April 07, 2015
Rookies...
I think it's significant that, in an 8 - 0 one-hit shutout, the first base gained all year by the Rangers was by Rougned Odor, and the first hit was by Ryan Rua.
To be fair, both Moreland and Fielder made the Oakland defense work hard, but Choo and Andrus were worryingly ineffective with their swings. And I'm still not sold on Leonys hitting leadoff instead of Choo. Granted, Sonny Gray was hitting the edge of the strike zone and getting the called strike, so we didn't get a lot of opportunity to see Rangers take many pitches...and when the late innings rolled around, Gray was throwing more balls and the Rangers were not swinging...so I don't think last night's effort was a red light for the offense.
But...if the Rangers are going to post a winning record this year they're gonna have to do better than they did last night. I know it's accepted to say that a pitcher was just "on" and there was no way you were gonna get hits but I've never bought into that idea. If nothing else, Gray laid in that first pitch strike right in the middle of the strike zone the first two times through the order, and almost no one ever swung at it. That's on Dave Magadan, who should have been telling people to go after that first pitch.
To be fair, both Moreland and Fielder made the Oakland defense work hard, but Choo and Andrus were worryingly ineffective with their swings. And I'm still not sold on Leonys hitting leadoff instead of Choo. Granted, Sonny Gray was hitting the edge of the strike zone and getting the called strike, so we didn't get a lot of opportunity to see Rangers take many pitches...and when the late innings rolled around, Gray was throwing more balls and the Rangers were not swinging...so I don't think last night's effort was a red light for the offense.
But...if the Rangers are going to post a winning record this year they're gonna have to do better than they did last night. I know it's accepted to say that a pitcher was just "on" and there was no way you were gonna get hits but I've never bought into that idea. If nothing else, Gray laid in that first pitch strike right in the middle of the strike zone the first two times through the order, and almost no one ever swung at it. That's on Dave Magadan, who should have been telling people to go after that first pitch.
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March 13, 2015
Keeping hope alive...
Joey Gallo did it again...
I recommend following the link to view the original video. It's in much higher quality.
@NewbergReport Enjoy pic.twitter.com/SBZrlHYzlQ
— Daren Connel (@darenconnel) March 13, 2015
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March 08, 2015
More bright spots...
Yu Darvish takes pitcher fielding practice left handed.
And Joey Gallo is still Joey Gallo:
And Joey Gallo is still Joey Gallo:
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March 07, 2015
The bright spot...
Rougned Odor will not let a lack of Darvish bring him down:
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Lo the black hole...
Darvish has a UCL sprain. It's not torn. Best case scenario, he's out for over half the season, and may not be healed when he returns. Worst case is that he opts for TJ surgey, which is likely considering this problem actually started toward the end of last season, and won't be ready to go until sometime in 2016.
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March 03, 2015
Spring Training 2015
It's been a while, but seriously, the Rangers aren't doing anything weird and everything is proceeding as well as can be expected. Some of this is because 2014 couldn't possibly happen again, so we're not going in to training wondering who half the team will be. The other part is that Texas seems to be holding their cards close to the chest...there just isn't any significant noise coming out of Surprise.
The sauciest news so far is Yu Darvish's first english-only press conference, which included the quote: "That's bullshit. People are talking about Yu Darvish quitting this team. I never quit the team. I love the teammates, this ballclub. I've never done like that in my life. It's not true," regarding allegations that he "quit" on the team last year when he was sidelined with a sore elbow. Jon Daniels also spoke to the injury, revealing that the injury was ligament inflammation, and that it was more serious than the Rangers let on at the time.
Other good news is that Manager Jeff Bannister, also speaking at the press conference, shared that he would like Darvish to be more aggressive this year: "Watching him from the outside and watching videotape, it looks like there are times opposing hitters look like they are trying to push him out over the plate. I'd like to see him be more aggressive with his hard stuff, more aggressive in. Open up the outer part of the plate for himself. Attack the hitters. Look to get early outs. Any time you're looking to get early outs that's an aggressive approach."
The sauciest news so far is Yu Darvish's first english-only press conference, which included the quote: "That's bullshit. People are talking about Yu Darvish quitting this team. I never quit the team. I love the teammates, this ballclub. I've never done like that in my life. It's not true," regarding allegations that he "quit" on the team last year when he was sidelined with a sore elbow. Jon Daniels also spoke to the injury, revealing that the injury was ligament inflammation, and that it was more serious than the Rangers let on at the time.
Other good news is that Manager Jeff Bannister, also speaking at the press conference, shared that he would like Darvish to be more aggressive this year: "Watching him from the outside and watching videotape, it looks like there are times opposing hitters look like they are trying to push him out over the plate. I'd like to see him be more aggressive with his hard stuff, more aggressive in. Open up the outer part of the plate for himself. Attack the hitters. Look to get early outs. Any time you're looking to get early outs that's an aggressive approach."
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January 27, 2015
Peace, out...Robbie Ross???
Amended:
The rumor is flying fast that Texas has traded Left-handed, low-ceiling, non-LOOGY fan-favorite pitcher Robbie Ross (,Jr., as of 2014) to Boston for moderate ceiling, injury-prone right-hander Anthony Ranaudo.
This is, on the cover, a puzzling trade until you start looking at the caveats. Texas needed to focus on the bullpen now, especially lefties now that Neal Cotts won't be returning to the Rangers. However, Ross never could get lefties out; he has no effective pitch to his strong arm. So, Ross wasn't filling a role in the Texas bullpen despite his left-handedness. Boston didn't need a lefty, but they did need someone with a proven history of getting out righties. Ergo, Ross.
Ross sure as heck wasn't going to start again in Texas anytime soon. It's entirely possible he asked for the trade when the Rangers made it clear he was around the double-digit mark in starting pitching depth.
Boston has been high on Ranaudo, but he has a handful of promising pitchers in front of him and didn't make the most of his big-league debut last year. Additionally, Ranaudo spent a great deal of his early career injured, so he carries additional risk.
Boston has been high on Ranaudo, but he has a handful of promising pitchers in front of him and didn't make the most of his big-league debut last year. Additionally, Ranaudo spent a great deal of his early career injured, so he carries additional risk.
Ranaudo isn't an ace-in-waiting, but if he could up his control of his low-to-mid 90's fast ball, he's got the pitches to be an everyday starter. He's a good shot right now to make some rotations, and I suspect Texas views him primarily as a potential trade chip, and secondarily as organizational depth if the pitching staff collapses again.
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January 10, 2015
What?
The Oakland A's, widely considered to be in "Sell Now for long-term good" mode after trading Josh Donaldson, Derek Norris, Brandon Moss, and Jeff Samardzija (plus a handful of minor leaguers) for a ton of prospects, just sent their top prospect, another well-regarded prospect and catcher John Jaso to Tampa Bay for Yunel Escobar and Ben Zobrist.
Zobrist has one year left, Escobar has two, and Billy Butler (signed earlier in the off-season to a three year deal) has three years left. Zobrist is a game changing player, but for one year this would have to be regarded as a "win now" move. In addition, Zobrist is in the decline phase of his career; although you would certainly be forgiven for expecting multi-WAR performances for the next couple of years. As has been pointed out quite a bit recently, Zobrist has actually been one of the most valuable players in baseball for several years. Yes, up there with the elite players.
The bottom line is, if you're rebuilding, you don't trade your top prospect for a year of Ben Zobrist.
UNLESS, you're intending to either flip him for a package of prospects that YOU, the Oakland A's want that Tampa Bay didn't...
OR, you want Zobrist on your roster at the trade deadline, 2015, when Detroit or Texas or Boston or Chicago or L.A or L.A.A.A.L.A.a.O.C. would trade two or three top prospects for three months of Zobrist in their lineup.
That's where my money is, for the record. The only other possibility is that Oakland actually thinks they're going to contend this year. Now, I certainly think Oakland will be better than the press they've gotten, but they're not competing for the playoffs. No, Zobrist will be THE big trade chip in July. I'll take bets.
UPDATE: All of you hyper-excited-we're-competing-this-year A's fans can simmer down a bit; Oakland traded Yunel Escobar to the Nationals. On the other hand, they traded for Tyler Clippard, a good reliever who has one year of team control left. Once again, the only two reasons you would do that is if you thought your team was going to compete in 2015 or if the entire plan is to trade Clippard and Zobrist. However, Clippard is a good reliever with a big price tag (for a reliever); which makes him risky as trade bait. The most use Oakland could hope to get out of him is if they're planning to play October baseball. Billy Beane, who has been considered the single best GM in baseball at identifying market inefficiencies, seems to believe that expensive relievers are good for something. I can't see it as anything other than a con, or maybe it's just that Billy Beane isn't *quite* as smart as he gets credit for.
Zobrist has one year left, Escobar has two, and Billy Butler (signed earlier in the off-season to a three year deal) has three years left. Zobrist is a game changing player, but for one year this would have to be regarded as a "win now" move. In addition, Zobrist is in the decline phase of his career; although you would certainly be forgiven for expecting multi-WAR performances for the next couple of years. As has been pointed out quite a bit recently, Zobrist has actually been one of the most valuable players in baseball for several years. Yes, up there with the elite players.
The bottom line is, if you're rebuilding, you don't trade your top prospect for a year of Ben Zobrist.
UNLESS, you're intending to either flip him for a package of prospects that YOU, the Oakland A's want that Tampa Bay didn't...
OR, you want Zobrist on your roster at the trade deadline, 2015, when Detroit or Texas or Boston or Chicago or L.A or L.A.A.A.L.A.a.O.C. would trade two or three top prospects for three months of Zobrist in their lineup.
That's where my money is, for the record. The only other possibility is that Oakland actually thinks they're going to contend this year. Now, I certainly think Oakland will be better than the press they've gotten, but they're not competing for the playoffs. No, Zobrist will be THE big trade chip in July. I'll take bets.
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December 25, 2014
Merry Christmas!
Merry
Christmas!
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December 11, 2014
What have you learned?
...the sports reporter asked Dayton Moore, to which he succinctly replied:
What?
What?
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December 07, 2014
Texas Rangers top trade target?
Evan Grant has identified San Diego's Andrew Cashner as *the* top trade target for Texas this Winter.
Now, I think Cashner is a fine trade target, as he has two years of team control left and is a reasonably proven middle-of-the-rotation starter. On the other hand, he's never shown anything to make you think he belongs at the top end of the rotation, he's injury-prone (only one year approaching 180 innings pitched; the next closest is 125), and he only has two years of control left to answer all of those questions.
Of course, while Daniels has mentioned finding someone for the #2 slot in the rotation, Grant has maintained that Texas is shopping for a solid #3. Where Grant could be right is that a good #3 has been selling for about what the Rangers have available to spend. However, it's been pretty obvious that G.M. Daniels intends to acquire his new players via trade; shortstops Elvis Andrus and Jurickson Profar have been the prime bait so far.
The bottom line for me is, if Andrew Cashner is the best Texas can do for the rotation, then Daniels better be trading for a high-quality bat instead...because Cashner doesn't add much value.
Of course, while Daniels has mentioned finding someone for the #2 slot in the rotation, Grant has maintained that Texas is shopping for a solid #3. Where Grant could be right is that a good #3 has been selling for about what the Rangers have available to spend. However, it's been pretty obvious that G.M. Daniels intends to acquire his new players via trade; shortstops Elvis Andrus and Jurickson Profar have been the prime bait so far.
The bottom line for me is, if Andrew Cashner is the best Texas can do for the rotation, then Daniels better be trading for a high-quality bat instead...because Cashner doesn't add much value.
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December 04, 2014
Texas nails down the #4 Starter Spot...
That's oddly specific, isn't it? How is it that we're all in agreement that Colby Lewis is *clearly* the #4 starter in this rotation?
So Colby Lewis is the Texas Rangers #4 Starter for 2015.
Now we just have to hope that Jon Daniels has a plan to make Derek Holland the #3 starter.
- He's always been a middle-of-the-rotation caliber starter
- But his stuff is good enough that he tosses a few gems every year
- But he's getting older and more broken
- But after returning to a full throwing program half-way through 2014, he finished the year strong
- Unlike "Big Game James" Shields, Colby Lewis actually has a (really small sample size) history of stepping up in the playoffs and throwing like a better pitcher.
So Colby Lewis is the Texas Rangers #4 Starter for 2015.
Now we just have to hope that Jon Daniels has a plan to make Derek Holland the #3 starter.
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December 03, 2014
Rangers escape disastrous signing...
The Minnesota #Twins win the Torii Hunter sweepstakes. He returns home on a 1-year contract in perhaps the final chapter of fabulous career.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 3, 2014
It's not like having Torii Hunter on your baseball team is the worst thing ever. But when beat writers start talking about how much of a player's value is tied up in "leadership" and "intangibles", especially considering how little value the player brings to the diamond...well, you better start hoping the people who make these decisions are counting the pennies.
Torii Hunter in the Ballpark would likely be an under-average player with no value beyond DH. Every minute he spends with a glove on he is a liability. That means that Torii Hunter's financial value to the Rangers is tied up entirely in "leadership". In fact, right now Torii Hunter's financial value to ANY team is largely tied up in his "leadership". The Minnesota Twins think that's worth $10.5 million a year.
I am thrilled that the Texas Rangers don't.
Torii Hunter in the Ballpark would likely be an under-average player with no value beyond DH. Every minute he spends with a glove on he is a liability. That means that Torii Hunter's financial value to the Rangers is tied up entirely in "leadership". In fact, right now Torii Hunter's financial value to ANY team is largely tied up in his "leadership". The Minnesota Twins think that's worth $10.5 million a year.
I am thrilled that the Texas Rangers don't.
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November 10, 2014
Madness...
The definition of--
Broken: The Colorado Rockies made a qualifying offer to Michael Cuddyer.
Insane: Michael Cuddyer *turned down* the qualifying offer.
Of course, he did this because
The Aliens are Invading: The New York Mets signed Michael Cuddyer to a two-year contract.
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November 02, 2014
Epstein dances while Tampa Bay burns...
(Clearly I was going to make a "Nero" reference, as Joe Maddon's agent is Alan Nero, but it just doesn't work)
Maddon's agent, Alan Nero, claimed in an MLB Network interview that not only did he try to negotiate a new deal for Maddon with Tampa Bay for almost a week, but that Theo Epstein didn't become involved in discussions until he had "written proof of the opt-out clause" and "permission from the Commissioners Office." So the Rays' claims of tampering probably won't go anywhere
So the Rays have now lost one of the best General Managers in baseball, one of the best Managers and one of the best pitchers. They've been accused of low-balling a contract to Joe Maddon and planning to significantly reduce payroll in 2015, on the grounds that correlation equals causation.
So the Rays have now lost one of the best General Managers in baseball, one of the best Managers and one of the best pitchers. They've been accused of low-balling a contract to Joe Maddon and planning to significantly reduce payroll in 2015, on the grounds that correlation equals causation.
Montreal looks better and better.
But only if they're the Expos again. Even if that doesn't make sense anymore.
But only if they're the Expos again. Even if that doesn't make sense anymore.
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