The OFFICIAL 2011 Texas Rangers' Season Thread - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

Male30Dan · 03-29-2011, 02:26 PM

Yes baby, it is OFFICIAL!

Spring training is over - are you ready for some baseball?

GermanDunk · 03-29-2011, 02:53 PM

Sure. Fear the beard

mkat · 03-30-2011, 09:39 AM

Record predictions?

162-0.

Mav Addict · 03-30-2011, 10:22 AM

Can not wait til Friday

I am predicting 95-67

Kirobaito · 03-30-2011, 10:59 AM

92-70, four games ahead of the A's, nine ahead of the Angels and seventy-three ahead of the Mariners.

Murphy3 · 03-30-2011, 11:05 AM

I'm hoping that this season calls for more than one thread...

Male30Dan · 03-30-2011, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy3

I'm hoping that this season calls for more than one thread...

Well sure... The OFFICIAL Post Season Thread...

Regarding the record - man, tough to be really, really positive given the spring and some decisions made but I still think we have the talent to win the division. My guess would be 88 wins and a 2-game lead over the As when the final game is played in the regular season. I think the Angels will be better than some think and we finish 4 ahead of them with the Ms a solid score behind (as in Abe Lincoln score).

Scoobay · 03-31-2011, 08:08 AM

91-71

division champs
Angels 3 back
A's 5 back
mariners - 15 back

Five-ofan · 04-01-2011, 09:04 AM

Im going to the game today. I MAY(my buddy that I bought the ticket for is being a bitch) have an extra ticket. If one of a couple of my friends isnt able to go and one of the big ranger fans on here wants it, you are welcome to it. It is standing room only though.

93-69 with a 7 game least over the Angels. The As dont do much for me.

Edit-I will know for sure around 1130-12 our time.

Murphy3 · 04-01-2011, 09:26 AM

This is a very bittersweet opening day for me. My dad always loved this day. Next to his family, baseball was probably the most important thing in his life.

Male30Dan · 04-01-2011, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Five-ofan

Im going to the game today. I MAY(my buddy that I bought the ticket for is being a bitch) have an extra ticket. If one of a couple of my friends isnt able to go and one of the big ranger fans on here wants it, you are welcome to it. It is standing room only though.

93-69 with a 7 game least over the Angels. The As dont do much for me.

Edit-I will know for sure around 1130-12 our time.

I would love to take it (if only to have an opportunity to backhand your annoying ass -

) but I couldn't get away from some meetings today due to just starting at this company so I will have to pass.

Male30Dan · 04-01-2011, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy3

This is a very bittersweet opening day for me. My dad always loved this day. Next to his family, baseball was probably the most important thing in his life.

My advice would be to soak it in and enjoy it twice as much! You know he would want you to.

I actually mentioned this to my wife last night - Football comes first, but it is more like a 1 to Baseball's 1a. I love both a great deal.

Basketball was always a 1b, but man, after that Final that truly broke my heart I just haven't been all-in again there. Sure, I care greatly, but the losses don't affect me like they once did and the wins don't provide the same highs.

dalmations202 · 04-01-2011, 11:06 AM

Football, Basketball, and Baseball were all 1 for me for a while.

Since the BBall finals, and the business course I took on "surviving business by controlling the details for a company" - none of them do I see the same anymore.

I still enjoy the entertainment of the game, but I no longer consider any of them true sport where the best man or best team wins except on rare occasion.

I see the business side, and how it can be (or maybe is) manipulated. Problem for me is that it doesn't matter anymore if it is or not because I understand how it can be manipulated. It is much like home town reffing in HS games, or shaving points by paying off a player in college games. Professional sports are big $$$, and are controlled by big money. (Rules come from the owners, etc). (Players are pawns of the big picture). Money is the real object anymore.

Anymore I can enjoy sports from Jr. High level up -- but all of them are just entertainment to me. I don't get to high over a win, nor to low over a loss.

Murphy3 · 04-01-2011, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dalmations202

Football, Basketball, and Baseball were all 1 for me for a while.

Since the BBall finals, and the business course I took on "surviving business by controlling the details for a company" - none of them do I see the same anymore.

I still enjoy the entertainment of the game, but I no longer consider any of them true sport where the best man or best team wins except on rare occasion.

I see the business side, and how it can be (or maybe is) manipulated. Problem for me is that it doesn't matter anymore if it is or not because I understand how it can be manipulated. It is much like home town reffing in HS games, or shaving points by paying off a player in college games. Professional sports are big $$$, and are controlled by big money. (Rules come from the owners, etc). (Players are pawns of the big picture). Money is the real object anymore.

Anymore I can enjoy sports from Jr. High level up -- but all of them are just entertainment to me. I don't get to high over a win, nor to low over a loss.

You sound very cynical.

dalmations202 · 04-01-2011, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy3

You sound very cynical.

Unfortunately I think you are correct.

alexamenos · 04-01-2011, 06:32 PM

Magic number = 161?

Male30Dan · 04-01-2011, 07:48 PM

Huge win - just finished watching it. HELLUVA 8th inning for the offense.

For the record, if it isn't B-R-U-T-A-L-L-Y clear that Murphy deserves to start for this team and Borbon does not at ALL you are a complete moron. A COMPLETE moron.

That is all.

DavidDaMonkey · 04-01-2011, 10:18 PM

Anyone know of a good site with a primer for the Rangers this season? I admittedly was a bandwagon fan last year, but I don't want to be just a bandwagon fan and would love to follow them more this year. The more I know, the easier and more exciting they will be to follow.

jthig32 · 04-01-2011, 11:35 PM

I mean this not as a personal insult of any kind, as the guy is by all accounts a great dude.

But John Rhadigan is awful. Just awful.

I can only assume that he will get better with more practice, but it's honestly pretty embarrassing that this team went this route instead of bringing in a high level, professional baseball announcer.

Oh, and on baseball matters, Hamilton's not going to play most of the season in CF, so there's no point griping about Murphy vs Borbon. If you don't want Borbon, fine, but you have to go get another CF, or you put even more wear and tear on Josh.

Josh + Borbon >>>>> Murphy + Davis or whoever else would move into the lineup if Hamilton got hurt.

Kirobaito · 04-02-2011, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidDaMonkey

Anyone know of a good site with a primer for the Rangers this season? I admittedly was a bandwagon fan last year, but I don't want to be just a bandwagon fan and would love to follow them more this year. The more I know, the easier and more exciting they will be to follow.

The Newberg Report is number 1-10 in anything you want to know about the Rangers. BBTiA (BaseBall Time in Arlington) is another good blog, and I'd put Lone Star Ball in third.

Richie Whitt had a very long article in the Dallas Observer for a season preview, but I didn't actually read it.

Flacolaco · 04-02-2011, 02:38 AM

I am saddened by the criticism of Rhads. Not because I disagree, but just because I have spent time with the dude around the Stars and I can't tell you enough how much of an awesome guy he is. Love him.

But as far as TV goes...well... we'll see I guess.

Murphy3 · 04-02-2011, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jthig32

I mean this not as a personal insult of any kind, as the guy is by all accounts a great dude.

But John Rhadigan is awful. Just awful.

I can only assume that he will get better with more practice, but it's honestly pretty embarrassing that this team went this route instead of bringing in a high level, professional baseball announcer.

Oh, and on baseball matters, Hamilton's not going to play most of the season in CF, so there's no point griping about Murphy vs Borbon. If you don't want Borbon, fine, but you have to go get another CF, or you put even more wear and tear on Josh.

Josh + Borbon >>>>> Murphy + Davis or whoever else would move into the lineup if Hamilton got hurt.

Actually, I think there's a pretty good chance that Hamilton plays more than half the games in CF this year.

Murphy3 · 04-02-2011, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidDaMonkey

Anyone know of a good site with a primer for the Rangers this season? I admittedly was a bandwagon fan last year, but I don't want to be just a bandwagon fan and would love to follow them more this year. The more I know, the easier and more exciting they will be to follow.

You need to go to newbergreport.com and get signed up for Jamey's near daily email updates about the Ranges (which includes alot of minor league info). The message board is solid over there as well,..just wish the volume was a little higher.

jthig32 · 04-02-2011, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy3

Actually, I think there's a pretty good chance that Hamilton plays more than half the games in CF this year.

There's very, very little chance of that happening.

Murphy3 · 04-02-2011, 08:53 AM

There's actually a pretty good chance of that happening.

jthig32 · 04-02-2011, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy3

There's actually a pretty good chance of that happening.

If that was going to happen it would have happened last year, don't you think?

If the Rangers were willing to play Josh 80 games in CF, they would.

I suppose Borbon could completely fail and they could fail to find a suitable replacement, forcing them to play Josh there. But I don't think that's very likely at all.

clutch#41 · 04-02-2011, 02:03 PM

this team is stacked!! i was kinda down when i saw that mooreland wasnt playing and Napoli was. but damn i didnt expect him to have a game like that. Go RANGERS!!

mkat · 04-02-2011, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Male29Dan

Huge win - just finished watching it. HELLUVA 8th inning for the offense.

For the record, if it isn't B-R-U-T-A-L-L-Y clear that Murphy deserves to start for this team and Borbon does not at ALL you are a complete moron. A COMPLETE moron.

That is all.

while i agree with you, Baseball Times in Arlington doesn't, and they make a good case for Borbon over Murphy.

Anyway, LOVE the lineup. Borbon is the only weakness in it, really. Torrealba isn't much of a power threat, but seems like a good enough hitter. If they can get just a bit more pitching around mid-season, I really like where they can go.

jthig32 · 04-02-2011, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clutch#41

this team is stacked!! i was kinda down when i saw that mooreland wasnt playing and Napoli was. but damn i didnt expect him to have a game like that. Go RANGERS!!

Napoli should be in the lineup every single day that we face a lefty, period.

mavspwnage · 04-02-2011, 04:23 PM

My first opening day experience was everything I dreamed it would be. I love leaving work at 11am to go to the one baseball game where it is acceptable to leave work at 11am. And it was even more awesome with us beating the Red Sox. Amazing time.

I got to the parking lots two hours before first pitch. I wanted to get there a little earlier, and it's understandable because the traffic jams on Road to Six Flags were unlike anything I have ever seen. And the huge masses of people tailgating were even more impressive than what I saw during the playoffs.

alexamenos · 04-02-2011, 07:27 PM

Kinsler is on pace to hit 162 lead off homeruns this season.

dalmations202 · 04-02-2011, 10:28 PM

2-0

jthig32 · 04-02-2011, 10:54 PM

That was an encouraging outing from Strop. That guy has great stuff and has performed well in the minors. He's just never been able to put it together with the big club.

He could really help solidify things if started to figure it out.

mavspwnage · 04-03-2011, 12:44 AM

Love whipping their ass like we did tonight. Would love even more a sweep tomorrow.

clutch#41 · 04-03-2011, 12:47 AM

rangers 6 runs in the 4th with 2 outs!! IMPRESSIVE!!! GO RANGERS!!!

Five-ofan · 04-03-2011, 05:32 AM

Opening day was a hell of alot of fun. The parking was ridiculous though. It was nowhere near this bad during the world series. Im really glad that the rangers are off to such a good start but im also a little annoyed they had to face wakefield when they are so locked in. A knuckleballer can screw up your timing for a few days.

I cant wait for monday when im going again and getting the replica ring.

As for Hamilton in center, while I think it is largely to remove the wear and tear on Josh, its also at least partially because Hamilton isnt a good defensive Cfer nor is murphy a good defensive lfer. So you can have a very good defensive cfer and a very good defensive lfer or a below average cfer and a below average lfer.

Male30Dan · 04-03-2011, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Five-ofan

Opening day was a hell of alot of fun. The parking was ridiculous though. It was nowhere near this bad during the world series. Im really glad that the rangers are off to such a good start but im also a little annoyed they had to face wakefield when they are so locked in. A knuckleballer can screw up your timing for a few days.

I cant wait for monday when im going again and getting the replica ring.

As for Hamilton in center, while I think it is largely to remove the wear and tear on Josh, its also at least partially because Hamilton isnt a good defensive Cfer nor is murphy a good defensive lfer. So you can have a very good defensive cfer and a very good defensive lfer or a below average cfer and a below average lfer.

P.S. Great game yesterday. You really can't expect much better of a start, minus the minor stuggles of CJ/Colby (though against a very good lineup).

Tough start for Tobin, but I like the way he fought back after the home run. I agree with Thiggy, if Strop is going to pitch at this level the way he did in the spring and as he has in AAA we are going to have a damn fine pitcher that we didn't expect to have.

alexamenos · 04-03-2011, 01:19 PM

Kinsler is on pace to have an ops of 5.000 in lead off abs this season.

clutch#41 · 04-03-2011, 01:54 PM

murph dog with the solo homerun. harrison pitching a good game. nice day go rangers!!

mavspwnage · 04-03-2011, 02:40 PM

Kinsler with ANOTHER home run and Napoli goes deep again as well. Harrison is still looking good.