Monday Morning Manager…2007
Happy New Year from the Elysian Fields. Good luck on all those New Years resolutions. My resolution is to win my war with Verizon. My wireless internet connection at home stinks. Connection is sporadic and the former Bell Atlantic/GTE monolith is unresponsive to a number of sarcastic, angry and snarling e-mails.
Some of my better work if I may say so. But I’m more interested in what you have to say as we get rolling on a New Year with all our Elysian Field bloggers who seem to enjoy this almost as me.
Here are the opening 2007 salvos but remember, general rants are always welcome. By the way:
Hoc anno ego pro certo diaetam sequi incipiam, musculos saepius exercebo!!
1. Did the Rangers offer enough money to Barry Zito or do you think they should have gone as high as the San Francisco Giants?
2. Besides Roger Clemens and Mark Mulder, is there a starting pitching free agent out there that the Rangers should sign? The candidates include Steve Trachsel, Mark Redman, Jeff Weaver, Brian Moehler, Tomo Ohka, Joel Pineiro, Tony Armas Jr. Shawn Estes and Ryan Franklin.
3. Which ex-Ranger – still employed – is worth talking to: Rick Helling, Aaron Sele, John Thomson, Ryan Drese or Chan Ho Park?
4. What position – besides pitcher – still concerns you and how would you address it?
5. Which of these pitchers appeal to you as the fifth starter: Kameron Loe, John Koronka, Josh Rupe or Edinson Volquez?
T.R. Sullivan
Toby
1. The Giants can have him.
2. trachsel and Pineiro are the two best but the Rangers don’t need either one.
3. Rick Helling.
4. Still like a RH hitter for the lineup…Shannon Stewart sounds good to me.
5. Kameron Loe
1) We may not have offered enough, but I am glad we didn’t offer what the Giants did.
2) I don’t think I would sign any of those that are available.
3) As crazy as this sounds, if we aren’t paying Chan Ho a ridiculous amount like before, we might could talk to him.
4) I am not satisfied with where we sit as far as utility player. I am not confident with Meyer or Arias starting the season. I am still in favor of Loretta.
5) I still think Volquez could be special and would like to see him get another shot, but to start the season I would go with Rupe.
1) The money the Giants gave Zito might be appropriate for Randy Johnson or Roger Clemons in their primes, but Zito is not in their class.
2) Bring in Pineiro who has been successful as a ML starter and release Wood who has not.
3)None of the above.
4) Not a position but the general falloff of power in the linup with the departure of GMJ.
5) a) Josh Rupe; b) Edinson Volquez; c)Kameron Loe.
1. The Rangers made a competitive offer. I would have gone a little higher but not near as high as what the Giants offered. I think 16 million a year would have been appropriate in today’s market.
2. Ryan Franklin appeals to me. For the right contract of course. I wouldnt get into the little bidding wars for weaver and pineiro.
3. Ryan Drese interests me in a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
4. Leftfield is still a concern for me. I like the signing of frank as a DH but Wilkerson still has a lot to prove. He has a lot of talent and there is no reason he shouldnt be successful in Arlington if he is healthy, but i’m not sure when he will be back to full health.
5. I really like Josh Rupe as the 5th starter. Volquez has yet to show up and pitch the way he is supposed to. Kam Loe has the right stuff but may end up being a better reliever.
1. The Rangers made a fantastic offer, but the Giants did a Tom Hicks and blew everyone out of the water. I dont like talking about this.
2. I dont think the Rangers should be interested in Clemens and shouldnt even think about signing him. Redman, Trachsel, and Pineiro should receive some interest from the Rangers.
3. Helling, Sele, or Thomson, but only offer minor league deals.
4. RF. I just hope Nelson Cruz can live up to what the Rangers think he can be. One guy that I like is Jason Kubel from the Twins. I would call the Twins and see what it would take to acquire him ASAP.
5. Josh Rupe. Kam Loe would fit nicely into the pen, Koronka is a good stand by starter, and Volquez just needs to get his stuff together, fast!
Salve! O wise and well educated TR…but I’m not sure we have the hosses for this year!
1.Time will tell on Zito. If he stays healthy throughout the contract we screwed up
2. Maybe Trachsel or Redman…but only if we don’t get Mulder.
3. Been there…done that…got a T shirt and wore it out and now use it to clean the Jeep’s windows.
4. I think all the rest of our line up will work itself out in the Spring…I think we have the utility infielder and utility outfielder we might need and even the horses for backup catcher. Don’t screw with our position players. Trade drew Meyer!
5. Koronka had 14 decisions for us last year but He sure did not impress in Arizona. You forgot Rheineker…my idea is that both of them are trade bait if they’re not #5. Loe deserves a chance but if he fails then it’s Rupe. I have no confidence in Edinson Volquez and as far as I’m concerned he can be traded for prospects also.
1. San Fran paid a ridiculous amount. The Rangers were wise to top out where they did and impose a deadline.
2. There’s a reason those guys are still unsigned – either control problems, lack of stuff, homerun tendencies, etc. (This includes Weaver, who just happened to get hot at the right time last season). I would ink Aaron Small to a minor league contract with a spring training invite before all those other guys … I also think the Rangers could make a very reasonable deal for Zach Greinke, who the Royals have soured on and want to ship to the bullpen.
3. Sele (if he can still show off the 12-6 curve) and Drese (if he can still spot a sinker) are all worth looks and minor league contracts.
4. OF, backup C, utility IF. Catcher concerns me because if Laird gets injured, I’m not comfortable having Ojeda or Quiroz step in full time. I’d bring in Matt LeCroy who with a good spring, could not only be a third catcher, backup 1b, but also might be that key right handed platoon to Catalanatto at DH. He’s got impressive power. If LeCroy has a lousy spring, cut him and let Botts take his hacks at DH, backup 1b, and pray you don’t have an injury at catcher.
As for the outfield, I will concede the points that – (a) Cruz has excellent potential. (b) Lofton has still shown consistency. (c) Wilkerson sure can’t be any worse than he was last year. But those are a lot of IFs. I’ll take Bernie Williams on a 1 yr ML contract. Bernie’s apparently not a gold glove caliber fielder any more, but he’s still well above average. He’s insurance for Lofton, can spot him on days against tough lefties, and could certainly be capable of filling in at the corner OF and DH, and would make for a good late inning pinch hitter.
Drew Meyer will do just fine as our utility infielder, but if we have an injury at 2b or 3b (Arias can get recalled to fill in at ss), we’re in trouble. Obviously Mark Loretta is the catchy name with the most talent, but I think he will sign with someone who guarantees him a starting job. Mark Bellhorn might not be a bad minor league sign, as an alternative.
IN SUMMATION:
1 yr ML contracts: Matt Lecroy, Bernie Williams
1 yr minor league deals: Aaron Small, Aaron Sele, Ryan Drese, Mark Bellhorn
Oops! Forgot #5.
Josh Rupe is definitely the favorite. He’ll do well. I also think that Kam is better suited for a starter than reliever. The thing about sinker pitchers is that when you lose your sinker in a game, you’re going to get lit. But you may be lights out for 6 innings. In a middle relief/set-up situation, I’d rather have 1 inning consistency from a guy that can dominate (Francisco and Otsuka) than someone who I have to wonder whether he’ll be “on” or “off”. When you stretch out Kam over 6-7 innings, he’ll produce quality most of the time without the risk of blowing a late inning game. I imagine we’re going to need both Rupe and Loe in the rotation before the first month of the season is over. I wouldn’t be surprised to see an injury or watch Tejeda go through another bad stretch to where he gets demoted after going 0-3 and an ERA of over 7.
1. Let the Giants overpay for Zito. What he signed for is way to risky of a contract to a Pitcher.
2. I like Redman and Armas Jr. out of these pitchers. Both are steady pitcher who get the job done.
3.I think that Thomson is the best of that group.
4. I would like them to add another right handed bat like a Shannon Stewart perhaps.
5. I like Rupe the best because of what he showed us last spring training. I would like to see him do that again but not get hurt of course.
Hostes alienigeni me abduxerunt. Qui annus est?
1. The Rangers offer to Zito was in line with all the other crazy contracts that were handed out this off-season – no, they should not have matched the Giants offer.
But I’m still wondering…the Ballpark is suited for lefthanders, and the Ranger not only didn’t sign Zito but also gave away a pretty good left-handed pitching prospect (Danks) for a righty (McCarthy) noted for giving up flyballs and HR’s – and the Rangers have how many high ceiling lefthanded pitching prospects still in the minor leagues? Anyone? Anyone?
2. I for one, am tired of the Rogers Clemens run around – it reminds of the Peanuts cartoon strip with Lucy holding the football for Charlie Brown (think: Roger as Lucy and the Rangers as Charlie Brown).
I fail to understand the fascination that the Rangers front office and many fans have for pitchers coming back from serious injuries, like Mulder and Gagne. I’m trying to think of how many pitchers have come back from those kind of injuries who were as good or nearly as good as they were before their injuries, as opposed to pitchers who came back from injuries, or at least tried, and weren’t nearly as effective (read: merely average or below) I have a feeling there are a lot more pitchers who fall into the second description – much like the rest of the mediocre pitchers on your list.
3. John Thomson – but only on a “make good” type contract – no guaranteed money or roster spot unless he peforms in Spring Training.
4. Who is going to hit behind Mark Teixeira? Is it a coincidence that after Carlos Lee was inserted in the slot behind Mark that his BA went up 20 points and he more HR’s in the 2 months that Lee was here than he did in the 4 previous months?
5. Josh Rupe and Kameron Loe appeal to me – but I have a feeling that John Koronka or John Rheinecker are the ones who’ll get that slot (at least to start the season)
1. The Rangers’ offer was more than competitive. They did well by not matching the Giant contract.
2.Armas, Jr and Pineiro. Both are not yet 30 and still have some upside. But I’d rather have Mulder.
3.I’d sign John Thomson.
4.Every time you go into a season starting a rookie is always a reason of concern. But the biggest concern is getting another power hitter in the lineup.
5. Rupe was going to be the fifth starter last year but an injury at the end of Spring Training slowed him down. Hopefully, he’ll be healthy this time. If he proves he has the stamina, then he should be the fifth starter. Loe to the pen. And Koronka and Volquez at AAA
1. Rangers offered enough. Maybe next season we can offer Carlos Zambrano eleven years and $364 million (with an option for a twelfth).
2. Nope. I’d rather use the fifth spot on our young guys and giving them a shot at the bigs. And I’d like to use this opportunity to say that Jeff Weaver is still a waste of space on any roster.
3. Drese. He left too soon, and we didn’t try to fix him first.
4. Right-handed power bat. I really hope we use Botts for it, but for some reason I don’t think it will happen.
5. Rupe. He had the job last year but got hurt.
1. The Giants are crazy, they can have Zito at that price.
2. From that list, I might give Redman or Ryan Franklin a shot at the rotation, but they certainly don’t deserve a lot of money being thrown at them.
3. Thomson and Sele are getting a bit old, but I might give them a shot at earning a spot in spring training. I definitely would scoop up Drese and see if you can make the Hafner deal a LITTLE less painful. I seriously think he has some upside.
4. It’s got to be the outfield. I think signing Shannon Stewart is a good idea if he wants to come at a decent price.
5. The one who performs the best in spring training. Somebody needs to step up. If I had to guess, I would say Loe or Rupe earn the fifth spot, but either of the other two could surprise me.
In response to e.czajka, who couldn’t think of a dominant pitcher who recovered from serious arm surgery – John Smoltz. He said himself that the Ballpark is best-suited for left-handers, so I say GO GET Mark Mulder. I think that could potentially be a huge mid-season aquisition….And we all know the Rangers usually tease us till the All-Star break anyway.
1.Yes, the offer was fine and the deadline was impressive cause he wasn’t going to come to TEXAS anyway. This was waisted time and effort while the next best available signed elswhere.
2.None of the remaining free agent pitchers are worth considering. Our young guns are a better pool to choose from.(even without Danks)
3.Do not waist time talking to any Ranger-ex, develop the young guns.
4.Rangers need a RH hitting utility player–Know where JD can trade a relief pitcher(I mean two)for one since all the FA choices are signed?
5.5th starter order of selection is Rupe / Loe / Koronka / Volquez.
Last year we finished 3rd or was it next to last in the West?(yes!) What exactly has been done to improve that finish? Nothing, not even Wash can do it without the players. Three key targets: A-class SP; RH bat; and Utility–are all missing from our team. Jamey please send your resume to Hicks.
1)I urged J.D. to “overpay” if necessary for Barry Zito. After looking at the bottom line, what was it $136 million, I’m glad we didn’t go anywhere near that. Kudos for J.D.
2)Maybe Mark Redman, a serviceable pitcher on an awful KC Royal team..probably would do much better on our team.
3)Aaron Sele has had success here, and would likely accept an offer. John Thomson, a huge mistake in letting him go (thanks John Hart), I’d sign with incentives. Drese and Helling I’m afraid aren’t the answer. If Chan Ho Park is the answer, it must be a very stupid question.
4)The outfield corners give me much angst…no power, lack of overall speed-even with Lofton, and high strike-out ratios-given human windmill Brad Wilkerson and untested Nelson Cruz. The outfield power might be adequate, if Catallanato can re-establish himself with the Homerun Porch in right field…but overall, the outfield “power” is a popgun offense. We better get production from Tex, Mike Young, Ian Gerald Laird and Hank to make up for the lack of pop in the outfield. Fielding in the outfield will only be adequate I’m afraid, minus GMJ.
5)Rupe. Josh Rupe. Nothing but Josh Rupe. Savvy, has stuff, and seems to be a gamer.
1) They didn’t offer enough to Zito, but it didn’t mattter.
2)I’m intriuged by Redman and Ohka.
3) Sele, but just barely.
4) Back up catcher. Einar Diaz seems like a cost effective solution.
5) Loe. He still has to develop an out pitch, though.
1. I think they offered too much for Zito. Best year to date #3 starter on a contender. Won’t be #1 on Giants.
2. No, go with a youngster
3. I think Drese has the most upside, but no guaranteed money.
4. A power bat to hit behind Tex, unfortunately I don’t think what we need is available anywhere.
5. I think Rupe will earn the job out of ST. Not ready to give up on Volquez yet, although I would package him for a big bat in a min. Loe and Koronka have already had good shots but they could still surprise me.
1. They offered enough.
2.Tomo Ohka, Joel Pineiro, Tony Armas Jr.
3. None of the above.
4. I’m ok with the roster as is. Give Cruz and Botts a chance to play significant roles and if they fail then you go get a Matt Stairs like player to fill the hole.
5. I think Volquez has the most upside if he can show some better command this year. Rupe and Loe probably have next most upside, but in the end, Koronka is probably the safest choice to give you solid innings. I’m excited to see what they all have in spring training.
1. They almost overextended themselves on a pitcher of the offseason (Again).
2. I am interested in Tony Armas Jr. He’s got a 4.45 lifetime era and guess what? He’s not really on anybodys radar that I’ve seen so we might get him CHEAP.
3. Please do not recycle our Rangers. Take directly to the dump
4. Where ever Brad Wilkerson is concerns me. Talk about Inky without the POP.
5. John Koronka has the best upside. yes AV, I said it!!!
1) No pitcher is worth that many years. It is almost certain he will miss significant time somewhere in the next seven years. The problem isn’t the AAV it’s the years that will kill you.
2) I like Tony Armas Jr.
3) Minus Chan Ho they are all worth talking to. If you can sign one of them to a minor league with an invite then there really is no risk.
4) I like the lineup the way it is and the opportunity it gives some of the young players that should be able to come up. Botts can fill the right handed dh roll, Fast Freddy can give you a defensive substitute and speed off the bench (which Washington might be interested where Buck could care less), and I like Drew Meyer as our utility player. He came up last year and didn’t embarass himself. He was a first round draft choice and his teammates and coaches seem to love him. Give the kids a chance and see if Washington might actually use them as oppossed to Buck who just looked at them sitting at the end of the bench.
5) I like Rupe in the rotation with Koronka the back up plan there. Give me Loe out of the pen in the seventh and Volquezas the long man and see if he can start finding some control. Should be a great competition this spring full of surprise in Surprise. Rock Me.
1.Come on 126M lets see how many free agents they sign over the next 7 seasons
2.Joel Pineiro, Tony Armas Jr. both have great stuff but need to get it together between the ears.
3.John Thomson, Ryan Drese -Dreese only consernse me with his club house attitude was good but a little wacko. Thompson is a cheaper “Zito” good solid veterian lefthander
4.DH- pray Botts isnt a David Bosworth and can provide 100rbi.
5.Rupe- good stuff but the elbow conserns me. What ever happened to Colby Lewis I thought he was the next Roger Clemens.
Ok so I would offer contracts to ML- John Thompson 1yr 3mil
IF-Manny Alexander
Giovanni Carrara P minior leagues
LHP David Wells, minors buyout if he fails
Trot Nixon- major league -buyout if ness.
(1) I like the offer the Rangers made. The Giants’ bid was insane.
(2) If they could get Armas for a cheap, short-term incentive-laden deal, I’d go for it. He’d be a nice guy to have for one season while some of the young arms get another season to develop. Definite no on Franklin. He’s been horrible at The Ballpark.
(3) John Thomson
(4) Lack of a big bat. Hopefully, Jason Botts and/or Nelson Cruz will deliver.
(5) Josh Rupe. I’ve seen enough of John Koronka, thank you very much.
1) Rangers offer was fine. Any player that is available as a free agent in my fantasy league half way through the season shouldnt be given that kind of contract.
2) Tony Armas, no doubt.
3) I will pass on all former rangers. Did we really trade Hafner for Drese and Diaz?
4) The whole Outfield is a huge question mark. I have no faith in wilkerson. Loften is old and I am scarily optimistic about cruz. At this point, there is no way to address this problem other than to hope each player is able to produce close to what the rangers think they are capable of.
5) I still say Volquez. Any pitcher with a plus fastball and plus changeup with good command all through the minors should be able to become a quality #5 starter in the majors eventually.
Hoc anno ego pro verecundia semper ubi-bo sub ubi-um, atque humilitatem saepius exercebo!
Me enjoy this.
1. Plenty of $. Therefore no.
2, 3, 4 and 5. I prefer JD’s form of CONSTRUCTIVE gambling.
Whatever doesn’t work out for this year still lays the foundation for next.
None on that list would be constructive.
We still have to choose between
a) TRADING UP + SIGNING to win this year;
OR
b) PLAYING ALL our question marks this year to maximize their (trade or stay) value for ’08.
If we choose a),
then
while any formerly decent pitcher, especially Thompson, is a potential boon or bust, Drese, at least, has upside to boot.
But we’d be much better off gathering a bunch of that potential and trading UP for a Sheets or a Jon Lester.
Loretta would be the one Utility IF who’d be capable of DH, in case Cat and Botts need to fill in for Wilk in LF or Cruz in RF. Loretta could also improve our situation at 3B vs. lefties. So he’s effectively the IF/OF security we lack.
Shannon Stewart is the most intriguing pure OF safety net for Lofton’s health, and is capable of DH on days of his own (foot) rest.
Todd Greene is the only catcher I see able to improve our (otherwise light) hitting vs. righties from the C spot.
BUT, these are all roster spots, AB’s and MLB experience taken away from the boys of Plan B.
If we choose b)–
if we commit to maximizing our value and therefore our chances FOR ’08, rather than rushing to maximize our chances to win in ’07– then battles between
the four (+ other) pitchers mentioned
between Arias/Meyer for IF,
between Quiroz/Ojeda for C,
between Guzman/Byrd for CF (in the tutledge of Lofton),
not so much for results as for evidence of docility with their respective pitching & hitting coaches, could be of enormous value toward their playing or trade value by the All-Star and Winter breaks.
Given JD’s propensity to gamble constructively, I’d bet most on plan B.
“Never put off ’til tomorrow what you can put off ’til the day after tomorrow.”
— Mark Twain
Barry Zito is right where he belongs. He is with a team that will finish 3rd in the division and it’s superstar is a criminal who will break the single biggest record in baseball by cheating.
The Rangers once again find themselves in a familiar position of being stuck with other peoples trash. None of the names mentioned are worth the money they might ask. Stick with what you’ve got.
See above comment.
Well, I can’t wait to see how they replace Mark DeRosa. Oh yeah, they can’t. The Rangers will address the problem the way they do every year. Wait until the last possible moment and pick up some spare part they hope will have a surprising year in their ballpark. Same story, different year.
Loe should be in the pen. Koronka’s been figured out. He should go back to AAA and work on it. Josh Rupe is promising, but he can’t stay healthy. Volquez needs another season at AAA which basically says they gave up the wrong prospect in that deal.
My prediction for the Rangers season as follows.
3rd place in a weak division.
Note to Ron Washington. You don’t have the pitching pal. Truth is, the Rangers don’t have the hitting either. Trade Texeira while his value is highest. All baseball antichrist clients need to vacate Arlington immediately.
I have to agree with alot of what alek said.
1. I think the Rangers were used by Boras but I also think that Boras will tell his free agents that an owner to talk to is Hicks because he always gives a good offer and will treat you to a nice night.
2. I like Joel Pienero but I think hes a forth starter at best. I would look at Ohka to be a solid third or fourth starter.
3. I think John Thompson should get another shot in Texas. He was a very solid starter.
4. The position that concerns me is still the corner outfield spot. Wilkerson concerns me and so does Nelson Cruz.
5. Rupe is the best out of those choices. I agree with Alek that Koronkas been figured out and hasnt much left. I also agree with him when he said that we should trade Tex. I love Tex. Hes my favorite player but Boras will drive up the price and we might as well get back some great players in return and try and give Botts a chance at first. I dont agree with Alek when he said that we’re a third place team. Baseball in North Texas will return and it will return soon