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Sunday a.m. stuff

Quiet day out there today.  And not a bad win for the Cowboys...although if TO is going to miss significant time, Tony Romo better not even suggest that the Cowboys could win without Owens, since we know how TO feels about QBs saying things like that...

On the Hamilton trade, Keith Law really likes the deal for Texas:

There's some risk involved, but there's a very good chance the Rangers just picked up a middle-of-the-order bat who's about to enter his prime years in exchange for a hard-throwing young pitcher with more risks around his future.

* * *

The Rangers' system is full of pitching prospects, and they have a good number of infield and catching prospects, but they're light in the outfield, with 2007 draftee Julio Borbon probably the best of that group. Josh Hamilton immediately becomes the best centerfielder the Rangers have had in a decade -- all apologies to Laynce Nix, Tom Goodwin, and Damon Buford -- and has a good chance to be the best hitter in the Rangers' 2008 lineup.

Anyone who has been following the Rangers closely knows that Law is dead on in his assessment of the system, and in particular, in his take on the plethora of pitching prospects the Rangers have.

It makes the take offered by David Pinto -- who normally is pretty good -- all the more disappointing:

I find it strange that Texas would trade a top pitching prospect, given their lack of depth on the mound.

* * *

It could be the Rangers feel they just don't have a good way of improving the pitching this year, so they might as well make the offense as potent as possible and hope they get lucky.

Pinto, it seems, is regurgitating the circa 2003 line on the Rangers...

0 recs  |  Comment 25 comments

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Did any body see Jameys post
on his web site?  I thought he did a great job of breaking down this team and the risks involved.  I mean the way i see it is "would you have wanted Johnny Boy to trade Hurley for Hamilton or another high prospect like Hurley?"  While everyone loves the whole Holliday part duex I think we should be real happy that we got a potential number 3-5 hitter playing a premium position and for dirt cheap(money wise).  Yes we did give up a signifacant part to this teams future, but we obtained an even greater piece, just as long as Hamilton doesn't flame out.
""I love GOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLD" blueglovelefty

by NYTXFAN on Dec 23, 2007 10:47 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Pinto
I left a comment there yesterday saying that he was outdated in his view of the Rangers.  He's normally pretty spot on, must not be paying attention to the Rangers system that much.

The more I think about this trade, the more excited I am about the possibilities (even as I cross my fingers for the injury risk, let alone his history).  When is the last time the Rangers had a CF with this kind of potential?  If Hamilton remains healthy all year how many CFers will outproduce him?

Tomorrow Never Knows

by t ball on Dec 23, 2007 10:48 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Me, too
I'm beginning to like the trade after starting out a bit wary when the news broke.  There are concerns but Hamilton might be pretty handy to have over the next five years.  I trawled thru the Hamilton high-lights over at the Reds' official website and he uses the whole field power-wise - he's not so pull-happy like Blalock tends to be, seemed like it anyway - bodes well for his lefty splits you'd think - look at his AAA batting chart HR's - http://tinyurl.com/22ewml.  A few defensive high-lights there , too - great arm.

by shroomer on Dec 23, 2007 12:18 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Actually
that chart includes his MLB HR's as well.  Good spread of power.

by shroomer on Dec 23, 2007 12:20 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Chart
that is really interesting, he really sprays the ball around when he gets it in the air.  I just want to pinch myself thinking about that kind of production coming from a Rangers centerfielder.  I don't believe a Rangers CF has ever had an ops over .900 for a full season, have they?
Tomorrow Never Knows

by t ball on Dec 23, 2007 12:48 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I was thinking about that last part too
  1. If he lives up to, say, about what he did last year but can stay healthy for the most part, is he not the best CF the Rangers will have ever had?
  2. If he lives up to his potential, does he not challenge Sizemore (or Granderson or whoever) as the best CF in the AL? He probably isn't as good as them defensively, but he might have the most power of any of them.
He can certainly capture your imagination if you let him.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 23, 2007 12:33 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

My Imagination sees this:
I like the idea of Josh "Roy Hobbs" Hamilton circling the bases at TBIA to the Natural in the background.....that will certainly capture my attention...This was meant to be...
Some of us are destined for Greatness; The rest of us are determined for it.

by SMITTY on Dec 23, 2007 4:19 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

i was thinking that too
Hamilton has the potential to out produce Sizemore and Granderson on offense and he's pretty good defensively and has a GUN out in CF.......

by slash on Dec 23, 2007 9:05 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

McNabb
sure has won a lot since TO left...
if you apologize for everything, you apologize for nothing...

by Longhorn on Dec 23, 2007 11:01 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Law says it best right here.
"Volquez still doesn't have an average breaking ball and it seems likely that at this point, he never will, in which case, he's much more likely to end up in the bullpen. If he's going to be a starter long-term, it's hard to envision him as more than a fourth starter because of the lack of a third pitch, although he could be an excellent short reliever with that two-pitch repertoire because he won't have the large platoon split so many short relievers have."

Hamilton has his risks but we sold high on Volquez and Law supports the fact that he may not hit his cieling.

""I love GOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLD" blueglovelefty

by NYTXFAN on Dec 23, 2007 11:06 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

I think that there is a good chance that Law
is right. His slider was still inconsistent even late last year. It's just that it came so far so fast that you wonder if that track might continue. Again though, history tells us that it probably won't.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 23, 2007 12:29 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I wonder
if over-sleeping in New Orleans was an important nail in his Ranger coffin.

by shroomer on Dec 23, 2007 12:58 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Johnny Narron hired
per Jamey Newberg, according to the Jim Reeves article today in the FWST, Narron has been hired to do what he did for the Reds, run video, do some scouting, assist Jaramillo, but mostly be a friend and mentor to Josh Hamilton.

Smart move.

Tomorrow Never Knows

by t ball on Dec 23, 2007 1:06 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

very smart move
"Dwyade is to basketball what the 40 is to the Rangers." -thedirkatron

by coolaid on Dec 23, 2007 1:13 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Agreed,
keep him around people he knows and can trust.  Narron will play a roll in how he develops off field i would think.
""I love GOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLD" blueglovelefty

by NYTXFAN on Dec 23, 2007 3:40 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

That's good news,
but actually something I think we should expect with the Hamilton deal going down.

It's one less worry hopefully, though.

Req

by Requiem on Dec 23, 2007 7:31 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

BGL likes the deal
He updated his blog - doing the family/holiday thang back in Cali - getting his tossing done off the wall at the elementary school across the street.  Here's his take on the trade:
I actually like the trade for the organization- Hamilton is the toolsiest OF we've ever had. Back in '99 when he was a pitcher as a side job in high school, homeboy could throw 94 mph according the Baseball America. He's also got ridiculous power- and anyone who hits balls I don't have to chase in batting practice is cool by me. I know that Hank Blalock might be bummed out because Hamilton is covered in tattoos, so that means he's gonna have to step up his game and get ink on his neck or rib cage to compete. This trade will also be good for Jason Botts- because him and Hamilton are similar sizes (yes botts you're taller and probably way better at guitar hero) but having another behemoth around will speed up his development.

Certainly Volquez is a big time talent, but the problem here in texas has been finding consistent starters, not guys that have good stuff...we've got a lot of guys now have good stuff. I like Edinson personally, but I'll guess he's really happy to get a fresh start, and a new chance. Plus national league teams have no DH- so that dude gets to try and score for himself which is always cool.

http://cjwilson.mlblogs.com/my_weblog/

by shroomer on Dec 23, 2007 4:42 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

you didnt include
the video's, shroom
"Dwyade is to basketball what the 40 is to the Rangers." -thedirkatron

by coolaid on Dec 23, 2007 5:02 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

speaking of guitar hero
check this out
Can you please Look into getting a less funny signature? That's sarcasm, btw. - Sharky

by rentz on Dec 23, 2007 5:15 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

ugh
ok, i guess i wont hyperlink as my web-fu is old and outdated.

http://my.break.com/content/view.aspx?ContentID=421642

Can you please Look into getting a less funny signature? That's sarcasm, btw. - Sharky

by rentz on Dec 23, 2007 5:16 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

thats pretty crazy
check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmIVSny4e2g&eurl

its kind of funny. got it from deadspin

"Dwyade is to basketball what the 40 is to the Rangers." -thedirkatron

by coolaid on Dec 23, 2007 5:28 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

holy crap
that hurt to watch
Can you please Look into getting a less funny signature? That's sarcasm, btw. - Sharky

by rentz on Dec 23, 2007 5:32 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

what an idiot
that guy is
"Dwyade is to basketball what the 40 is to the Rangers." -thedirkatron

by coolaid on Dec 23, 2007 6:00 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Pinto
I took his comment to be about the depth and ability at the major league level.  He's right that they aren't likely to make the Major League starting pitching any better this year.  And he's right that they need to get lucky in the starting rotation given the gaggle of middle of the rotation guys they have there.  

Law's comment was about the minor league depth.  The 2 comments were about different subjects and I think they are both probably right.

Oh Man!!!!

by SwiperNoSwiping on Dec 24, 2007 8:02 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

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