Monday Morning Manager...The Dogs of War

Hey TR and Toby .. saw your interview while watching MLB.TV during the game .. seems Toby was the only dog that had his own seat and used it... hope he had fun...
Q1/ Everyone who posts on here has been saying about Botts needs to be up in the big league .. why not give him a go at 1st while Tex is on the DL.

Q2/Don't really know who I would bring up but probably Koronka or Rheinecker as they are both lefties... Koronka I read did pretty well in his last start for AAA.

Q3/I'm still not sure yet that the Rangers season is over so I think the Rangers should keep "mom" about what they are going to do till closer to July .. if they still "stink" then... then yeah go fo it.

Q4/Seems like JD was very happy with the way their draft went but I think I would have liked a few more college pitchers than high school ones but hey what do I know ..

Q5/When I came over last August (from Australia) I watched 6 games in the ballpark in as many area's as possible but the best seat I liked was nearly behind home plate ..mind you it was the most expensive as well.. but I was close enough to the players to see their expressions and yell encouragement that I think they heard .. so it was pretty good... (and I wasn't sitting in the sun.. it was around 98 to 106 F when I was there... fantastic :-) ) One thing though .. I also went to the Oakland A's games against the Rangers before heading to Texas.. their ballpark seats are cheaper behind homeplate ..$34 compared to around $50 US dollars not aussie dollars too,With the exchange rate around .73cUS to aussie dollar. And yes I am a mad keen Rangers fan.. 9 games in 10 days and I stayed in Sulphur springs east of Dallas and drove 240 miles each day to the ballpark and back.

Hmmmm, “T.R. and Toby” – sounds like a good addition to NBC’s Thursday night lineup.

Thanks for posting the pictures – also enjoyed your interview during the game with the ever annoying Jim Knox - the part hyena comment was pretty good.

1.Jason Botts – played 1B most of his minor league career. He is hitting .316 at OKC and leading the PCL in doubles, time to give him plenty of major league AB’s.

2. Kameron Loe should remain in the rotation – the only way he’s going to “figure it out” is to go out there every 5th day and face major league batters.

Small rant: Jon Daniels obviously doesn’t trust his minor league development since he won’t give the players he brings up from the minors significant AB’s or IP’s. Here’s a penetrating glimpse of the obvious: players like Arod and Albert who make an immediate impact are the exception rather than the rule. Most young players making the jump to the majors struggle – some for an entire season – see Mark Teixeira’s numbers from his first season in 2003. Thoughts of competing this season are a pipe dream – this year is the opportunity to find out who can and who can’t play among the younger players – it’s time to do it. And JD if you don’t trust Scott Servais and his people to do their jobs – then it’s time for a major overhaul.

3. Everyone in the United States, the Western Hemisphere and the planet Earth seems to already know and admit that – except for Tom Hicks and Jeff Cogen (and that's all about ticket revenue - not reality).

4. My take on the draft is the same as every draft – it’s fun to watch, I hope they drafted the right guys, hope they are coachable and all stay healthy. Beyond that, Draft Day report cards are ridiculous, whining and prosletizing in the papers and radio about “can’t miss” players who weren’t taken is ludicrous. Anyone remember “can’t miss” draftees like RHP Josh Karp and RHP Colt Griffin? Anyone remember the Tigers Draft from 2001 that Baseball America dubbed the best in baseball? Detroit paid $3.5 mil in bonuses to Kenny Baugh, Matt Wheatland and Preston Larrison – none of whom have ever played an inning in the majors. Check back with me in 2011 and then we’ll pass out report cards and wrist slaps on players who were passed over.

5. My favorite seats are sections 116-117 – along the third base line – just underneath the overhang – always in the shade – great overall view of the entire ballpark – you can watch the dugout (with binoculars) – close proximity to good concessions and restroom – plus a really nice usher (Scott) who has been there for years.

http://emc.mlblogs.com

1. If it's only going to be 15 days then just stick with Wilkerson. Maybe put Diaz over there a game or two. If it's going to turn into a lingering injury then call Botts or Gold. They're both swinging well right now. Especially Botts.

2. Give Redman a shot. If it doesn't work, then try Rupe before Wood, Koronka, Rheinecker or any of the other journeymen. Doesn't matter too much as long as it's not Hurley or Volquez. There's no logical reason to take either of them off their current development plan.

3. Aboslutely

4. Positive. I like the potential of Beavan and they also ended up with both Main and Borbon in the first round which they didn't think was going to be possible. Not sure if they should have taken Porcelo or not. If he's going to demand a ML deal as some sources are indicating then it was probably best to stear clear of him.

5. I like the corner box down the right field line as long as your not so far up in the corner that you can't see the jumbo-tron. I like the lower deck of the home run porch for afternoon games. It's nice and shady under there. I'm going to give the Lexus terrace seats a try in September. I've been in the lower box seats several times, but for value I'll stick with the corner box seats.

I'm glad you and Toby enjoyed left field. I usually try to avoid that area because of the sun, though.

1. Wilkerson is a decent fill-in, defensively, but he can't replace Teixeira offensively. Bring Botts up and see what he can do.

2. I'd go with Koronka. He's a lefty and his last outing with the Rangers wasn't quite as horrific as Rheinecker's.

3. If by Rangers, you mean Tom Hicks, yes. I think everyone else in the organization has already admitted it, privately if not publicly.

4. I thought the Rangers fared well. It's always tough to tell what a player is going to do based on high school/college numbers, but they do look promising at this point.

5. I'm a big fan of sitting in left field. Preferrably first row in section 4 or 5. Not because there's a chance of catching a HR ball. I sat out there 50+ games and I've never caught one...in fact, I don't have a major league game ball yet. (But I do have a PCL one Laynce Nix brought me last season when he was in Des Moines. It was a nice birthday present. Ha ha). No, I like left field because that's where my friend Amy and I always used to sit when we'd go to games, so it will forever be my favorite spot.

http://diamondgirl.mlblogs.com

1) Nate Gold.
2) Eric Hurley.

3) Acknowledging the obvious is not an admission.

4) Robert Wilkins will be a starting pitcher in the major leagues someday.

1) I'd be getting used to not having Tex past this season. I don't know if anyone can replace Mark. Whoever drafted Mark anyway? Sandy Johnson. We need to re-hire Sandy Johnson, pay him top-dollar to again replenish the Rangers' team and farm system. I have no confidence in these guys any longer....as far as the answer as to what to do while Mark Texeira is out---We aren't going anywhere, so put Jason Botts there. We have no one else ready, or even near ready to supplant Tex.

2) Willie Eyre or Mike Wood should replace Kameron Loe in the rotation. A fall-back choice would be Mark Redman.

3) Yes, who would we be kidding if JD were to approach say the Atlanta GM, and say we were looking to add a stop-gap, bottom of the rotation pitcher or medium-rung hitter? He'd laugh all the way to maybe fleecing JD, a la Soriano with (GULP..)Wilkerson. Repugnant.

4) I don't follow college baseball, outside of TCU or local, but I like Blake Beavan, and his cockiness if ALRIGHT with me. Right now, he probably could do better than Padilla, Loe and Millwood!

5) Tough question, TR. I had a quick and reliable answer until you snuck in the last 3 words of your question: "..in the Ballpark." I like the view from my Laz-y Boy Recliner, not enduring the heat, traffic, or horrendously sloppy, inept play on the field. If I was to answer you directly, I like the view on the First Base side, about 2 sections up. (Can't remember the section name.) When I first sat at Arlington Stadium for the first time, I sat right behind the First Base dugout, and enjoy that. For the money, I'd say the Home Run Porch.

1) Give Botts his chance
2) Let Loe work it out. It worked for Detroit.

3) Yes, but be selective, especially with Gagne and Tex.

4) David Clyde anyone?

5) Never had the chance to get to Texas

1. Botts where are you? What does this guy have to do to get his chance?
2. Benoit or Wilson. Why aren't we looking for long term solutions? If either of these guys can start then we need to find out now, not later. I seem to remember a certain left handed pitcher that came out of the bullpen and became a serviceable major league pitcher, the only one we have home grown by the way!

3. Ha Ha, do we have anything that anyone would like to buy other than Texiera? If we are selling it will be a flea market sale.

4. Draft. They took the best economically available player . They passed on two pitching prospects one of which was rated as the #2 overall player in the draft because Boras was the agent. To me that is ridiculous. We are not in any position to pass on these types of pitching prospects. I like the kid from Irving, but he is 3 to 5 years away at least. Remember when the Rangers drafted Zito and failed to sign him. They were $400,000 apart. Do you think they would like to have a do over on that one? Bottom line is we aren't going to do anything here in Texas until we get some pitching! Rangers management continues to make the same historical mistakes, over and over again. To me best player means, best player not cheapest player. THIS IS A CAPITALIST COUNTRY, THE MLB UNION IS STRONG. THINGS AREN'T GOING TO CHANGE IT IS JUST GOING TO GET MORE EXPENSIVE. GET OUT HICKS WHILE YOU CAN!!!!

5. 1B side under awning. There was a cool breeze. Did anyone else notice the wind screens in the outfield near the top of the advertising signs. I sat out in lf on Friday night, and boy was it hot, no breeze is coming in. Feel sorry for the rest of you guys who are going out there when it really gets hot!!!

1. I'll echo everyone else and say: BOTTS!

May 29th last year. Second time I took my young son to a game. Just as we entered the park, Botts jacked his first MLB HR against the A's. Liked the guy ever since. He made my kid smile (and my son now thinks he's the lucky charm that led to that HR).

Little Jon DanielsHart has expressed concerns about Botts' D at first. But who cares about that right now? Get him up here and keep him up here the rest of the season. Let's see if he has what it takes or not.

2. No one:

http://rangersorrobbers.wordpress.com/2007/06/03/fighting-to-be-patient-with-rangers-pitchers/

3. Yes, but Hicks and JD have so depleted this organization through bad trade after bad trade, Tex and Gagne are the only hopes of getting any real value. Lofton, Cat, Sosa, Wilkerson, Hairston and other trades should get done by the deadline. If these trades are done right, and Hicks and JD somehow pull their heads out long enough to make two good free agent signings (a high value SP and Torii Hunter) the Rangers could be competitive again next year and contenders again by 2009. But that’s a BIG IF with Hicks and DanielsHart at the helm.

4. What's your overall take on the Rangers draft?

http://rangersorrobbers.wordpress.com/2007/06/07/robbers-evidence-rangers-continue-display-of-insanity-with-terrible-draft-strategy/

5. Loved sitting in left field but what's the best seat for the money in the Ballpark?

They are all overpriced! But I'd pay extra for any seat within tomato-throwing distance of Hicks' suite or the Rangers offices!

http://rangersorrobbers.wordpress.com

1. Seasons over. Use every chance you can to play the young guy - Botts should be at 1st. Worst thing that can happen - he stinks - so what, so does the rest of the team. Best thing that can happen - he gets experience and steps back in in a few weeks when Tex is gone.

2. Keep Loe in. Let him work through his problems (though as of Thursday he looked good.)

3. Yes, but for the sake of the team do it conditionally whihc JD has done, "if we still stink, then yes." We know they'll still stink so hopefully they won't blow it.

4. Yeah, its fine. Now lets see if they can develop and hold on this talent.

5. Not a bad seat in place, but nothing beats section 30. Right between home palte and pitchers mound, next to the Rangers dugout so you can see just how much Tex ignores Washington. Overall, just a great experience overall for a baseball pureist!