Official 2010 Texas Rangers Thread

[Duck of Death]

is he still a plus defensive player? not everyone on AAA can play shortstop and JD may not want to start someone's MLB service time before they have to, or deal with a player that's short on, or out of, options. i mean he's fairly cheap so who cares if he sucks for 750K or someone who should be at AAA sucks for 300K or whatever league minimum is these days.

[spystud13]

The absolute best part of Greene's deal is Arias will be removed from our 40-man. That mother fucker sucked!!

[Brad Wesley]

Newberg's lineup:

1. Julio Borbon, CF
2. Michael Young, 3B
3. Josh Hamilton, LF
4. Vladimir Guerrero, DH
5. Ian Kinsler, 2B
6. Nelson Cruz, RF
7. Chris Davis, 1B
8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
9. Elvis Andrus, SS

I like it!

Newberg's lineup is right. There is a tremendous IF at leadoff. I liked what I saw of Borbon last year but if he just flat out sucks then we have to put Kinsler back up top and all that shit.

If Washington puts Kinsler #2 he is a fucking idiot. I just hope Greene can also play 1B. Right now we don't have someone to replace Chris Davis if he gets hurt/sucks. Greene doesn't exactly give me 100% confidence there and please don't tell me you are ready to make Smoak give up AAA ABs to be a back up 1B and DH against righties with Murphy.

[CBT]

so if vlad not a possible 1B replacement in that case?

[Brad Wesley]

so if vlad not a possible 1B replacement in that case?

that guy doing anything other than swinging scares me. he looks like his legs are about to fall off when he runs. i think he's probably 45 years old.

[NOMAAA]

vlad should not, and hopefully will not, see the touch grass this season.

[Sooner2483]

Signing official, per an e-mail from TexasRangers.com

[mdmost]

Well at least he won't be killing us this season. Hopefully, he'll be doing the killing for us. Is Tim Salmon available?

[Chachi1004]

How does Rangers Ballpark in Arlington compare to a Angels stadium as far as being a "hitter friendly park"?

[Brad Wesley]

How does Rangers Ballpark in Arlington compare to a Angels stadium as far as being a "hitter friendly park"?

our pitchers vs angel pitchers

[Drunken Mule]

I'm just real glad Vlad is in the Ranger's dugout and not the Angel's. I got to where I wouldn't even watch a game between them because of that dude.

[Ghost of LL]

Khalil Greene sucks. I don't get it. I'd think any random guy at AAA could do just as bad of a job. Nice OPS+ of 64 over the last two years.

Two words: Joaquin Arias.

Still think Khalil Greene sucks?

[Z_Horn]

Has anyone ever gone to Spring training? I have a friend who wants to go and I think it might be interesting.

[ludosc]

Has anyone ever gone to Spring training? I have a friend who wants to go and I think it might be interesting.

GO...cannot stress this enough...its a blast, especially if you're a big baseball fan and/or like to collect autographs. The easiest access to the players you will ever have. I have been 3 times (twice to AZ, once to FLA)...i have gotten autographs from pretty much every player on the 2000, 2007, and 2009 teams...

[Brad Wesley]

Has anyone ever gone to Spring training? I have a friend who wants to go and I think it might be interesting.

thinking about trying to go with my boy. he might be too young this year but it's on my list as something i have to do with him.

[Sooner2483]

GO...cannot stress this enough...its a blast, especially if you're a big baseball fan and/or like to collect autographs. The easiest access to the players you will ever have. I have been 3 times (twice to AZ, once to FLA)...i have gotten autographs from pretty much every player on the 2000, 2007, and 2009 teams...

This is Troof right here. One year, we went to Cards camp, and I got to play catch with Ozzie Smith. Being disabled has a few perks. Not many. But a few.

[Chachi1004]

I started searching for some winterball videos on YouTube last night and found this clip of Elvis Andrus from Monday. It was his last game of the year.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi766zcWIYI[/youtube]

Wow...that is awesome...but did anybody notice that the winterball crowd was about 10 times bigger than it is in Arlington? That is sad.

[Brad Wesley]

i don't really like elvis andrus

[Firemans4Horn]

I went to spring training the first year the were in Surprise. I loved it out there. You can go to about 8 different MLB team's spring training within a 30 mile radius.

[C-Man]

How does Rangers Ballpark in Arlington compare to a Angels stadium as far as being a "hitter friendly park"?

They're both "hitter friendly" last season but the Rangers Ballpark is still more of a hitter-friendly park, hitting 105 last year according to BaseballReference.com (Angels were at 102, 100 being neutral).

[C-Man]

I just hope Greene can also play 1B. Right now we don't have someone to replace Chris Davis if he gets hurt/sucks. Greene doesn't exactly give me 100% confidence there and please don't tell me you are ready to make Smoak give up AAA ABs to be a back up 1B and DH against righties with Murphy.

Khalil Greene can't even remotely hit what it takes to be a first baseman in the big leagues, not even in the NL.

[ludosc]

i don't really like elvis andrus

why the fuck not???

[C-Man]

why the fuck not???

Yeah, just caught that. How in the fuckity fuck can you not like Elvis Andrus?

[spystud13]

He's obviously begging for responses.

He also proves how much he knows about this club by saying Smoak may have to DH against righties with Murphy. Yeah, some guy named Vlad will be doing that.

[tokamak]

Jeff Wilson says that a deal being done by tomorrow, the end of the 30 day exclusive negotiating window, is unlikely. He goes so far as to say to not be shocked if Tom Hicks opts to kill the deal with the Chuck Greenberg/Nolan Ryan and start the process over again.

I swear to you, fellow shagsters, if that happens I will personally go to Tom Hicks' house and kick him in the junk.

[NOMAAA]

tiny e has put on a little bulk in that video. i like it.

[Brad Wesley]

the andrus comment is a joke. i'm the person who started the threads talking about how much bullshit it was jeter won the gold glove and how they should just quit giving out the award if the voters don't watch baseball. i will knife fight everyone here to be recognized as biggest elvis andrus mancrush ever (2nd to newberg).

spystud, my post was completely misunderstood about Smoak. Who is our backup 1B? Right now it's nobody and that isn't a good position to be in considering what Chris Davis showed last year. I don't want Smoak to be in the bigs just to fill in DH to rest Vlad (along with Murphy). Better? I'm not shitforbrains baseball person.

[C-Man]

I think Davis will be fine. He's good enough defensively that if they get .250 to .260 out of him with 30-plus homers, they're golden. Who cares if he strikes out 175 times at that point. I'd prefer to have Smoak marinate a bit more, perhaps half the season Triple A, and be ready to be a regular with the big club in 2011 in the event that Vlad doesn't work out and is only here one year.

[Brad Wesley]

I think Davis will be fine. He's good enough defensively that if they get .250 to .260 out of him with 30-plus homers, they're golden. Who cares if he strikes out 175 times at that point. I'd prefer to have Smoak marinate a bit more, perhaps half the season Triple A, and be ready to be a regular with the big club in 2011 in the event that Vlad doesn't work out and is only here one year.

I don't disagree but what happens if Davis doesn't perform? I want Smoak marinating at AAA not sitting on the bench in the bigs but right now that seems to be plan B. I trust JD and the staff to not overlook this point but as of now k greene is our utility IF.

[tokamak]

2010 projections for Chris Davis:

Bill James: .285/.343/.534
CHONE: .268/.321/.487
Marcel: .267/.320/.486
Fangraphs.com fans (so far): .260/.319/.490

Pretty much everyone expects on OPS around .800. That puts him at the bottom of regular first basemen. It's not time to write him off yet, but we need him to be better in 2010.

[tokamak]

I don't disagree but what happens if Davis doesn't perform? I want Smoak marinating at AAA not sitting on the bench in the bigs but right now that seems to be plan B. I trust JD and the staff to not overlook this point but as of now k greene is our utility IF.

I've been assuming that we will audition some non-roster invitees at spring training. Yes, it sucks that we'll be scraping the bottom of the bargain bin to find our emergency 1B option, but the team is basically out of money so that's the reality of it.

[ludosc]

the andrus comment is a joke. i'm the person who started the threads talking about how much bullshit it was jeter won the gold glove and how they should just quit giving out the award if the voters don't watch baseball. i will knife fight everyone here to be recognized as biggest elvis andrus mancrush ever (2nd to newberg).

spystud, my post was completely misunderstood about Smoak. Who is our backup 1B? Right now it's nobody and that isn't a good position to be in considering what Chris Davis showed last year. I don't want Smoak to be in the bigs just to fill in DH to rest Vlad (along with Murphy). Better? I'm not shitforbrains baseball person.

towards the middle of last season, the Rangers mentioned that Murphy would be working at 1B...as far as I know, he never actually made it into a game at 1B...however, it wouldnt surprise me to see him get a game or two there this season...also, dont forget that Salty has play 1B as well...

[Brad Wesley]

tokamak, agreed it isn't ideal to scrape the bottom for a backup 1b but on this budget eventually you have to give.

lodosc, i haven't heard a lick from newberg about murphy potentially filling in at 1B since i can remember. if he is our backup 1b that's not the worst thing i've ever heard. do you think they would take their catcher of the future out of position and move him to 1b because c davis isn't performing? you could be right but i think they stick him at catcher 5 days per week all year.

[ludosc]

tokamak, agreed it isn't ideal to scrape the bottom for a backup 1b but on this budget eventually you have to give.

lodosc, i haven't heard a lick from newberg about murphy potentially filling in at 1B since i can remember. if he is our backup 1b that's not the worst thing i've ever heard. do you think they would take their catcher of the future out of position and move him to 1b because c davis isn't performing? you could be right but i think they stick him at catcher 5 days per week all year.

here is a quote from a Star-Telegram article from July 7th of last year...the link to it doesnt work anymore so this is all i have...

Hank Blalock will get the majority of the work at first, a position he learned last season and has played on occasion this year. But Andruw Jones will also see time there, and the Rangers will see if David Murphy can play there.

Murphy was a first baseman in high school, but he didn’t take any grounders there Monday and isn’t on a timetable to do so.

I dont think Salty should play 1B on a regular basis, but maybe once a week to give Davis a day off every now and then...

[NOMAAA]

smoak is a boras guy and i believe he has the fasttrack to the bigs clause that tex did in his contract. which makes the vlad signing a little weird since you have davis, smoak and vlad that will all be able to DH. and murphy. i wouldnt be surpised to see davis traded if he is playing worth a s up to the deadline. hell maybe not, i just dont see smoak spending the season in the minors or riding the pine in the pros.

[C-Man]

2010 projections for Chris Davis:

Bill James: .285/.343/.534
CHONE: .268/.321/.487
Marcel: .267/.320/.486
Fangraphs.com fans (so far): .260/.319/.490

Pretty much everyone expects on OPS around .800. That puts him at the bottom of regular first basemen. It's not time to write him off yet, but we need him to be better in 2010.

Perhaps but BJ's projection for OPS (.877) would've been better than Victor Martinez (.861) and essentially equal to Justin Morneau (.878) in '09. Here's a good list from last year:

A. Pujols 1.101
P. Fielder 1.014
J. Votto .981
D. Lee .972
K. Youkilis .961
A. Gonzalez .958 (grrr)
M. Teixeira .948
P. Sandoval .943 (mostly 3b)
M. Cabrera .942
R. Howard .931
A. Dunn .928
K. Morales .924
L. Berkman .907
T. Helton .904
C. Pena .893
M. Reynolds .892
J. Morneau .878
R. Branyan .867
V. Martinez .861
B. Butler .853
A. LaRoche .843
P. Konerko .842
L. Overbay .838
N. Johnson .831
D. Ortiz .794

In short, I'd take Davis' defense and an .850 OPS in his second full season in the big leagues. Yes, he'll need to get it higher if he hopes to be a long-term solution for somebody at first but that would be acceptable for 2010 in my mind.

[C-Man]

I trust JD and the staff to not overlook this point but as of now k greene is our utility IF.

He's only the Rangers' utility IF in that he will fill in at second and short and perhaps be a short-term solution at third base if Young goes down for a couple of games. You don't want him playing any more than 10 games at third in '10 and not a single inning at first. If he winds up at first at any point, things have gone horribly awry.

[Brad Wesley]

He's only the Rangers' utility IF in that he will fill in at second and short and perhaps be a short-term solution at third base if Young goes down for a couple of games. You don't want him playing any more than 10 games at third in '10 and not a single inning at first. If he winds up at first at any point, things have gone horribly awry.

I don't disagree. But to take our minds off the backup 1B situation we should all start buying playoff tickets because newberg just reported the Rangers are close to signing Cobra Lewis to a 2-year deal.

[NOMAAA]

couldve sworn smoak was a boras guy. f me if im wrong.

[NOMAAA]

and if davis is half the player that morneau is i will be happy.

[tokamak]

Looks like we're going to sign Colby Lewis. Happy days are here again.

[ludosc]

Looks like we're going to sign Colby Lewis. Happy days are here again.

oh for fucks sake...

why???

[tokamak]

oh for fucks sake...

why???

Apparently he's been dominating the Japanese league the last two years. I'm going to hold off on planning the fucking parade route just yet, though.

[UTCRP]

I like it, let's see if he has his shit together.

[spystud13]

Murphy doesn't exactly help our backup 1B situation seeing as how he's also LH. Salty won't see an inning there this year.

Ryan Garko & Jonny Gomes are still out there, & their prices are going down by the day. Gomes hasn't played any 1B in the majors but he has in AAA.

[spystud13]

He's only the Rangers' utility IF in that he will fill in at second and short and perhaps be a short-term solution at third base if Young goes down for a couple of games. You don't want him playing any more than 10 games at third in '10 and not a single inning at first. If he winds up at first at any point, things have gone horribly awry.

Like it or not, he's going to work there. From Newberg:

Greene played nothing but shortstop in the big leagues until last June, when he slid over to third base for St. Louis, but he’s expected to prepare himself in Rangers camp to play all four infield spots.

[NOMAAA]

got a feeling that the roster is set and they go forward with what they got. if davis sucks at the plate, they will bring up smoak.

[bentleybrau]

oh for fucks sake...

why???

That 12-13 record and 6.83 ERA as a Ranger not getting it done for you?

[idigTexas]

It's not as though Lewis is guaranteed a roster spot or anything. Bring him in; see if he can earn one. After last season's improvement, I have a lot of faith that Nolan and Maddux know what they want in a pitcjing staff.

[Brad Wesley]

It's not as though Lewis is guaranteed a roster spot or anything. Bring him in; see if he can earn one. After last season's improvement, I have a lot of faith that Nolan and Maddux know what they want in a pitcjing staff.

agreed, but they committed $5m over 2 years. i also have faith in nolan/maddux. if he turns out decent this might push holland back to AAA which may not be the worst thing for the kid.