Wednesday morning stuff

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 28, 2007 9:58 AM CDT in News Comment 27 comments

Okay, I'm tired of season previews, talking about spring performances, and obsessing over the 5th starter race...

I'm ready for the season to begin...

Particularly if Joel Sherman is right...Sherman predicts that Ron Washington will win Manager of the Year with the Rangers adding 7-10 wins, and Ian Kinsler having a breakout year.

Yesterday's game was a pitching disaster, with Kevin Millwood, Ron Mahay, Eric Gagne, and Wes Littleton all getting slapped around, but Washington says he's not worried about his guys, and Millwood says he's ahead of where he was at this point last year.

Millwood and Gagne, I'm not all that worried about, but Littleton's inability to find the strike zone, I think, sealed his fate...until he gets his mechanics straightened out to where he can quit walking 2 guys per inning, he's going to be in Oklahoma.

Ron Washington loves him some Jack Benoit. If he needed a lefty retired in a late-game situation right now, Washington says that Benoit would be his guy, and he's apparently pitched himself into a setup role.

The knock on Benoit has always been that he can't handle pressure situations, so it will be interesting to see what happens when Washington puts him in during the 8th inning of a tie game with a runner on, but so far, Benoit has tapped into that potential that has led the Rangers to hang onto him all these years.

Also from Evan Grant in the same item is his take on why Jamey Wright is going to be the fifth starter:

While right-hander Kameron Loe has outperformed every starting pitcher in camp, it appears to be more logical to place Wright in the rotation and Loe in the bullpen to start the season.

The fifth starter will get four starts by May 1 (April 10, 21, 26 and May 1). Putting Loe in the bullpen gives the Rangers a more reliable long man, which may be a more valuable asset in the first month when starters pitch fewer innings and have more closely monitored pitch counts.

I understand the reasoning. I don't know that I agree with it -- I think Kam Loe should be the fifth starter -- but I understand the rationale behind the decision.

However, part of me wonders if keeping Wright around and stashing Loe in the pen would be such a priority if Brandon McCarthy and Robinson Tejeda had had better springs.

Jan Hubbard talks about the jobs still up in the air right now, with Matt Kata, Marlon Byrd, and Jason Botts all vying for a bench spot, and Chris Stewart, Miguel Ojeda, and Guillermo Quiroz competing for the backup catcher spot.

Quiroz and Stewart each have an option, so the Rangers could well opt to keep Ojeda and stash both of the other candidates in AAA, although Stewart has apparently really impressed Ron Washington this spring.

As for the last bench spot, I think it goes to Kata, mainly because JHJ seems to be ahead of Byrd in the backup-centerfielder pecking order. If JHJ is going to be your backup centerfielder, and you have 4 guys already in place for the corner outfield/DH mix, you need a backup infielder more than you need a 6th outfielder.

Grant also says Sammy Sosa's availability for the opener is in doubt.

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Sosa's availability is in doubt

5 days from now because of a stomach virus? Thats one hell of a virus.

"I think that Donald Rumsfeld will go down in history as one of the worst secretaries of defense in history" -- John McCain

by DJCahill on Mar 28, 2007 10:08 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Hopefully he doesn't start sneezing

www.mavsmoneyball.com

by Wes Cox on Mar 28, 2007 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

One hell of a virus

I had a stomach virus recently that definitely would have kept me from doing something as strenuous as baseball for at least 5 days. I felt like I had been hit by a truck and was weak for several days afterward.

by t ball on Mar 28, 2007 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But he has been sick and out of games

for 3 days already. Lets say it goes 3 more days until Friday. Then, he has 3 days of rest and fluids until he has to play.

Must be a nasty case.

"I think that Donald Rumsfeld will go down in history as one of the worst secretaries of defense in history" -- John McCain

by DJCahill on Mar 28, 2007 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And

he has the benefit of much more interesting pharmaceuticals than I do...

by t ball on Mar 28, 2007 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

5th starter reasoning

Ok, lets assume that the reasoning for having Loe start the season in the bullpen is sound. Why Wright? Chen has had a better Spring and has a better track record in his career AND he's a lefty. I just don't get the love affair with Jamey F'in Wright.

Milk, milk, lemonade, around the corner fudge is made.

by Chris Martin on Mar 28, 2007 10:27 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

good face?

"I want him focused on figuring out a way to beat that lefty's ass." - RW

by ab03 on Mar 28, 2007 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

5th starter announcement

so, I guess the rangers have to tell wright if he made the 40 and I was under the impression this would coincide with him finding out if he was the starter.

so, do we get the starter announcement today?

"I want him focused on figuring out a way to beat that lefty's ass." - RW

by ab03 on Mar 28, 2007 10:29 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

also

when do the rangers have to add chen to the roster? today also?

"I want him focused on figuring out a way to beat that lefty's ass." - RW

by ab03 on Mar 28, 2007 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Benoit

So, if Benoit has become the new setup man, what the heck are they going to do with Aki?

Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man

by Escher on Mar 28, 2007 10:31 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

7th inning guy.........might pitch the 8th

if Aki has to close (if Gagne's pitched consecutive days?). At least that's how I read Washington's comment.

by tklawless on Mar 28, 2007 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

How far has he fallen then?

He lost the closers job b/c we signed Gagne and now he lost the set-up job as well? Or is this an indication that he'll be traded???

by cgolden on Mar 28, 2007 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

NO, No, No......Benoit will pitch

in the 8th only when Aki has to close! Because they don't want Gane to pitch 3 days in a row.

by tklawless on Mar 28, 2007 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

catchers

I thought Quiroz did not have an option left. At this point, I think there is a pretty good chance we can slide him through waivers.

Also, Bruce Chen, who I believe does not have to be added until the 31st, may be left handed, but he is also very HR prone, and is really better suited for a park like Petco. I think we will be able to trade Chen in the coming days.

by clark on Mar 28, 2007 10:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

catcher

I keep thinking they should probably just go with stewart as the backup, I've read how good he is on defense with his major drawback being offense. However with washington emphasizing defense from catchers it seems like he is the best backup choice

"Pimps be damned, it's harder out here for a Rangers fan!" "If you don't throw strikes first, you're last."

by rentz on Mar 28, 2007 10:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Stewart

Agreed.

BTW. When I was watching that I kept thinking how much we could benefit from Wash. He brings a lot of subtle and inside-Oakland philosophy to the Rangers. Much needed. And I sorta think Jon D is heavily influenced by Billy B anyway. Letting free agents walk. Signing, developing and potentially trading closers.
The MY signing is a bit confusing though, I can't see B-B doing that deal.

by 3Bagger on Mar 28, 2007 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

BBeane did it with Chavez......

by tklawless on Mar 28, 2007 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kata

I hope you're right and Kata makes the team.

There's a lot of examples of people bucking their past and Kata's past is based on minimal experience anyway.

Things do change. If Michael Younf can go from a projected .260 hitter to the $85 million dollar man, Kata deserves a chance to perform. He looks great at the plate. And Rudy is in his court apparently. All good.

by 3Bagger on Mar 28, 2007 10:43 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Kata

He just turned 29 hasn't even been able to hit in the minors.
Michael Young was 24 when he made the big leagues and he at least had a pretty good minor league track record to go on.

Milk, milk, lemonade, around the corner fudge is made.

by Chris Martin on Mar 28, 2007 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Reply - More Kata

I'm using MY as an example of change. MY hit about .255 during his first 1000 MLB AB's. We all remember reading a lot about how that would be his spot. Now we know the rest, but there were many-many days when no one was sold on that guy. Now he's a star?

Maybe a better analogy on my end would have been Mark De Rosa, a .273 minor league hitter. Or GMJ? Late bloomers.

Again. I'm yielding to the coaching staff on this one, but, watching JHJ hit is no fun at all. Kata has about 500 AB's in his MLB career spread over 4 or 5 years. He bunts well, he has some power.

by 3Bagger on Mar 28, 2007 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Kata...

...then who is going to start the 40+ games in CF that Lofton doesn't?

I think people are not realizing that there is one role for a utility guy and one role for a CF that will be making quite a few starts.

I don't feel comfortable with the idea of planning on Jerry HGH being penciled in to start that many games in CF, and that would apparently be the plan if Kata makes the team.

by tricer on Mar 28, 2007 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hairston...

I totally agree CF is pisser. We'll miss GMJ immensely.

But, offensively, Hairston is so awful I don't care who else is in there! He's the most over-rated player in the MLB! Just guessing, but 's gotta be one of the lightest hitting Rangers ever? IMO, why not have all-9 starters capable of HR's in a place like Arlington?

Hairston is a loser.

I'm not saying Kata is the next big thing, but, shift Wilk or Cruz to center some. Kata can play INF and OF. Maybe he can become a poor man's De Rosa? HGHairston just stinks.

It's a shame Drew Meyer never developed. Or Arias. Maybe they will.

Can I say Hairston stinks one more time? As if no one knows that.

by 3Bagger on Mar 28, 2007 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I covered the issues...

of 5th starter in my latest article below posted yesterday, and some of you have stated the same things above:

http://mvn.com/mlb-rangers/2007/03/27/ron-washington-has-me-drinking-the-kool-aid-too/

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

by ortonius on Mar 28, 2007 10:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Congrats on the new gig

I'm sure you will do really well...

I like camo because it makes you blend in. But when you're not in the woods, it does the opposite. Its like, hey, there's an asshole.

by Brian Thomas on Mar 29, 2007 7:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Fifth Starter Logic.

If I'm understanding all of this correctly, the logic of not making Loe the 5th starter is that he'll only get 4 starts by May 1, so they might as well leave him in the bullpen for the first month of the season. That doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Is there some rule that if a pitcher carries the "starter" label, that he can't pitch out of the pen when he has 10 days between starts? I don't see why he can't be available out of the pen for the first couple of games, start the 10th, be available for a few games starting around the 14th, start the 21st, 26th, and 1st.

If that really is the basis of the Rangers' decision, it is pretty weak, imho.

by Athos on Mar 28, 2007 11:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Pitching "depth" is more the issue.....

at some point the Ranger's will need another couple of starters (last year they used 12 different starters). I'd love to see them be able to keep Chen, too, though I doubt it'll happen. Someone would pick him up, especially since he's a lefty, they always get more chances.

The Mets would pick up Wright in a heartbeat. While I may not agree with them jacking Cam Loe around, but for the teams sake and in the long run, I can understand it.

by tklawless on Mar 28, 2007 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs