Rangers Off-Season Thread - Page 6 - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

sike · 03-21-2007, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jthig32

I have no idea how to feel. I am excited about some things, not excited about others.

I think our bullpen will be great, I think our offense will be frustrating at times.

I think our season will hinge on McCarthy and Tejeda, and to a lesser extent, Sosa, Wilkerson and Cruz.

I think this season could be a disaster in the short term, and I think we could win the division.

you needs meds for all that confusion.

thank, thiggy

Flacolaco · 03-21-2007, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jthig32

I think our season will hinge on McCarthy and Tejeda, and to a lesser extent, Sosa, Wilkerson and Cruz.

No Gagne on that list, thig? That guy is a walking question mark and they want to just toss him into the closing spot right off the bat(pun?), don't they?

richard_ · 03-21-2007, 02:32 PM

Anything Gagne gives will be a bonus, he is a very low risk move with Aki on the roster too. The season hardly hinges on him.

Flacolaco · 03-21-2007, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard_

Anything Gagne gives will be a bonus, he is a very low risk move with Aki on the roster too. The season hardly hinges on him.

Ok well I guess my concern lies with the way Washington talks about him then. I can't help but think "how many games will they give away in the mean time while trying to see if he's still got anything?"

When does the season start?

jthig32 · 03-21-2007, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

No Gagne on that list, thig? That guy is a walking question mark and they want to just toss him into the closing spot right off the bat(pun?), don't they?

My main reason for not listing him is that our bullpen is already deep, and we have a closer ready to take over for him if he ends up not producing.

So, with Gagne, we have an elite bullpen. Without Gagne, we have an above average bullpen, at least as it stands right now.

So no, I don't think the season hinges on Gagne's health.

I also think all signs point to him being completely healthy. I'm not real concerned.

jthig32 · 03-21-2007, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

Ok well I guess my concern lies with the way Washington talks about him then. I can't help but think "how many games will they give away in the mean time while trying to see if he's still got anything?"

When does the season start?

Season starts in less than two weeks, and I have zero problem with them throwing Gagne out there on day one. He's done everything asked of him this spring.

Male30Dan · 03-21-2007, 02:51 PM

Francisco not making the pen would really, really suprise me.

ames7 · 03-21-2007, 03:45 PM

But if Frankie makes it, that means Littleton wouldn't, right? Cause the other open spot will go to Loe or Wright. I'd be more surprised to see Littleton not make it. I think they trying to trade Feldman for bench.

ames7 · 03-24-2007, 09:56 PM

Jamey Wright has won the #5 job, per Newberg & I believe I caught it on the update during the Stars broadcast. Loe now in play for the pen, Chen likely to be moved. So it will be Loe + one of Littleton/Feldman/Francisco in the last 2 pen spots, since I think Loe has pitched more than well enough to stay up.

Male30Dan · 03-24-2007, 11:26 PM

Man I was pulling for Loe for the 5th spot.

Pitch good Wright!

jthig32 · 03-25-2007, 09:19 AM

I was in favor of the McCarthy trade, so I can't really complain, but I would like to point out that both Masset AND Danks have made the White Sox' opening day roster, with Danks making it as the 5th starter.

That makes me really uneasy.

LonestarROB · 03-25-2007, 09:33 AM

McCarthy has an era over 9 this spring to boot.

Murphy3 · 03-25-2007, 02:52 PM

well, it's a good thing spring training doesn't count.....hopefully.

jthig32 · 03-25-2007, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy3

well, it's a good thing spring training doesn't count.....hopefully.

Yeah, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I expect the springs of either pitcher to continue.

But, if at the time of the trade you had told me that both Danks and Masset would've been ready for a major league roster this spring, I might not have made the deal.

I just really, really hope this doesn't turn disastrous for the Rangers. I can't imagine the fallout from this if Danks goes on to have a stellar career, and McCarthy doesn't fulfill his promise.

TheBlueVan · 03-25-2007, 10:17 PM

im gonna get on board saying i was against the danks trade. he's been nurtured in our farm system for years, i would have liked to see him get a shot, especially since he supposedly had such good stuff

nashtymavsfan13 · 03-25-2007, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Male23Dan

Man I was pulling for Loe for the 5th spot.

Pitch good Wright!

Jamey Wright was a Giant last year, and even though his numbers don't show it, was a solid starter for us. He deserves to be in the rotation, but he can be one of those Stackhouse type guys who one game you like a lot but the next he does badly.

mffl03 · 03-26-2007, 02:34 PM

What was that sketch that some of the pitchers of the Rangers played out? It was on TXA 21 or something like that. I only caught a glimpse, and I don't know all their names yet...usually by midseason I do though.

It was to show the "humorous" side of the pitching staff

LonestarROB · 03-26-2007, 04:20 PM

It was Loe, CJ Wilson(?) and some other guy doing a spoof of Reno 911. It aired during saturdays spring training game. I'll try and find a clip.

LonestarROB · 03-26-2007, 05:46 PM

Btw, Rangers spring game is on FSN this evening.

Kirobaito · 03-26-2007, 06:59 PM

The tattooed fellow is Josh Rupe. I don't know who the other cop is.

jthig32 · 03-26-2007, 09:28 PM

CJ Wilson, Kam Loe, Josh Rupe, and Wes Littleton.

CJ wrote and directed the thing, and there's more to follow.

ames7 · 03-26-2007, 10:19 PM

It's up at CJ's blog: http://cjwilson.mlblogs.com/my_weblo...sgolf_car.html
It's not groundbreakingly hilarious or anything, but I think it's great players are getting involved in stuff like this. PS: It looks like Wilson will continue blogging throughout the season, yay. It's a pretty amusing read if you haven't seen it.

LonestarROB · 03-27-2007, 09:56 AM

Thanks for the link ames.

Watched the game lastnight. Now, i'm not going to crown them World Series Champs or anything but they look ALOT better to me this year. Winnings nice, and its only spring, but its just the way the team "looks". They all seem so much looser and happy compared to past seasons. Looks like they're having so much more fun under Washington.

Male30Dan · 03-27-2007, 05:59 PM

Texas currently trailing SD 23-5...

Wow...

ames7 · 03-27-2007, 06:14 PM

Oh dear, Millwood got lit. And Gagne. Not good.

PS: it bears mentioning...originally, TR Sullivan at the Rangers O site was the one who reported Wright won the 5th starter job, this was several days ago. But both papers are still saying the decision isn't final & Sullivan kind of backed off too. Since the original story broke, Loe had a great outing & Wright had a not-great outing. Wright will probably end up ultimately getting it anyway, but it's worth watching.

Murphy3 · 03-27-2007, 08:13 PM

Honestly, Loe in the pen might be more important to start the season than Wright as the fifth starter...

ames7 · 03-28-2007, 01:04 PM

It appears Feldman has won the final 7th inning spot. Frankie Francisco & Wes Littleton have been optioned to OKC. I think it's the right move. Feldman's been very good & they can let the other two work out whatever it is they need to work out. All three of them have options so they'll probably be up & down anyway.

Oh, also, Evan Grant reports Jamey Wright is now officially the 5th starter. Bullpen now looks like this:
Closer: Gagne
Set-up: Otsuka
RHP: Loe, Feldman, Benoit
LHP: Mahay, Wilson

ames7 · 03-29-2007, 01:25 PM

Awww MAN. Eric Gagne starting the year on the DL, per the Ticket. Depressing.

EDIT: DMN blog has this:

Quote:

Reliever Eric Gagne will start the season on the disabled list. He is expected to be activated April 13.

The move is not a health issue; the Rangers just want Gagne to get more work in before the season starts.

Oh yeah, that makes me feel a lot better. Wait, no, it doesn't.

ames7 · 04-01-2007, 01:25 PM

Opening Day Roster:

Quote:

Positional players:

Gerald Laird
Chris Stewart
Mark Teixeira
Michael Young
Ian Kinsler
Hank Blalock
Matt Kata
Frank Catalanotto
Sammy Sosa
Brad Wilkerson
Kenny Lofton
Nelson Cruz
Jerry Hairston, Jr.

Pitchers:

Kevin Millwood
Vicente Padilla
Brandon McCarthy
Robinson Tejeda
Akinori Otsuka
Kam Loe
Joaquin Benoit
C.J. Wilson
Ron Mahay
Scott Feldman
Mike Wood
Bruce Chen

Gagne starts on the DL. Wright starts in Frisco.

They've killed my buzz for this team a little over the last month. I still think they have a good shot at the West. Give me... 85 wins, second in the West.

jthig32 · 04-01-2007, 02:08 PM

So, in case anyone cares, I think the Rangers win the West this year. I think if the Angels get healthy it'll be a close race with them.

I think Oakland and Seattle will be well behind Texas and LA.

I think Padilla's going to disappoint, but I think McCarthy, Tejeda and Loe are going to pick up the slack nicely.

I think Gagne turns in a solid year as the closer, and I think the failure of Sosa and the mild disappointment of Cruz leads JD to trade for a bat before the deadline.

I'm pumped for baseball season to start. Not as pumped as I am for today's Mavs' game, but I'm still pumped.

Murphy3 · 04-01-2007, 03:04 PM

I wouldn't be surprised to see Chen in the rotation with Wright looking for a job by the end of April.

jthig32 · 04-01-2007, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy3

I wouldn't be surprised to see Chen in the rotation with Wright looking for a job by the end of April.

You don't think Loe would take his spot?

Assuming Gagne is here according to their current plan, and Littleton and Francisco are ready to go soon, I have to think Loe takes over the 5th starter spot.

There's a reason the Rangers already talked to Chen about accepting an assignment to AAA at some point. Most people think he and Wood are gone as soon as Wright and Gagne are back, which should be soon.

chumdawg · 04-01-2007, 06:46 PM

Thanks for posting the roster, Ames. Can someone tell me who the hell these people are:

Chris Stewart
Matt Kata

Mike Wood
Bruce Chen

I'm sure either Stewart or Kata is a backup catcher, but other than that I have no idea.

ames7 · 04-01-2007, 08:34 PM

This is somewhat helpful: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...s.3797190.html

Apparently, Kata is the utility guy (DMN says he can play IF & OF) & Stewart is the backup catcher. I know Wood had a good spring, but I think he & Chen are gone when Wright & Gagne get back. Since the Rangers neglected to show any spring training games on TV during the week I was actually home, I haven't seen any of these guys & have no idea why they're on the team.

jthig32 · 04-01-2007, 09:12 PM

We got Wood from Baltimore for Ramon Nivar two years ago, I believe. He had TJ surgery about halfway through the season after we aquired him. I think he was pitching for Oklahoma.

Stewart is a young catcher we got from the White Sox for some prospect. Don't remember when the trade went down. He a really good defensive catcher with no bat. Typical career backup, I think.

Chen and Kata were non-roster invites. Chen is a lefty pitcher who pitched for Baltimore the past few years. Kata I'd never heard of before this spring, but he's had a hell of a spring, for what that's worth. Think Mark DeRosa, before he figured out how to hit, at least for a season.

ames7 · 04-02-2007, 09:18 PM

Anyone watching? Switching back & forth between the Stars game... switched over in time to see GMJ rob Tex. Annoying.

edit: Someone feel free to start a season thread...as usual, I don't have the best of luck.

nashtymavsfan13 · 04-02-2007, 09:41 PM

I'm not going to do it either, I'm a Giants fan and Lackey is on my fantasy team

I'll root for you guys tomorrow haha

Murphy3 · 04-02-2007, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jthig32

You don't think Loe would take his spot?

Assuming Gagne is here according to their current plan, and Littleton and Francisco are ready to go soon, I have to think Loe takes over the 5th starter spot.

There's a reason the Rangers already talked to Chen about accepting an assignment to AAA at some point. Most people think he and Wood are gone as soon as Wright and Gagne are back, which should be soon.

I think something will happen that'll open up a spot for Chen... Someone will have some tightness in their arm or will totally tank the first couple of weeks and it'll open up a spot for Chen.. then Wright will be mediocre and the Rangers will slide him into the 5th spot...

Five-ofan · 04-02-2007, 10:06 PM

bruce chen is god awful. the more he pitches the worse it is.

Murphy3 · 04-02-2007, 10:17 PM

Well, he did win 13 in 2005 while pitching almost 200 innings to go along with a 3.83 ERA... He's also won 15 and 16 games at the major league level... Plus, his career ERA is 4.60. So, no, he's 'god awful'. He might be 'god mediocre', but not 'god awful'. At least, 'god awful' is not what his career numbers would indicate. Yes, 'god awful' would be representative of what he did last year...

He's definitely alot more accomplished than Wright...