Saturday morning things

by Adam J. Morris on Jan 6, 2007 9:35 AM CST in News

Well, we finally had a little move, signing Jerry Hairston, Jr., to a minor league deal...

I like this deal, for the reasons that Evan Grant explains:

Hairston becomes the leading candidate to become the team's backup infielder. He will compete with prospect Joaquin Arias, fading former first-round pick Drew Meyer and journeymen Ramon Vazquez and Matt Kata. Hairston also could give the Rangers an option as a backup center fielder behind Kenny Lofton.

The versatility of Hairston may allow the Rangers to keep another player viewed strictly as a hitter, either Jason Botts or Victor Diaz. With the likelihood being that the Rangers will carry seven relievers, their bench probably will be limited to four players. One will be a backup catcher; Hairston has the inside track for a second spot.

The final two spots will be outfielders. Marlon Byrd, Freddy Guzman, Botts and Diaz are contenders for that spot. Botts or Diaz could also be the right-handed DH against left-handed pitchers if the Rangers don't find another bat.

The Rangers need a backup infielder, although that guy isn't going to get much playing time. If the backup infielder is someone like Hairston, who can play centerfield as well, that makes it that much more likely Jason Botts will stick around.

Evan Grant explains why he won't be voting for Mark McGwire for the Hall, and along with the steroids argument, brings up the "one-dimensional" argument (that McGwire just hit homers).

Joe Sheehan has an article responding to the "one-dimensional" complaint against McGwire, pointing out that Tony Gwynn -- who is also on the ballot for the first time, and who will almost surely be elected -- is at least as "one-dimensional" as McGwire.

T.R. Sullivan has a good blog entry giving the exact details of the Eric Gagne contract incentives.

Over at Beyond the Box Score, John Barten has a profile of Ranger prospect Taylor Teagarden.

And if you haven't already seen, The Newberg Report is going to be hosting a chat session with Star-Telegram Ranger beat writer Kat O'Brien at 4 p.m. on Monday, January 8. If you want to participate, go to The Newberg Report Monday a little before 4 p.m. and click on the chat room link.

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Grant's MVP voting

I like how he describes Dave Concepcion as an "offensive weapon".

I got a fever and the only prescription is more blockquotes!

by LoneStarBallUser on Jan 6, 2007 9:42 AM CST reply actions

LOL

A career OPS+ of 88, and he's an offensive weapon? I guess it must have been all the stolen bases...

by RCCook on Jan 6, 2007 9:53 AM CST up reply actions

Stolen bases

He didn't even really steal a lot of bases. He only had over 30 twice and just one other year of over 25. Given the era and league in which he played, he wasn't much of a base stealer either.

I got a fever and the only prescription is more blockquotes!

by LoneStarBallUser on Jan 6, 2007 9:58 AM CST up reply actions

Grant's Hall of Fame vote

I sent Evan a lengthy email. His Hall of Fame vote got me fired up for a few reasons:

1- NINE people? He voted for NINE people? That is ridiculous. Maybe he and Gosselin should switch jobs. The pro football Hall of Fame lets everyone in, so Evan would be pleased. Voting for 9 people in one year is how we end up with guys like Tony Perez and Gary Carter in the HOF.

2- The Concepcion vote is just awful. I hate the argument of "he was the best SS of the 1970's". That is flawed thinking. Put it this way: what if during the 1990's, 29 teams had shortstops the caliber of Benji Gil, but one team was "lucky" enough to have Royce Clayton for those 10 years. That would make Clayton the best SS of the 1990's. According to Evan, we'd have to put him in the Hall.

3- If someone wants to not vote for McGwire because of the steroid issue, that is understandable. But to suggest his number of hits, or batting average, or lack of postseason success could keep him out, that is ignorant. Just look at the HR per AB ratio, OBP, SLG, and remember the way EVERY writer in America (including Evan) fawned over McGwire for "saving baseball" in 1998. Hall of Famer. Period.

by Hard8 on Jan 6, 2007 10:57 AM CST up reply actions

Disappointed in Grant's vote

I thought more of him than that. Too many yeses, and a no on McGwire for faulty reasoning. Of several things that bothers me, this sticks out:

He suggests that steroids might have accounted for 100 of Mac's home runs. 100? That seems like an awfully arbitrary, and too large, number. I have a hard time believing that PEDs made almost 20% of his home runs happen. You might also say that injuries cost him 100 home runs.

by t ball on Jan 6, 2007 12:56 PM CST up reply actions

Yep

And again, he ignores something most writers miss- that McGwire likely hit a fair number of his home runs off juiced pitchers.

Oh, well. At least he voted for Blyleven.

by RCCook on Jan 6, 2007 2:07 PM CST up reply actions

Pitchers

right, and I forgot about that salient fact when I was ranting. If everyone is juiced, doesn't it sort of equal out?

by t ball on Jan 6, 2007 5:31 PM CST up reply actions

If healthy, I thought Teagarden was............

supposed to be a better prospect than he describes??? Basically, his ceiling is a BACK-UP catcher?

by tklawless on Jan 6, 2007 10:35 AM CST reply actions

Value

I'd be pretty happy if you said we're definitely getting LaRue or Molina. Not great players, but contributing everyday guys with good defensive reputations.

by AZranger on Jan 6, 2007 10:58 AM CST up reply actions

So who backs up 3B?

Why bring back Hairston to be the backup middle-infielder when he has all of 1 game under his belt at 3B while Kata and Vazquez have 26 and 57 respectively?

by Rangerchick on Jan 6, 2007 10:40 AM CST reply actions

Hairston

I don't imagine that he's going to have a problem playing third base.

He just hasn't had to.

by Adam J. Morris on Jan 6, 2007 10:56 AM CST up reply actions

He can play all infield spots

or they can keep kata/vazquez in addition to botts/diaz.

by AZranger on Jan 6, 2007 10:56 AM CST up reply actions

Maybe, like Adam says......

because JHJr can play OF, too. May helps Botts chances of sticking.

by tklawless on Jan 6, 2007 10:43 AM CST reply actions

hairston

would have been a great outfielder for us last year if we could have someone else hit for him. He made some GMJ like catches in the outfield. Well not like "the catch" but like some of the others.

by dubman @ Lone Star Ball on Jan 6, 2007 11:20 AM CST reply actions

How do our Pitcher's hit?

Any chance Botts could DH for JHJr.?

by tklawless on Jan 6, 2007 11:24 AM CST up reply actions

Why the hate for JHJ?

Look at the utility guys around the league.

Is he really worse than Scutaro, Cairo, Cora, Infante/Perez, McDonald, Easley, Cedeno, Bruntlett, Amezaga, Rodriguez, etc etc.

With a few exceptions, utility players are versatile defenders that can't hit much. That's what Hairston is, though he happens to be coming off a career worst year. Still just 30, good chance to revert to form (.257/.330/.362 career, and .261/.334/.371 before 2006). Non-roster deal, no risk.

by AZranger on Jan 6, 2007 11:50 AM CST reply actions

JHJ

Not a bad signing, but it's going to hurt not having Derosa around this year.

CJ Wilson for Cy Young in 2012.

by trza on Jan 6, 2007 1:25 PM CST reply actions

Meh

I don't know that it will make that big a difference.

by Adam J. Morris on Jan 6, 2007 2:54 PM CST up reply actions

My dislike

for Hairston Jr came from him getting too much playing time last year. So I guess that dislike was really for Buck not Hairston. I think he is a great utility guy and adds to the team a veteran presents. He was raised in baseball and I think he has a lot to teach the young guys. I am going to stop there because I sound like I am about to say that he has a good face and a high trust factor.

I may not be a baseball GM, but I am a thinker. (a play on a Glenn Beck catch phrase)

by kwellborn on Jan 6, 2007 3:42 PM CST reply actions