Now we are smoking Scooby....love the back and forth.

I just need to actually work at work here for a sec so unfortunately my response will be delayed.

Scooby,

I want to set the record straight. I do not want to lose Blanco, and I don't want to get rid of him. What I have said and wonder about is this: if his role is going to be limited to simply backing up Elvis for 5-10 games then is it really best to keep him in place of a different man who could benefit the team more than that (backing up Elvis for 5 games). That is my process of reasoning. I do not think it is worth keeping Blanco simply for that role when you could implement other scenarios that improve the team more than he would improve the team IN THAT ROLE. As you have seen, it is not so much that I have one specific scenario (I have mentioned many possibilities) that I have my heart set on, but it is more that I do not think it is best to keep Blanco in such a minimal role. I simply think that other players could benefit the team more than Blanco in that role. And notice what I am saying, Blanco in that role, not Blanco as an upper echelon utility player which he could be if that role were available, not Blanco as a superior glove and bat for a utility player, but rather BLANCO BACKING UP ELVIS FOR 5 GAMES A YEAR.

I have explored the possibilities that Blanco could be of greater value to the Rangers than that minimal role by saying that the only strong reason against trading him is that he could fill in in the event of prolonged injury to Elvis. I've said that an event like that while possible seems unlikely because Andrus is so young. Taking that into consideration I've said that I would rather trade Blanco and take other 25th man players in his spot like a Kasey, Gentry, Davis, FA, a player gained by trade, or a 6th starter to start the year. You've convinced me that an 8th arm in the bullpen would not be worth it except in the event the bullpen is over taxed for a very temporary period.

Bottom line is that I think MY can backup 2nd to an acceptable level below league average defensively while others think that his range problems at 3rd will translate to even worse problems at 2nd. I think that is like comparing apples and oranges and that we won't know about MY's range at 2nd until Spring Training. If he proves himself I don't see the point in keeping Andres around to backup Andrus for 5-10 games. That, Scooby, is the simple truth. It is true that MY's versatility makes this scenario possible if he proves himself as a viable backup to 2nd, but it is not true that I simply want MY to be the super utility to see my vision realized. I think that if he is a viable candidate to backup 2nd that the real benefits in different possible roster scenarios that include forgoing Blanco could outweigh the benefits of keeping Blanco around to backup Elvis for 5 games.

That being said, I do not think that you ever answered my question about wanting to keep Blanco because you would love to ultimately off load MY. Isn't that true, and further, would you still want to keep Blanco if Wash decided that MY will backup 2nd and that his only role will be to backup Elvis?

Finally, I do understand that Blanco had flashes with the bat last year, but I also wonder if he could return to his previous very below average offensive performances. It is not like he is a totally proven hitter who could necessarily hold down a full time spot in the lineup or be a viable option to PH.

I admit that I do not know how hard it would be to get a SS glove with below average bat with options left, but it does not strike me as being as hard as perhaps you would make it out to be. I also do not think that Blanco's glove and bat would need to be roughly replaced, but rather that we would need an average type glove with below average bat to backup Elvis. Some minimal potential talent upside would be nice but not necessary.

Your arguments about Blanco's role in the long run are, I must admit, compelling though if MY is going to be around for three more years the strength of such arguments could suffer. If MY proves himself a viable option at 2nd this year I can't imagine that in one year he would age so much that he would not be viable in 2012 to backup up 3rd and 2nd.

Lastly, if you or someone you know have inside information revealing the Rangers plans for backing up 2nd, whether it will be Blanco or MY, please share them. Otherwise, until Wash makes his decision Wash ain't made his decision.

Fair enough. First, I would say this: I don't trus Wash. I don't think he's a very good manager. Wash deciding Young is acceptable at 2B and my eyes decinding it is so are 2 different things. Wash is way too fond of veterans.

If my eyes tell me Young can cover 2B plenty well, then I would be open to carrying a combination like Gentry and Tracy, of Gentry and a FA.

However, if Wash decides Young is an acceptable 2B, but my eyes tell me he's being an old fool (like he was when he refused to drop Vlad out of the cleanup hole in the 2nd half last year), then I want Blanco around so that he has an option if he comes to his senses.

Also, I think Young is slipping VERY quickly, and really value having Blanco around in 2012-13.

Still, if I'm VERY surprised by Young's defense, AND JD can find a suitable AAA reserve for a SS injury, I would be open to keeping something like Vlad and Chris Davis or Craig Gentry as players 24/25.

The idea that started this particular thread, however (6-man rotation) is a pretty bad idea, however.

Scooby,

Wow, I'm not sure if I've ever convinced anyone of anything before, of course not to de-emphasize your skepticism of whether MY can ultimately backup 2nd. I guess we will ultimately find out in ST what will happen with MY at 2nd.

Have you read on TR Sullivan's site about the possibility of signing Omar Vizquel to backup Elvis? Since he is a veteran I assume he is out of options or would not be interested in spending significant time at AAA. I find the Rangers interest in him strange considering if we wanted a roster lock backup SS we already have one in Blanco.

Joe

Joe,

The TR article you are referring to is an old one I believe. I think TR wrote that before the '09 season. If I am not mistaken, Omar is still under contract with the White Sox.

I think you are right, I don't understand what happened, maybe I clicked something and thought I was still on the front page of his website, strange.

Oh, I know what happened, I clicked on a "you might also like this link" and it was dated January but from last year, sorry.

No worries Joe. The only reason I knew what was going on is because I did the exact same thing a few days ago.

Is it time for Wash and Nolan to consider a 6 man with so many viable candidates pitching so well?

Kirkman, Holland, Harrison, Hurley, Feliz, Webb.

Why not just put them all in the rotation and go with an 8 man rotation? That's even more outside-the-boxish than a 6 man rotation and after all.

Why carry a "6 man" if THREE or possibly four are pitching up to expectation?
I want my three best arms to get their work load in. I can choose from a loaded
bullpen, if I need a lhp/rhp to fill a start in a 4 or 5 slot. You don't have to use the
label Starter. Carry a full load of pitchers and keep the offensive side to minimum.

Lets face it, there are arms going to AAA, that need the work, all feelings aside.
You're talking "6 man", when three aren't deserving to stay @ MLB Level? I'm
more concerned that there's three slots available & most arms I see here in camp,
need to go back down, at this early juncture. I'm seeing too many #5 results here.
Why would I want to load up on AAA arm Non-Performers at a MLB level? Crazy!

My wife just chewed my butt for printing this thread out.

lol