10 reasons to watch the Rangers in 2008

[deftones999us]

drum rolls please

10. No more Brad Wilkerson
9. No more Sammy Sosa
8. No more Bruce Chen
7. No Jerry HGH Hairston Jr.
6. Goodbye Mike Wood
5. We have new OF's in Hamilton, Bradley
4. Gerald Laird has lost his starting position
3. Bargain deals this off season, not overpaying for trash.
2. We have Fukumori! oh yeah that's the relief pitcher not the outfielder
1. Look for the Rangers to push hard during next FA

[randy]

very good!

[randy]

Might I add:
A 1b who actually wants to be here and is willing to take coaching
Whichever young guy takes a spot in the rotation

[deftones999us]

Here are the problems that lead the Rangers to a disasterous first half
in 2007.
1) Hitting-They started 10-15 in April, following a even worse 9-20
How many teams can rebound from just 2 months 19-35? Not to mention
that we happen to be in the same division as one of the best teams in the
majors in the Angels.
2) Injuries- key injury in which i disagree with some is Frank Catalanotto
not Kevin Millwood. In the month of May we lost Cat, Millwood (2 stints in May), Hank Blalock (another big loss cause he was hitting the ball very well
hitting .285 but limited RBI's mostly due that he didn't have runners to knock in, our team was hitting in the .220-.230 range) Brad Wilkerson (what was new at the time?) Ron Mahay, Hairston, even Brandon McCarthy!
In june we lost Tex to injury, Padilla, and McCarthy again.
In july we lost Kinsler and Otsuka.
In August we lost McCarthy for a 3rd time.
3) Organization shallowness

Positive words are that Kinsler did return from the DL after working with Ron
Washington and played 50 errorless games.
Pitching was hit really hard with injuries which led to ineffectiveness.
Washington will have a better look and feel of what this team needs to
become more consistant.

This game is like playing a hand at cards, unfortunately in 2007 the Rangers
had the folding hand.

[bailiff]

I know that it will signal another poor season, but I am begging and imploring JD and RW to play some of the younger guys this season.

[TheJourneyman]

I know that it will signal another poor season, but I am begging and imploring JD and RW to play some of the younger guys this season.

I agree. It doesn't do you much good to have them and not play them to get them experience. I have been complaining about that for the past few years. I mean look at Botts. He needed more playing time in previous seasons to see if he was capable of playing everday or atleast DHing regularly. They always think they can piece together a winner by adding in older guys but all that does is delay the younger guys progression.

[randy]

Position-wise, what they throw out there will be pretty young. Byrd is 30, Bradley is 29 right now, MY is 30 or 31, Broussard is 31, Blalock is 27, Murphy and Hamilton are 26, Kinsler is 25, Salty is 22 or 23. Not babies, but not old.
As for pitchers, I agree. I hope they run Mendoza or Murray at the 5 spot, trade Padilla before the deadline and use the other or Hurley in his spot the rest of the year. that way, next year the only pitcher over about 25 or so is Millwood.If they have another young one ready, trade Milly too. Get the young guys in there when they are ready and grow with them.

[deftones999us]

I really am not convinced that any teams out there that would pick up Padilla's contract without money thrown in the deal, If he pitched anything

The only option right now and i was reading about it is taking a chance with Colon, 34. He has come off 2 seasons of injury. Same type of situation we were in with Gagne.
1 year incentive based contract worth up to 8 million. No we wouldnt depend on him, at the same time, we really have no other options. It could be a turning point if he makes a good comeback, the kind that gets you through a playoff month. Never Know.

[randy]

They signed Guardado. Yippee. He might be handy, but not a big deal. Now there is talk they are close to signing Jason Jennings-why? I do NOT understand these guys. Welcome to the Rangers MASH unit....

[TheJourneyman]

They signed Guardado. Yippee. He might be handy, but not a big deal. Now there is talk they are close to signing Jason Jennings-why? I do NOT understand these guys. Welcome to the Rangers MASH unit....

Yeah not sure he is going to be the old "everyday eddie"

[randy]

He pitched well at the end of the season as he worked back from TJ surgery. I don't mind him-a lefty in the pen with some skins who knows how to pitch is ok. What I do not understand is their interest in Jennings, Have they forgotten the names Murray, Mendoza, Rupe, Gallaraga, Tejada.
It is time for the first wave of young guys to get a shot-all these guys are 25-26 and it is time to start seeing what they have.

Hmmm...5th spot, not contending, low expectations for the season....sounds like the perfect testing ground for young pitchers to me.

[JCStone07]

I'd watch the Rangers for two reasons

Michael Young and Salty!

[deftones999us]

I'm completely sure that they are not going to say here Jason, you got
5th spot in the rotation, "go get them"
As a matter of fact i think either Mendoza or Gallaraga are going to win
the 5th spot out of spring training. If they don't you know as well as
I do that it won't take long for an injury to occur..
I really like our chances with the young guys, but you always want to
have experience just in case something goes wrong.
You don't want a guy not ready coming in and replacing another guy who
wasn't ready... or gets injured. Work load increases dramatically from minors to majors.
I'm not jumping to any conclusions, i know that they aren't overpaying Jennings to pitch.

[randy]

You're right, and I have somewhat changed my mind on the Jennings signing. He might do well here, if healthy, and be a real positive. My initial frustration is because I have heard about great pitchiing prospects for years, starting with Colby Lewis, and am still waiting to see them actually put one in the rotation and leave him and let him go thru the growing pains that Atl did with Glavine and the Tigers did with all their young guys a few years ago. It's always "they aren't ready yet" or "they need another year in the minors" and they never get here. I agree about not rushing them, but Galarraga is 26 and Murray is almost 26. If they aren't ready by now.....maybe they just arn't good enough.

[TheJourneyman]

You're right, and I have somewhat changed my mind on the Jennings signing. He might do well here, if healthy, and be a real positive. My initial frustration is because I have heard about great pitchiing prospects for years, starting with Colby Lewis, and am still waiting to see them actually put one in the rotation and leave him and let him go thru the growing pains that Atl did with Glavine and the Tigers did with all their young guys a few years ago. It's always "they aren't ready yet" or "they need another year in the minors" and they never get here. I agree about not rushing them, but Galarraga is 26 and Murray is almost 26. If they aren't ready by now.....maybe they just arn't good enough.

That's because the Rangers DO NOT REBUILD. That is a difference with them and the other teams. They think they can keep piecing together a winner by adding a few veterans when all they do is prevent the young kids from developing. As long as JD and Hicks are here, I don't see this changing. They should have listened to Melvin back in the day and we might be putting a winner on the field now.

[randy]

I don't think Hicks has the long-term vision. He can't stand the thought of tearing down, with it's correspong downturn in attendance and revenue, because he doesn't see that building a solid contender will make up what he lost and more. If I remember one of his past statements, it had to do with keeping a decent enough team that fans will continue to show up, that winning isn't important, without having to sink too much money into payroll.

[TheJourneyman]

I don't think Hicks has the long-term vision. He can't stand the thought of tearing down, with it's correspong downturn in attendance and revenue, because he doesn't see that building a solid contender will make up what he lost and more. If I remember one of his past statements, it had to do with keeping a decent enough team that fans will continue to show up, that winning isn't important, without having to sink too much money into payroll.

Yep he is all about making money and not winning. He is the only owner in Dallas that cares more about $$$ than winning games. Its a shame too. I almost wish he would just sign barroid so I can just write off the Rangers forever.

[randy]

I wish I was going home to Jessica and a big pile of money......

[deftones999us]

yeah, lets all go on vacation during the two weeks off before the Giants! Like that can't wait until after the playoffs.. Wade Phillips was quoted by saying "we are not worried about the game"
what a moron.
I know Ron Washington would not take any playoff forgranted.
It just seems like a Rangers playoff is few and far between..

[TheJourneyman]

yeah, lets all go on vacation during the two weeks off before the Giants! Like that can't wait until after the playoffs.. Wade Phillips was quoted by saying "we are not worried about the game"
what a moron.
I know Ron Washington would not take any playoff forgranted.
It just seems like a Rangers playoff is few and far between..

No Wash wouldn't. The only problem is I don't see Wash ever seeing a playoff game as a Ranger.

[TheJourneyman]

yeah it probably is, but how can you be let down when we set our standards to 4th place

I can understand that point of view. I grew up here in Texas and have always been a Ranger fan. I will say my favorite team is the Braves though. Yes I am a fan mostly because of TBS. When I started rooting for them they were one of the worst teams in baseball. Each year it was brutal knowing you had no shot. Then came the 90s. Granted we only won 1 WS but I would do it all over again because there is nothing better going into a season knowing you are going to seriously contend for the title.

The Rangers are very frustrating though. Maybe they should return to the red shoe rangers of old. I like the blue better but we won in red.

[deftones999us]

yeah, but if you look at it, it has to do with luck of the combination of players you put together to win.. Personally i would have gone with Sean Casey instead of Broussard... Average over power.
Power doesn't get the job done.
Not when that's the only way you can score.

[TheJourneyman]

yeah, but if you look at it, it has to do with luck of the combination of players you put together to win.. Personally i would have gone with Sean Casey instead of Broussard... Average over power.
Power doesn't get the job done.
Not when that's the only way you can score.

Agreed
They need more consistancy in their offense. The game where they scored 30 was a microcosm of their last few seasons. They scored runs in only 4 innings instead of spreading out that 30 over 8 or 9. They score in bunches and that is not good over the long run. It drives me crazy to see them in a 3 game series score totals of 1, 12, and 0. They may avg 5 runs a game in a series but most likely they scored 90% of those in 1 game.

[deftones999us]

No Wash wouldn't. The only problem is I don't see Wash ever seeing a playoff game as a Ranger.

i think he is a better manager than what we have ever had, he ran Mark Teixiera out of town, and you know what, maybe he just wants all the negative attitudes out, people that don't want to be here, gone.
We got alot in return from Mark, but you know, we have ALOT if unexpectively make a push for the playoffs, could you imagine who we would get for Teagarden.

There are atleast 4 players in the minors that we should get a good look at in ST.

just remember, it only can get better before it gets any worse.. and that is coming from the last mediocre-poor seasons.. what is there to expect..

As far as Washington goes, i think he will be a real good manager in this league.. He wants to win, and he is hard, but respectible at the same time. I think he only got his feet wet last season, so when he goes in this year, expect something better.. especially a better start than last years.

[TheJourneyman]

i think he is a better manager than what we have ever had, he ran Mark Teixiera out of town, and you know what, maybe he just wants all the negative attitudes out, people that don't want to be here, gone.
We got alot in return from Mark, but you know, we have ALOT if unexpectively make a push for the playoffs, could you imagine who we would get for Teagarden.

There are atleast 4 players in the minors that we should get a good look at in ST.

just remember, it only can get better before it gets any worse.. and that is coming from the last mediocre-poor seasons.. what is there to expect..

As far as Washington goes, i think he will be a real good manager in this league.. He wants to win, and he is hard, but respectible at the same time. I think he only got his feet wet last season, so when he goes in this year, expect something better.. especially a better start than last years.

I like Wash and think he can win given a team. The problem he faces is working with a ******* GM and owner and that is why I am not sure he will ever see a playoff game. They will eventually put the blame on him and run him out of town unfortunately.