Texas Rangers 2019 Thread

Discussion in 'Baseball' started by ViperHorn, Oct 4, 2018.

  1. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    On the basis that the 2018 Texas Rangers season would be locked and placed in a nuclear waste disposal facility, I am starting the 2019 thread in hopes that Texas can somehow find a way to be somewhat consistently competitive in 2019 (like finish only 20 games behind in 2019). Probably to much to hope for, but one can always hope.

    Article in the Dallas news yesterday discussed trading an outfielder for pitching. Through the process of elimination (for example ,Choo isn't going anywhere unless Texas picks up most of the remainder of his contract and Calhoun is actually the best contact hitter in the organization) they came up with either Gallo or Mazara being the trade bait. Using the wacky WAR statistic they picked Gallo as the keeper basically because of the on base percentage portion of his oWAR. (Which only proves one of the faults of the WAR - walks count as on base and he is walked in critical situations.)

    IMO it doesn't really mean anything because JD has admitted that he felt Texas had a playoff pitching rotation at the start of 2018. Even my 12 year old grandson saw through that. So the question is does JD know a good pitcher from a dog?
     
  2. HornHuskerDad

    HornHuskerDad 5,000+ Posts

    Viper, I'm not sure what to think of that report. I personally can't see the Rangers letting go of either Mazara or Gallo. And as you correctly note, they can't move Choo without eating most or all of his salary. Does that mean Calhoun is the odd man out? If so, the Rangers would have nothing to show for trading Darvish.
     
  3. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    You might be right HHD, but as long as Calhoun swings the bat like he does, you normally would keep him and trade one of the others. They seem to think that they (and FW ) can live with Gallo's shortcomings so Mazara would be the odd man out. The bright side to that line of thinking is Mazara probably bring more than Gallo, but less than Calhoun.
     
  4. HornHuskerDad

    HornHuskerDad 5,000+ Posts

    Good point, Viper. The counterpoint to consider is that Calhoun will be controllable for a longer period than Mazara, and that could affect his trade value - and if the Rangers are going to trade a valuable player, you would certainly want the best possible return (translation: great starting pitcher prospect).
     
  5. LousianaHorn

    LousianaHorn Kabong

    well you guys could become 'Stros fans and save all the grief................
     
    • Funny Funny x 1
  6. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    HHD, I considered that. Probably a 50/50 chance that by this time next year (or after the 2019 Series) both will be gone. Marza is a known quantity so his value is fairly well set. The question is which one do you trade first: if Calhoun has a good 2019 his value will go through the roof due to the controllable issue so does JD gamble on a breakout year in 2019 by Calhoun?

    What is known is JD has to produce for the 2020 season and beyond. That means significant upgrades at the plate and in the outfield while basically replacing the entire pitching staff.
     
  7. FWHORN

    FWHORN 10,000+ Posts

    Somewhat like a voice in the wilderness (at least on this board) I come in defense of Joey Gallo who has hit 40 home runs in back to back seasons, yes he also had eleventybillion strikeouts but there is a place on the Ranger lineup for a young hitter who let me repeat it again just hit 40 home runs in back to back seasons. I just cant see a circumstance where trading him makes sense absent getting maybe two starting pitchers and a prospect.
     
  8. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    I see your point FW and if Texas did not need an entire new pitching staff (less Minor and Leclerc) and a minimum of 3 bats, I would agree. Yes, he has 40 HR's in the last two seasons (his first two full seasons in the majors), but his production has been only 100 more RBI's other than HR's and 403 K's. However with the numbers of players Texas needs anyone who can bring an improvement over what they have now should be obtained.
     
  9. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Latest on the playing field in the new stadium is probably turf. Seems Phoenix has announced that they were going to turf (new type for baseball) as keeping grass was to much trouble and expense. This gives ammo for the Texas owners to get the turf that they have always wanted.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  10. FWHORN

    FWHORN 10,000+ Posts

    When I heard diamondbacks were getting turf that was my first thought too. I would much prefer grass but that seems more and more less likely.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  11. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    FW do you know anything about the new the new type of turf mentioned in the article?
     
  12. FWHORN

    FWHORN 10,000+ Posts

  13. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Thanks, FW. Here is what I found on the manufacturer's website:

    The “Batting a Thousand” Natural Turf (B1K) is a dual fiber system comprised of Shaw’ high-performance Strenexe® XD slit film and Shaw’s Bolt® monofilament. This system provides high durability and functionality by preventing the infill from “splashing,” maintaining adequate infill levels across the field. The Bolt fiber provides excellent ball roll, friction and natural grass aesthetics, ensuring that the playing surface at Chase Field will appear nearly identical to that which has been in place since the stadium opened in 1998, including the dirt path between the mound and home plate.
     
  14. HornHuskerDad

    HornHuskerDad 5,000+ Posts

    I'm with you on this, FWHORN - but it is starting to sound like artificial turf will be the choice. I don't like it, but I don't get a vote.
     
  15. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Agree with both of you on the turf. I just hope that "the field is turf" doesn't become the reason that no top tier FA's want to sign with the Rangers since they will no longer be able to use weather as an excuse.
     
  16. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Killer stats for Gallo. In 2018 he lead the League hitting .087 with two strikes. Worse, for his career he is .095 with two strikes. The kicker is since this stat has been around (1988) the .095 is the lowest of the 1,092 batters with at least 500 at bats. Next worse is Greg Maddux at .107.
     
  17. Horns11

    Horns11 10,000+ Posts

    Should've traded him when they had the chance. There's going to be a huge mindset flip over the next couple years to go back to the post-roids contact hitter craze that guys like Ichiro and Chipper Jones pioneered. I think the WAR-loving guys are going to go all-in on the 20-hr types who can bat around .290 instead of the 40-hr types who bat around .210.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  18. FWHORN

    FWHORN 10,000+ Posts

  19. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

  20. X Misn Tx

    X Misn Tx 2,500+ Posts

    i'm for accumulating the best set of assets. i don't buy in to the direct OF-for-P trade concept. We have 4 OFs and Profar. I agree we need pitching. But...if we picked up Choo's salary, could we package Choo AND Gallo/Mazara for another Calhoun type.

    Btw, our fielding wasn't very good either. lol
     
  21. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    same for the pitching. Thank you, citizens of Arlington, for guaranteeing the new stadium, all that did was take away any incentive to maintain any semblance of a competitive team well into the 2020's.
     
  22. FWHORN

    FWHORN 10,000+ Posts

  23. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    AB = All class
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  24. HornHuskerDad

    HornHuskerDad 5,000+ Posts

  25. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Pitchers and Catchers report 12 February. Chirinos (FA) will sign with the Astros if he clears medical.
     
  26. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    DMN reports the Rangers are:
    • dangling Profar at the Winter Meetings in hopes of getting bodies.
    • still trying to unload Choo who they will owe $42 million over the next two seasons. Since the Rangers want to move Calhoun to full-time outfield and no one is going to take Choo even with the Rangers paying most of his salary, they should just release him now and at least be able to get their outfield of the future two more years of experience.
     
  27. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Yesterday's talk at the Winter Meetings centered around MLB trying to find a way to regulate (if not totally outlaw) defensive shifts. The argument for regulation is the shifts are hurting offensive output which is a cause of lost interest in the sport.

    IMHO such a move would be a backward move. Yes, Galo would benefit, but if he could overcome his mental hang-up and learn to situational hit he would not have a problem. If a team wants to put 7 guys between 2B and 3B they should be free to do so.
     
    Last edited: Dec 12, 2018
  28. FWHORN

    FWHORN 10,000+ Posts

  29. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

  30. HornHuskerDad

    HornHuskerDad 5,000+ Posts

    That's the key - the Rangers will not be competitive in 2019, but they do need to have starters log a bunch of innings. Otherwise, the young bullpen arms will be overworked, damaging their growth for the longer-term future.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
    Last edited: Dec 22, 2018

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