Texas Rangers

Discussion in 'Baseball' started by FWHORN, May 26, 2015.

  1. Mr. Deez

    Mr. Deez Beer Prophet

    They need bullpen help. Other than Kela, Claudio, and Tolleson, the bullpen is a dumpster fire. They need to find this year's version of Koji Uehara and Mike Adams.
     
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  2. WorsterMan

    WorsterMan SEC here we come!!

    Zealots - the Rangers are in on-going negotiations with the Phillies about acquiring their ace pitcher - Cole Hamels. If they pull it off somehow, it would be HUGE. Darvish is the current ace but he is out for the season. Hamels would give this team a serious chance to make a run.

    My primary concern is what the good guys would have to give up to get himo_O

    Harrison is pitching for Frisco today and Hamilton will be joining him. Hamilton will be back in the Ranger lineup on Monday and Harrison maybe in couple of weeks after a couple more starts in Frisco.
     
  3. zork

    zork 2,500+ Posts

    Weren't both Koji Uehara and Mike Adams ineffective during the playoffs when they were Rangers?
     
  4. HornHuskerDad

    HornHuskerDad 5,000+ Posts

    Hope they can find a way to swing the trade with the Phiillies for Hamels without gutting the farm system of top prospects. IMO, Gallo, Alfaro, and a couple of the hot young pitchers have to be considered "untouchables" for trade. But the Phils are going to want MLB-ready young players - we'll have to watch and see how JD handles this.

    And when Josh is back, I think it's time to send Gallo to AAA. He has had a taste of the big show and knows what it's like - and he can also see that he still has some learning to do. Next time he comes up, we will want it to be for good. And some seasoning, with work in LF as well as 3B, and some more emphasis on hitting breaking balls will help round out his resume for the Show.
     
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  5. Mr. Deez

    Mr. Deez Beer Prophet

    I'd rather have a few relief pitchers be ineffective during the playoffs than be sitting on the couch during the playoffs. If the Rangers bullpen sucks all year like it mostly has to this point, we aren't going anywhere.
     
  6. Crockett

    Crockett 5,000+ Posts

    I remember once a great line from Texas Monthly after the Rangers sent some great prospects to the Mets in return for an aging all-star outfielder in 1982. "The Rangers thought they were one player away from contending. Unfortunately that player was Conan the Barbarian, not Lee Mazzilli."

    Hamels won't get the Rangers over the hump this year, but his contract is long term and he's an Ace. His salary is high and the money/prospects he would cost would limit the Rangers ability to fill other needs. But the Rangers look to have depth in young starting pitching, middle infielders and speedy outfield prospects.
     
  7. FWHORN

    FWHORN 10,000+ Posts

    The Rangers are sitting at 38-38, I would have taken that in a heartbeat if you had told me in April that 76 games in that would be the Rangers record. They have shown a lot of flashes but their flaws are pretty evident too. I am hopeful that they can be at .500 or just over in September and that in my mind is an extremely successful season. Next year they will be able to build on all the young players getting time this year and the return of several injured players Darvish et al.
     
  8. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    They have needed an ace since Cliff Lee left so JD needs to belly up to the bar and fork over half of the Texas farm system to Philly for Hamels.

    What they do with Gallo after DeShields and Hamilton return will be interesting. Gallo needs a proven hitting coach (Magadan hasn't been very impressive) and at bats against MLB pitching, but the Rangers need to win to keep the seats filled.
     
  9. HornHuskerDad

    HornHuskerDad 5,000+ Posts

    I would expect the Rangers to send Gallo to AAA as soon as Josh is activated. The call-up from AA was a temporary move while Beltre was out and it was a good opportunity to give Gallo a taste of the Show enroute to Round Rock. He has had his taste and knows what he needs to work on for improvement.

    I'll watch with interest to see the moves JD makes before the trade deadline. They are not close enough to justify gutting the farm for Cole Hamels, but he would certainly strengthen the rotation for next year - if the cost in prospects is reasonable. If there is a trade that would involve moving Choo to unload salary, that would be worth consideration. Guess we'll see.
     
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  10. LousianaHorn

    LousianaHorn Kabong

    fear the Astros!
     
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  11. HornHuskerDad

    HornHuskerDad 5,000+ Posts

    Josh activated from the DL and Gallo to AAA - right move. Joey knows what he needs to work on at Round Rock. Next interesting move - when Deshields is activated, does Leonis Martin get sent down to work on his approach at the plate?
     
  12. Crockett

    Crockett 5,000+ Posts

    Odor came back from the minors with improved confidence and results.
     
  13. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    I would normally agree, but this is a Catch 22 deal. Gallo needs at bats, but against major league pitching as he will learn very little from AAA pitching. At least the odds are that Hamilton will go down for an extended period again which would mean a recall for Gallo.
     
  14. HornHuskerDad

    HornHuskerDad 5,000+ Posts

    ^ViperHorn, you may be right - but I'm afraid Gallo might have lost his confidence by continuing to struggle against Major League pitching. Better to send him down (to the level he was being promoted to anyway) with a reasonable taste of (a) success and (b) appreciation for the adjustments he will need to make. If he isn't back before then, he will surely be brought up on 1 Sep when the rosters expand.
     
  15. zork

    zork 2,500+ Posts

    Can the Rangers steal the guy who turned Davis around for the Orioles to work with Gallo?
     
  16. HornHuskerDad

    HornHuskerDad 5,000+ Posts

    Feliz DFA. From the penthouse to the outhouse...
     
  17. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    He should have been traded after the sixth game as mentally he never recovered.
     
  18. zork

    zork 2,500+ Posts

    Went with the family tonight. Son, 7 yr old, was pissed throughout as the Rangers got crushed and his dot lost while the blue dot his sister had cruised to victory.

    The fireworks were great and the Coppell parade earlier in the morning was awesome. Daughter, 5 yr old, said it was one of her best days ever as, of course, her blue dot won(rubbing it in on brother) and the aforementioned parade was FANTASTIC. The 2.5 hour nap earlier in the afternoon provided the lube to get us from early parade to late night fireworks.

    The Rangers were BAD. They might should just bring Gallo back up and let him work it out if they are going to be this bad. It reminded me of the first month of the season when the players just didn't give a f**k. Choo is off. Andrus is off. Even Beltre is off but he is just back from injury. The catcher can't hit. Moreland is playing fairly solid but not tonight. Prince is crushing it.

    The lineup tonight was listless. The team needs to start playing well or it will get away from them. From one game back to 6 or more games back in about 2 weeks.

    Bring Gallo back and let him ride every game instead of these numbnuts that are sparing it through the year.

    But make it contingent on him working X amount of hours per day with a hitting coach that can walk him through every at bat he had the previous day so he can learn what the pitchers are doing to him. He can be a star with his power. Pull a Cuban on him and give him a couple of guys to help him ramp up now. But what do I know.
     
  19. HornHuskerDad

    HornHuskerDad 5,000+ Posts

    I like the trade for Hamels and Diekman. The Rangers didn't bust the budget and they were able to protect Gallo, Mazzaro, and Chi-Chi. We got a first glimpse of Diekman last night and will see Cole tonight. Wild card slot this season is a reach, but it's not out of the question - but the trades were made for the next three seasons, not just for 2015. JD did a very nice job at the trading deadline.

    For the off-season:
    (1) It would be nice to be able to move Choo, if they can get anything at all in return.
    (2) Need a right-handed power bat - the club is still too left-handed.
    (3) Need to solidify the bullpen - it's better now, but still needs another piece.
    (4) Really need Darvish and Holland to return to form quickly.
    (5) Leonis Martin?????
    (6) Does Colby Lewis have one more good season in him?

    What do you think, fellow zealots?
     
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  20. Crockett

    Crockett 5,000+ Posts

    Colby Lewis has been the most reliable starter the Rangers have thrown out there this year. Choo has been a disappointment, but I don't know who would take that contract. I had been hoping between Alfaro and Telis, somebody would step up and act like a front line catcher, but the Rangers unloaded them for pitchers ... so I guess we'll keep using waiver wire guys behind the plate.
     
  21. Mesohorny

    Mesohorny 1,000+ Posts

    What is it going to take for the Rangers to realize that Tanner Scheppers is a ****** pitcher? Every time he comes in for relief he pisses away a win, unless he has some excellent defense to bail his *** out. A shame that Cole Hamels' fine first outing for the Rangers was blown by that clown.
     
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  22. HornHuskerDad

    HornHuskerDad 5,000+ Posts

    ^Yep. Tanner definitely let that W get away. OTOH, Diekman looks good - that was definitely a top-notch addition to the bullpen.
     
  23. Mesohorny

    Mesohorny 1,000+ Posts

    Adding Diekman and Dyson will definitely help. Hopefully they'll send Scheppers down the road.
     
  24. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Great analysis HHD. Maybe some GM will fall asleep and take Choo before he really wakes up. Yes Choo had a good night last night, but how many time have we seen him come up with RISP and fail?

    JD almost let Hamels get away - that trade could have/should have happened by late May. Issue now is no/inconsistent bullpen which will not be turned around until the offseason.

    They needed two bats when they signed Fielder and Choo. Fielder is as expected and Choo - see above. JD indicated they could not find anyone better than Rua (read that they did not want to pay the price for a quality bat). That is fine if they have a plan. However they still need two bats (one a replacement for Choo). Gallo might be the answer and also take care of the Martin issue as Gallo looked passable in LF.

    As far as the rotation my take is: (1) Hamels; (2) ; (3) Darvish; (4) Lewis; (5) Holland. I have no faith in Holland and until Darvish pitches 200+ innings with regular rest he cannot be counted on as a 2 much less a 1. Not that it makes any difference with Darvish as he will sign with the Astros (as long as Nolan is involved with them) because Nolan was the reason he signed here.
     
  25. FWHORN

    FWHORN 10,000+ Posts

    Made it out to the ballpark this afternoon and saw Perez be absolutely out of this world for 8 1/3 innings, less than 80 pitches he had a perfect game into the fifth and lost it with two outs on an error and the infield single that followed, that error doesnt happen and Perez is perfect until he gives up a double in the ninth with one out. Josh got HR number 5 and he is now earning some of that money the Angels are paying him with 8 RBI in last 5 games and his fourth game winning RBI of year for Rangers. The Rangers may challenge for a wildcard this year but next year will be really fun with Hamels, Darvish, Perez, Holland and probably Lewis as the starting five. Need to firm up the bullpen (Scheppers has been like gasoline to a fire far too often and Kela needs some seasoning) and if they can solve the Choo problem and get Elvis to start earning some of his money this is a team that could really do something next year. I had hoped the Rangers would win 75 this year I am now hopeful for at least a .500 record and maybe even 83 or 84 wins, and for this team without Darvish or Holland the full year that is an accomplishment. :texasflag:
     
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  26. Crockett

    Crockett 5,000+ Posts

    Scheppers went on the disabled list after the game. He's been hit really hard this year. I can't forget a couple of years ago when he was one of the best setup guys in the league. Don't know if he's lost something or the league has figured him out.
     
  27. WorsterMan

    WorsterMan SEC here we come!!


    My thoughts exactly. He was money as a set up guy for a while and then last year he struggled some and this year he melted down.
     
  28. HornHuskerDad

    HornHuskerDad 5,000+ Posts

    Offense is starting to click. Need to see how the bullpen settles in without Scheppers. Also need Corporan and Chirinos to return pretty quickly. September schedule is heavily satcked with AL West games - A's have written off this season, but Astros, Angels, and Mariners can be tough.

    BTW, I'm not that upset with Chirinos as the primary catcher. He has done well handling the pitchers and he is a good defensive player. He doesn't hit for a high average, but he seems to have a knack for getting hits is clutch situations. If Jon Daniels is going to bolster the catching situation, it will have to happen in the off-season with a trade or a free agent.
     
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  29. HornHuskerDad

    HornHuskerDad 5,000+ Posts

    Well, the top of the ninth was a bit more exciting than we would have liked, but Tolleson buckled down and got it done. It was a struggle, but the Rangers have fought back to .500 - again. The Wild Card is still a reach, but chances are looking better.

    I was a bit surprised to see the team send Leonis Martin down, but he does need to work on his swing fundamentals - hope he can get it solved at AAA. Meanwhile DeShields will probably get full-time reps as the centerfielder.
     
  30. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Holland pitches again this week at Frisco so we will see. DFA'ing Wandy was long over due.
     

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