god I hate sports writers that know nothing about the Rangers

by NYTXFAN on Mar 11, 2008 3:17 PM CDT

for example Bob Matthews who is the lead writer for the Democrat and Chronicle which is base in Rochester has said this, "The signing of free agent Sidney Ponson by Texas is proof that the Rangers still have major pitching problems. .."

Major, no. Problems, yes. Im sure of it that he wrote nothing good about the team ever and I have proof of that. The guy is a dick and is so miss leading that it isn't funny. He fails to mention all the potential pitchers in the minors that will be making an impact here by next year and the many pitchers who will hopefully be an impact down the line.

My point is this guy is garbage and Im sick of him putting my team down all the time. If only Texas could get their shtick together and have a good rotation that sticks. Potentially its their, but like every year pitching is our down fall.

Any body care to give their insight on it?

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My insight

The signing of Sidney Ponson is proof that the Rangers still have major pitching problems for the 2008 season.

"We should have bombed it (Auschwitz)"-President Bush

by DJCahill on Mar 11, 2008 3:24 PM CDT 0 recs

+1

by jparks77 on Mar 11, 2008 3:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

How so?

He's a no-risk depth signing on a minor league contract.

Is the Red Sox signing Bartolo Colon to a minor league deal proof that they have major pitching problems?

How about the Dodgers and CHoP?

I agree that we have major pitching problems for the '08 season, but drawing conclusions from the signing of a veteran to a minor league contract is actually sort of silly.

R.I.P., The Wire.

by thedirkatron on Mar 11, 2008 4:01 PM CDT up 0 recs

+1

Who are the pitchers that are going to have major impacts next year?

by Chris Hanes on Mar 11, 2008 6:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

I see one problem and thats

the BMAC injury. Gabbard is a ? mark so you cant call him a problem. Padilla and Jennings are supposedly healthy as is milly. Where is the problem.

by NYTXFAN on Mar 11, 2008 3:29 PM CDT 0 recs

Lots of problems

Gabbard is a question mark so in my opinion that is a problem. He is injury prone and hasn't been very effective this Spring. That's a problem.

Jennings, Millwood and Padilla are not consistent pitchers and all three are coming off injury marred seasons in '07. That is a problem.

We don't have many positive options for the 5th starter spot. Either the arms are too inexperienced and require more time in the minors or they aren't good enough to pitch at the major league level. That is a problem.

by jparks77 on Mar 11, 2008 3:46 PM CDT up 0 recs

I do agree with Gabbard being a ? mark,

but com'on thats not a reason to say he is a problem. Sure his S.T. # are aweful but S.T. # mean nothing. Gabbard was a big bright star in a lost year and to say he is a problem is silly.

Come mid season and he is having problems, then sure label him a problem.

Question JParks, if Hurley was in this rotation, you would consider him a problem right? Seeing how he is an unknown.

by NYTXFAN on Mar 11, 2008 5:28 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yes

Hurley in the rotation to start the year would be a problem.

Unknown pitchers who struggled in AAA are problems. Injury prone pitchers are problems. Inconsistent pitchers are problems. Fat pitchers from Aruba that can't pitch are problems.

The Texas Rangers '08 rotation: Problem

by jparks77 on Mar 11, 2008 5:40 PM CDT up 0 recs

Gabbard was a big bright star

with a 5.58 era and a k/bb ratio of right about 1.

Hambone, Hambone where you been? I been around these bases, and I'm going again.

by tricer on Mar 11, 2008 6:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

Lets see

Lets go down from spot 1 to spot 5 in the rotation...

Millwood mediocre last year = problem
Padilla sucked last year = problem
Jennings sucked last year = problem
BMac injured = problem
Gabbard is a ? = problem

by JBImaknee on Mar 11, 2008 3:46 PM CDT up 0 recs

put bluntly

This rotation has a chance to be the worst in the AL. I'd say it would be accurate to say that is a major problem.

Hambone, Hambone where you been? I been around these bases, and I'm going again.

by tricer on Mar 11, 2008 3:59 PM CDT up 0 recs

proof

That's not NYTXFAN's point though. There is ample evidence that Texas has question marks in it's rotation. If you want to say that the Rangers' staff is a problem due to the factors others have listed, I have no problem with that.

It's just that the writer chose to use the Ponson signing to reaffirm the stereotype instead of evaluating it with an open mind. The Ponson signing is not "proof" of the Rangers' bad pitching staff, since it's a minor league contract with low risk and high reward.

If other teams had made this move, it would have been treated just like that. If the Rangers' had signed Ponson to a major league contract and guaranteed him a roster spot, then yes, the Ponson signing would have been the "proof" the author was looking for. As it stands, he's just another body in ST trying to make the team.

Derek

Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!

by DerekSTheRed on Mar 11, 2008 4:30 PM CDT up 0 recs

Worse off then the A's, Baltimore, K.C., wash,

Houston, Florida, and even San Fran? I find that hard to believe. Dont you?

by NYTXFAN on Mar 11, 2008 5:31 PM CDT up 0 recs

well

The Ponson signing should not be needed as evidence that the Rangers have major pitching problems. They have major pitching problems with or without Ponson. This team had the worst starting rotation in the league last season, and all 5 starters have health concerns before the season has even started, ranging from minor (Padilla) to significant (McCarthy). I hate to break it to you, but if you think the Rangers do not have major pitching problems then you are delusional my friend.

Hope springs eternal, just (probably) not for this season.

Not really. I just read it on a forum. - Shark-bot 3000

by trza on Mar 11, 2008 4:38 PM CDT 0 recs

Who cares if the writer is a dick

...because as far as the projected 5 starters go, as of today, only two are healthy (Jennings and Gabbard), and one sucks this spring (Gabbard).

There are major pitching problems with this rotation.

by FuturePants on Mar 11, 2008 4:42 PM CDT 0 recs

I might be missing something but

isnt pads healthy? I thought milly's hammy is holding up?

by NYTXFAN on Mar 11, 2008 5:24 PM CDT up 0 recs

Padilla left yesterday

...with some kind of "hip injury."

by FuturePants on Mar 12, 2008 10:08 AM CDT up 0 recs

and i hate rangers fans that think

pitching is even remotely a strength for this team.

JD had vastly improved the depth of our pitching in the minors but our pitching still sucks.

Look at who we have:

A couple of old guys coming off horrible years that still arent 100%. A never proven guy in McCarthy who is out for weeks with yet another injury. Jennings: ha, he has been horrible recently. Gabbard has below average stuff and is going to get hit hard.

Even our best prospect looks to be a 3rd starter type. Depth is great in the long term for a rebuilding team like the Rangers, but right now, we are pretty shitty.

by kumar75150 on Mar 11, 2008 8:27 PM CDT 0 recs

welcome to Rangers ST 2008 and beyond

we have a great GM. JD is so awesome. And our skipper is so fabulous.

We're are going to win the ALCS and play for a chance to win the World Series.

National Anthem Texas Rangers Audition We should also try get the Cactus Cuties

by hurlerhurley on Mar 12, 2008 12:52 AM CDT up 0 recs

How good or bad can our rotation be

The good: (90% PECOTA predictions for our starters)
Name W/L ERA IP K
Millwood 13/8 3.44 187 133
Padilla 10/8 3.85 164.2 122
Jennings 10/7 3.74 154 103
McCarthy 10/8 3.78 161.1 114
Gabbard 8/7 3.87 130.1 90

The bad: (10% PECOTA predictions)
Name W/L ERA IP K
Millwood 3/8 7.34 89.2 57
Padilla 3/6 7.47 70.1 43
Jennings 3/8 7.50 89.1 50
McCarthy 1/4 9.55 42.2 25
Gabbard 1/4 9.08 47.2 28

The ugly: (weighted means for our top 5 replacements)
Name W/L ERA IP K
Kameron Loe 5/7 5.28 101.1 55
Syd Ponson 2/4 5.67 57.2 35
Rheinecker 4/6 5.07 89 51
Tejada 3/5 5.44 64.2 48
Mendoza 4/6 5.93 81 41

Ira

by iblum on Mar 12, 2008 10:15 AM CDT 0 recs