Wes Littleton's bullpen job probably safe

by Adam J. Morris on Feb 18, 2007 3:13 PM CST in News

Evan Grant and T.R. Sullivan both are blogging this afternoon that Ron Washington says that, like Robinson Tejeda, Wes Littleton has a spot that is his to lose, rather than win.

So, barring injury or a spring meltdown, there are just two bullpen slots open for the various and sundry candidates still out there. Unless, of course, Akinori Otsuka gets dealt...

Also, Evan Grant says that, when listing the players who reported early, he inadvertantly omitted Ian Kinsler, who has already reported...

I'm expecting big things from Ian Kinsler this season...I think he's poised to make the leap to being, along with Robinson Cano, one of the top couple of second basemen in the American League.

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Comments

You thinking about going to ST, Meno?

It'd be cool to see you blog it.

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on Feb 18, 2007 3:26 PM CST reply actions

Nope

Too much on my plate right now to get away. Several cases set to go to trial in March, and other work-related things that would make it impossible.

Maybe next year...

by Adam J. Morris on Feb 18, 2007 3:37 PM CST up reply actions

Would you consider guest commentary?

If someone is actually going to Surprise, that is. I'm not volunteering myself, unfortunately, as that pesky thing called work always interferes with all the cool things in life.

you jackin' it?

by chief on Feb 18, 2007 11:19 PM CST up reply actions

kinsler

That would be a boon. Having a superior middle of the infield goes a long way to making talk about Sosa/Botts/Wilderson/Cruz less exasperating

Smart business decisions? Let's just win some ball games

by jrams33 on Feb 18, 2007 3:34 PM CST reply actions

Probably Benoit and Frankie Frank for the last two slots? Unless Benoit is dealt and Bauer fills the role of long man. I'd guess that Feldman or Loe (if he doesn't make the rotation) are Francisco's big competitors for the other slot. Personally, I'd prefer if Mayhay's slot wasn't so secure, but I guess we need lefities in the bullpen if we aren't going to have any in the rotation.

It's Coagulicious!

by trza on Feb 18, 2007 3:47 PM CST reply actions

Mahay

He could also end up getting dealt, I think, given the demand for lefty relievers.

by Adam J. Morris on Feb 18, 2007 3:50 PM CST up reply actions

mahay

yeah i agree, he's a prime candidate to be dealt, he could be part of a nice trade package. and he could be replaced by rheino or koronka... but i'd like to see benoit dealt, just don't think the demand for him would be high

Pimps be damned, it's harder out here for a Rangers fan!

by rentz on Feb 18, 2007 3:52 PM CST up reply actions

Mahay

I would prefer we hang on to him, unless he traded as part of a deal for something that will help us this year. I think he's better than most give him credit for.

My preference would be to trade Benoit, and keep Gagne, Aki, Littleton, Francisco and Bauer as the righthanded relievers, with Feldman and all the potential 5th starters in AAA to begin the season.

by BurntOrange on Feb 18, 2007 4:21 PM CST up reply actions

I'd trade Benoit

and give the long reliever job to Volquez. I'd rather him get major league work in than keep pitching in the minors. Move Benoit and Bauer for the best prospect you can get.

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by jtts on Feb 18, 2007 3:56 PM CST up reply actions

Something...anything

other than Benoit. He doesn't need to be on the team this year.

"Chip" first person on LSB to be berated by someone on the 25-man roster. - RangerMoto

by ortonius on Feb 18, 2007 4:06 PM CST up reply actions

Speechless

Give Benoit until the deadline, when he can bring something back. Right now, we lose if we trade him.

"When you're riding in a time machine way far into the future, don't stick your elbow out the window, or it'll turn into a fossil."

by Ed Coffin on Feb 18, 2007 6:55 PM CST up reply actions

but are you losing out on breaking a better

pitcher into the majors by letting Benoit take up that roster spot? The Long Reliever Spot is probably the most valuable way to get young pitchers major league experience. If that's his only role on the team, I'd rather get less than value for him and take the experience gained by letting Volquez pitch in the majors.

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by jtts on Feb 18, 2007 9:01 PM CST up reply actions

I'm not

Chairman of the "keep Jack no matter what" booster club, by any means. But as long as the team is in 'win now' mode, you must have ... must have ... a reliable middle innings guy you can call a gamekeeper. Suppose you are tied, down one or two runs, in the fourth inning. Your starter is gassed. You don't run Jack out there with runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out, OK. But if he starts the next inning, he's good if needed all the way to the eighth. Win some, lose some. But you don't put a guy in at that point who likely will get one out and allow four runs (Volquez to this point). If you are out front by 5 games at the break, or behind by 6 games or more and getting into trade mode, then yes, see what he brings. Contrary to what seems to be majority opinion, you don't put promising prospects into the show at the cost of a proven commodity. OTOH, if he doesn't have it in April/May at all, ship him and go to the prospect filler plan.

"When you're riding in a time machine way far into the future, don't stick your elbow out the window, or it'll turn into a fossil."

by Ed Coffin on Feb 18, 2007 9:46 PM CST up reply actions

However

Rick Bauer, Kam Loe, or Josh Rupe could fill that role just as well.

by Adam J. Morris on Feb 18, 2007 9:50 PM CST up reply actions

I think...

...we're basing too much of our confidence in the bullpen on the 2nd half of last year. Hopefully Daniels is taking a wait-and-see approach with these guys in Spring Training...and the first month or so of the season. Only then can he make an informed decision on their futures.

Edwards-Obama '08

by RangerMoto on Feb 18, 2007 9:52 PM CST up reply actions

And I say 'we'...

...because I'm guilty of the effusive praise of the bullpen as well.

Edwards-Obama '08

by RangerMoto on Feb 18, 2007 9:52 PM CST up reply actions

depth

But the things is, and the reason I am optimistic about the bullpen, even if some falter or disappoint, there are several good arms standing in line to take their place. I think it's quite likely that the bullpen will be ok to begin with and get stronger as '07 goes on as guys find their stride and sort themselves out.

by t ball on Feb 18, 2007 9:55 PM CST up reply actions

of course I hope you're right...

...but hopefully Daniels has a few contingency plans.

Edwards-Obama '08

by RangerMoto on Feb 19, 2007 2:14 AM CST up reply actions

In my experience

if the starter is gassed in the fourth inning, most likely it isnt a close game. Id have to look it up, but Im willing to bet most Rangers early exit correlate to lots of runs allowed.

I just think your scenario is fairly rare.

by DJCahill on Feb 18, 2007 10:31 PM CST up reply actions

I don't see where that situation appeared

for Benoit once last year

To be fair, it looks like it happened between 1/3 and 1/2 in 2005 and 2004. Last year it looks like he was the late innings guy when the game was out of hand one way or the other.

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by jtts on Feb 18, 2007 10:42 PM CST up reply actions

now that I think about it

The early innings appearances in 2004 and 2005 were times that he was the starter, not where he was making an early relief appearance.

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by jtts on Feb 18, 2007 10:43 PM CST up reply actions

Benoit booster club chairman

That would be Dustin, I think.

It's Coagulicious!

by trza on Feb 18, 2007 10:32 PM CST up reply actions

It'll probably come down to...........

who has options and who doesn't.........if all these guys are as interchangeable as everyone thinks, why not keep them all? If it's close the one with options loses, sorry........they will all have some value, to some team, some time.

by tklawless on Feb 18, 2007 11:21 PM CST up reply actions

I'd rather improve the other areas of the team

that are weak than have the best bullpen in the the PCL. I'm a proponent of trading a couple relievers for a hitting prospect, but an upgrade in the OF would be a better use of whoever loses the bullpen jobs than to let them hang out in the minors.

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by jtts on Feb 19, 2007 10:06 AM CST up reply actions

The problem is

if you really want to improve the team, you probably have to trade Aki. Marginal bullpen arms who may or may not make the Rangers probably don't have enough value to fetch an everyday OF or starter.

by DJCahill on Feb 19, 2007 10:16 AM CST up reply actions

I agree

that's part of the reason I'd rather trade for a AA or AAA prospect. If you get a legitimate prospect he either helps you next year or you can trade him at the deadline when your needs are better defined.

You're more likely to work out a deadline trade with a team that's out of contention if you're offering prospects instead of relievers.

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by jtts on Feb 19, 2007 4:15 PM CST up reply actions

Kinsler

"I think he's poised to make the leap to being, along with Robinson Cano, one of the top couple of second basemen in the American League."

That's saying a lot considering the competition, ie. Brian Roberts, Howie Kendrick, Jose Lopez, Tadahito Iguchi, and Luis Castillo. I'll venture to say Kendrick will eventually become the best 2B'man in the AL as he has huge upside.

by Rangerchick on Feb 18, 2007 6:08 PM CST reply actions