Friday a.m. things

by Adam J. Morris on Aug 31, 2007 8:36 AM CDT in News Comment 27 comments

A sweep is a sweep, even if it is over the hapless ChiSox. I'll take it.

And don't look now, but the Rangers are actually pitching pretty well. Mike Heika's game story notes that, after putting up a 3.95 ERA in July and a 3.65 ERA so far in August, the Rangers are just about assured of posting a sub-4 ERA in two consecutive months for the first time since 1992. The offense is pretty bad right now, but you have to feel pretty good about the pitching...

Today is the waiver trade deadline. There's a possibility that Sammy Sosa or Brad Wilkerson will be elsewhere after today, but not likely, it doesn't sound like...

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It's really surprising to me

that no one can use a cheap, lefty destroying, bench bat who can play some OF.

by DJCahill on Aug 31, 2007 9:31 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well

He hasn't played the outfield since interleague play ended. I think the perception is that he can't really play the OF.

by Adam J. Morris on Aug 31, 2007 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was actually talking about either.

Im not a huge fan of defensive stats, but from what I saw and what the stats say, he did a fine job when he was in the field.

by DJCahill on Aug 31, 2007 2:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sosa

Any interest in bringing him back in 2008 and platooning him with Cat in Left? He clearly is willing to accept a secondary role and he has been good in the clubhouse. Depending on what the Rangers do in the offseason I would be okay with it.

Fire Ron Washington

by pblack on Aug 31, 2007 10:33 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely not

I'd rather see Victor Diaz in that role.

by Adam J. Morris on Aug 31, 2007 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

diaz

v lefties

limited mlb time: .672 ops
this year in the minors: .836 (.884 vs righties)

sosa in the majors '04 & '06: .838
sosa in the majors '07: 1.047

by DSheppard on Aug 31, 2007 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

but...

i dont think sammy will want to go into a year as a part time bench player, and the rangers do need to give some young guy, diaz or no, a look.

but i just dont think the thought of sosa as a once every 4 days to be well rested vs lefties is some kind of ridiculous thought. its not like a flawed player such as diaz is going to get better playing in a platoon vs lefties.

by DSheppard on Aug 31, 2007 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sosa has handled himself with class.

But the Rangers need to be thinking about who is going to help them win in 2009 and beyond. Sammy just isn't part of that picture and they don't need to waste a spot on the 25 man roster on somebody that isn't going to potentially be here for the long haul.

Nothing against Sammy, but he needs to get his next 1-year deal somewhere else.

by Athos on Aug 31, 2007 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

secondary role

I don't think he has enjoyed his secondary role one bit. He's doing b/c he loves the game and understands where the Rangers are in terms of rebuilding.

If anything, he's shown that he shouldn't be on the bench. During the 5-game winning streak, he's played in 4 of the 5, with big plays at the plate in 3 of those 4 games.

I agree with Athos that he's not part of the Rangers future. But still find it uncanny that no one wants him, and will find it stranger if no one signs him to a one-year deal during the offseason.

"I've learned that before I open my mouth, I should look both ways for midgets." - Denny Crain

by mtex on Aug 31, 2007 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Im not impressed with the sweep.

the Sox are tanking like a team that knows what long term the effects of being a top 5 pick are. Meanwhile the rangers go on a tear and end up with the 12th pick or whatever and discuss all the "progress" that they made the 2nd half of the season.

i think the effort to win is commendable but really really short-sided and foolish. There is a reason we are blowing through these type of teams like we are the red sox playing the double A's, and its not b/c we finally figured it out.

.500 or bust!

by Jayslick on Aug 31, 2007 12:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Huh?

"i think the effort to win is commendable but really really short-sided and foolish."

Then change your sig.

"I've learned that before I open my mouth, I should look both ways for midgets." - Denny Crain

by mtex on Aug 31, 2007 12:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great point!

"Hello, win column..."

by rangersfan34 on Aug 31, 2007 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL!

that was great.

i deserve that.

.500 or bust!

by Jayslick on Aug 31, 2007 2:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Glad you thought so..

not meant to be mean. just thought it was funny.

"I've learned that before I open my mouth, I should look both ways for midgets." - Denny Crain

by mtex on Aug 31, 2007 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Losing

improves a team in only one area....learning how to lose!

by Jea103 on Aug 31, 2007 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Win Win and Win some more....

I don't care if it is against the Chi Sox or the Royals and A's in the next homestand....All W's count the same!

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Aug 31, 2007 3:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This "playing for the draft pick"...

...stuff is so played out. Does anyone on this board seriously think the Rangers players (or any other team) don't want to try and win EVERY game? Any professional athlete that would rather lose should really consider another career, and the idea that the players should "throw" games is even more ridiculous. Has everyone forgotten about the "Black Sox" scandal? Players get banned for life for throwing games!

"Hello, win column..."

by rangersfan34 on Aug 31, 2007 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's commend the Rangers

They have been playing with a bunch of AAA players & scrubs - except for pitching (+ MY, Laird, Kinsler) - and are still finding a way to win.

What do some people want the team to do -- strike out on purpose? Throw a wild pitch on purpose? These guys have careers to think about. It is great to see these young guys succeed.

by timraub on Aug 31, 2007 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What are you talking about?

Don't criticize Jayslick, because you're missing the point.

"Does anyone on this board seriously think the Rangers players (or any other team) don't want to try and win EVERY game?"

Resounding NO. That's not the issue. Any player that is on the field is going to try his damndest, if for no other reason than his own economic interests. It cuts both ways though. Some people pull a Jerome James once they get the big contract (our exhibits being Milly, Padilla).

With the tanking that he is referring to, I'm pretty sure it has more to do with the way the team is being run, not how the players are playing. People that dog it too egregiously will not be tolerated or else people start getting fired. For instance, Guillen benching Jermaine Dye and other veterans, they're talking about shutting down Danks, the GM is facing pressure to bring up AA kids, Guillen's tirades exposing his apathy for the team and the trickle-down effects from that, that's the point.

Despite all of that, I defy anyone to prove that tanking strategy isn't flawed if you are one of the worst teams in your professional sport. It bothers me that people would be happy to see "progress" that could knock us out of the top 10, and prevent us from acquiring the next Mark Teixeira or some other premium talent. This is a lost season people, get over it. I don't think anyone will look back on this year and be like "oh, sweet, they made some decent progress at the end of the year, but still played terribly overall. hopefully they will get some momentum from that so they can get fired up about the 1st year of rebuilding." This "progress" is not going to carry over to next year, people. Next year will be the 1st fucking year of a rebuilding process, don't set your expectations very high. Kevin Millwood will not be the ace of this staff when we are winning playoff games, and Vicente Padilla will absolutely not be the #2 pitcher in a playoff rotation.

Time will tell, but I think we should appreciate JD's approach a little more, because he could have done what Hart and the GM's before have done, but he decided to stop that ridiculous trend, albeit with short-term consecuences (losing badly the next few years). If there is a big FA signing this offseason, I'd suspect that it's a result of Hicks trying to sell tickets for next year, and restore big name credibility to the lineup.

"No team has any major strengths as all NFL players are roughly the same. If you cant run on third and one it isn't because of your players." - Sharky

by Chase Irwin on Aug 31, 2007 1:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Whoops

that was supposed to read: "I defy anyone to prove that tanking strategy IS flawed if you are one of the worst teams in your professional sport" ... Even though, with this recent "progress", the Rangers aren't one of the worst teams in MLB, unfortunately. But, then again, I didn't make the argument that the Rangers should tank at this time. The White Sox (.425)? Only Tampa (.403) is worse in the entire MLB, they have absolutely nothing to lose, except for the remaining 28 games on their schedule.

Carry on ...

"No team has any major strengths as all NFL players are roughly the same. If you cant run on third and one it isn't because of your players." - Sharky

by Chase Irwin on Aug 31, 2007 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So you think...

...the ChiSox are purposely tanking right now, to try to get a better draft pick?

That's why Gonzalez made three bad throws last night, and the Chicago offense couldn't score?

by Adam J. Morris on Aug 31, 2007 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

They aren't tanking

there is no reason for the players or a manager to intentionally lose. 75% of their roster and Ozzie Guillen will all be gone by the time any guy they draft will make an impact on the major league level.

This isn't the NBA, where tanking for a high lottery slot probably happens. In basketball, a Lebron James, Greg Oden or Kevin Durant can take you from a 50 loss club to a 50 win club in his first year. Not the case in baseball.

If the Rangers were to tank their way to the #1 pick, probably only Kinsler, Young and Salty would still be around to shake Pedro Alvarez's hand for winning the rookie of the year award...

by JBImaknee on Aug 31, 2007 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Short-sided?

Do you mean short-sighted?

I'm not too impressed with sweeping the Chi Sox either, but 3.65 ERA for an entire month isn't just a bad team taking advantage of even worse competition. Two consecutive months of sub-4.00 ERA is something to be encouraged about.

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by t ball on Aug 31, 2007 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

question...

... is it too much of a stretch to give Mark Conner some props for this impressive turn-around with the rotation?

... i understand the pitchers deserve some kudos for making proper adjustments and what not... but, conner got blasted at the beginning of the season for their failures. seems only reasonable that he should get a big thumbs up for the staff's performance the last several weeks.

hopefully they can continue pitching well the rest of the season.

by oc on Aug 31, 2007 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

not a stretch

if we were ready to string him up in April and May we have to give him some share of credit now.

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by t ball on Aug 31, 2007 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are those figures

for the rotation itself, or the entire pitching staff? If it's for the entire pitching staff, wouldn't you think that it is low because our bullpen has been lights out? I know we've had some decent starting pitching lately, but guys like BGL and Benoit are bringing that ERA down almost every time out. Still encouraging, either way.

"No team has any major strengths as all NFL players are roughly the same. If you cant run on third and one it isn't because of your players." - Sharky

by Chase Irwin on Aug 31, 2007 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs