Friday Happy Hour at the Elysian Fields Bar & Grill
Welcome to the Elysian Field Bar & Grill, where we wonder how Yogi Berra now feels about becoming the second greatest catcher to ever play for the Yankees.
Rangers general manager Jon Daniels on Nelson Cruz, who continues to tear up the Pacific Coast League but is blocked at the big league level: “Nelson is deserving of an opportunity. If we have an opening he’ll get that opportunity but there is nobody here who deserves to lose their spot.”
Gerald Laird admitted the thought crossed his mind on Wednesday night that he might be leaving the Rangers clubhouse for the last time: “My wife kept asking me where we were going and I said I didn’t think anything will happen. I was staying put. I got calls from family and friends who were surfing the ‘Net. I’m glad nothing happened. I want to be here.”
Tommy Hunter pitches for the Rangers and he’s the first player they’ve had from the University of Alabama. They’ve never had a player from Auburn University either. They’ve had just four players who played college baseball in Alabama: Rusty Greer (Montevallo), Gary Redus (Athens State), Pat Putnam (South Alabama) and Ray Stephens (Troy State) but nobody from Alabama or Auburn.
The Rangers are 22-12 in one-run games this season. Only the Brewers (22-10) have won as many one-run games. The Rangers club record is 37 one-run wins in 1990.
R.A. Dickey on beating his former team on Thursday night: “Personally satisfying. It’s not like I have any vendetta against the Rangers for not keeping me around. I had a good experience here. It was the experience that started on my embarkation of what I am doing now, throwing a knuckleball. There are some guys in that front office and on that team I am real thankful for. But it is satisfying for me because the last time I was on this field, it didn’t go so well.”
Chris Davis is batting .371 (26-for-70) in his last 17 games to raise his average from .190 to .306. Of his 34 Major League hits, 20 have been for extra bases with nine doubles, one triple and ten home runs.
* Lefty Gomez threw a shutout on Aug 1, 1941. Beat the St. Louis Browns 11-0. Walked 11 in doing so.
* Just for the heck of it: Billy Hunter
* Torii Hunter on Angels general manager Tony Reagins trading for Mark Teixeira: “He’s like, ‘Forget it — we want to win. He came after me over the winter, and now Teixeira. He’s very aggressive. I can’t say that’s a bad thing. It’s a great thing. A lot of people wanted that extra bat in the lineup. You got it. Believe me, you got it. There aren’t many players who hit like this guy. All I can say is, ‘Wow.’”
* This one is pretty rich from Teixeira: “I’m the type of player who feels that, if I go out and do my job on the field, then contracts will take care of themselves. That’s my plan. I have never forced for a contract or an extension anywhere. I’m not going to start now.”
* Frank Francisco has a 1.50 ERA and a .156 batting average in his last 17 games.
T.R. Sullivan
Toby
Hey weren’t the Rangers trying to keep Tex out of the American League and out of the Angels hands? Looks like the Angels got Tex for less than what the Rangers wanted last year. Patience is a virtue. If the Angels win it all will Tex stay on the west coast or is he headed back to the east coast? Now Tex is a bad guy for wanting money? It is the way the game is played. Why should he give up that free agency bargaining chip that Curt Flood gave his life and career for? I am sure no one on this website, including the grey haired ghost ever took a position for the money. How much more or what kind of step was it from the Star-Telegram to MLB. Com? I am sure it was more. Now I, on the other hand serve my community for peanuts compared to what the writers and the players make. I think it was ORWELL who wrote, ” we all sleep safely in our beds because rough men, stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.” I wonder who he was talking about, the military, the police? Maybe the athletes, attorneys or writers. No yeah they are too busy making money to protect others. Which leads me to this question? Who is going to pay to watch this game or any other game if we are all starving, can’t pay or bills, can’t afford to eat? What is the top out for these athletes when will professional athletes suffer a salary adjustment? EXXON/MOBIL makes 11.5 Billion per quarter WOW! Looks like pretty soon the oil companies will have to buy GMAC, FORD and Chrysler just to assure that they have something to put gas into?
Kudo’s to the Rangers for trading Tex and getting those players from the Braves farm system. I still don’t understand what we are doing with Salty though. I believed Bobby Cox when he said Salt was ready to catch, however, everytime he catches he has passed balls. He also doesn’t seem to throw very well. As a former college catcher, i am telling you we need defense from the position. At this point, i wouldn’t be opposed to Davis going to third, and playing Salt over at first base and leaving Laird behind the plate. It does not appear that Salt or Laird or going to provide us with the pitching that we need so play them both. Ramirez can catch and play first base. WE NEED PITCHING and it looks like we are either going to have to develop it internally or sign some free agents. Lets face it we do not have a good history of either one of these. This is a good team we are just short a few starting pitchers. Nelson Cruz is done here, the RANGERS are just talking the talk, the same thing they are doing with Blalock. If Blalock had of returned and showed that he was healthy i strongly believe he was going to be dealt. It is surprising to me that the Rangers didn’t deal Cat. I would rather see Salt or Ramirez. If you put Salt’s name on the lineup card at first base would he really refuse to play that position? The bottom line is Laird is a better defensive catcher and handles the pitchers better….
Now i get it and i think you are confused by this TR. He didn’t say he has never forced a trade or forced his way off of a team. Tex didn’t want out of TEXAS because of the money, he wanted out because he saw no chance of winning in the forseeable future. This team is playing good baseball, but i think we are all deluding ourselves if we think #1 we are going to catch the ANGELS. That is not going to happen. They have too much starting pitching. # 2 if you think this team is going to win the wildcard, the Red Sox, Yankee, Twins and Tigers are going to have something to say about that. The bottom line is we don’t have enough starting pitching. Surprise, surprise, surprise. 2010 looks like a good year for this team, if we can just get some starting pitching, home grown or free agent no matter. Why not put in a waiver claim on EATON? Then we will at least have something for that horrendous San Diego deal….. Galarraga, Young, Duchsherer, Demptster, Rogers, Davis, Danks, is it any wonder we have no starting pitching???????
Not as if Cruz has not had an opportunity before…..And who would he replace? Boggs? Cat? Seems like Cat and Boggs are barely playing as it is and when they do play, they hit (Boggs and Cat hit .333 vs. Seattle this week). Could see Cruz playing if Milton had to go on DL. Hope Cruz does well when the rosters go to 40 man on Sept 1. Hitting is not the problem anyway.
It was good to see Dickey throw well…..Seemed like a good guy while he was here and was gracious towards the organization and his former teammates……Could have done with him pitching a little less effectively.
So far, Tex who? Davis has played well at all facets of the game…..A little sorry that it has forced the Hammer into his current situation……As for Teixiera, I am a big fan of his but he is full of c**p when it comes to the contract stuff. Maybe Boras is brain washing him or he has some kind of memory loss. Makes the Angels scary good though
Frank, Guardado, Rupe, and Jamey (for the most part) have been solid……CJ has been a good closer (i know he makes it interesting on most nights, maybe uncomfortable even, but he only has 4 blown saves……Same amount as Papelbon……1 more than K-Rod…..2 less than Sherrill) If Benoit gets healthy and on track, the bullpen sets up nicely for the rest of the year……Also not the problem.
Don’t teams get worse with Tex in the line-up? The Rangers started winning more games last year when Tex went on the DL, and continued when he was traded. Didn’t Atlanta actually win fewer games when Tex showed up?
Not saying that he is a bad player. It’s just one of those anomalies of the game.
Here’s to hoping it continues.
Great opening line in the post today, TR.
I wonder how much of the trading inactivity of the team was the result of being caught in the little mis-truth about Blalock’s health. If I was talking to the team and found out that they were hiding something, I would take pause in consummating any deal with the team. Hard to believe that baseball man came up with the story on his own.
Some of the inactivity was likely due to overvaluing our players again. But I think that the primary reason is that the value of young pitching has gone up quite a lot in the last couple years, making it tougher to get from other teams. If ML-ready pitching just isn’t available for what the Rangers have to offer, then what about high-ceiling A-level prospects? It doesn’t help us in 2009 or 2010, but it still positions the franchise well for the long term. We aren’t likely to have another windfall of draft picks in the first round again (like in 2007 when we had five first round picks including supplementals), so I would support this type of trade to keep the pipeline full of top-flight pitching. Something to look forward to at the Winter meetings.
This team is not a realistic contender for 2008 because it does not have the pitching. As currently constructed, the team does not have the pitching to win the division in 2009, either. Does a rotation of Padilla, Millwood, McCarthy, Hurley and Feldman really represent a significant upgrade over what we started 2008 with?
Which reminds me of a side note: Get Feldman out of the rotation NOW, before he ends up hurt, too.
Don’t get me wrong – I am more excited about the future of this franchise than I have ever been. It’s just that we still have more work to do. I hope the opportunity to make more progress is there during the winter, because it apparently wasn’t there before the trade deadline.
Oh look…Deputy Dawg is back with his endless rants. Hey Dgod who are you going to give permission to be a Texan today? Last I heard Dgod most of us thought that perhaps with some luck the Rangers could be the wild card…no one is talking about overtaking the Angels with what 53 games left?
Briant…I agree on Feldman. I’m not saying he’s the salvation of the starting pitchers next year but I can’t see much point of hurting him this year.
On Cruz…his value to us was as trade bait. Funny but no one took us up on him. One way or another he’ll be gone by next year. There’s something in him the Rangers don’t like.
On young Mr Hunter for today…I think too early for him to be here. The starter by committee worked for us once before I don’t know why we’re not going back to it.
On Cruz…”was”?
We can trade Cruz at any time, since he’s not on the major league roster, right? As far as I know, that deal can take place at any time. That is pretty valuable.
I’m guessing the return player(s) will have to be minor leaguers as well. I’d like to see him in Arlington or traded for something. I guess I might get my wish on Sept. 1st, although I don’t see how you can get him on the field. This team is stacked with good OFs as it is.
JD says no one deserves to lose their spot for Cruz? Brandon Boggs is hitting .213 in the nearly three months since May 10. As for the argument that Cruz has already had a shot, in his last 53 games with the Rangers last year Cruz hit .276 with a .454 slugging percentage. That is better production than we have been getting this year from Boggs, Byrd, Catalanotto( At least with slugging percentage), and Murphy. In other words, the last time Cruz had a shot he did better than four current Ranger outfielders are doing now. I know it is harder to make a spot for him with the 40-man roster full…but to say Boggs deserves to be on the squad in place of Cruz requires one to ignore their performances.
Actually OK Ranger Boggs is just a tad under .250. If you saw the game tonight you saw a timely hit from him after one of a number of outfield assists he’s had this year. Compare his outfield play to Cruz’s lacadasical style and you know why he’s here and Cruz isn’t.
Nice start from Tommy Hunter. He did a little post grraduate work tonight. He learned that rookie pitchers don’t shake off their catchers (Gerald wanted a curve and Hunter wanted a fast ball on that 3 run homer). He learned that he needs a little work covering 1st base and fielding his position…otherwise great. Nice fastball, great curve. He’ll get another start.
Hope Hamilton and Vasquez are all right.
The Rangers do not have the starting pitching to get that wildcard, no hatred here, just the facts. Yankees, Boston, Minnesota and Detroit will have something to say about that add our team to that mix and answer who has the best pitching and we finish last out of that group. Hey fredr_USSR, Deputies work for Sheriffs Department. Police Officers are City Employees. Deputies have County wide Jurisdiction, Police Officers have City Jurisdiction. By the way you aren’t a Native Texan, but you can claim to be a TEXAN. Last time i checked it wasn’t against the law to say things that aren’t true. Hey maybe you could get a job in the Rangers front office telling lies about the health of your players. I don’t understand how they get by with talking about a players health with the current hippa laws… Saw Blalock, Ken Hill and Bobby Witt at the work out facility today. Which leads to this question, why isn’t Blalock working out with the team? What is he doing at Lifetime Fitness working out when the team has a facility in Arlington?????? Thats right your not from TEXAS, thats right your not from TEXAS, thats right your not from TEXAS but TEXAS loves you anyway. Sing it LYLE. I’m back in the USSR, you don’t know how lucky you are, boy, back, back, back back gone……
Didn’t DANIELS say that CRUZ was the key player we wanted and needed from MILWAUKE. Now 2 years later he is gone from our plans? This is what i hate about DANIELS, CORDERO obviously was the key player in that deal from our side as everyone else has fallen off the planet. Lee is tearing it up in Houston. AH the draft picks i forgot. Surely some team needs Cruz. If CRUZ takes the next step his name can just be added to that long list of players who we never really gave a real chance to. Say he takes that next step and does what he is doing in AAA. Would’nt that be good for this team?? Wash evidently doesn’t care for CRUZ or he would be up here.
Yes, Boggs is hitting .250 now. But in his first 11 games he hit .385. Since then he is hitting only .216. Since the All-Star break he is hitting only .200. Does anyone really think that Boggs would still be around if had hit .216 during those first two weeks like has the last three months? This means that we have put more weight on his first two weeks with the club than we have his last three months…an odd way to evaluate players.
I like Brandon Boggs, and believe he can become a good outfielder. But I think that right now he is playing one level above where he should be. Remember, before this year he never played above AA (and never hit above .262 for a season). He really needed to spend this year at AAA.
I have more on this at my blog The Oklahoma Ranger:
http://oklahomaranger.mlblogs.com/
Oklahoman whatever….Boggs is hitting .249 as a part time player. I don’t get your reasoning about we have to give a certain part of the season more cedence than another. Also you totally skip his outfield assists and Cruz’s hohum (Juan Gonzalez) type outfield presence. No…give me Boggs any day of the week. He’ll do to ride the river with.
First, let me say that I think Brandon Boggs is the Rangers’ best defensive left fielder right now. His five outfield assists rank third on the team behind Hamilton’s and Byrd’s six. And you are right that this should not be ignored.
My point is that the numbers indicate that Brandon Boggs is a well below-average big league hitter right now. Yes, he is now hitting .245 on the season. But that number is not a true representation of his ability right now because there was an eleven day stretch where he hit .385. Since then (May 10), he is hitting only .211. I do think it is reasonable to place more weight on nearly three months of performance than on eleven days.
When one considers that in his minor league career Boggs never hit more than .262 on a season, and never played above AA ball, I would have projected him to be a .260-.270 hitter at AAA Oklahoma this year. This translates into a .220 hitter in the big leagues…right about where he has performed the last three months.
BTW, as I mentioned on my blog last night (http://oklahomaranger.mlblogs.com/ ) if we are going to consider outfield assists (and I agree we should) then we need to consider Nelson Cruz’s performance in that area. Last year in a little more than half a season with the Rangers Cruz had six outfield assists. Thus far this year in Oklahoma he has 10. Nelson Cruz can throw too.