Texas Rangers 2017 Thread

After almost blowing a 7 run lead in NY the Rangers wait just one day to actually blow a seven run lead in Cleveland. I feel like HHD

 

Unbelievable; but perhaps a good thing to take away any illusion that this is a playoff team. Time to move people in order to get a head start on the future (of the team and current management).

 

14 blown saves after last nights three run implosion by Matt Bush, who knew that the role of closer for the Rangers was such a cursed position.

Rangers are also on pace to absolutely shatter the team record for strikeouts in a season.

 

If I recall correctly, during Spring training, wasn't the bullpen touted to be the primary strength of this team?

 

You are correct sir!

 

In the ideal world, I would have preferred for Bush to be the eighth inning guy all season this year before moving to the closer role next season. Unfortunately the implosion by Dyson changed that plan. I still believe in Bush as the closer of the future, but he needs some more seasoning before he's mentally prepared for the job.

Meanwhile, this wasted season continues, and someone has to be the ninth inning guy. I'm not sold on Kela as that guy, so I have no real answer to the problem.

There are some very nice young players on this team (Nazarra, Odor, Gallo, Deshields) that are going to have to continue to learn on the job. JD will have to make some tough calls on trades as the deadline nears. There is no player who would bring a Teixeira-type haul of prospects, but there are some guys who could bring a decent prospect or two in return. And the Rangers need to work much harder on developing the farm system so they can produce more big-league-ready players. It's hard to continue to live on free-agent signings and trades.

 

Since MLB is going the way of the NBA - betting on potential - Darvish should bring a Teixeira like haul of everyday players or a couple of AA top fielding prospects plus a top pitching prospect with some cash relief for the remainder of the season. Napoli would not bring anything other than some cash relief. Lucroy should bring a couple of mid-level AA guys (or a mid-level AA pitcher).

I would now say depending on how the season goes so goes, Banister and JD's futures are very much on the line as the current ownership do not seem to be long term view guys. (However, if JD lets Darvish walk at the end of the season, JD should be fired one nano-second after the last out of the season no matter what else happens.) Ownership's overhaul of the TV guys has turned out to be horrible IMHO. Letting the ones they let go was their decision, and I was ok with that - but the replacements leave everything to be desired.

 

Re the tv guys:
As inconsistent as the team is this season, at least Steve and Tom could keep my interest.
Dave is passable, but not close to being as knowledgeable abt the team as Buzz was, neither does he have Busby's excitement on a great play or hr. CJ is a waste of airtime and booth space. For a guy who has been around baseball for so long, he offers little insight.
Tom could be humdrum and his on-air thanks for pies, cakes, and cookies was silly, but at least he and Buzz had an affinity for the Rangers and the fans. Dave and CJ act like mercenaries who could care less, like a free agent biding his time until another offer comes by.
Boring.

 

What a bullpen!!

 

Grilli should fit right in:

Grilli, 40, was designated for assignment on June 27 after going 2-4 with a 6.97 ERA in 26 games for the Blue Jays. He is a 15-year veteran with nine different teams including part of 2009 with the Rangers.

How bad could the minor leaguer OF the Rangers traded for Grilli been? There was also cash in the deal which is probably what the Blue Jays were after.

 

It's beginning to sound as thought Lucroy may be dangled for trade. I don't have a problem with this - Chirinos has been more effective behind the plate and with the bat. I'd be a bit concerned that Robby might be overexposed as the everyday catcher, and the Rangers will have to call up a minor-leaguer to be the back-up - but that's not a huge issue in a lost season. If the team could get a top-level AAA pitching prospect in return, it's probably a good trade - and it doesn't look like the team is interested in signing Lucroy to a long-term deal.

 

Agree. However those dangles should also include Napoli and Darvish.

 

Nice W against Angels tonight. Hamels pitched exceptionally well, defense turned 3 DPs for him, and the offense delivered a bunch of hits and runs for the 10-0 result. It was especially nice to see Odor hitting the ball back up the middle instead of trying to pull everything. Still a very long shot to make the playoffs, but a nice effort tonight.

 

This is what I am afraid of - JD thinking that this is a playoff team and does nothing before the trading deadline. The result of doing nothing will be 2 to 3 years of struggling .500 ball at best.

 

Rangers hit All Star Break at 43-45, 16.5 games back of Houston and 3 games back of second wild card. I agree with Viper that chasing the second wild card is fools gold and that if JD doesnt get something for Darvish he needs to be run out on a rail. Darvish is gone at end of year so get something for him now. While I would love to keep Lucroy he also needs to be signed long term now or traded, cant wait to see if he will stay in October. The Rangers have a good young core and if they can firm up the bullpen they wont be surrendering the West to Houston for the next 3-5 years.

 

Back-to-back Ws in KC, including a pitching gem tonight for a 1-0 score. Cole was superb, and a very nice job by Claudio for the Save. Good start to a tough road trip.

 

The ship is taking on water and sinking in a hurry. The trip to Baltimore has been a disaster of the first order - and I don't see a way to bail water fast enough to keep it from going under. Any zealot out there got another idea?

 

Most surprising and disappointing is Beltre's pushing for no changes. I know he is thinking a patch here and a patch there and everything will be ok. Sorry AB, Texas is past the patching stage.

 

If the Rangers were a stock, I'd call my broker or GM and yell "Sell." Daniels is good at exchanging veterans for prospects and building a team. He's been doing the reverse for four years running and the farm teams aren't strong enough to make up the difference.

 

The Rangers get swept in Baltimore and if there was even a glimmer of a chance that they wouldn't be sellers over the next week and half that chance is gone. Tonight could very well be Yu's last start as a Ranger.

 

Mixed emotions as this brings up the "what if" factor, but FW is probably correct. The "what if" is what if the owners had a clue and kept Nolan, and let JD walk if he didn't want to play nice with Nolan. Yu ended up in Texas because and of Nolan and will end up in Houston next season if Nolan (who really calls the shots in Houston) wants him there. The "red line" for keeping You should have been before the season started.

 

Get swept in Baltimore, go to Tampa and sweep the Rays - go figure.

 

Baseball is a maddening game. Try staying concentrated on something for 162 "daily events" with the possibility of only one day off every 20 days (happens a couple of times a season).

 

Beltre goes 4 for 4 last night and is just 7 hits shy of 3000, reaching that mark should come in this home stand which has 8 games left, maybe even this weekend.

Reports in media suggest Darvish is being actively shopped around so lets see if he actually makes his scheduled start tomorrow and even if he does that could be his last as a Ranger,

 

As I watched Yu completely implode last night even my standard quip of "Darvish gonna Darvish" just didnt feel right. Was that Yu's going away present to Texas fans, a reminder of everything that frustrates us about him and why paying 30M a year for him is a fools errand. If he is still a Ranger on August 1, JD should be looking for work come October.

 

Well, well, well - looks like it could be a very interesting three days for the Rangers and their fans. Potential for real dramatic events:

• Pudge will be inducted into the Hall of Fame - a well-deserved honor.
• Beltre will almost certainly reach the 3,000-hit mark this weekend - setting the stage for his selection into the HOF five years after he finally retires.
• Non-waiver trading deadline Monday afternoon. Looks like a high probability that Yu will be traded. I expect that JD is working the phone lines very heavily at this moment, trying to get a bidding war going. Perhaps among the Dodgers, Red Sox, and Astros- all teams who (a) really want another SP to take them down the stretch this season toward the World Series and (b) have a plethora of top-notch prospects available to trade. This season is going down the drain in a hurry - and if there is any doubt in JD's mind that he can sign Yu in the off-season, it makes great sense to see which team is willing to overpay the most. If a bidding war breaks out, Yu should bring at least two (possibly more) Top 50 prospects in return - and it would be terrific if one of those prospects happens to be a red-not AAA SP ready for a chance to break into the Majors.

I'm not sure anyone could pull off a Teixeira-type trade (especially since Mark had another year of controllability when he was traded, and Yu is a pure short-term rental) - but if anyone can, JD is the one.

This should be an interesting three-day stretch for us Ranger zealots.

 

Beltre gets to 3000 yesterday in a fantastic moment for him and the fans. Meanwhile all eye are on Daniels and what he does to move Lucroy and Darvish. Rangers are 2-4 on this home stand and have shown absolutely nothing for over a month to say they can make a playoff run so they better be sellers today.

 

Beltre might be the best third baseman of all time - certainly in the top 5. It was great seeing him reach 3000 hits.

Looks like we got crap for Lucroy, who fizzled out like a bad fart this year. Hope we do better for Darvish.

 

Lucroy to Rockies for player to be named later.

https://sports.yahoo.com/rockies-push-playoffs-pick-jonathan-lucroy-texas-012046199.html

http://www.denverpost.com/2017/07/30/jonathan-lucroy-trade-rockies/

 

That's not good. The PTBNL may end up being the next David Ortiz (who was a PTBNL), but he'll more likely become the next Dwayne Posey.