Monday Morning Manager…The Interleague Imbalance
One difference between the Rangers and the Angels schedules? The Rangers have six games against the Astros. The Angels have six games against the Dodgers.
The Rangers took five of six from the Astros. The Angels won two of three against the Dodgers in Los Angeles and have three games against them next weekend in Anaheim. They have the Giants while the Rangers are in San Diego.
Roy Oswalt, two runs in six innings against Oklahoma City last night. Justin Grimm, three runs in six innings against the Astros on Saturday night. Derek Holland and Neftali Feliz still on the disabled list.
Josh Hamilton is back tonight against the Padres. Probably. The Rangers have won six straight with catcher Yorvit Torrealba behind the plate and their pitchers ERA was 2.00, including two shutouts: Athletics, Giants, two games against the D-backs and two against the Astros.
Didn’t they used to be the Diamondbacks?
Surging left-hander Matt Harrison pitches tonight for the Rangers less than two weeks to go before the All-Star teams are announced. Craig Gentry is hitting .349.
The American League is 96-72 against the National League so far this season in Interleague Play. The last time the NL had a winning record in IL was in 2003. They only win in the All-Star Game and the World Series.
1. Who do you think should pitch on Friday against the Rockies…Justin Grimm or Roy Oswalt?
2. If only one Rangers starter makes the All-Star team, who should it be? Matt Harrison, Yu Darvish or Colby Lewis?
3. Should the Rangers trying to be trading for bullpen help again?
4. What’s your take on the Rangers catching situation right now?
5. Should Craig Gentry be playing every day?
T.R. Sullivan
Toby
1. I’d like for Oswalt to get one more tune-up, so Grimm.
2. Lewis
3. Not right now. Get Holland and Oswalt into the fold then re-evaluate.
4. I like it. Anybody noticing how many gems Torrealba is calling lately? Napoli’s bat needs consistent playing time, but Torrealba is an excellent alternative behind the plate.
5. Probably until Hamilton gets back which could be today. I like him in the lineup against lefties, but I’ve never been a big fan of changing what’s worked over the long term because a role player has a hot month.
1.– Grimm – he’s already been pitching all season in the minors, and there was nothing wrong with his start on Saturday. Oswalt has only been pitching for what – a month? Let Roy continue to work on getting ready to face major league hitters again.
2.– Love Yu, but he’s the beneficiary of quite a bit of offense, there will be All-Star games in his future – go with Matt Harrison
3.– The Rangers should always be trying to make the bullpen stronger. Bullpens are a year to year proposition, and sometime a month to month, week to week or day to day – can’t ever have enough good relief arms.
4.– It’s about major league average – is that a problem?
5.– Go with the hot hand – as long as Craig is hitting (remember Tom Goodwin 1998? I have a feeling that is Craig this season ). Gentry in CF, Hamilton in LF, and Cruz in RF – every night – no matter if it’s a LHP or RHP.
1. Tough Call! It looks like Oswalt is very close to being ready, so I’d go with the old veteran. Grimm can go to AAA and get ready for another shot; maybe the competition will do Perez and Ramirez some good.
2. I really don’t think any of them make it; but I guess Darvish goes because of the wins and KO’s and most importantly, the hype.
3. Maybe a LOOGY would be a good pickup. I don’t think they need to go get another righty right now. Let’s see how Feliz does going back to the pen.
4. I love the catchers we have; no complaints here. They will start to produce more offensively down the stretch.
5. On any other team, probably. Rangers are really deep with CF’s right now.Martin and Bourbon have been hitting very well too; hopefully making Bourbon a decent trade chip. I like the playing time he is getting now; overexposure could limit his effectiveness.
1) I would start Colby Lewis on Friday, probably have Oswalt on Saturday, and Harrison on Sunday. Then I would replace Feldman with Grimm for the Monday start. Remember, Thursday is an off day so Colby would be pitching on four days rest.
2) I would probably choose Lewis because he has been the most consistent starter, although starving for better run support until yesterday.
3) With Oswalt back, and Fledman back as long reliever, and Holland probably not much more than a week away; I really don’t think the Rangers need to trade right now.
4) I like :Yorvit and Naps right now. Yorvit appears to be handling the pitchers a little better, and Napoli is showing signs of improving at the plate (hitting).
5) Gentry probably should not play against tough starting right handers, but against rightys that aren’t as tough, he should play.
1.Grimm…give Oswalt an extra start
2.For the benefit of baseball Darvish but I think Harrison deserves it more
3. Absolutely not!
4. No other catchers needed.
5. Ron Washington has the plan….just keep them switching around.
1. Take Feldman out of the rotation immediately, keep Grimm in on Friday and Oswalt can take Feldman’s spot early next week.
2. Darvish has the nasty, Lewis is a solid workhorse, but Harrison is the best Rangers pitcher from the first half. Truthfully, none of the Rangers starting pitchers have been quite AS level – solid, but not stars.
3. Always look for bullpen arms. That’s how you stumble upon a Frieri. I still think the Rangers have depth; but JD will have their eyes open as usual.
4. Seems like we went years trying to make Salty and Teagarden pan out; it’s nice to have two starting-quality catchers cycling in there.
5. Gentry is an awesome spark plug for this team, loose the reins and let him run. I’d have him in CF, giving us a ++OF every game. Keep him at #9 in the order and let him turn the dial to Kinsler, Elvis – suddenly we’ve got three speedy guys looking to set up Hamilton/Beltre. I am a Gentry fan.
1. With everyone else, give Oswalt one more tune up in OKC. Let’s see what Grimm can do for Act 2.
2. Matt Harrison a.k.a. Mr. Groundball!
3. Let’s see….bullpen is their strength…..ummmm, no.
4. I love Napoli. I was a little off on Torrealba, but he seems to handle the pitchers well. Good solid corps.
5. I’m with Fred. When Wash pluts him in, that’s when he needs to be there. Trust Wash.
oops…..”plugs”…….
1. Give the ball to the Grimm Reaper on Friday and let Oswalt take Feldman’s next start. I was a big time Feldman fan but he doesn’t have it this year.
2. I couldn’t pick between the three. I think they all deserve it.
3. With Kogi and Ogando hurt and Tateyama stinking up the place, I think we should definitely be looking for bull pen help.
4. I am not a Torrealba fan. I can’t stand watching him move around so much behind the plate and he isn’t hitting his weight. I’d like Treanor back.
5. My outfield would be Murphy, Hamilton Gentry right now. Cruz is struggling and both Murph and Gentry are hot. Murph has decent power and a better average. When Nelly is crushing then Gentry should be out. Or keep the same rotation with Gentry and Murph.
1) Grimm, the young man has earned another start at this level. Let Roy O have another tune up, and let Grimm Reap the reward of his labor.
2) Yu Darvish, the game is all about the fans. Give em what they want.
3) No need for bull pen help, The Rangers have potentially the best bull pen in the game. Joe Nathan Closing. And backed by
Mike Adams,Robbie Ross, Neftali Feliz,Alexi Ogando,Koji Uehara or Mark Lowe. Thats real salty. That’s assuming Neffy and Ogando come back healthy.
4) Catching is fine.
5) Gentry needs to play every day, he brings too much to the table to let him sit. we would be king had Gentry been in right field in game 6 plus he”s swinging the bat and having his breakout year, what else does the guy have to do ?
1. I trust our coaching staff & front office to make the right decision…Grimm or Oswalt…Don’t think either one is a bad option
2. Whoever doesn’t need the rest the most. :) I want to win the game, but I want to win down the stretch more.
3. Again, I trust JD & his team. They know our needs and what’s available at what price much better than any of us. Plus, with Moreland going down it’s possible there is now a more pressing need.
4. I like Torrealble calling the game for just about everyone except Holland. Napoli seems to do a good job of giving him the Wash treatment, without Wash going to the mound. On the other hand, Napoli’s throwing has been junk, and I’m wondering if his offensive woes are affecting him defensively behind the plate. Regardless, the 2 of them are 100 times better than anything we’ve had since Pudge left. (Althought, I love Treanor!)
5. Love Gentry. Have been a Gentry fan for several years and always killed me that he would get injured in the spring. I like him in CF over Martin or Borbon. I like the idea of a modified platoon with him & Murphy to give Gentry an off day against really tough R-on-R match-ups, which also means we can get Hamilton & Cruz off the field a bit more for rest. In the end…I trust Wash.
Many if, ands, or buts. Rangers caught lightning in a bottle and were rewarded with a good start from Grimm. DO NOT expect the same performance in his next outing. Oswalt needs one more start to be close to ml level. Management is determined to fit him in, so against the AAA Rockies would be the best opponent. It moves Grimm even further back in his days between starts. I’m hoping the pen is well rested and he is not abused to the max. These next 16 games are a stretch that the Rangers must put together a good streak, to pad the lead. I expect an 8 game lead at the break and it should happen. Then the second half pitching should be settlled and ready for the 3rd straight AL crown.
1. The way it is now.
2. Matt, he is consistent and keeps the ball. Colby would be next, he gives up to many homers though. I can admit he is more exciting than Harrison with all the strikeouts.
3. Everyone in the bullpen has been excellent this year, if Wash can get someone better then I guess it would be fine. Though it will be difficult and the rangers already have 3 or 4 closers.
4. If he can keep hitting against both righties and lefties, but gentry isn’t going to have as many big games as Murphy offensively. Gentry’s defense is better than Murphy’s as well as his speed.
5. Napoli calls better games and has better offense, defensively the two are about the same. If the rangers go shopping at the trade deadline;
catching is what they should go for, someone to takeover for torrealba or some good prospects.