28 games later

by Adam J. Morris on May 3, 2007 10:45 PM CDT in News

Ranger records after 28 games in the 21st century:

2006 -- 16-12
2005 -- 14-14
2004 -- 18-10
2003 -- 13-15
2002 -- 13-15
2001 -- 11-17
2000 -- 12-16

The last Ranger team to start this poorly? The 1985 Rangers, that went 9-19 in its first 28, and finished with a 62-99 record.

Everyone says the team isn't this bad. And I agree. But it doesn't really matter anymore. The team has dug itself an enormous hole, even if it isn't this bad, it is going to have to be a whole lot better the rest of the way than we expected it to be this season if anything after Memorial Day is going to be relevant.

If the Rangers are going to win 90 games, they have to play .600 ball the rest of the way.

Is that possible? Sure.

But it ain't real likely. The reality is, this abysmal start has probably killed the season before it ever really got started.

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Comments

go get Depodesta

by Longhorn on May 3, 2007 10:42 PM CDT reply actions

Even more turnover

in the front office is not going to help. I think you go with JD for a few years, just like you have to stick it out with McCarthy, Tejeda and Loe in the rotation.

by t ball on May 3, 2007 10:48 PM CDT up reply actions

JD must go

I don't trust him to blow-it-up.

One thing people overlook about Beane? He was a player.

One thing people overlook in GM's? They have experience.

Experience matters.

Stat freaks have limitations.

My opinion.

by 3Bagger on May 3, 2007 11:04 PM CDT up reply actions

JD is not just a stat freak

he believes in getting the best info from all sources. Not defending everything he's done, but you can't say he's just a young stat geek.

by t ball on May 3, 2007 11:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Stat Freak

Here's why I say that.

I'm trying to determine JD's true strength???

You hear smart, Ivy Leaguer, etc. With the exception of Pro Golfer John Hart, all GM's are pretty much "workaholics."

If our choice was between Dumb former Jock, versus Ivy Leaguer, then I'd take the Ivy. But some guys, for whatever reason, have a knack for this GM stuff. Through some level of playing or MLB experience usually.

JD is the David Clyde of GM-dom. He seems like a sharp kiddo, but if you're asking me, who should REBUILD my favorite MLB franchise? The last guy I'd want is someone so new to the job. Someone who, if anything is pure upside. JD is far from a known entity. I'd prefer Doug Melvin. Or a slew of others over such an unknown quantity.

by 3Bagger on May 3, 2007 11:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Usually?

Theo Epstein... Ivy League nerd. Not a baseball player.

Cashman... Catholic school nerd. Not a baseball player.

Frank Cashen is considered a pretty good G.M. He played baseball in college, but he sucked. So he was also a Catholic school nerd, albeit one who played baseball, poorly.

Terry Ryan played three years of minor league ball, and was a scout for a number of years. But, oh no!, mirabile dictu, "Ryan's organization relies heavily on constant scouting and sabermetric analysis of every player in major and minor league baseball. As a result, the team has made some startling and at the time questioned acquisitions of players who turned out to be drastically underrated and who became star players in the Twins organization."

by benmor78 on May 4, 2007 12:07 AM CDT up reply actions

That should read...

"mirabile dictu, he's a goddamned nerd, too!"

by benmor78 on May 4, 2007 12:10 AM CDT up reply actions

Nerds

Re: Theo and Cashman, AND JD.

BTW. I'd disagree that those guys are true nerds. Particularly Theo. The true number-crunching nerds work for GM's. It's a very social job.

I like JD. But, if there was AAA for GM's? I'd ship his ass to Bakersfield right now. That might stop that Young, Gonzales, Danks crap from ever happening again.

by 3Bagger on May 4, 2007 1:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Reply

Cashman and Theo. Budgets: $200 million and $150 million. Plus, using their cash, they also sign the best amateur talent (despite bad draft location). See that recent Baseball America article on this very topic. (Effectively by stacking their farm system because they're well-endowed.)
Twins. We agree. I would love for Arlington to run EXACTLY like the Twins organization. Would the Twins have signed MY? I don't think so.
I'm not against Saber Stats, but, if everyone has the same basic stats, and GM's certainly do, it still comes down to scouting. Which means experience helps.

by 3Bagger on May 4, 2007 12:57 AM CDT up reply actions

In re: "3"...

Ah, so the GM is supposed to be the head scout, now? All things being equal, I'd prefer not to have a GM who thinks he's some kind of uber-scout. If a GM's place is to develop policy and direction and put the staff in place to make that happen, he probably shouldn't be distracting himself with micro-managing scouts.

by benmor78 on May 4, 2007 1:38 AM CDT up reply actions

The GM...

is suppose to win. Or at least make progress.

Who cares if he's a scout, loner, or Mr. Ugly Tie guy.

by 3Bagger on May 4, 2007 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions

John Hart

He was an experienced GM and a former player. How'd that work out for us?

"Then I met some friends for a beer, went to a BoDeans's concert, and son of a vondruke, if I didn't leave him at the concert hall."

by RCCook on May 3, 2007 11:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Reply

Doug Melvin was experienced and decent.

29 out of 30 teams lose each year.

So the number of "bad" GM's will always outweigh the few great ones.

by 3Bagger on May 3, 2007 11:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed

We need to at least leave a regime in power long enough to see thier trades play out.

If they do blow it up, we'll see alot of the Tejeda, McCarthy, Loe types come through here.

If you don't have fun it's your own damn fault.

by cgolden on May 4, 2007 7:54 AM CDT up reply actions

I think we know

how JD's trades are playing out. He may be hard working, he may be smart, he may make quick decisions, but his trade record is what it is.

The Rangers need a complete rebuilding right now. Their farm system is trash, they have limited tradeable major league talent, and they have a year and a half to maximize the trade value from their #1 trade chip.

I'm not sure that allowing Jr's OJT to continue is the best move.

"The challenge we face today is not how to win in Iraq; it is how to recover from a strategic mistake: invading Iraq in the first place,"--ret Lt. Gen. Odom

by DJCahill on May 4, 2007 8:01 AM CDT up reply actions

Not all bad

He did trade for Tejeda and Cruz is still young and hasn't played a full season. If Cruz turns his potentional into production that would be two really good trades. It's way too early to tell on McCarthy.

He sucked on the big two but he could end up w/ three good ones in time. It's just too early to tell.

If you don't have fun it's your own damn fault.

by cgolden on May 4, 2007 9:22 AM CDT up reply actions

How does the old saying go?

You can't win a pennant in April, but you can sure lose it.

Baseball Time in Arlington

by jamcadbury on May 3, 2007 10:44 PM CDT reply actions

Win streak

Rangers only need to win 12 in a row to get back on the 90 win pace...

by Brandon Wilson on May 3, 2007 10:53 PM CDT reply actions

Sad

even if they pull a win out of their asses tonight they'd still have the lowest win total in those years.

by t ball on May 3, 2007 10:56 PM CDT reply actions

You really can't do anything

at this point - practically every player is under-performing and it's too early to throw in the towel. That said, this team looks TERRIBLE. It's like some kind of malaise has settled in and nobody can get it going on. Even Kinsler hasn't looked very good in the last few days.

by stltxfan on May 3, 2007 10:58 PM CDT reply actions

It's time

the Rangers need Sammy to lift them up on his back and carry them... yes, that's what it has come down to...

by Brandon Wilson on May 3, 2007 11:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Runs?

So...as we know the offense has been terrible.

Of the 28,

1 game with 0 runs
3 games with 1 run
3 games with 2 runs
5 games with 3 runs
5 games with 4 runs
11 games with 5 or more

17 games with 4 runs or less. 12 of them with 3 or less!

Pathetic.

by BAC on May 3, 2007 11:18 PM CDT reply actions

guess we shouldn't have

rushed into the MY contract...

buffering....

by SteveP on May 3, 2007 11:27 PM CDT reply actions

No Arlington Trip

I was looking forward to making a trip down to see this team play this year...the first trip since '04. But it would be a terrible waste of time and money.

Maybe it is time for an organized boycott of the stadium...not that would do much good.

Proud Supporter of the Texas Rangers since 1973

by T Coleman on May 3, 2007 11:31 PM CDT reply actions

Rangers

I thought they might hit a rough spot or two, but I sure didn't think they'd be this bad. The entire team is mired in a mass of suckitude.

On a related note, the Mavs are now down 23 in the third. It's a good thing Liverpool won this week; otherwise, this would have been one of the worst sports weeks of my life.

"Then I met some friends for a beer, went to a BoDeans's concert, and son of a vondruke, if I didn't leave him at the concert hall."

by RCCook on May 3, 2007 11:37 PM CDT reply actions