The Rangers Report
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Archive for March, 2008
March 24, 2008 at 8:23 am · Filed under Uncategorized
The Rangers Report - Beginning Of The Season Looming
Rating The Ranger Pranks
There have been a lot more Ranger Pranks this spring training than in other past Spring Trainings. While none of them are as good as last year’s “arrest” of Gerald Laird, there are still some good ones, enough to make a Top 3.
- Hank Blalock – Found his rental home covered in toilet paper and his car encased in saran wrap..
- Gerald Laird – Found his shower shoes were coated on the inside with Jelly.
- Gerald Laird – Narrowly Dodged Putting On His Catching Helment, Which Had Been Coated With Warming Liniment.
Others worth noting: Blalock accidentally coating himself in protein powder, and Brandon McCarthy’s car getting the saran wrap paint job.
Cruz Likely Finished As A Ranger
Cruz is likely going to be pushed out of the team. Jason Botts has seemingly solidified his place as the backup bench player and both Marlon Byrd’s and David Murphy’s ability to play a passable center leave Cruz without a job. He may get through waivers, but it’s likely that he’ll be picked off by the Braves or the Mets, teams that could use a backup outfielder off of the bench. This also changes the entire view of the Carlos Lee trade of two years ago. Mench is now a Rangers and if Cruz is DFA’d, the Rangers essentially swapped Francisco Cordero and Laynce Nix for Carlos Lee and two draft picks. Not a bad haul, really.
Reds Interested In Gerald Laird
The Reds are now interested in Gerald Laird to help them strengthen their weakened backstop corps. J.D. has stressed that Laird isn’t actively on the block but he’ll listen to offers that intrigue him. Personally, I’d ask the Reds for slugging Third Baseman Juan Francisco or maybe pitching prospect Pedro Viola, see if they’ll bite.
Daniels’ refusal to dump Laird also makes it likely that Adam Melhuse will make the team as the backup catcher, meaning Salty will start in Triple A until Laird can be flipped at the deadline.
John Patterson Signed
In other news, John Patterson is now a Ranger, or so it sounds like, as he is nearing a minor league deal with the team. It’s a bit of a shocker, as many people felt that Patterson would likely end up in Houston, where he likely might have been able to finagle a major league deal. Anyhow, Patterson has talent, but his major problem is that he’s just too damn brittle. If he’s able to stay healthy and perhaps get some velocity back on his fastball, he might be a decent pickup. Odds are likely that he’ll wind up as Triple A filler in Oklahoma.
March 18, 2008 at 3:00 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Inspired by Bill Simmons’ recent What If Column for ESPN, only with the NBA, I wondered how it would go by adapting this to the Rangers, and seeing what I came up with.
And, for those that read Marvel Comics back in the day, no What If can be complete without the Watcher…
Today’s What If…
What Barry Zito Had Become A Texas Ranger.
As it is well known, the Rangers drafted Zito in the third round of the 1998 Draft (after Zito failed to sign with Seattle after being a 49th round pick back in 1996. I was a SOPHMORE in 96), but failed to sign him after being about $50,000 apart in terms of a signing bonus. Zito would instead transfer to USC, become the 9th Overall Pick in the 1999 draft, and the rest, as they say, is history.
The failure to sign Zito has been a source of much criticism in Ranger circles, as many have claimed that the Rangers lost their shot of acquiring a major league ace for their rotation as a result of Tom Hicks being “too cheap to give up $50,000″.
But is that the truth?
Personally, I don’t think Zito would have succeeded here, or at best, would not have become the pitcher he was reputed to be.
Change In Home Park - Ameriquest is much more unforgiving to flyball pitchers than the Collosium is up in Oakland. In Ameriquest, Zito would have seen a lot more of those outs that he got turn into home runs, playing hell on his ERA. The decline in Zito’s stuff is also much more noticable as time went past, as Zito began to depend more on his defense to save him. This was very much evident in 2006, Zito’s last with Oakland, when Zito was much more mortal at Rangers Ballpark, and it seemed the Rangers finally were able to do some damage on a pitcher that had long dominated them.
Outfield Defense Becoming Worse - Zito also would have played behind a much worse outfield defense, as Texas has had problems finding a solution to the outfield, specifically centerfield, for years. Zito, on the other hand, had a very above average outfield defense behind him, making things much more favorable for him.
Lack Of Playoff Mystique - Part of the Zito Mystique comes from Oakland’s numerous playoff runs back in the early part of the decade, when the Big Three dominated the American League. However, Zito was the third best pitcher on the staff, behind the outstanding Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder, both of whom were much more dominant pitchers than Zito. Had he entered the league a Texas Rangers, Zito would merely be an average pitcher on a bad team.
In essence, I feel that the hoopla over Zito not joining the Rangers is very much overrated. Zito would have likely been only an average pitcher that could eat innings and dominate at times. Zito would not have been a Cy Young Winner, nor would he be regarded as a playoff demon because he likely would never have gone to the playoffs as a Rangers. In all honesty, Zito would have done the Rangers no good in trying to rebuild. He’s not an ace. He hasn’t been in quite some time. In fact, I doubt we’ll ever see that Barry Zito of legend again.
March 11, 2008 at 2:36 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
The Rangers Report - Spring Training Editions
McCarthy’s Injury Opens Up Possibilities For The Kids
Brandon McCarthy will be out till at least mid April, which means that the Rangers are without a fifth starter.
While Kason Gabbard is by no means out of the running, his recent struggles also call into question his own spot. The fact he has an option remaining gives Texas some flexability.
However, what this does do is create a golden opportunity for some of the Rangers’ young pitchers to try and take hold of a rotation spot in the meantime.
Eric Hurley is the obvious choice, due to his status as the Rangers’ top prospect and his closeness to the Majors. However, Hurley still needs work in Triple A, as his rather pedestiran Spring numbers show, and that alone should knock him out for the time being.
Luis Mendoza is another name being tossed about. Mendoza is by no means special, but he does induce groundballs and did very well upon reaching the Rangers’ last season. Texas is high enough on him that they let Armando Gallaraga go on waivers to the Tigers, rather than let Mendoza leave as a six year free agent.
Jamey “The Electrician” Wright is another option. Wright was a average starter who made for a solid middle reliever, but am I really wanting to trust the season in the hands of Wright? Not really.
Matt Harrison is the final option available. Harrison so far is dazzling in his spring training debut and his stuff and his lefty skill reminds many of Tom Glavine. While that’s a little optimistic, I do think that Harrison has a good chance to be able to become a Kenny Rogers type of starter.
Whatever the options, for once in a long time, the Rangers actually have some to play around with. What happens form now until the end of Spring Training remains to be seen.
Rangers Sign Ponson
The Rangers have signed Sidney Ponson, who has apparently dropped weight and is not hitting 94 on the gun.
Haven’t we heard all this before?
Oh right, two years ago when Ponson signed with the Cardinals.
And last year, when Ponson signed with the Twins.
As far as I can tell, Ponson is strictly going to be vet insurnace over in Oklahoma, as he’s on a minor league deal and won’t cost much if he gets cut. Judging by the way pitchers are falling in Arizona, however (McCarthy is out till at least mid-April, Wilson is still hurt), Ponson could very easily wind up on a three game stint or so with the Rangers.
As long as he’s relied on to be insurance and nothing else, I don’t have a problem with him signing. Anything else is a mistake.
Calling Up The Mets For A Deal
With all of the problems that Mets are having recently in terms of their outfield situation, I would probably make a phone call to Omar Minaya and ask them if he’s interested in Nelson Cruz. Minaya has said he’d be willing to take on a bench type outfielder and Cruz currently has more power than any of the options that the Mets have in camp (short of calling up Shawn Green and asking him to come back.) And, should the Mets get back Moises Alou and others back sooner, Cruz would be a solid bat off the bench should they need him to be.In return, the Rangers could gain a raw Rookie Ball arm that the Mets are willing to spare, or maybe another option, like Joe Smith.
Under any circumstances, however, the Rangers should NOT get a shitty arm in return that is owned too much money, like Jorge Sosa or Scott Schowenweis.
I’ve got something on tap for later in the week on the Rangers Report, so keep your eyes peeled for it.