The Rangers Report
Building for the future since 2001
August 13, 2008 at 10:54 pm · Filed under AL West, Ben Sheets, Boston Red Sox, CC Sabathia, Derek Holland, Justin Smoak, MLB, Neftali Feliz, Texas Rangers
Texas is officially out of the WIld Card Race.
I think that may have been the case all along, which is why Daniels and Co. didn’t make any moves at the trade deadline. It may have been one final shot to see just what this roster could do.
And as it turns out, it’s not much different than what the Rangers had been seeing.
A big problem has been the implosion of the rotation, which has seen five rookies starting on it this season, and has three-fifths of the Opening Day rotation hurt. This in turn has severely taxed the bullpen, resulting in it’s own implosion.
THe offense appears to be rolling on all cylinders, though a replacement for production at third base needs to be addressed this off-season. The Rangers will have to make a move at catcher and moving Gerald Laird and possibly one of the Saltalamacchia-Ramirez combo would do wonders at improving the starting rotation.
I do expect the Rangers to also cut some dead weight at the roster. Everyone that needed to be added to the 40 Man roster already has been, with the exception of John Mayberry Jr, who could wind up starting in left or right field come next year. The cutting of dead roster spots not only makes it easier to claim talent off of waivers or exploit the Rule 5 Draft, it also makes signing free agents easier and not have to deal with designating a talent for assignment for someone else.
Overall, it’s a better season than most expected. I’m hoping that a .500 record, and maybe a second place finish, would be a great way to finish off the year. At the very least, it builds momentum for 2009.
Draft Picks Down To The Wire
The General consensus is that the Rangers are going to sign Justin Smoak and Robbie Ross, their first and second round pick.
If so, they need to hurry it up a bit.
THe deadline is Friday and there has been virtually no news on Smoak and only a random quote from Ross, who feels optimistic on a deal being struck.
Smoak, a first baseman, and Ross, a left handed pitcher, both are highly regarded talents and both would go a long way towards helping the Ranger organization.
One complicated bit of business is that of Harold Martinez, who seems gung ho about the Rangers giving him first round money or him going to the University of Miami. I think Texas shoudl go ahead and pony up, as Boston and New York have done the exact same things.
In the prsopects race, you can’t afford to fall behind.
Powerful One-Two Punch Developing At Frisco
The Rangers have a powerful one-two pitching punch at Frisco with Neftali Feliz and Derek Holland now pitching in the same rotation.
Feliz you all know. Holland, however, is a left handed pitcher that can throw in the mid 90’s and compliments it well with two breaking pitches and clean mechanics.
2011 is their projected date. By then, a Major League ready staff should also have Eric Hurley, Matt Harrison, and Brandon McCarthy all ready for them to join in.
Making A Play For A Milwaukee Ace?
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe suggested that Rangers president Nolan Ryan will convince club owner Tom Hicks to spend this winter. It’s likely that Ryan will target either C.C. Sabathia or Ben SHeets.
I’m not against it, as the Rangers will have Padilla’s and Millwood’s contracts potentially leaving the books after 2009. However, a lot of the politics in signing one or the other depends on the draft pick we get in 2009, as anything from 16 on can be lost in compensation. Texas currently has the 18trh Pick in the 2009 Draft. That could change, depending on whether or not Milton Bradley and Eddie Gaurdado stay, as both currently merit Draft Pick Compensation. Either that or we do the Boston approach, meaning we pick off the top talent falling into the later rounds.
July 31, 2008 at 11:01 pm · Filed under 1, Andy LaRoche, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, Manny Ramirez, Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
- Gain: Andy LaRoche (3B), Bryan Morris (RHP), Brandon Moss (OF), Craig Hansen (RHP)
- Loss: Jason Bay (LF)
First off, losing Jason Bay is a sad thing, as he’s served as the face of the franchise for a few years now. It didn’t have to come to this, not if the Pirates ownership had hired competent General Managers, not if they didn’t skimp on the draft, not if they made wise trades instead of salary dumps. It didn’t have to come to this. Unfortunately, it’s too little, too late for Bay, who will now be sacrificed to help the future of the Pirates.
It’s a solid package for the All-Star, dwarfing that of the Nady trade. Like the Nady Trade, it’s built around a central player, LaRoche, who is a capable third baseman that for some reason or another was never given the shot he deserved with the Dodgers. LaRoche should hit for average, get on base and hit for some power. He’s not a excellent defensive third baseman and could very well slide over to First Base once Pedro Alvarez arrives in Pittsburgh (don’t worry, he’ll sign. Boras isn’t stupid and knows that there is a huge chance that Alvarez’ stock could drop in a repeat year in college.) It also gives LaRoche the chance to play with his brother, though last I checked, that didn’t work out for the Giambi or Blalock brothers.
And also, like the Nady deal, there are a good deal of players that could help soon, and add some needed depth to the Pirates. Hansen is a live arm that could be a closer, but he wouldn’t be able to hit the fucking ground if it weren’t for gravity. He has a mid 90’s fastball and a slider that is hit or miss, but according to Keith Law, he also throws a curveball or a changeup that is very good, but never uses it. If that’s true, than Boston fucked up in that respect of his development. It may have been that the organization was unable to shake thoughts of Hansen’s frisbee slider in college (which may be, in fact, partially created by the baseball having higher seams in college.) Moss will likely start playing left field to replace Bay. He’s vulnerable against lefties and only has average power, which essentially makes him David Murphy (passable left fielder that is more valuable as a fourth outfielder.)
Unlike the Nady deal, however, the Pirates did gain one really good prospect that could be missed. Morris is in his first full year from Tommy John Surgery, is currently pitching in the Midwestern League (Low A), and is 2-4 with a 3.39 ERA in 16 starts, with a 70/29 K to walk ratio. Morris throws in the low 90’s, touching 96, and has a solid out pitch with his curveball. His changeup is coming along and has a chance to be solid. He’s got a chance to be a solid Number Two starter, with a chance at the very least to be a nasty closer if starting doesn’t work out.
All in all, while it sucks that Bay is gone, the Pirates have more pieces of the puzzle to fuck around with, and hopefully to build the next great Pirates team that fans have been dreaming of since Barry Bonds bolted for the money in San Francisco.
Boston Red Sox
- Gain: Jason Bay (LF), Outfield Defense
- Loss: Manny Ramirez (LF), $7 Million, Brandon Moss (FC), Craig Hansen (RHP)
Boston loses the best player in the deal in Ramirez, who is still one of the best hitters in baseball. However, the headaches were just too much for them to bear and finally, it came to the point where they decided to win without him than with him.
However, Boston itself does nicely in this deal. Bay isn’t that much of a downgrade from Ramirez and should hit for some power and should also take advantage of Fenway Park’s hitter friendly dimensions. He’ll also greatly improve the outfield defense, and should push Crisp and Ellsbury (both of which are providing below average offense for the outfield), into a quasi-time sharing role. The added benefit is that Boston will now have Bay for 2009, which is a great thing as the outfield market was looking piss poor.
Aside from the money involved, Boston really doens’t give up much in prospects. Moss never was going to have a long term impact on Boston and Hansen likely would have been designated for assignment this off-season if the Red Sox needed the roster space. So all in all, great trade for Boston as well.
One more added benefit is with the savings on Bay, plus the money coming off the books on Schilling, Varitek, and others, Boston could make a play for other spots of need, and perhaps even splurge on a Sabathia or a Sheets, depending on their confidence in their rotation.
Los Angeles Dodgers
- Gain: Manny Ramirez (LF), $7 Million
- Loss: Andy LaRoche (3B), Bryan Morris (RHP), Outfield Defense
Of the three teams, the Dodgers probably are the ones that made out the worst. Ramirez is still a great hitter and will be motivated after the trade to give the finger to the Red Sox. However, he’s moving not only to a stadium that isn’t conductive for hitting, he also is going to be losing the benefit of Boston’s short left field, which will further expose his problems defending.
There is also the question as to how the Dodgers are going to assemble their outfield. Assuming Manny plays everyday, the best chance for a defensive outfield would be to play Kemp in center and Andre Ethier in right full time. Instead, however, it looks like the Dodgers will isntead employ Juan Pierre in center and Kemp in right, which not only downgrades the offense, but sacrifices some defensive abilities as well. The need to justify the contracts the Dodgers have done is laughable, and is more of a symptom of Ned Colletti feeling the need to satisify his ego and perhaps defend his job by sending out his purchases in hopes of a turnaround.
And again, it cost the Dodgers something of value to make this deal. LaRoche should have been given the opportunity to play everyday. He wasn’t and if he becomes the player scouts and everyone else that follows the minors thinks he will be, the Dodgers will regret it. And Morris was one of their better pitching prospects. Should he develop, the sentiment will just be worse.
All in all, Manny makes them contenders in the NL West, but it was a high price to pay and one that didn’t make much sense really. I wonder why the Dodgers didn’t just deal with Pittsburgh directly. It would have been a better trade, with the Pirates perhaps getting something cooler than what they got from Boston.
July 29, 2008 at 9:34 pm · Filed under AL West, Chris Davis, Gerald Laird, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, MLB, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Vicente Padilla
With the Rangers likely out of the race thanks to the Mark Teixeira trade, plus the spectacular implosion of the Rangers rotation, it’s time to discuss the possible trades to be had, in particular the Rangers’ quartet of young catchers. Here’s how things stand with each of them.
Gerald Laird
- Strongest Suitors - Marlins, Yankees, Brewers
- The Skinny: Right now, the Marlins are the most aggressive suitor for Laird, who appears to be back on track this season. However, New York is lurking and seems to have finally recognized the need for a long term replacement for Jorge Posada, hence their interest. Finally, it also appears the fucking BREWERS are also in now, making this a three team race.
- Potential Deal: Again, Texas is looking for a major league ready or near ready starter, which means to qualify for Laird, the Yankees would have to sacrifice Ian Kennedy, the Brewers maybe Manny Parra or someone along those lines and Florida Gaby Hernandez. Texas would likely try to expand the deal for more pieces, likely tossing in a reliever, though which one is under question right now.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia
- Strongest Suitors - Many
- The Skinny: Salty also still has his suitors, and it’s also thought that the Rangers are a little more eager to shop him around since he’s struggled. I still believe in Salty, who has been battling injuries since he returned to the majors but is now healthy and has hit well in July. Still, his value is still high as a trade chip, and it remains to be seen what he’ll earn in a trade.
- Potential Deal:
Taylor Teagarden
- Strongest Suitors - Boston
- The Skinny: Boston covets Teagarden, both for his game calling abilities and his bat, which has quite a bit of thunder in it. Teagarden is also the catcher that Texas is most reluctant to trade away. Overall, Texas has said it will deal it’s catching prospects only for near major league ready pitching, which means Boston has to part with one of it’s prized starting pitchers, be it Justin Masterson (who may be best off in the pen), or Michael Bowden (who, despite the Red Sox hype, may only be a Number Three or Four starter.) I’m not expecting an ace, but I am expecting something of value for Teagarden, who merits at least a blue chip pitcher in return.
- Potential Deal - If Texas makes the deal, it’s likely for one of Bowden or Masterson Plus a second prospect, which won’t be a pitcher. It’s possible that Texas could expand a trade to include Eddie Guardado to give the Sox some relief help, all the while increasing the potential return for another highly regarded prospect.
Max Ramirez
- Strongest Suitors - Unknown
- The Skinny: Ramirez is another Ranger catcher that looked quite good during his limited time up in the majors. Ramirez showed he can hit and his glove wasn’t as bad as people thought it was. Most importantly, Ramirez showed a catchers mentality, getting plowed twice and continuing to tick.
- Potential Deal: Ramirez would merit a prospect of some caliber, but what type is unknown right now, because there isn’t much known interest right now. Of the four, Ramirez is the one most likely to remain a Ranger, and is quite possibly destined for some backup catcher/DH/1B quasi role, which would enable him to reduce the wear and tear of catching while remaining in the lineup.
Other Potential Ranger Trades
Vicente Padilla
- Potential Suitors - Unknown RIght Now, But There Is Interest
- The Skinny: Padilla is arguably the best pitcher available right now, and that’s not saying a whole lot. He can still dominate, but also has gotten torched a few times, making it a bit of a roll of the dice when he takes the mound. His contract isn’t unreasonable and could be partially paid by Texas depending on the quality of prospects. Arizona could be worth talking to, depending on what they’d trade. Chad Tracy would likely be a start. Another option worth exploring, the Dodgers, could result in possibly Andy LaRoche being offered as bait, which would be a solid return. Two other options that are out there, but not as attractive, are the Mets and Cardinals, but neither team is willing to sacrifice any major prospects and would want to treat such a deal as a salary dump and as a gift.
Frank Catalonotto
- Potential Suitors - Mets, Giants,
- THe Skinny: Cat is kinda rendered useless thanks to the promotion of Chris Davis and the emergence of the Murphy/Hamilton/Byrd outfield, with Bradley at DH and Brandon Boggs serving as a fourth outfielder. Cat still has the ability to be a decent DH and the Rangers would likely eat a lot of the contract to move him. It just remains to be seen if someone would give him a shot. Cat would be a solid fit on the Mets in left field, and wouldn’t be too bad for the Giants if they decided to find a bit of a stopgap before they can get a legitimate prospect at first base. If I were Texas, I would offer Cat as a part of a larger deal that would net Jonathan Sanchez in return for an exchange of contracts and talent. I’ll have to come up with one soon.
Ramon Vasquez
- Potential Suitors - Dodgers, Cardinals
- The Skinny: Vasquez has been a surprise this season, and has been one of the Rangers’ better hitters. He’s also pissy that he’s now riding the pine thanks to Hank Blalock and potentially Michael Young in a couple of years. So, Vasquez is an intriuging piece of trade bait, which I would explore in terms of value. The Cardinals could use Vasquez at second base or shortstop and could offer up a decent arm in Jess Todd, currently doing well in Double A. THe Dodgers are another team that could use Vasquez, and they have begun looking at assorted utility men in an attempt to improve the situation. I’d offer them Vasquez, again, in an attempt to pry away Andy LaRoche from them.
Coming On Friday - Draft Update, Plus Team Needs For 2009
July 24, 2008 at 5:44 pm · Filed under AL West, Elvis Andrus, Gerald Laird, Hank Blalock, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, MLB, Michael Young, Texas Rangers
The subject of Michael Young’s defense is a hot topic in Ranger land. Young may potentially be one of the worst defensive shortstops in the game, as his range is beginning to decline (Jeter may still be worse) and it could be argued that moving Young to third base, of which the Rangers have no prospects of note, could benefit both him and the club in the short and long term.
Here’s the key issue that people are ignoring.
Who are you going to replace him with?
What a lot of people, Adam J. Morris of Lone Star Ball in particular, have overlooked is that there aren’t all that many quality shortstops growing on trees. And while the Rangers do have a potential franchise shortstop to move Young over to third base eventually in Elvis Andrus, Andrus is hardly a lock to make the majors next season, and looks like he’ll require at least another year of development before the experiment can be done.
In reality, there should be no rush. However, because the topic is starting to crop up on message boards, let’s delve into it, shall we?
- Joaquin Arias (Oklahoma) - Arias would seem to be the obvious choice, seeing that he’s already in the organization and would give the team and opportunity to see if he really can hack it at the major league level or not. Arias has speed and would be capable at short, but he doesn’t offer much long term upside, not enough to justify moving Young from the position at least. It’s too bad, because he could wind up being a short of Jack Wilson type shortstop, if given the chance.
- Jack Wilson (Pittsburgh) - Speaking of Wilson, I suppose Jack Wilson (who is an adequate defensive shortstop), could be had, but I’m not sure what sort of package could be put together for the Pirates to bite on. At least, not a reasonable one. Shooter and I should do a mutual post to see how we could improve both teams through wheeling and dealing.
- Adam Everett (Minnesota) -Everett is a supurb defensive shortstop, but isn’t a great hitter. How the hell would this justify moving Young? Next!
- Felipe Lopez (Nationals) - An interesting reclamation project, Lopez could rebound to his Cincinatti status in Arlington, but he hasn’t played shortstop regularly in years.
- Ramon Vasquez (Rangers) - Borat can play shortstop, but he’s isn’t this great of a hitter. Honestly, I’d be shopping him furiously now if I were Jon Daniels.
- J.J. Hardy (Brewers) - There a lot of rumor that the Brewers will shop J.J. Hardy this off-season in order to clear a spot for their own top prospect, Alcides Escobar, who is a better defensive shortstop than Hardy. Hardy is attractive in that he has several years of club control left and that he’s an exxcellent defensive shortstop. However, the problem is that the price will be very prohibative on Hardy. The Brewers will want multiple prospects in return, which could be counterproductive to the Rangers. If the Rangers could acquire Hardy for a package of, say Jose Vallejo, Manuel Pina, Omar Poveda and another prospect, I’d be for it, as Vellejo is a decent second base prospect that’s blocked by Kinsler, Pina is another catcher in a system rich with them, Poveda is looking like a solid pitching prospect, plus maybe a lesser prospect. Anything greater than that I’d be unwilling to consider. The thing that pisses me off about Hardy is just how streaky of a hitter he is. Come to think of it, wouldn’t the Brewers be best off calling up Escobar, moving Hardy to second base, and putting Rickie Weeks in center. I think Weeks could be an excellent centerfielder. Ah well, that’s not my call.
Hot Shots
Yankees Interested In Laird - The Yankees are reportedly looking at Gerald Laird to help out their catching situation, one that they’ve long overlooked. It’s safe to say that Jorge Posada has been taken for granted by the Yankees for much of his career and only now is his value finally being…well, valued. Texas would move Laird for a pitcher, of which the Yankees have long been reluctant to do. I wouldn’t target any of the Yankees’ big three pitching prospects, though in my opinion Laird for Ian Kennedy straight up is fair (Kennedy isn’t an elite prospect and has been way overvalued because of his organization.) An arm I would target would be Delin Betances, a live arm in the Yankees system who has had injury issues in the past, but is still something solid.
Something That Should Be Pursued - I’d really try and get something done with Boston in terms of a pitching prospect close to the majors. The Rangers and Red Sox match up well for a potential swap of Max Ramirez or Jarrod Saltalamacchia, as Boston needs a young catcher, and they’ve got nothing on the way.
The Hell? - Apparently, the Braves shot down the Mike Gonzalez for a Texas outfielder rumor, saying that the only way they would have traded Gonzalez was for Josh Hamilton? That’s insanity.
Hank Blalock Now Coveted By Dodgers, Giants, And Twins - Three teams are now in on Hank Blalock, who seems to be back and ready to contribute. The Dodgers are particularly interested, and could be willing to give up something nice. I’d ask them for Andy LaRoche and something else, straight up. The Twins are another potential fit, but they seem reluctant to trade any of their pitching depth, which is what the Rangers want. The Giants are interesting, in that they have several needs right now, but their only real collateral is in their young starters. If I were the Rangers, i’d make a play for Matt Cain. I’d offer them Blalock, Nelson Cruz, Joaquin Arias, Jose Vallejo, Poveda, and possibly another prospect for Cain, plus one of the Giants’ bad contracts in return. I don’t know, they may pass on that.
July 21, 2008 at 5:32 pm · Filed under AL West, Elvis Andrus, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, MLB, Matt Harrison, Michael Young, Neftali Feliz, Nelson Cruz, Texas Rangers
The past two weeks, I’ve gone to Chicago, Milwaukee for Vacation, only to return and discover it’s off to San Antonio for business right after that. Chicago and Milwaukee I’m not complaining about. That was pleasure. San Antonio? Four days straight of meetings at a conference. All there really was to do was to head to downtown and get trashed…
The Rangers Report
The Teixeira Deal, One Year Later
It’s been about one year since the Rangers traded away Mark Teixeira to the Atlanta Braves for a package of five minor leaguers.
At the time, the big piece of the package was Jarrod Saltalamacchia, while everyone else was generally thought to be high upside filler.
So, with the one year anniversary of the trade nearly upon us, let’s see how the kids from the trade have fared:
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia (C) - MLB. Salty has struggled this year, but is still a young player with a bright future. He’s got plenty of value as a trade chip, which may work considering the fact that Max Ramirez and Taylor Teagarden have made some huge impressions while they were up. Despite all that, I’m still a beleiver in Salty. Future - All Star Catcher Still
- Neftali Feliz (RHP) - Double A. Seen at the time as just a raw arm with potential, Feliz has catapulted up prospect rankings and is now regarded as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. Feliz throws in the high 90’s, but more importantly how has a solid enough curveball and changeup to compliment the heater. He’s now in Double A, having skipped the California League entirely, and is currently 2-0, with a 2.65 ERA and 17 K’s in 3 starts for the Roughriders, and is coming off of a 6 inning, 8 K gem from Friday. Future - Potential Ace.
- Elvis Andrus (SS) - Double A. Andrus was one of the more highly touted prospects coming into the season based on his speed and his impressive glovework at shortstop. Many feel he’s ready defensively for the majors defensively. The big problem for Adnrus was that he was rushed quicker than he should have been by the Braves., which stunted him a bit offensively. Texas has since slowed him down, which has helped Andrus adjust, as he is currently hitting .293 with 38 stolen bases. That’s not bad for a 20 year old in Double A. Andrus still has some warts, such as his plate discipline and lack of power, plus the fact he’s been caught stealing 11 times, but he’s young enough to improve on those. All in all, the Rangers have Michael Young’s future replacement. Future - Poor Man’s Edgar Renteria.
- Matt Harrison (LHP) - MLB. Harrison was impressive in Double A, but was still a bit raw in Triple A when he was called up to pitch for the Rangers. Harrison has been shelled, but still has a bright future as a back of the rotation starter, a la Jarrod Washburn. Future - Innings Eater Back Of The Rotation Starter.
- Beau Jones (LHP) - High A. The sleeper in the picture, Jones struggled as a starter before being moved into the bullpen for the Braves, where he’s been a revelation. Jones is currently sporting a 1.17 ERA in the pen for the Blaze and could soon rise to Double A by the end of the year. Future - Power Lefty Out Of The Pen, Potential Closer.
Meanwhile, Teixeira has been very good for the Braves, but hasn’t done much to improve their post season chances. And with Scott Boras wanting the bidding to start at $23 million a year for hsi client’s services, Atlanta is likely doomed to accept less than what they may have given up to the Rangers.
Feldman Headed To The Bullpen
In what has been an impressive rebound season for Scott Feldman, it looks like tonight will be Scott Feldman’s final start.
He’s headed back to the bullpen.
The thing is, Feldman is starting to put up some highs in terms of innings, which in turn has lead to his recent fatigue in his last few starts. It’s said that the Rangers are hoping to cap Feldman at around the 130 inning mark, which would in turn set him up for a possible 160 inning mark next season.
All in all, kudos to the Rangers organization for recognizing that Feldman did indeed have the talent to succeed, not just as a pitcher, but as a starting pitcher. All in all, this sets up for a potentially exciting rotation next year, with the following rotation:
- Kevin Millwood (RHP)
- Vicente Padilla (RHP)
- Eric Hurley (RHP)
- Scott Feldman (RHP)
- Brandon McCarthy (RHP)
And that’s not counting Matt Harrison, Luis Mendoza, or Kason Gabbard, all of whom who have started for the Rangers.
Should be interesting.
Marlon Byrd And Nelson Cruz Potential Trade Chips
The Rangers are getting calls on Marlon Byrd and Nelson Cruz, the latter of which has flamed out with the Rangers, but is getting some love due to his 31 home runs in 314 at-bats at Oklahoma. Byrd has been the subject of trade rumors before, but Cruz is a new one, considering his struggles with the majors. For Cruz, I think it’s possible to get an arm, likely one in the lower minors, for him, maybe a positional prospect that has flopped or is blocked.
As for Byrd, well, I’m not sure what he’d bring back. Ideally, I’d like a young arm or a decent positional player. Well see if the Rangers can get one.
Next Week’s Blog Schedule:
Thursday - Finding The Successor For Young
Monday - Finding Fits For Potential Trades
June 26, 2008 at 10:15 am · Filed under Uncategorized
The Youth movement in Arlington is now.
Word is that, with Hank Blalock now out till the All-Star break, and first base remaining a black hole, the Rangers are calling up Chris Davis to fill his spot.
My guess is that either Joaquin Benoit, who I think is pitching hurt, will be placed on the DL, or, more likely, Chris Shelton will be designated for assignment.
This is an exciting move, as Davis has been rising through the minors quickly since being drafted three years ago. While he flashes big time power, he does strike out a lot. However, the Rangers see him potentially as a Pat Burrell type player, which isn’t bad.
With Davis now in the fold, this is what the Rangers lineup will look like:
- Ian Kinsler (2B)
- Michael Young (SS)
- Josh Hamilton (CF)
- Milton Bradley (RF/DH)
- Chris Davis (1B)
- David Murphy (LF)
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia (C)
- Ramon Vasquez (3B)
- Frank Catalonotto/Marlon Byrd (RF/DH)
That’s a much sweeter, much deeper lineup, that what we’ve had for a while.
Combined with the call-ups of Brandon Boggs, who is looking like a high energy player, Eric Hurley, the first real Ranger pitching prospect to come up since Chris Young, and Max Ramirez, who hit his first career home run last night to give the Rangers a game, the future is looking brighter in Arlington.
And that’s not even counting what the Rangers have in Matt Harrison and others, waiting in Triple A.
I’m excited. So should Ranger Fans.
June 8, 2008 at 12:14 am · Filed under Uncategorized
The Rangers Report
Ponson Now An EX-Ranger
Well, as you all well know, Sidney Ponson was Designated For Assignment by Texas on Friday.
Reportedly, Ponson first came under scrutiny over the fact that he got trashed at the team hotel in Tampa Bay and was placed on watch. He further endeared himself by angrily complaining about having to start on three days rest in order to allow Kevin Millwood his normal four. BUt the final straw came when Ponson angrily showed up his teammates in the dugout and complained about certain members of the team. With that, Ponson’s fate was sealed.
DOn’t know who’s decision this was yet. It does sound a bit like a Nolan Ryan move, mostly because he didn’t take any shit as a player. However, it also sounds like a Jon Daniels move, who has, for the most part, avoided problem players (Milton Bradley the exception, though Padilla was a buy low move.) More than likely, it’s a combination of both.
So What Next?
Ponson is likely going to be granted free agency, because to be quite honest, I don’t think anyone is going to want to bite on him, even with his decent showing in Texas. MAYBE the Rangers could acquire something along the lines of a C Grade prospect. More than likely, they won’t get shit, even though some contenders like Cleveland, Detroit or the Mets could use pitching.
As for the Rangers, they’re now left with trying to figure out who to place back in the rotation. More than likely, Kason Gabbard will return to the Rangers. A.J. Murray, the team’s lone major league ready starter in Oklahoma, is injured. Luis Mendoza and Brandon McCarthy aren’t ready to come back yet from their injury and the Rangers’ top pitching prospects, Eric Hurley and Matt Harrison, aren’t ready to start yet. Nor will the Rangers rush either of them to the majors, as the Jon Hart Administration did with Edinson Volquez, who took nearly three years to get himself right again because of it.
Which means, for all intents and purposes, Texas is fucked and we’ll be seeing a lot more of Doug Mathis in the rotation.
Heh.
WHo’d a thought? When the season started, I felt that Scott Feldman should have remained a middle reliever and that Mathis should have been given a shot as a fifth starter.
Now?
Not so much.
Implications From The Draft
While I love that the Rangers got Justin Smoak, who it turns out is more Adrian Gonzalez with 30 home run power, it complicates the Rangers’ current prospect mix a lot.
For starters, Texas now has five candidates to now have to worry about for Catcher, Designated Hitter and First Base. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Max Ramirez, Taylor Teagarden, Chris Davis, and now, Smoak,
Of that bunch, Smoak and Davis (looking more and more like an Adam Dunn like power source), should slot in to First Base and Designated Hitter respectively. Which means Salty or Teagarden will likely be traded, and Max Ramirez likely the same.
The Rangers currently could use more up the middle talent, or again, more pitching prospects.
June 4, 2008 at 11:16 am · Filed under Uncategorized
JASON BOTTS UPDATE!!!!!
The Rant is below, but first, a Ranger related nugget.
Jason Botts’ career as a Texas Ranger is over.
Botts has been acquired by the Nippon Ham Fighters and will now continue his career overseas.
It’s tough to see Botts go. I realize he may or may not have been given a fair shake by the Rangers. But he never did much to solidify a hold over a big league position. Now, hopefully, I hope he carves out a career similar to Tom Selleck in Mr. Baseball.
Good luck big man! Hopefully, whenever I get the chance to go to Japan, you’ll have become the star you never were able to become in Texas.
Sayonara!
Back to the rant, already in progress.
Hate On ESPN
I hate ESPN.
The bias, the way they try to push their own agenda, their special little programs that take up useless time like “Who’s Now” and all that crap. And while there is some excellent content at times on their programs and websites (John Clayton and Jeremy Green aren’t bad, and Keith Law and Rob Neyer are both excellent and entertaining), for the most part their content is bad. Sportscenter, for example, hasn’t been the same since the former “Big Show” of Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann broke up in the late 1990’s.
But it’s the personalities that I despite most of the time. With that said, here are five ESPN Personalities that I make me want to go off on a Bill O’Reily on Inside Edition rant.
Sean Salsbury (TV)
I can’t stand the greatest backup quarterback of all time. Salsbury’s schtick is one of cosntant annoyance, a barrage of “You never played the game, so you’re unqualified to speak of football” and of a whole lot of testosterone. And much of the time, he just sounds so uninformed when he speaks about the NFL, especially when he’s placed next to someone like John Clayton (who famously responded to Salsbury’s “You never played in the NFL” attack to “Neither did you!) or Jeremy Green. And didn’t he take a picture of his junk and send it to another female employee? Look, I realize that not all football players are mental midgets. Some like Joe Montana, Tiki Barber (much as I hate to say it), Ron Jaworski, Jim Brown, and many others are able to talk football without sounding like idiots. Unfortunately, Salsbury seems to reinforce the stereotype.
Eric Kusillias (Radio, TV)
Former radio host Eric Kusillias is another guy that just gets on my balls. While I do like him pointing out that what Mike Golic on Mike and Mike actually brings to the table (not much), I find him irritating as hell. Everything from his rather lame takes to his constant love letter to the NFL gets me irritated. And let’s not forget his constant man love for the Boston Red Sox. Then again, that last one may just be my own fatigue with all things Boston.
Colin Cowherd (Radio)
Colin Cowherd is quite possibly one of the most arrogant people to host a radio show. Aside from his usual hype about how he hosts “Big Boy Radio” and his dismissal of callers and emailers that disagree with his opinion, Cowherd often times gets himself in trouble with his own opinions that are made without much thought or research, in spite of his own claims that he has research to back up what he says. With the Sean Taylor story breaking, Cowherd pushed how he felt that it was releated to Taylor’s past, and that it was simply “Payback From The Hood.” Needless to say, in spite of his constant hammering of the point, Cowherd looked completely stupid. Cowherd has also hammered the bloggisphere under the typical “guys who live in mom’s basement” as well as taking material from blogs and not giving credit where it was due. When the M Zone, a Michigan Blog, had a mock wonderlic test, Cowherd read it on air and didn’t give credit to the blog. When the writers asked Cowherd to give credit where credit was due, Cowherd simply responded with how he had just found it, but wasn’t going to give credit now because of the whining. Cowherd later gave a half ass admission nearly two weeks later. And the sad thing is, Cowherd actually could be capable of a great radio show. He does a solid job at covering college football (not so much the NFL, as he typically lets his own admiration of certain franchises, players and coaches cloud his judgement) and he also delviered one of the best all time takes about the importance of relevance in sports when Red Sox fans were up in arms because Manny Ramirez simply expressed that “life goes on” when the Red Sox were near elimination in last years ALCS. Cowherd is an example of what a potentially great radio show host could be. However, Cowherd is simply too deeply ingrained in his own opinions and bias that he’ll never take that step.
Mike Tirico (TV/Radio)
I have nothing against Tirico the play by play guy. That guy is fine. Tirico the radio host is just plain boring. I’m serious, you could fall asleep to Tirico’s radio show. Adding Scott Van Pelt makes it slightly better.
Kenny Mayne (TV)
What the hell does Kenny Mayne exactly do than look tall and creepy at the various assignments he is given? I’m serious, I half expect to see Kenny Mayne to walk in on a showing of “To Catch A Predator” and sit down to enjoy a glass of the Sweet Tea that always seems to be on every tabletop counter before the cops rush in to arrest him. I mean, come on, I realize that he was once a Sportscenter anchor, but can’t they find any other use for him that doesn’t involve him looking ridiculous? Or maybe that’s just a part of his bit now, much as Bill Simmons’ constant yammering about the glory of Boston Sports. However, while Simmons is able to play his bit into something relevant (as Simmons himself is actually a fairly astute basketball analyst), Mayne just doesn’t seem to have a use at all for the four letter.
June 2, 2008 at 12:38 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
The Rangers Report - Big Week Ahead
Draft Smoke Signals
Well, the draft is on Thursday, and I’ll have to schedule my lunch hour around the Rangers and Astros picks, since home isn’t far at all from work.
So here’s the scuttle from what I’ve read, via Baseball Prospectus, ESPN, and the Star-Telegram:
- The Rangers will likely begin by waiting for one of the bigger name players to fall to them at 11. That means there is a possibility that the Rangers could take Eric Hosmer or Garret Cole if them come down to them. God knows that Tim Beckham or Pedro Alvarez won’t make it that far. Talented pitchers gifted with flawed delivereis, Aaron Crow and Brian Matusz, are also on the Rangers’ radar.
- Should that not work out, Texas is said to have narrowed their choices between Tulane’s (And Shooter’s Man Crush Of The Draft) Shooter Hunt, or Eastern Kentucky’s Christian Friedrich. I’ll have to admit, Hunt’s latest numbers and rumblings from scouts are starting to worry me a bit.
- Texas will likely try and take some of the quick fallers in the draft because of monetary concerns, and will likely piss off MLB Management by paying more above slot.
- With the draft being deep in college corner infielders, my guess is that the Rangers could look at taking a college first baseman later in the draft.
Andy LaRoche Is There For The Taking
While the Rangers are still likely keeping third base open for the eventual movement of Michael Young, there are options available to play with if you can get your hands on them.
Case in point: the Dodgers’ Andy LaRoche.
The Dodgers have seemed to have done everything humanly possible to NOT give their starting third baseman job to LaRoche. And with Blake DeWitt now looking like their answer to the position, they’re now turning LaRoche into a utility player.
I think the Rangers need to jump all over this.
LaRoche could split time at the corners for Texas, playing some third and first, while also seeing time at DH. And while that’s kinda what his role with the Dodgers would be (except I think the Dodgers will also be throwing him into the outfield), Texas at least promises something that the Dodgers wouldn’t.
Regular playing time.
This isn’t just for Texas to take the opportunity. I think other teams with needs at third base, such as the Pirates (though Neil Walker is supposedly close), the Twins and the Athletics should take advantage too. I think LaRoche is a wonderful young player and the fact that the Dodgers haven’t committed to him is just plain stupid.
Who Expected This To Happen?
At the beginning of the season, the Texas Rangers had signed two pitchers to contracts, one major, one minor. Both pitchers had a track record for success, and yet both fell off the cliff for their new teams in 2007. Now, one of those pitchers has made a significant contribution to the Rangers. The other? Out for the season.
Who knew that Sidney Ponson would be better than Jason Jennings?
As of this moment, Jennings ends the season at 0-5 with a 8.56 ERA, with a 12/18 K to walk ratio.
Ponson, meanwhile, is currently 4-1 with a 3.83 ERA, with a 24/13 K to walk ratio.
Who’d a thunk this would have happened?
May 28, 2008 at 12:29 am · Filed under Uncategorized
Time once again for…
The Rangers Report
Should The Rangers Buy Or Sell?
Well, this is different!
The Rangers are currently at .500 and are one of the AL’s more intruiging teams. They’ve also been the American League’s hottest team since the beginning of May, with only Tampa being hotter.
So, the question remains, should the Rangers become buyers at the deadline.
My reponse?
Too soon to tell.
THe issue is that Texas really hasn’t beaten anyone yet, and has mostly gotten everyone’s third or fourth starters. And they are still very much vulnerable to an ace that is one (as Scott Kazmir was on Monday.) ANd the pitching has been brutal as of late, with the bullpen and the starting rotation racking up higher and higher ERA’s thanks to ineffectiveness. Texas can’t keep hoping to slug it out with teams and hope to win. That never works.
Texas is preparing to get into the beastly part of their schedule. if they can do well by the end of June, then I think the Rangers have got something. Then the Rangers could look into bringing in a Garret Atkins to play third base, or bring in another starter for the rotation. Otherwise, it’ll be time to sell high on Gerald Laird, Sidney Ponson, and perhaps even Vicente Padilla.
Early Draft Smoke Signals
Texas is reportedly looking hard at Shooter Hunt, whom they drafted out of high school in 2005, but failed to sign. Hunt would be a solid addition, but much of it depends on the Astros, who may take him before hant. Another option reportedly in the mix is Chris Freidrich, a Rich Hill type lefty out of Eastern Kentucky. Texas could also look to take some decent players out of high school. Reportedly, they could take a look at Eric Hosmer. Finally, Nolan Ryan has said to be interested in TCU’s Andew Cashner, which would be the absolutely WORST pick the Rangers could make. A reliever that high? Hell no!
Some Moves To Take Note Of
Texas has officially released John Patterson. Word is that he wasn’t able to come back from injury and still isn’t able to pitch. THat sucks.
Ben Broussard has reportedly signed with the Yankees. Good luck to him.
Josh Hamilton will reportedly be on the cover of Sports Illustrated. And now, the team will go to hell…
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