a few more things to talk about each morning.

Another zzzzzzzzzz day out there...

T.R. Sullivan has a lengthy blog post on Brad Wilkerson, saying, in essence, that fans need to give the guy a chance to show whether he's healthy after his shoulder surgery, given that he's been battling the shoulder problem since the middle of 2005.

The comments to T.R.'s piece suggest there are quite a few who think Wilkerson just sucks, that the shoulder has nothing to do with the strikeouts, etc. etc. etc. Of course, Wilkerson has always had high strikeout totals, and by this point, I should be used to the notion that certain players will simply be written off by some fans because they strike out too much. But it still frustrates me.

If we get the pre-injury Brad Wilkerson in 2007, then we have a very good player. And given that the shoulder surgery was done before the 2006 season was over, given how much time he has had to rehab, I don't think we should have a Carl Everett situation, where we have a guy who isn't back to normal until halfway through the season.

Jan Hubbard has a piece up on Ron Washington, an "In His Own Words" thing that has Washington expounding at length about his philosophy and what he sees the Rangers doing in 2007.

Jennifer Floyd Engel says the Ron Washington piece has her believing the Rangers will contend, but then says this:

Of course, I thought this last season, based on Phil Nevin and Adam Eaton. All ended in failure, at least in Texas, thus leading to another manager and another plan and another crap shoot in free agency.

Phil Nevin and Adam Eaton. It brings to mind this quote from Grizz at Blogging the Boys:

I'm getting mixed-feelings about hiring Turner now. I was strictly against it this morning, but after I read Jen Floyd Engel's article, I am not so sure. No, she didn't convince me that my feelings about Turner were in error, she actually agreed with me! And that's the exact moment when I started to question my own reasoning. If Jen Floyd Engel is in agreement with me, then I immediately think that I'm in error!

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My biggest gripe with Wilkerson

was he looked like he was in fairly poor shape last offseason, and I don't see a lot of excuses for it for a guy who supposedly can play CF.

"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 29, 2007 10:00 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Jen Engel

Does anyone else wish ill will on her? I can't stand her. I wish she wasn't on the radio and would get fired from the Star-Telegram.

by GoFrogs on Jan 29, 2007 10:26 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

She'd probably think that you were wishing

ill will on her b/c "she's a woman in a man's world of sports." Not because she doesn't know what she's talking about.

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

by mtex on Jan 29, 2007 10:38 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

T-Faux

How unclever of her.

by Chris Martin on Jan 29, 2007 2:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

As is

Her nickname. I heard her explaining it to Linda Cohn yesterday on ESPN News, mentioning that Galloway had given her the nickname, without any mention that Pat Verbeek previously had been known as "Little Ball of Hate" during his time with the Stars.

by RCCook on Jan 29, 2007 3:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wilk and Ks

I'm kinda tired of the "Wilk Ks too much so he sucks." Striking out, by itself, is not necessarily a bad thing. Higher K ratios are actually associated with small increases in walk ratio and slugging. I was just as frustrated as everyone else watching Wilk at the top of the order, but I think he'll be better.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=2617

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

by WyoRanger on Jan 29, 2007 10:35 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Here is why I don't like Wilkerson

If your injured, get it fixed. He hurt the team while playing injured. Thats not heroic, it's selfish. He didn't look like much of a fielder either, certainly can't play CF like the fans were told.

by shallrelicme on Jan 29, 2007 10:45 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Playing injured

I don't know whether this was the case, but I suspect playing hurt for a manager like Buck is seen as some sort of indication that you're mentally tough.

Buck is a lot like Parcells, who viewed not playing hurt as a character flaw- remember Julius Jones' shoulder injury a couple years back?

Lots of players play hurt- it's dumb, and it hurts the team, but I wouldn't call it selfish.

by RCCook on Jan 29, 2007 10:56 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

parcells

to a certain extent its true (i don't know why you went back that far when you could have cited T.O.) but he really had problems with guys that were injured that weren't constantly in the exercise room rehabbing.

but for wilkerson, if he had gotten surgery right away, what are the chances he gets arbitration from the rangers?

by ab03 on Jan 29, 2007 11:04 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

OT--Clemens fills me with rage

I see on ESPN.com they are running another Clemens "maybe i will maybe i won't story." His agent says he won't join a team until May or June.

I don't care when he starts pitching. But he needs to get his ass on a roster before the season starts: he needs to throw his fortunes in with a team at the get-go, rather than sizing up their playoff chances in mid-June. I hate to wish for more rules, but I think its bad for the game for elite players to sign one year deals and pick teams to join at midseason (and join them without 2 months of wear on their bodies).

by jsdoty on Jan 29, 2007 11:03 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Washington

encouraging to hear him say he's not afraid to stick with young players even if they struggle. That's good, because EVERY young player struggles and they need to work through it. Hopefully that means guys like Botts and Tejeda get plenty of chances.

by t ball on Jan 29, 2007 1:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs