Monday Morning Manager at Elysian Fields

First and foremost: NO to Barry Bonds. One of the phrases that I hear Bud Selig use over and over again is "the integrity of the game". Barry Bonds by association - whether he is guilty or not, is a disgrace to "intergrity of the game".

If the Rangers front office is even thinking about Bonds, because they are so concerned about winning no matter what the cost - then they too would be guility of ruining "the integrity of the game" - and would lose me as a fan forever. Save the money you'd spend on Barry - and spend it on pitching.

1. None of the above save the money for pitching - it's time to give Jason Botts the opporutnity - and please take a look at his splits from last season in AAA, he hit well against both righties AND lefties this season.

2. How about a year of Kenny Lofton platooning with Ryan Freel (who is supposedly on the trading block) - Freel would also fit in nicely as a back up infielder since the loss of Mark DeRosa appears to be imminent.

3. Nope - wait for Vernon to hit the free agent market next season. Chances are very good that even if you brought him in on a trade - he wouldn't sign a long term agreement right away - he'd test the free agent market - so why "spend" all that talent when next off season all you need to "spend" is money.

4. If you are throwing out trade possiblities that include Eric Hurley and Joaquin Arias - then Mr. Daniels probably, no make that definitely, needs to talk to teams that are knee deep in young pitching that can help the Rangers now - the White Sox? The Tigers? Whatever, and whoever Jon Daniels talks to at the GM meetings, it had better be about starting pitching.

5. No, see my answer to #1 - spend the money on pitching.

Oh and one more thing - whatever "budget" Mr. Hicks has given Jon Daniels to work with this off season - he needs to spend most of it on pitching.

1) Frank Thomas. The Rangers don't need a left handed DH. They need a DH who can hit. Frank represents most bang for the buck. Familiar with Ron Washington. Good in the club house and can still hit.

2) Kenny Lofton. Hits for average, plays a great centerfield and can steal bases.

3) Worst trade ever conceived. Would create two holes to fill one.

4) Atlanta. Trade Akinori Otsuka for Lance Corimer, Time Hudson, Oscar Virrael or Horacio Ramierz. Move Wes Middleton to closer.

5) See #1.

1) Frank Thomas. The Rangers don't need a left handed DH. They need a DH who can hit. Frank represents most bang for the buck. Familiar with Ron Washington. Good in the club house and can still hit.

2) Kenny Lofton. Hits for average, plays a great centerfield and can steal bases.

3) Worst trade ever conceived. Would create two holes to fill one.

4) Atlanta. Trade Akinori Otsuka for Lance Corimer, Time Hudson, Oscar Virrael or Horacio Ramierz. Move Wes Littleton to closer.

5) See #2.

1. First of all, none of the three free agents is worth signing in terms of what the club would be losing.
Signing Bonds would attract a ton of media coverage and provide an OK bat in the middle of the lineup. But what good is national coverage when you won't have fans at the games? The club would be losing a significant amount of its integrity by signing a cheater such as Bonds.

Luis Gonzales has made it clear that he would like to stay in the NL West (either Padres, Dodgers, or Giants) to torment the team that dumped him, Arizona. And given the Dodgers' recent vacant spot in the outfield, he's likely to end up in LA. Besides, he's also a Type A free agent which would mean that the Rangers would have to give up a first-round pick to Arizona (even though they didn't want to keep him). A first-rounder for a guy in the twilight of his career? Not wise.

Now David Delucci is a good player. Solid outfielder with some power. But he can't hit lefties, will demand a significant contract, and would also cost a first-rounder. I don't think he's worth it but he'd be a better signing than the other two.

2. Pierre is the second best centerfielder (and leadoff man) in the market. But his reliance on high batting average in order to have a decent OBP along with his weak arm are worrisome. But if the Rangers manage to trade for the White Sox Brian Anderson (a major disappointment last year), the other four could be viable solutions for a one-year deal; or they could just sign someone for one year and wait for Vernon Wells and Torii Hunter to become free agents next year.

3. Only if we get assurance that Wells will sign an extension. Then we could go get Adam Kennedy and Greg Zaun.

4. He should talk to the Tigers. They don't have a first baseman and Sheffield is not going to cut it. The Tigers have younger and stronger arms who have already been to the World Series. Whereas the White Sox have pitchers that are more expensive, more tired, and older arms. And they are going to still want Michael Young. To me, Young has more value than Teixeira.

5. I'd rather have Bonds. And I really don't want Bonds on this team.

1. Have some guts. Sign Barry. After al, the whole world loves playing for the new manager.
2. Don't be silly. The new manager is meeting with Gary Matthews Jr. this week. All is well.

3. No

4. Trade Michael Young to the White Sox for Brian Anderson, Brandon McCarthy, Scott Podsednik and Neal Cotts

5. Oh sure, of course, why not. Plus Rafael Palmeiro too

1.why do we need a left handed DH? why not Botts .. he's a switch hitter give him a go ..and most important he's cheap and already signed up.
2.Steve Finley seems to be the only one that might consider coming here and should be reasonably cheap (only need him for 1 year if Vernon Well's wants to come here)

3. NO NO and NO . the Rangers would make the biggest mistake doing this trade. The reasons being Kinsler and Laird have only just started their careers and are showing lots of promise. I would wait till Wells becomes a free agent then try for him.

4.Any club that wants to get rid of starting pitching because the Rangers need it badly.

5.why not? I have suggested it before, as a stop gap measure he might be an option. (but only for a price)

1) Deullucci. He is the most versatile, good clubhouse leadership and can hold his own with a bat.
2) Lofton. Gives us a good fielding center-fielder, a leadoff man and some speed. Plus he is a short-term plug until we get Wells next year.

3) No way. We can wait for that kind of price. Giving up way too much.

4) Tigers. We need starters. We have bullpen depth.

5) Maybe...at the right price definatly. Incentive laden deal.

Sign Barry Zito. If we are going to put down over $20 million just to talk to Matsuzuka then go sign Zito for $16 million a year. Come on the man has proved that he can pitch in Arlington and he has never missed a start due to injury. If im JD then i am going to Zito saying sign yourself a check for the amount you want and come be our ace. After that sign a short term CF aka Lofton and then bring in Vernon Wells in a year.

1. none off the list
2. none off the list

3. four young for one just starting the back sid, NO

4. I don't know enough of the farm of other teams to say

5. NO

People we are dealing with millionaires here Wells is like the others, he has just one last BIG contract left. He will go to the MONEY.

In an interview at the ballyard during the 2005 season Zito said no quality pitching free agent wants to come to the launching pad. Over pay for to long and any will come. GROW YOUR OWN PITCHING.

1. David Delucci, because he's the youngest and has the most left in him.
2. Juan Pierre, because he's the fastest, youngest and best player.

3. NO! I would immediately call for Daniels' job.

4. Good question....My guess would be the White Sox, because they have the most starting pitching.

5. If Sosa wants to sign a minor league deal and earn his way on the team, I'd give him a shot.

1) None of the above, no matter how much I like Delucci. As one began, "We don't need a lefty..." we need outfielders who can hit left-handed pitching. If we pay De Ro Permanent-3B money, might he come back to play 3B vs. lefties and RF vs. righties? In that case he'd be worth almost as much as GMJ and more than Carlos Lee, b/c he would balance our hitting (and subsequent fielding) against righties and lefties. With almost every CF mentioned (Dave Roberts excepted), we'd be stuck w/ our same old woes against lefties.

2. Dave Roberts. Juan Pierre's arm has been desdribed as a noodle. Cooked or uncooked I know not, but GMJ he's not. And yet, if Dave Roberts, then why not Freddy Guzman? Make that FG vs. lefties, Nelson Cruz vs. righties. Or FG in right (splitting time w/De Ro, who's at third vs. lefties) and Nelson Cruz full time in CF. One year later, people see another budding CF worth 10 million per year!

...Which raises a question that pains me on to #4.

4. (Because you're just trying to make us mad with #3 & #5. How can you stand to keep your tongue in cheek throughout all these sincere responses? Sosa IS Bonds is Clinton is the Wizard of Oz... is "to gain the whole world but lose our soul." Please don't go there.) I don't mean to discount V Wells, but it makes every honest baseball fan sour to see the whole farm sold for one handful of magic beans. If we're going to pay out the nose for Michael Young's best friend (albeit a perfect blend of GMJ and Carlos Lee) then let's do it (as has been well said above) NEXT year with mere money, rather than THIS year with money and that very soul of our team.

Quite the contrary... keep Inkinsler, and trade for HIS best friend!

4. Okay. Here's what pains me. It just occurred to me that if this is such a seller's market, and we still need to buy 3/5 of a rotation, plus a CF and a power bat, to contend this year, and we only have 2 players (albeit All-Stars) making mutinous remarks about leaving at contract's end if the Rangers don't do what it takes to win now, then, as much as I like Tex and Michael Young, SELL! SELL HIGH! If Toronto is trying to get Julio Lugo, imagine how much THEY would like to unite V Wells and Michael Young. Get them in a bidding war with the pitching rich White Sox, and --Voila!-- we'd get Brian (?) Anderson thrown in, making Kinsler an even happier part of our new foundation.

You know these line-ups better than I, T.R., but along with Anderson at CF, imagine what future # 1's and current #2 and #3 pitchers we might get for our ONLY 2 GREAT YET ITCHY non-pitching veterans. The rest of our team is young or ready to go through one more year of development.

1. Definitely Dellucci. Look what he did last season, he is respected in the Texas locker room, and comes cheaper than Barroid.
2. None of the above. Go get Catalanotto. That would give you an OF of Cat, Dellucci, Cruz and Wilkerson – use one of those as the DH. Although Pierre wouldn't be too bad.

3. Not a chance. See No. 2. Also, Kinsler and Laird have too much of an upside to deal for Wells.

4. Any team with starting pitching. Why not offer Diamond, Hurley, Maybery and Arias for Dontrelle Willis? Sound good?

5. Nope.

Regarding #1 above:Is the combined Batting Avg vs. lefties from an outfield of Wilkerson, Cat & Dellucci above the Mendoza line? No matter how likable they are, Cat and DD have the same weakness at the plate that (combined with Hank's woes)has killed us most years. Last year De Rosa, GMJ and Lee balanced that weakness against lefties. If we can't get them back, let's at least find some (from within or without)to follow in their footsteps.

Wait just a minute folks...we're totally screwed with this management of the Rangers...we couldn't afford 13 mil over three years for DeRosa...as solid a player as we had all last year...what makes any of you think that Hicks is going to shop anywhere but the bargain basement...This is totally ludicrous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm thinking we could afford him but the Cubs promised him that they would start him at 2B. And with Blalock becoming Ron Washington's "project", his chances of being a starting infielder for us were slim. He also made it clear he felt more comfortable playing infield more than as an OF.

1. Dellucci makes the most sense. If we don't find a leadoff-caliber CF, he could fill that role again like in '05.

2. I'd like to see if Jaramillo could do for Pierre what he did for Gary, DeRosa, etc. He's 29 and has the skills to be a weapon for a few years, but...

3. We can get Wells next year for nothing. This year, we should overpay for a pitcher or two (because we have to), find a few scrappy role player types, and see if we can compete. Then next year, sign Wells, another pitcher or two, and watch our young talent grow on a contender. This team is not one player away from anything.

4. Jon Daniels should lock himself in his room at the GM meetings and only come out if the Marlins are talking about Dontrelle or the Brewers are talking about Ben Sheets.

5. We should sign Sammy Sosa as the backup to Ranger Captain.

1. The Rangers need a left-handed designated hitter. Barry Bonds, Luis Gonzalez or David Dellucci? Which one do you want and why?
>Bonds – flat no. Rangers don’t need a used up ballplayer. Bonds is in it for the stats and consequently he does not deserve it. He may love the game but he really is more of a liability than an asset.

>Luis Gonzalez – 10.6 mil+ and only hit .271 with 15 HR and 73 RBI… Why? Too much for too little.

>David Dellucci – That would be a very good acquisition. When you look at his numbers with the Phillies I think you can say he is better than a so so outfielder. Ranger fans knew that before he was traded.

2. If the Rangers can't re-sign Gary Matthews Jr., which free agent appeals to you most: Juan Pierre, Dave Roberts, Steve Finley, Kenny Lofton or Darin Erstad?

>No opinion.

3. Theoretical trade: Would you send second baseman Ian Kinsler, catcher Gerald Laird, SS Joaquin Arias and pitcher Eric Hurley to the Blue Jays for Vernon Wells?

>No. Rangers will need Laird. He will likely be the starting catcher in ’07. Barajas should be gone.

>Since DeRosa is already gone the Rangers should keep Kinsler and continue to develop him. Get him to minimize his errors and bring his average up.

>Many here in Texas believe that DeRosa would have been a better choice at 2nd for ’06.

4. Jon Daniels is at the GM meetings. What club should he meet with about a trade and for what reason.

>Just stay tuned for the trades that should not have happened.

5. Sammy Sosa anybody? Another ballplayer who should retire.