Sunday Morning Open Thread: Five Questions
Joey Matschulat
Chris Davis scoops a grounder against the Indians on Friday, March 19th.1. Has your opinion of Jon Daniels' and Nolan Ryan's judgment been affected by the revelation that they elected not to fire Ron Washington after learning of his July 2009 dalliance with cocaine?
2. With Tommy Hunter temporarily out of the picture, which two members of the Brandon McCarthy/C.J. Wilson/Matt Harrison trifecta should nail down the last two rotation spots, and what should happen with the pitcher who's left on the outside looking in?
3. On Opening Day 2012, who is the Rangers' starting first baseman: Chris Davis, Justin Smoak, Mitch Moreland or an external trade/free agent acquisition?
4. Which Latin American occupants of the Rangers' spring training complex that entered this year as relative unknowns -- including, but certainly not limited to, Jurickson Profar, Luis Sardinas, Alexi Ogando, Omar Beltre and Jorge Alfaro -- are you the most excited about?
5. I already posed this exact question about six months ago, but I feel obligated to pose it again: What is Baseball Time in Arlington, as a whole, doing right and wrong? What should we be writing more about and what could we be doing better? On a related note, should we even bother with gameday threads this year? Compliment us, castigate us, it doesn't matter. We want to hear it. You're not going to hurt our feelings because, as one poster here once famously put it, "Geeks write. Players play."
Reader Comments (39)
1. yes ... the man should of been let go. As the supposed manager MUST lead by example and Wash's exploits are not what this clubs of young players needs.
2.Harrison, McCarthy - CJ's just too valuable in the pen relative to the other two
3.Chris Davis
4.Alexi Ogando - never enough quality pitching - and he appears to have great upside
5. stop asking stupid questions
Actually, no offense but if you feel like dumping something here, I'd much prefer it to be the Sunday Morning Open Thread rather than the game day blogs. I like those a lot, as to me it's more fun to chat with people about a game that's being played or just finished than it is to hear who others think is going to play first base in 2 years, or whether or not they think so-and-so should be fired.
But maybe that's just me.
1. My opinion of the men hasn't changed, but my opinion of the "partnership" has. Whether it was because of this "crisis" or clearing up who reported to whom, they seem to be much more comfortable with each other. I think you can see how that manifested itself through the moves they were able to make & make quickly this off-season - even with the financial limitations.
2. I would say Harrison & McCarthy. Harrison has earned it through performance. You know McCarthy is going to get hurt, so get as many league-average innings out of him as you can while he's healthy. Then make the decision to replace him with Hunter, Wilson, Holland, etc.
3. Smoak/Davis in a 1b/DH platoon
4. Ogando. Not quite sure what he's got yet, but he's got a lot of it.
5. Love the analysis articles. Keep up the great work.
1. I thought their decision was monumentally courageous.
2. Wilson/Harrison, McCarthy to OKC.
3. Davis
4. Ogando
5. Most important, maintain the vision for this site that has led it to be what it is now. Don't change a thing, especially, don't let it become a chat forum.
5. I read daily and am love the work presented here. I don't see any changes that would substanitively improve the site.
The content presented complements other Ranger centric sites and newsletters more than it competes with them. I hold the content from BBTI in high regard. I love the scouting reports by Jason as they are exceptional by my estimation.
Please keep it up, I read daily, though seldom do I post. Take this post as a note from a near constant lurker that the content is quite excellent!
1. I've never quite understood why Ron Washington was the pick of the litter over the other managerial candidates back in 2007 (coughWakamatsucough) and why he's been allowed to remain in a capacity to which his skills are not suited for three years. I don't think looking at a teams record is any more useful in judging a managers competency than pitchers win/loss record is for them, and I've always viewed Ron as a well-below-average manager because of his poor in game strategics and his puzzling lineup and playing time allotments.
So the fact that a well-below-average manager can snort coke midseason and still have a job just kind of blows my mind. It's too late to fire him now, obviously, but this entire media shitstorm could've - and should've - been avoided if they'd simply let him go at the end last season under the guise of the teams failures down the stretch or something. I think JD and Nolan showed pretty poor judgment and left the team wide-open to an unnecessary media circus in not doing so.
Bottom line, Ron Washington is not worth the publicity hit the team has now taken by awarding him a free pass last year.
/soapbox
2. I'm starting to warm to the idea of CJ Wilson as a starter, if only because I don't think Brandon McCarthy is going to be a good rotation option this year and Derek Holland is officially out of the race.
I have my doubts as to whether McCarthy's changes to his arsenal (throwing his best pitch, the curveball less this season in favor of more cutters and two-seamers) are going to produce favorable results. I have a feeling we're going to see McCarthy's already mediocre strikeout rates crater and I doubt whatever he might gain in GB% is going to make up for that.
So if I can't have my Derek Holland fix, give me CJ and Harrison and lets hope their spring training numbers don't turn out to be flukes.
3. Justin Smoak.
4. The son of Judeska and Chesmond most certainly has the most hype around him right now. But Professor Park's enthusiastic ravings over Alfaro have gotten my blood pumping as well.
5. I can't think of anything BBTiA is doing "wrong" myself - that's not butt-kissing, that's just honesty. I think you guys have pretty much got your bases covered with David and now Josh on the heavy analysis end of things, JP as BBTiA's very own prodigal scout - and you never know when Trip might drop in with some expert mechanics analysis. Oh, and that Matschulat fellow seems pretty cool too.
1. I agree with Grant Evan -- it was the right call for an organization that has something good going for it.
2. Wilson and Harrison with McCarthy in long relief or OKC
3. Mitch Moreland
4. Ogando.
5. No game threads needed. BBTIA is just fine as it is. The analaysis articles are great. The Sunday morning open thread is great and one thing I look forward to each week.
1. No. It shows, again, that their thinking process is both context-specific and sensitive to long-term sustainability.
2. I think CJ has to mess up really badly to not have a spot. I'm not sure what the FO thinks of BMac v. Harrison, but I would still lean toward BMac in the rotation and Harrison in the pen. I would slip Harrison into the rotation if BMac stumbles again in his next outing, which would suggest BMac is still refining his new mechanics and repertoire.
3. Davis is the leading candidate.
4. Alfaro, without question. Ogando is second on my list.
1. I continue to strongly approve of the Rangers management team.
2. C.J. and Harrison.
3. Smoak
4. Jorge Alfaro, but only if we all agree that "hip-hip Jorge" cheers will not be tolerated here.
5. I love the site and and am incredibly appreciative of the work ya'll do. You have probably already done this, but do a careful survey of similar sites around baseball for ideas. You'll find few that do what you do as well as you do it. You'll also find some ideas worth copying.
1. Wish that they had fired Wash but I understand that we do not know all the factors used in making the decision, i.e. financial constraints.
2. C.J. & Harrison. Accept that the Danks trade was a bust and trade McCarthy for whatever you can get.
3. Justin Smoak with Chris Davis at DH
4. Jorge Alfaro
5. Great site, I especially like Sunday Morning 5 Questions
1. I have not lost any trust in Nolan and JD, though I will if Nolan goes through with his move of the OKC team. Having said that, I have to say, Wash is not a kid, he is a 57 year old man in his dream job. A job no other organization was willing to give him. This kind of decison making while the Rangers were still in the race makes me question his leadership abiltity. This kind of decison making while having the highest profile addict as the superstar on your club makes me question his decision making. The leash should be increadably short....in every decison he makes going forward.
2. Every year we hear they will take the best 5 into the season. Every year the don't . Let this be the year. CJ and Harrison have earned a spot. BM needs work at AAA.
3. Davis.
4. Alfaro and Ogando and I am hoping Profar has not let the hype go to his head.
5. Love the variety of your post. Keep up the good work.
1. I still approve of the management team.
2. Wilson and Harrison.
3. Platoon of Davis/Smoak
4. Jorge Alfaro
5. Do away with the Sunday Open Thread. I like to read informational items, not opinions. Also, I really like the site, but I am usually exhausted from trying to read the world's longest sentences. Take an objective look back at some of your previous articles and you will see what I mean. Almost all of the sentences are a paragraph long. Please use shorter sentences from time to time! Not complaining, but since you asked....
1. It hasn't effected my judgement of them at all. It makes them human. I don't necessarily believe it was a "one time use" by Washington, but as long as he stays clean from here out, I'm okay.
2. Whoever earns the job, but I'll add that we need to find a way to keep McCarthy. He has been valuable in spurts.
3. Chris Davis. Really pulling for him.
4. Alfaro I guess. Whoever is closer to helping out the big league club sooner.
5. When you guys go really deep into the numbers and saber it up, I lose interest. Mainly because I'm more of a casual fan and don't want to think too much about what I'm reading. I really enjoy Mike Hindman's past work and hope he re-appears somewhere on the scene. But this is just me nit picking. You all have a really great site and it's a daily "must read" for me before my work day begins. I hope you can find a way to make a living doing this! All the best.
This seems to put me in the minority, but I wish you and Evan and AJM and Durrett would all get together and combine your GDTs...seems like there's a lot of overlap now and the cultural differences would provide and interesting mix.
1. Been affected Positively. They and Washington have our support.
2.Looks like the two lefties now but making a call now is like proclaiming a boxer the winner after 5 rounds of a fight. Anything can still happen with injury and performance. Even Holland could have a shot with a Dominant next outing.
3.Who cares, just focused on this season. Sure looks like we got some great internal options for now and future though.
4. Alexi Ogando
5. Doing good job
1. No, it was a tough decision that I would have supported either way.
2. CJ and Harry make the rotatgion with BMac in the pen as the long reliever. Move Nippert up into middle relief.
3. Smoak will come up this yeat and make davis expendable. I said when Smoak was drafted that they would trade Davis either this summer or next winter. Maybe for an TORP or stud OF.
4.Ogando is going to see some time in the bullpen this year.
5. Keep doing what you atre doing. You have found your niche.
1) Unfortunately yes....it was a "politically correct" type decision. Washinton is 57 years old and suppose to be a leader......one time cocaine use? That's just b.s.!
2) Wison and Harrison...........MacCarthy might get more benefit from a stint in OKC as well as Holland and possibly Feliz.
3) Davis
4) Profar
5) Need more down to earth baseball talk..........if you want to continue with articles that are full of "computerized" stats put in some common sense language baseball stuff also. Otherwise you do a pretty darn good job.
5. i was a daily lurker and sometime participant at the inside corner site last season. by midseason, i was watching games on tv while reading their game-day blog. i thoroughly enjoyed the quality of commentary and lack of general stupidity and idiotness that evan enforced at the site. i think that audience is wide open now. the dmn is cumbersome to use and i'm not at all sure that evan can control it well enough to be tolerable. that's where i will start, but if you're looking for site hits, i think there are people like me available. your site's analysis pieces, sunday 5 questions and other insight pieces are much appreciated.
1. No. We know too little to judge (but today's Gospel happens to be, "...let he who has not sinned throw the first stone."-- It ends with, "Then neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.")
2. I still say Holland before all 3, and Feliz in the pen before Ray, but az for your question, let's wait & see. Plenty of ST to go.
3. All 3 share 1B, DH, and (Moreland) RF vs many LHPs. Moreland 1B vs Lefties if Davis and Smoak still struggle in that dept; DH if only one struggles. Vs RHP Davis and Smoak share time between 1B & DH. We should also keep working out Davis at 3B to back up MY by 2012, and have all 3 in the line-up those days.
4. I don't know enough, but sure like how each distracts me from the other!
5. I love it as is. The only idea I have for gameday is a thread of "Know thy enemy." If readers post what they notice our opposition doing, and strategy to neutralize it, maybe the Rangers could use the ideas in-game.
1. I think Daniels and Ryan were put in an extremely difficult situation where either choice had its share of negatives. Keep him, and you are placing your young club in the hands of a good guy, but a guy is who can be swayed to make dumb mistakes. Fire him, and you severley hurt a man they obviously care about a lot, while also potentially looking like a hypocrite for giving other employees second chances. In the end, they chose to keep the manager that they obviously like and respect even though he royally screwed up. Personally, I would have gone the other way. I feel like every quote I read from Washington now is tainted, and I believe the manager should be held to a very high standard. But in the words of Michael Young, "[if you don't back Washington], you're not a Texas Ranger." If there is one thing I've learned being a Rangers fan, when Michael Young talks, you listen.
2. Based on how they've pitched, you have to go with Harrison and Wilson for the rotation. In a perfect world, you would have Harrison and McCarthy like opening day last year, and Wilson as the elite set up man in the pen. But I feel like we know what we're getting from McCarthy now. A couple good starts here and there, but overall VERY mediocre performance. He is what he is, despite his million recronstructions of his delivery. If there is an open spot in the bullpen for long man or middle relief, McCarthy can get that spot, but only if he earns it. If not, send him to the minors. If he doesn't clear whatever kind of waivers he has to clear, let him go. He won't hurt us any more than Armando Gallaraga did, at the most.
3. Rooting for Davis. If not, Adrian Gonzalez.
4. Alexi Ogando sounds like he's got sick stuff, and could help in the bullpen later this year. In fact, from everything that's being reported, Ogando and Scheppers could very likely be the bullpen's Feliz-esque calvary this year. I'm all for that. Assuming health and Feliz in the rotation, the end-season bullpen could be Francisco, Oliver, Ray, Scheppers, Ogando, Snyder or another lefty from outside, and Nippert.
5. Analysis wise this is easily the best Ranger blog out there now, and I wouldn't reccomend changes. For me, some of the stat-based posts are a little long and can get convulted, but I'm not sure there's a better way to do that and I'm sure plenty of readers like to nerd out over it (understandable, as it is quality work). I really like these Five Question Threads. About the gameday threads, I wholeheartedly agree with wahouma: this blog is very likely to replace InsideCorner as my gameday blogging experience. The posters and commenters both seem knowledgable and friendly, and when watching a game alone I really think I'll be on my laptop at this site.
1) I thought their decision was the right thing to do in light of Washington admitting to them what he did. I think Nolan & JD have reached a comgfort level with each other and seem to provide the stability this organization has lacked forever.
2) If Harrison is healthy, he should be in the rotation, he knows how to win games. I'm still partial to CJ in the pen, although he's shown a lot this spring.
3) I'm thinking Davis, and that Smoak will eventually be dealt for something necessary later this year.
4) Based on what little I see/know I'd say Ogando.
5) I love the site. I am an admitted BBTIA junkie, this is a guilty pleasure of mine. It's used to be so hard to find good tangible info about the Rangers where I live (NJ). I look forward to visiting here every day.
5. Y'all are doing a great job. Keep up with the crazy numbers and sabers. It's the only place we get that stuff focused purely on the rangers on a daily basis. Mainstream/ down-to-earth baseball talk can be found on plenty of other sites. This place is unique. Please keep it that way.
1) I have a lot of faith in Nolan doing what's right but I'm not with him on this one.
2) I'd lean towards CJ/McCarthy as starters and make Harrison my LH nuclear weapon in the pen before reassessing at the end of April. I think Harrison eventually makes the rotation but I don't mind him splashing around the bully for a while like the Great Earl Weaver used to do with his young pitchers in the late 70's.
3) Smoak 'em if you got him!
5) I'd be careful about using the new Alphabet Soup stats unless you can write about them in a manner that is very easy to understand.
BPerryman is very knowledgable and a decent writer but he tried to talk about the importance of second & third order wins on the DMN site last year and it was a freaking mess.
You boys do great, great work and your site is one of my absolute stopdowns but if there's something you could do to improve it would be to be more critical of the team when the time comes. Don't catch yourself waving red n blue pom poms because you like the FO, the big league players or some of the minor league players. You don't want to become a marketing arm for the team.
1) john in clearwater and Mike Gleason - Excellent #1 points.
5) I also agree with wahouma that the DMN GDT is missed and wide-open, but I would hate to see BBTIA DEVOLVE into rants from dirkatron, lonestarjon, BrettGardner, Josey Wales(ugh) et al.
I'm not a sabre-metrician, and don't want to be, but I love the hyper-sabre content - even though it's way over my head. No, it's WAY over my head. But I think I get just a tad smarter every time I read it.
1. Daniels and Ryan should have accepted Ron's resignation. No lingering taint.
2. Brandon McCarthy at AAA. C.J. Wilson and Matt Harrison pitching every fifth game for the Ranegers.
3. Opening Day 2012 first baseman: Chris Davis. Justin Smoak will be on another team. Hopefuly Moreland is Ranger DH.
4. Sixteen-year-old Jorge Alfaro.
5. BBTiA is the best at statistical analysis. The articles have focused more on stating clearly the limitations and significance of the data. Kudos. The gameday threads do not elicit much response/interaction.... pitch them. I love minor league player interviews, especially focused on the mechanics of the players' development/game.... a few more would be welcomed.
1. It was a tough situation to be placed in, and they handled it like champs. Both parties admit they're closer now than before, so that's a win. Better JD and Nolan take more flak from the daily-newsters now to keep the team intact and focused on the field, even if only for the time being. MLB was cool with the decision until it got leaked, after all. Bet that for every story that does leak, there's 20 or so that don't. The players don't deserve to go through the managerial-hiring mess at this stage of the season. Win ballgames and who cares? If anyone doesn't like the decision, tough shit. We're the Bad News Rangers, and we've been crapped on for forty years, so keep spreadin' it on.
2. Has C.J. shown he's a top 5 starter candidate? Absolutely. A top 2 though? I'm not as sure, and that's the dividing line in my opinion. I'd really like to see a stop-gap solution for now until Holland gets his stuff working, because i think he's going to explode this year... I say C.J. gets a couple starts till Big Game's back, then see where we are. Harrison NEEDS to be in the rotation though, he looks damn good this year. Love the new frame and faster delivery. If the increased K-rates hold up... uh-oh.
3. I love Davis. His defense is way underrated, and he keeps Elvis from sniping season-ticket-holders, which is a plus. If his hitting returns to his customary (albeit minor-league) splits, i don't have a problem selling high on Smoak. But i'd say hold what you got for now, stay in the pot, and see how the hand plays out come the deadline.
4. Short-term: Ogando and his general lack of cleanliness. Long-term: Alfaro. Kid's got some serious potential to grow into. Maybe i'm just suffering quality-catcher withdrawals.
5. Keep doing what ya'll are doing, seriously. Your articles aren't redundant, there's a nice balance of statistical analysis with opinion, and you're saving your energy by not cranking too much out every day. I'd say go for more guest articles and Q&A's if possible, but I understand ya'll do have lives other than BBTIA, so it's no big deal. The Ranger blogosphere is pretty crowded, and talented too. You've found a good niche, so keep it up.
(1) No, but my trust in Washington may have. I contantly second guess his in game decisions but probably would others too. But if Nolan and JD still wanted him here with a perfect reason to fire him in hand, then I will go with them and also cut him a little more slack.
(2) Matt Harrison, CJ Wilson
(3) Justin Smoak
(4) Ogando, Beltre
(5) I often get a head ache with all the numbers. However, I have learned to scan read and just pick out what I want. I enjoy this site very much
1 - I think they handled it well, its a situation where you either fire Wash on the spot or keep him. If you keep him, its stupid to make the whole thing into a big public mess with national reporters scavenging trash cans for dirt on Wash. It also happened at a time when a good young team was gelling and firing the manager that they obviously like and respect could have thrown the whole season off track.
2 - I still think Holland will be the best of that group but he will likely start in AAA. Harrison will break out and establish himself this year (at age 24). I've always thought CJ would be better as a starter but was too valuable to the team in the bullpen, but I think he will do well also. Short answer - Holland to AA, CJ and Harrison to the rotation and BMac is the last piece of the bullpen.
3 - Davis starts at 1B because of his defense, Smoak is the DH and Moreland is a super valuable bench player.
4 - As tempting as "Hip Hip Jorge" is, I'll stay with Profar. Its still years before the question can be answered in any informed way though. But having all those young studs means there will be a good answer from one of them.
5 - Don't change a thing. I'm not a stathead personally, but I love the site and the insight here.
I love the Sabermetrics you bring to us (and free of charge).
The open threads work so well here because BBTIA attracts a pretty informed fan. It's great because we have a very small amount of internet trolls and flamers. It's like the exclusive country club of internet sports team pages.
1. Not my opinion of Daniels - but my opinion of Ryan has changed quite a bit and I have read many others saying the same thing. Nolan seems to have "come down" from his lofty perch in the past week and that's really disappointing.
2. Despite what most people believe, I think having CJ in the rotation is going to hurt the Rangers.
3. Chris Davis. He may not be in the Pujols/Teixeira class but I do think he's going to be a perennial all-star with a superb glove. Justin Smoak is good enough to be excellent trade fodder, IMO.
4. As I stated yesterday, Alfaro looks like he can really rake. Ogando looks like he's going to make an impact as soon as they need him. The shortstops are quality prospects but I haven't "seen" anything (video) that has truly made me go, "wow!"
5. The thing you do the best is write. You guys are all first-class in that department. However, I think the thing that sets this place apart from the other sites is that the reader's comments are respectful and not filled with gutter language. Face it, most of us cuss and want to call some people an "idiot" but this place gets many extra points by having a readership/comments section that seemingly doesn't lower themselves to such foolishness.
I'm not a prude or a censor but it's refreshing; take a look at the other 2 BIG Ranger fan sites and just read the garbage the fans write there. It's stomach-turning.
BTW, I agree some of the stat stuff can be a little much. I like knowing that stuff, but if you could lay it out more in layman's terms (too) that would help. Sometimes, I just snip this and that from those articles but I still enjoy them.
Also, the Sunday Morning Thread is really a lot of fun. I read everyone's comments and it's great because these fans really know their baseball here.
Something that seems to be lacking is just BBTIA's opinions. Without using a an alphabetical nightmare of a formula, tell me why Taylor Teagarden sucks. Tell me why you think Smoak is better than Davis, without all the XYZ's.
You could also inject a little more "fun" in here by maybe having a "make a caption to this photo" once a week, or something along those lines. A little Rangers' baseball humor wouldn't hurt either. I'm not suggesting you turn this place into a yukyuk parlor but everything is so serious here :)
Something else that might be fun is a weekly/monthly thread where you ask us to recall things we have seen at Rangers' games that are bizarre. Personally, I have a buttload of events in my mind that have happened over the years at the 2 stadiums and I'd enjoy reading what others have seen. (For instance, I saw a fan steal George Brett's glove from him and Brett climbed the center field wall and chase the fan down and beat the crap out of him.) Yes, this really did happen at Arlington Stadium.
If I have stories like that, I know others do too. It might be fun on a day when you guys have nothing to write that you throw us a bone like that.
There is nothing, I repeat, nothing you guys do here that is not first class and very readable though. Keep up the good work!
1. Not at all. I believe all of us have made too many assumptions about RW and how JD and NR handled all of this. I understand this should be unacceptable and he should've resigned or been terminated. But, there had to be something else there in order for RW to keep his job. I believe it will be Hurdle's team at the earliest before opening day or the latest, all star break.
2. BMac should have no shot at the rotation. I believe they will keep him in long relief in order to work on his "new" mechanics. Bumping him to AAA would be a mental hurdle he would not survive. BMac is a head case. Speaking of head cases, so is CJ but if I have to choose between the three, CJ and MH would get my vote. MH has earned the spot...bottom line! CJ has been effective in spots this spring but I worry how effective he will be in the opponents 2nd and 3rd AB's. I hope he proves me wrong.
3. CD will be holding it down at 1B in 2012. I personally feel that Smoak will be moved before the trading deadline in 2011.
4. Ogando should be legit. I still can't get over that picture of Profar.
5. Game threads are a waste of time in my opinion. I would assume most of us use different avenues for game updates. I would love to see up to date stats, player profiles, etc. from Spokane to OKC. Besides that, keep doing what you're doing!
1. Shows the organization is committed to riding this season through and see if we can contend. A Managerial change surely would have hindered the progress that was achieved from last season. Secondly, I agree with the people stating that Washington shouldn't be the one leading kids when he's supposed to set a good example and snorts coke instead, but on the positive side, his mistake and the amount of heat he has taken for it should hopefully serve as a reinforcing reminder to the players that they better not mess up. The coke thing bothered me, but what was more troubling to me was that he came out and admitted to use of drugs during his playing days, not only showing us that it was not an isolated incident, but also showing us another bad example being set by him to his young players - that it is possible to take drugs and play baseball at the same time and still end up becoming successful in baseball
2. I really want to see Holland in the rotation for the long run, but as for starting the season, I guess I'd go with Wilson and Harrison. It was an open competition and theyre clearly in the lead.
3. I read somewhere that when asked this question, the majority of people in the Rangers front office and coaching staff said they saw Moreland as the 1B of the future. With that said, I really want to see the Rangers keep all 3, and hope that Davis can play 3B/1B, Moreland play RF/1B/DH, and Smoak play DH/1B. Moreland was supposed to be a liability at RF because of his limited athleticism, but has surprised many by continuing to make plays from RF due to his strong/accurate arm. He's thrown out atleast 3 guys from RF in the last couple weeks that I remember, so he might be able to stick in RF or LF. For those saying Chris Davis would be a DH and Smoak would be the 1B, that is not going to happen. Washington has said multiple times that Davis is the best defensive first baseman in the game, so if he was to leave that position, it wouldn't be for Smoak to play it, unless Davis was going to play 3rd Base or something. But like i said, I really hope we keep all 3 and find a place to play each of them. If Moreland can stick at RF, Davis can stay at 1st and Smoak can play DH. I would hope for that outcome.
4. I am most excited about Ogando right now because he can make a more immediate impact than any of the other guys. Secondly, I've been hearing about the Profar's for most of the summer, whereas a guy who can throw upper 90s just landed on our doorstep after having no shot for almost 5 years. Call that luck or good scouting or whatever you want. As for long term, I am most excited about Profar, as he supposedly has turned the most heads and can probably even make it as a pitcher if SS doesn't end up sticking for him for some reason. I am also intrigued by Alfaro based on what has been said on this blog, and in light of our current catching dearth, but temper my excitement for both guys when I realize they are 16 and probably won't make any type of real impact for about 3 years minumum.
5. Love the site and all the articles. Only thing I could ask is for more updates from spring training. If you could create a daily entry with any notes about prospects you saw that day or anything that intrigued you, It would be awesome. Lastly, for the Sunday questions, i enjoy reading them and this is the first time I've actually written anything, but I would enjoy this section more if you actually provided your answers for the questions as well.
On a completely different note, is there anyone who has done a statistical comparison between Salty and Teagarden as far as how they command the pitchers and how each pitcher performed under each catcher, with respect to era, k/9, fip, etc.
1. Mgt. made the best choice and RW seemed to own up to things well; it must have been pretty humbling to have to answer to the media with all that. Forgiveness is a good thing, but if it happens again, I think Mgt. will have to suggest counseling and another job. But, as things stand, this incident could actually help RW -- many times a trial results in wisdom. If we learn from mistakes, it makes us better.
5. I rarely get to your Sunday morning questions until Monday. But I generally like that feature. You shouldn't feel bound to 5 questions, though. Sometimes they feel contrived. Maybe some weeks you only have 3 good questions -- that's okay. I'd like to see some more guest posts from people like Eric Nadel, former or current players, etc. Occasionally you have a guest poster that is a scout, I like that. Finally, I'd like to see (once in a while), a way we can share experiences & thoughts about baseball that provide the reasons why we love the sport. I've been a Ranger fan since the late 70s, but I love the sport of baseball more.
5) I would not change anything content wise, you guys are doing a great job. I don't participate in the GDT's here, so I could take or leave those. One thing that I think would be an improvement: Threaded comments. For most of your content, linear comments are fine, since we're just replying to the writer. But for the open-topics, where audience participation is required/encouraged, linear comments kind of kill the momentum since it can become hard to follow multiple conversations.
1. I like Wash and I think an earlier poster said it perfectly; JD and Ryan made an absolutely COURAGEOUS decision. It doesn't matter if it was right or wrong... it was courageous.
There's 2 ways to look at it; either Wash set a poor example and with a team this young, accountability is everything... OR, JD and Ryan are working hard to create a FAMILY type clubhouse.
2. I believe Harrison and Holland round out the bottom of the rotation, with CJ going back to the pen and BMac is our new long reliever/sport starter. ** Question - where has Nippert been this spring? I haven't heard 1 word about him.
3. It better be Davis... although I wouldn't be upset with a Smoak/Davis platoon.
4. Defintely Ogando. He's reminding me of when El Duque burst on the scene *not with the Rangers.
5. My only complaint is with the sabermetrics; I cannot read through 3-5 paragraphs of stats. I simply leave the site when this happens... although, I know there is a loyal following that eat that sort of stuff up... so I can certainly live with it (you can't have your cake and eat it too... or can I?)
1. Should have accepted Wash resignation.
2. Wilson to the bull pen in preparation to Frankie cratering. Remaining spots ... Harrison and Mendoza. McCarthy to OKC ... wave bye bye.
3. Davis ... Smoak may have AAA figured out by then though.
4. Alfaro without a doubt.
5. Don't KA like Evan and the rest of the paid media types do. Incredible amouth of good detail on prospects. The prospects are entertaining ... but will not count for wins this year at RBIA. So I'd rather see more on how the marginal or role players are contributing or not contributing. Everyone will write about the starter, closer, and who hit the HR. Want to see how managerial match up strategies play out.
# 1 - I hvae no prob with the people who attack Wash for what he did. But please dont say he's a bad Manger. Bad Managers dont see there teams will totals imporve each year on the job. And look at what he's had to work through. No money, bad pitching (till last year), ect, and yet he has had this team playing hard day in and day out. He made a mistake and if you have NEVER tried any drug, drank underage, then you have the right to rag on him. But the man is a good man and a good manager who made a mistake. Should we hold leaders to higher standards? Yes, but our Presidents have done drugs (Clinton didnt "inhale" and Bush was loaded on coke too) and they still lead the NATION. Wash has the people on this team behind him (Young, Kinsler, Ham-bone, ect) and this team will play for him. Clinton Hurdle wont be manager and the Rangers will be a Playoof team this year UNDER wash.
@Jeremy Just because Wash has been handed substantial young talent each of the last 4 years and the win totals have increased - that's not proof he's an ok/good manager. Have you not seen how he manages the pitching staff?, especially the bullpen? How he continues to play aging, horrible, low OBA vets over younger, more virile players? Have you not seen that? Do you actually watch Rangers baseball?
And the Rangers tanked last year after his cocaine fiasco - one only look at the dates and the results to see that.