The Rangers Report
Building for the future since 2001
Archive for May, 2008
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…
May 19, 2008 at 12:31 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
The Rangers Report
The Benefits Of Depth
When the season started, I felt that if the Rangers were able to get roughly 2006 production from Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla and Jason Jennings, along with the continued development of Brandon McCarthy and Kason Gabbard, the Rangers would be a playoff team.
Well, the Rangers are currently one game under .500, which is astounding when you consider their craptacular start at the beginning of the season. But the Rangers haven’t been getting production from all of the original starting rotation members. They’re turning instead to their minor league depth.
The Rangers’ most talented arms are in the lower minors, and are years away from making contributions. The Rangers’ top major league arms, Eric Hurley and Matt Harrison, aren’t anywhere close to ready until maybe September.
But it’s been the contributions of other guys, like A.J. Murray, Scott Feldman (a reliever for much of his career), and the “Break Glass In Case Of An Emergency” Starter, Sidney Ponson, who have helped the Rangers in recent weeks.
Now, granted, the Rangers have largely fattened up at the expense of an awful Seattle team (which I did say might be bad this season). But winning series’ against the Athletics and Twins isn’t anything to sneeze at either.
It might not last. For all I know, the implosion that I thought would be the 2008 Texas Rangers might be coming tomorrow.
But for the moment, I’ll enjoy it. And it comes largely from the hands of some unlikely members of the Rangers’ starting rotation.
Bullets Dodged Recently On Starting Pitching
Ken Rosenthal recently published some comments by my favorite type of source. The “Anonymous Scout.”
For the most part, it was a cirituqe on the Rangers’ likely demands for Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla and the fact that they make “too much money.”
In reality, Millwood and Padilla are rather affordable now. And true, while they aren’t putting up Johan Santana numbers, they’re not stinking up the joint like Barry Zito and Matt Morris.
Speaking of those two, Ranger fans need to count their blessings on the recent free agent spurning of the Rangers. Most of them have sucked for the teams that beat out the Rangers. Here’s a list
- Matt Morris - Texas tried hard for Morris, only to be beaten out by the Giants, who cited Morris’ desire to be reunited with his former catcher as the reason why they won. Morris was awful almost from day one and was cut by the Pirates (who inexplicably took his entire contract last season.)
- Barry Zito - Zito’s interest in Texas after the hiring of Ron Washington sent goosebumps through Ranger fans, who dreamed of reversing previous history and signing Zito, making him the Ranger many felt he should have always been. I even advocated signing Zito. However, many people, notably Keith Law, expressed doubts that Zito could continue to be successful. So far, he’s right.
- Mark Mulder - Here was a buy low opportunity I thought would work out well. Instead, Mulder has been a waste of money for the Cardinals and, if he continues to get lit up, may be released.
Blalock Moving To First Base
It looks like Hank Blalock will now be the Rangers’ first baseman, and is likely going to signal an assortment of moves in the future.
This is a move that is…perplexing, for the most part. Blalock has move value at third base and for the most part, didn’t look limited when he was playing earlier. But apparently, Blalock himself came to the club with the move, which lets the organization off the hook…somewhat.
Still, I suppose if it’s a move to keep Blalock off the DL and on the field, since he has had trouble throwing to first base. If it keeps him in the lineup, I’ll be fine with it.
Unfortunately, it also creates other problems for the Rangers.
Namely, who the hell’s going to play third base? There are no real third baseman prospects in the minors other than maybe Max Ramirez, currently a catcher, and German Duran. Unless this is meant for an eventual shift of Michael Young to third base, and the eventual arrival of Elvis Andrus, this creates more questions rather than answers.
Minor League Movings And Doings
Down on the farm, the Baby Rangers are making noise as well.
- Matt Harrison (LHP - Double A Frisco) threw a 7 inning no hitter on Sunday, and continues proving that the Rangers got a lot more out of the Mark Teixeira deal than just Salty and Neftali Feliz. If Harrison, who currently boasts a 3-1 record with a 3.41 ERA. He could finish the year in Texas if he continues to work it.
- Max Ramirez (C - Double A Frisco), yet another Rangers catching prospect, has begun taking reps at first base. Ramirez is rough defensively, but that hasn’t stopped Victor Martinez from carving out a career.
- Chris Davis (1B - Double A Frisco) continues to be a beast, hitting .313. with 10 Home Runs, though he continues to whiff a lot. Still, with Oklahoma lacking a real first baseman, I think it’s almost inevitable for Davis to be a Redhawk before too long.
- Tommy Hunter (RHP - High A Bakersfield), a big pitcher taken out of Alabama with one of the supplemental picks last season, is now pitching for Frisco. I compared Hunter to Rangers’ Prospect Thomas Diamond, as a big durable guy with a power repertoire. While the fastball isn’t quite what it was when he first came out in the draft (initial reports had him at 95, in reality he’s more around 92), he still could make noise as a durable innings eater for the Rangers. Add him to another promising kid for the big league club.
May 9, 2008 at 12:58 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Well, last night’s game was interesting, wasn’t it.
Seriously, Richie Sexson needs to be suspended. That pitch that Kason Gabbard threw at him last night wasn’t even close to hitting his mellon. And he went off.
And using your batting helmet in a fight is kind of dirty.
All in all, I’m disappointed that Gerald Laird didn’t try to restrain Sexson as he charged. Maybe he was taken by surprise. Maybe he thought that he wouldn’t charge. Either way, a catcher’s priority is to his pitcher and Laird failed in that regard.
Also, what the hell was up between him and Bradley? Were they trading words, or was it simply Bradley telling him to back off, not to get involved?
One thing for sure, it was funny as hell to see Bradley pick up and carry Laird away from the brawl.
Good to see Eddie Guardado keep Felix Hernandez away from the brawl that he unintentionally started by throwing at Raul “Borat” Vasquez and Ian Kinsler. I think if Hernandez hadn’t been stopped, he might have done something rash and irresponsible that would have merited a suspension. Losing him is the last thing the Mariners need.
All in all, Sexson needs to be suspended for at least ten games. Hernandez will maybe miss a start, so five games. Gabbard is likely headed back to the DL after hurting his leg in the brawl.
And, to add further intrique, Vicente “The Enforcer” Padilla starts against Seattle on Monday.
Should be fun.
May 2, 2008 at 1:24 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
The Rangers Report
Impossible To Tell On Hamilton Just Yet
There are a variety of theories on Josh Hamilton. Some think that he can continue his offensive showing that he’s had since coming up last year. Others, like Baseball Prospectus’ Joe Sheehan, feel that Hamilton is due for a fall coming up soon, based on hsi minor league stats and his major league ones, plus the fact that he hasn’t had pitchers adjust to him yet.
My theory - Too Damn Soon To Tell
I don’t think that Hamilton can continue his Babe Ruth style assault on the majors. However, I don’t think he’s going to fantastically crap out. To put it bluntly, Hamilton is a different case. There really isn’t a precedent for Hamilton, who missed so much development time, but is mashing at the major league level.
So, in that regard, let’s wait and see. Though I’ll have to admit, Hamilton has surpassed my opinion of how well he’d do for the Rangers in spades.
Time To See If Laird Has Value
Well, Jarrod Saltalamacchia is up in the Majors and will be splitting time with Laird behind the plate as well as at DH.
However, while this may help keep Salty from wearing down, this also creates problems with Laird, who is clearly NOT happy splitting time at a job he feels he has earned by tenure.
But, with Salty already obtained as the catcher of the future, and with another potential COTF in Taylor Teagarden, now in Triple A, plus two other prospects on the way in Max Ramirez and Cristian Santana, Texas does need to find something to do with Laird soon.
At the moment, Laird is hitting .266/.326/.402. That’s not bad, and it’s what I expected from Laird to produce normally.
So, where could there be a possible fit for a young catcher with two years of club control?
Quite a few places, actually. Here’s the rundown:
New York Yankees - Lacks a successor for Jorge Posada and has the prospects to swing a deal. I’d ask for Alan Horne to start off, but I’d accept a high ceiling arm in Low A, maybe I’d squeeze them for manchild Delin Betances.
Boston Red Sox - Also lack a catcher of the future and won’t be spending big to retain Jason Varitek. From them, I’d target someone in the lower minors, maybe Michael Bowden, who the Red Sox were willing to give up last season, maybe a positional player with promise.
Cincinatti Reds - Also lack much in terms of catcher options, but I’d see if I could get a positional prospect from them, maybe Juan Guiterrez, a third baseman.
That’s really about all I can think of at the top of my head.
Thoughts On Botts
Jason Botts was designated for assignment this week, which is disappointing, and yet understanding for the Rangers.
Botts has always been a power hitter, but the problem is that he strikes out too often and at times looks too complacent at the plate. And while Botts hasn’t gotten a fair shake in the Rangers organization, the problem is that with the opportunities Botts has gotten, he has done little to capitalize on them.
I think Botts will clear waivers, and if he is claimed, he’ll bring little in return for trade value. Despite the potential I thought Botts had and may still retain, I do realize I have to be realistic. Botts is a 27 year old career minor leaguer that has done almost nothing in the majors, and received a long audition last season in order to prove he could hit. And while I get that Botts is possibly a type of hitter that requires constant playing time to get into a grove, and while I do think the Rangers could have DFA”d Ben Broussard instead, this could be the case of an organization finally realizing that this is the best they could do with a player and it was best to use the 40 man roster spot, in this case on Sidney Ponson, for better use.
So, that’s my piece. I do hope that Botts can find some major league success, be it with the Rangers or elsewhere.
I just find it a shame it wasn’t with us this season.