Sunday Morning Open Thread: Five Questions
1. With Rich Harden's velocity worsening with each passing start and no indication of imminent improvement, should Texas attempt to force some sort of move (e.g. attempt to DL him), or simply allow things to play out? And if things don't get better, where is the point on the calendar where you'd probably go ahead and pull the plug?
2. What is your personal AVG/OBP/SLG projection for Justin Smoak over the remainder of the 2010 regular season?
3. On Opening Day 2011, who is the Rangers' starting catcher: Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Taylor Teagarden, Max Ramirez, or somebody not even on our radar yet?
4. Where would you set the odds that we see Chris Davis in the majors again this season? Moreover, is he now more useful as a trade chip than anything else (contingent upon him tearing up Pacific Coast League pitching), or somebody Texas should aim to hang onto as long as possible?
5. A question not remotely related to baseball, because the less time spent thinking about Saturday night's loss the better: If you were going to be stranded indefinitely on a desert island with nothing but a slightly damp notebook full of Jason Parks' scouting notes, a bottle of tequila and an iPod with only enough free space for three music albums, which albums would you pick?
25 Comments | in Open Thread, The Season
Reader Comments (25)
1. DL Harden now. He is killing the team.
2. Too early to project, need to see more.
3. TT is NOT a big league ballplayer. It is embarasing. He and Salty need a year or 2 in the minors just to see if they can actually play.
4. Trade him for a catcher
5. meh
1. Give him 2 more starts to right the ship, then take action.
2. Won't matter, he'll be in OKC by June.
3. Someone not on the radar.
4. 1 to 5 in his favor. That's a near-lock in horse racing.
5. Just one - Itzahk Perlman, Bach Unaccompanied Violin Suites.
1. I'd give him a couple of more starts. If he doesn't show some improvement then DL him.
2. Slash line of .250/.330/.420
3. Salty
4. CD has no trade value except as a throw in for a deadline deal.
5. Pink Floyd "Dark Side of the Moon", U2 "The Joshua Tree", The Beatles "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heartsclub Band"
1. Harden has a come to Jesus meeting with Maddux. He either immediately goes on the Dl or he gets just one more chance.
2. Better then CD’s; nothing else is relevant.
3. The guy we traded for by the break.
4. Strangely enough possibly as DH. Vlad has started strong, but so did Jones last year. Also, Young could always pull a hamstring again. Lastly a Garko’s replacement.
5. It’s an island: Bob Marley (Legend), Jimmy Cliff (The Harder They Come), and Jimmy Buffet (A1A).
1) First of all is there really something physically wrong with him? Or did we buy a "pig in a poke"??
2) Way too early to tell..........but would be nice to at least get a .295/.350/.550.
3) Someone not on the radar at this point......makes signing Pudge to that two-three year deal sound awful good right now.....I think Pudge is hitting over .400 at this point for the Nationals!!
4) Trade bait.....
5) is there an album entitled...."Is Wash Gone Yet"????
1 - You don't DL him or let it play out. You sit him down and explain the facts of life, (assuming the Rangers "know" he's better than he's showing). Too many free baserunners are killing him. It's time to throw strikes and let the defense work for him. Or else. I'd make the 10 game mark the goal line for decision.
2 - I don't have one. I just hope his pitch selectivity rubs off on some of the others, and that his defense improves with familiarity.
3 - I'll say Salt. But I'm not happy about it.
4 - There is no way the Rangers should trade Chris Davis. Our system is not boiling over with positional prospects available for ML service. The Nelson Cruz lesson should be more than enough to teach patience.
5 - Beatles "White Album". Derek & the Dominoes "Layla (and other assorted love songs)". Extreme "Three Sides to Every Story".
1. We need Harden to be Harden of old or we won't last long in playoffs. So I would let him pitch unless he is truly injured.
2. Not a slash line person. But he needs to at least .250 with at least twice as many hits as walks, and more extra base hits then singles.
3. I think they will trade Taylor and a pitcher for a young backup catcher on another team who is playing behind a stud catcher(ie, Joe Mauer, Matt Wieters, Russel martin). That catcher and Salty will battle it out.
4. Chris Davis is back as 1b/3b/DH and Garko is gone. Garko is only here because he was right handed hitter.
5. DC Talk - Jesus Freak, Clash - London Calling, Di Meola, McLaughlin, De Lucia - Friday Night in San Francisco
1. The Rangers are cursed. Rich Harden is either injured or just reached his best a few years back and is on the downhill side of his career already.
2. Justin Smoak actually takes pitches and makes pitchers work. Ah, what a relief to see that in Arlington, TX. Can this be spread to the other players who swing at anything near the plate?
3. 2011 sees someone completely new. A trade (after the new ownership takes charge....please hurry with that, by the way) so a new catcher(s) takes charge next season.
4. Gotta let Davis figure it out in AAA. If he can, bring him back. If not? Smoak is already here anyway for keeps.
5. Albums to have on an island....Hmmm....Elton John's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" A Ray Charles Anthology of some type and Jimmy Buffett album. If I could "sneak" a fourth album I'd bring some good classical music (Grieg, Rachmaninoff, etc...).
1. As long as his team mates and manager express confidence in him, as long as he shows some progress, and as long as Maddux and he maintain that he's healthy and they can work out his kinks then I suppose they keep running him out there, but, if by June 1 the results aren't substantially better and If Holland continues his pace then it would be time to hit the reset button. June 1 at the latest, assuming there is still a chance for contention.
2.
3. Saltalammachia. Last chance.
4. 80/20. The talent is there. He and the team may best be served by a trade. The yo-yo effect has got to play on his mind a bit. I could see the Astros locking in on a guy like this though I can't particularly fathom what they may have of interest outside of Oswalt/Berkman who are both likely to be substantially overpriced.
5. Keep the tequila, thanks.
George Strait, "Strait out of the Box"
Stevie Ray Vaughn's Greatest Hits
Reba McEntire, 50 Greatest Hits
Can't hide redneck. :)
1. Give him 3-4 more starts. He's got a longer leash due to past success and the money he's making because of it.
2. Hmm......270/360/450? That is such a huge stab in the dark.
3. Saltalamacchia or bust.
4. I guess 60/40 right now...he took it with the right attitude, which has to be tremendously hard to do the second time around. Feel bad for the guy, he looks like the next Jason Botts.
5. Fabulous question. Radiohead's Rainbows and Kid A, Jack's Mannequin's The Glass Passenger, The Killers (but it has to be a mixed album, every record of there's has a couple clunkers on it), Muse's Origin of Symmetry.
1. He needs to get much better now
2. 270/330
3. Salty
4. 25% -50%
5. Mark Heard
1. 2 - 3 more starts
2. 260/350/425 (pure crapshoot)
3. New catacher
4. CD is a AAAA player -- talent there but his head doesn't get it
5. Anything by Duke Ellington, Chick Corea or Marcus Roberts
Van Halen, Van Halen
Bush 16 Stone
and some best hits album from ZZ Top
#5 - Beethoven's 9th, Mahler's 9th, And a hodgepodge of Beatles' songs compiled for the 3rd album
1. Until the end of April. Why continue to lose and/or tax your bullpen when there are other capable of remedying that situation?
2. .270/.360/.420
3. None of the above
4. I believe Chris Davis is a future MLB star. One day. He'll be in Arlington after the AS Break if he's not traded.
5. Dire Straits (self-titled), The Police (Ghost in the Machine) and Jean-Michael Jarre (Oxygene)
1. Too early to tell specifics about when to pull the plug. I would sure like to be a fly on the wall while harden, maddox and washington talk about how he feels. what is harden's reputation for being able to self-diagnose and reporting back to management what he's feeling?
2. I'm not too much of a numbers expectation guy, but my gut needs to keep telling me that he's in control of his at bats. Unlike Teagarden, Borbon and, until recently, Davis...so far, so good.
3. This position is one of our 1st trades using organizational depth. Hopefully, soon. We must solidify this position for the long haul before we seriously can sustain team contention. I feel the same way about center field. We're not there yet.
4. I think Davis is a major league player and an organizational asset. Needs time, consistent environment and reasonable expectations. Looks to me like a typical "too much, too soon" kid. If his world can settle down, I fully expect him to be a MLB career player.
5. Beatles - Rubber Soul (British issue); Beach Boys - Pet Sounds; and Sinatra's Greatest Hits. I would try to sneak in a copy of Nat King Cole's Christmas Album.
1. One more start if he cannot get out of the 5 inning!
2. .270, .370, .470
3. Salty, because he will finish the year strong knowing this might be his last chance!
4. I still believe in CDavis, but a trade a chip he will be.
5. Black Crowes-Shake your moneymaker, Al Green-Best of, Huey Lewis and the News-Greatest hits.
1. Give Harden a few more starts. Everyone knows he has the stuff to be an ace. His mechanics must be wrong or he is still trying to get back from his off season surgery. If he keeps throwing 90+ pitches in 3-4 innings, then its time to pull the plug for a while. That being said, I saw the idea of sending down Mathis, putting Harrison into the bullpen, and giving Holland the chance to start. I dont know if you could do that with Harden, but it should still be thought about.
2. You cant expect him to hit .300/.420/.700. But, I would like to see .260/.380/.500. I dont think that would be too hard for him to do. He is a good hitter, and maybe the most patient rookie I have ever seen. The hits will come.
3. Saltalamacchia would be my guess. Not that he is gonna hit higher than 8th in the order though. Teagarden isnt getting it done, and MaxRam, well, I dont know, but I dont think its going to be him. If we have a different catcher than Salty or TeaTime next year, that probly means we made a bad trade for a catcher when we need other pieces.
4. I think Smoak should get the rest of the season, unless an injury to him or Vlady happens. It is much to hard to put together any sort of offense when there is a sub .200 hitter, that doesnt put the ball in play, in the lineup. The one complement I can give to Wash so far this year is how he has delt with the sputtering offense he has gotten. Moving Borbon and bringing in Smoak have been good choices.
5. Who needs music when you can read Parks?
1. I'd personally give him one more start. If he doesn't lower his pitches per inning under 20 and doesn't go at least 5.2 innings, I'd switch him for Holland.
2. .280/.380/.459
3. Jose Morales
4. I'd still consider him functioning as a trade chip. I think he'll find a groove in OKC and could see time with Texas again. If Garko stinks as a backup or there's an injury of Vlad, MY, or Smoak, he could get a callup. I don't believe he's a AAAA player.
5. Muse - Showbiz/Origin of Symmetry/Absolution/Black Holes and Revelations (it's cheating, but you can get it as one album on iTunes), Jeff Buckley - Grace, and Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder.
1) DL...please
2) .275/.353/.459
3) Kelly Shoppach
4) He'll have to have success up here to get good trade value. Let him redeem himself then ship him out for a legit SP
5) Radiohead-OK Computer, Depeche Mode-Violator, Ben Folds-Songs for Silverman
1. I said before Friday nite I would give harden two more starts but they may have to give him a little bit more of a leash . Because feldman has been just as bad or worse than harden has been. Harden has shown flashes feldman has stunk all year. Of harden did not get it togehter I would say no more than three more starts call holland & move harden to the bullpen. That is the sad thing I think ge is healthy. Saying that about harden that is based on hope that feldman gets it going but I would unplug him for holland if he has one more bad start so I guess I my mind I would stck with harden longer than feldman because harden has a track record & feldman really dies not.
2 .285/420/550
3. I say there will be a trade this year . After the owner ship change .
4. I like CD but If he gets hot I would use him as a trade chip for a back end of the bullpen guy or a catcher.
5. Anything by George strait, Kenny chesney & Brooks & dunn take your pick.
1. Its only three weeks into the season, and I know Harden hasnt been good, but we brought him in to be the ace and I dont feel like its been long enough to throw him completely under the bus yet. If hes still pitching 4 innings into games a month from now, then consider making a move, but to quote Lee Corso, "Not so fast, my friend".
2. Much better than Crush's lines, Ill say .265 average with an OPS of above .700 since he apparently can take a walk.
3. somebody else (never thought id be sayin that a year and a half ago)
4. I dont think we could get more than pennies on the dollar right now. Id like to hold onto him in hopes hes a Nelly late bloomer type. Maybe by the time hes down to his last option hell get it together in Arlington. Its obviously mental...a home run his first game at OKC....The guys got alot of talent, bigs pitchers are better than 3A pitchers, but not to the point where it can be blamed for the descrepancy in his numbers.
5. Pink Floyd - Meddle
DJ DB - 10
DJ X - Club Xperience Vol. 3
1. We've seen glimpses of the old Harden, less the 94-95 heater, but he is going to get there. He is averaging over 4 BB per game and for that matter 4'ish IP per game. If the BB's weren't there then I would be really worried. I believe we're going to see the Harden of old very, less the mid 90's velocity but y'all worry too much about that anyways. The guy can pitch, he has good to great secondary stuff. I will give him a two start leash.
2. I just want to see good AB's. I assume he will be around the .280 mark by the end of the year with a few pumps and some ribs.
3. Jason Kendall...Why not...Ha! Seriously, as strong as these three guys were supposed to be I would like to see one of them live up the expectations. There is no telling what deals were killed because of one of these three guys involved in a potential trade. TT is a good defensive catcher and that's it. Salty and Max...huge let downs from both of them and I believe less Salty's injuries, its a mental thing.
4. He needs to be anywhere he can succeed and increase his stock. Let's not kid ourselves, its down and until he can prove he can be consistent without 100 K before the break, he will just be that guy.
5. Best of REK, George's Box Set, DragonFly Album from Matt Powell
Better two days late than never...
1. I have to think Harden on a pretty short leash at this point. Having a starter who consistently can't make it out of the 4th/5th inning is a good way to burn your bullpen out in a hurry. I'd give him 2-3 more starts to at least improve his command in a big way, max.
2. .260/.350/.430
3. Lou Marson.
4. Right now, I'd hope they just roll with Smoak even if he struggles, instead of shuttling him and Davis back and forth. Even if he tears up the PCL, hopefully we don't see Davis again until August or September, if at all.
5. Right now... Nightwish - Oceanborn, Miranda Lambert - Crazy Ex Girlfriend (provided it includes all three bonus tracks, if not then I'd swap it for her "Kerosene" album) and Erin McCarley - Love, Save the Empty.
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