Monday Morning Manager...The Countdown continues

1. As painful as it is, my answer is a resounding yes. His trade value will not be this high after the deadline. The Rangers are not going to be competitive next year, anyway. And let's just face it, he's not going to re-sign with a loser team like the Rangers. Whatever they get, there's a good chance that it will be a better package than the 2 draft picks they will receive if they keep him.
2.I'm not sold on Marlon Byrd. His defense could become a liability given the ample outfield at the Rangers Ballpark. Not much power, average arm. Batting average can be a deceptive stat. I think they should look for a CF in free agency (if they are not able to trade for one).

3. He's going to have to show it in these last two months.

4. No. Nothing against Coco but they already have a closer for next year. Aki.

5. Eric Hurley, Brandon McCarthy, and Edinson Volquez.

1. The answer is a conditional "yes". It seems that his trade value is as high as its going to get right now. But the only thing that is going to truly make ANY trade worthwhile is front-line pitching. One has to consider whether or not we would have better luck getting that impact pitcher during the winter meetings, rather than right now in the heat of a pennant race.
I agree, however, it is more likely that we would do better in the free agent market than in the draft.

2. Not sure. One has to guess that he's getting the chance to start everyday in CF as an answer to a question: Do the Rangers need to pursue Torii or Byrnes in the offseason? At this point, the jury's still out.

And, by-the-way, who are the power-hitting, great-armed, super speed guys in CF that are available soon?

3. Yes, he does. I think we're just a little too impatient. Give it sometime, folks, before giving up on him.

By the way, why would be so hot and bothered about getting Botts up here and not giving Cruz another shot?

4. Naw, our bullpen's fine. Thanks for the memories, Coco.

5. Volquez, McCarthy, healthy Millwood, maybe Diamond, a consistent Loe. Honestly, it's crapshoot.

http://www.scrubbrushleague.com

1) The trading of Kenny Lofton harbingered another "building" movement, so there probably isn't much choice. The Rangers' offense will be stagnant without Lofton, so why not cut the best deal for Teix?
2) Doesn't have the speed or the arm to play the middle. Probably better suited for left field.

3) Cruz may be the best defensive outfielder they have. If he 1) can be patient 2) consistently take the ball to the oppposite field and 3) learn to deal with offspeed and breaking pitcher,he will be effectively offensively as well.

4) Not a bad idea if Gagne is traded.

5) Hurley, Kiker and Mendoza.

1. Yes, as long as we get a proper return.

2. I think he had a great June and I'd like to see him back next year as a reserve.

3. Hopefully. The rest of the season will decide that. So far so good.

4. Not if Aki is still here. I doubt he really wants to come back to Arlington. They say that closers have to ahve a short memory, but he may still have nightmares about the way his last few games in Texas went.

5. McCarthy, Hurley, Kiker?, Poveda?

1. Sell high. I feel for MY, because he deserves better, but it seems clear that Tex no longer believes the Rangers have a chance to be a good team. And if that's the case, we must trade him now when we can get the most for him.

2. Give him a shot this year. If he can't hack it, Torii Hunter will be a great CF and a hitter in the 5 hole, and Byrd can play LF or RF next season.

3. Hopefully. Let's see what he does for the next two months given a chance to play every day.

4. Thanks but no thanks. Re-sign Gagne!

5. Millwood definitely. McCarthy hopefully. Beyond that, we simply don't know. Hurley, Volquez, and anyone younger than them are simply too far away from being consistent ML starters. They could be key pieces. They could be below average starters or relievers. Loe and Tejeda have not yet shown an ability to consistently get ML hitters out.

While you're sitting around and waiting...

1. Yes if the rumored packages are legit. That Diamondbacks package really could be nice.

2. I give it 120 more games

3. I would like to think so.

4. No. They have the potential closes on the rosters.

5. Millwood, McCarthy. Hurley could

1) Sadly, yes.
2) Being a recent transplant to Chicago, I have not seen him play.

3) Yes

4) No

5) Danks Diamond Volquez...opps

Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Tex/Mahay to ATL deal is done.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7074846

1. I hate to say yes. It's hard to give up a gold glover who can hit from both sides of the plate but it may be true if the Rangers don't find the winning way in the very near future. Honestly everyone wants to win the big one.
2.Eh, like him in either corner outfield and the Rangers pursuing another option at center during the off-season.

3.I think everyone is keeping their fingers crossed on this one.

4.This is a definite NO. He has a hard time pitching at the Park. Gagne likes it here and doing well, bring him back.

5. So far, Millwood, and maybe McCarthy. other than that, it's hard to tell, need more consistency.

1. Yes -- his attitude could become lead to chemistry destruction in the clubhouse. Plus, I don't want to look forward to that April slump every year.
2. Yes on Byrd but last weekend bothered me. I think he put too much pressure on himself. He wasn't the same "bounce all over the place" player with the running back mentality. That crash into the fence on Friday might have had an effect.

3. I hope so. Those were two shots in KC. Give him the rest of the year and up to this point next year.

4. I'd say "yes" until his showing here. He might not fit in this park anymore. I'd say it depends on Gagne staying and C.J.'s development. So, a definite "maybe".

5. Kiker, Hurley, Loe, McCarthy, Rheineker.

1.Yes I do think they have to trade Tex and I like that the Rangers want top dollar for him and appear to be getting what they want.

2. I like Marlon Byrd a lot. But if the Rangers can sign a Torii Hunter, Eric Byrnes or Aaron Rowand. Marlon can always go to right or left field or be a reserve outfielder. I do think he has a place on this team regardless of whether he can play center.

3. As for Nelson Cruz. I believe his time is ticking and I need to see a lot more from him than Marlon Byrd. He appears lost at the plate and in the field at times. I need to see a lot more consistency out of him. Hopefully his new batting stance will help him out because he needs to show us something sooner rather than later.

4. I vote a big no on bringing Coco back. I would rather see the Rangers make a commitment to Eric Gagne. Gagne is miles better than Coco. In my honest opinion.

5. I hope Kevin Millwood, with a our young group of arms. Eric Hurley, Thomas Diamond, Edinson Volquez and Brandon McCarthy. It looks like Volquez is making a good come back through the system. As for Diamond I hope he can get back to where he was before he got injured.

1. Unfortunately yes they are.

2. I like Byrd a lot. He hustles ever play, runs out every ground ball, battles in every at bat, what more could you ask for. His arm isn't spectacular, but neither was Lofton's.

3. I hope so, but if he doesn't, there is always Botts.

4. Nope. Nothing against Coco's arm, but he can't pitch in Arlington. He couldn't pitch for us, and he proved this year that he can't pitch against us, not in Texas.

5. Volquez, Loe, Hurley, Padilla, and a reliever converted to a starter.

Loe because I like that sinker ball, and Padilla because he's honestly got the best repetoire in system, he just needs to make better decisions.

1. Sorry guys - I just can't understand why Management was so anxious to trade Tex knowing all the while they wouldn't get a good front-line pitcher in return. They should have signed him and kept him as a part of the organization. Scrubbrush said the same thing above. We need FRONT-LINE PITCHING! Not prospects. The "OLE" if we don't trade him now we won't get anything is plain hogwash. Don't forget, we could have paid him and kept him. Look - all fixed!

2. Marlon would be better at right or left. We wouldn't be talking about Marlon in center if Management would have paid Matthews to begin with. And then sit back and watch him go to the ANGELS - double whammy!

3. YES! I think Cruz has a future.

4. NOPE! 1st - I don't think he'd want to come back. 2nd -Our 2 guys (Gagne' and Aki) can do the job.

5. Volquez, Kiker, Diamond, McCarthy and Loe. I'm not giving up on Tejeda - I think he's got a strong arm just needs some help. Move Millwood and Padilla to the bullpen (short and/or long relief). I guess we need 1 since they sent Mahay packing with TEX.

1. It's all done as I write this... but yes, it was the right thing to do. His trade value will never be higher than it is now, and he would have never, never resigned with us. However, I'm not too sure we got enough value from Atlanta.

2. Byrd has a better arm than Lofton... supposedly, CF is his position. We signed him to be Loftons backup, remember? I say give him a shot, but while I do see him in the lineup every day next year, I'm not sure he can be our everyday CF... but let's see if he proves me right or wrong over the next couple months.

3. Yes. So does Victor Diaz. With Cruz's arm, I might try to teach him CF, and if he can do it, have an OF of Byrd in left, Cruz in center, and Diaz in right next year. That's assuming we can't sign Torri Hunter.

4. After we gave up on him, would he ever come back here? I doubt it.

5. Any combination of Eric Hurley, Kam Loe, Brandon McCarthy and Edinson Volquez might be our 3-4 starters on that team. Assuming this comes in 2008-9 Millwood will be the #2 starter and we will have a yet unknown ace (somebody we sign or trade for, or maybe Hurley or Volquez can be that good) at #1. The #5 spot would maybe go to John Rheinecker, Mike Wood or Robinson Tejeda, although by then, Tejeda will probably be a releiver - he's looking like the second coming of Joaqin Benoit.

Normally I would answer each question on at a time. But, after the news that once again the Hicks/Daniels regime has screwed the pooch, as well as the fans, and the players in baseball, I am glad to announce that I have moved to Galveston, and am now free to become a fan of the Astros.