Pitching plans plus Mench

I saw a report on rotoworld that said Johan Santana would of been a Ranger this winter had he been more willing to negotiate a long term contract. A package of players was agreed to but the trade ended up dying because of Santana's reluctance. Wonder what we were giving up and how much Santana would of helped?

If the Rangers want full versatilty out of their bench, why do they want Kevin Mench on it? Mench is a sub-par OF defender, especually these days, and he has never played a single game at first base in his entire proffessional baseball career. If Washington really thinks he can take Mench and make him a first baseman in two short weeks, he's mistaken.

Ben Broussard also needs a platoon partner, and there's no way Mench can be good enough at first base to handle that duty.

I really hate to see this happen - the arrival of Mench this spring has skewed the entire dynamic of the bench, just like I thought it would. Instead of worring about carring a platoon partner for Broussard, we're gonna wind up with 6 outfielders, one UT infielder, and a backup catcher.

This is not shaping up to be avery flexible bench this year.

http://lonestarincalfornia.mlblogs.com/

Mench at first is just a feint. He's here to see if we can afford to trade Marlon Byrd for a couple of prospects. Marlon's performance this spring is making a strong argument that we should get some value for him while we can.

It is shocking to me that Santana wouldn't want to sign a long term deal here. He wants his money, but he wants a chance to win. Sorry folks our franchise history shows that we haven't won here in 30 plus years. I am sure Blalock would have been a part of that deal, the Twins covet him. I love Kevin Mench, he is on this team. I don't have a problem with that, what seems shocking to me is how much Daniels and Washington are ranting and raving about him. Buck hated Mench for whatever reason. I don't think that Mench should have been dealt in the first place, neither should have Cordero. Now we are about to watch that vaunted Cruz, that was the key to their dealing. Well Cruz hasn't done anything here, hasn't really played enough in my book for someone that was the key ingredient of a trade. I believe the guy just needs to know that he is going to be out there everyday, he is what i would call sensitive. Once he realizes that then he will probably take off. He won't get that here, you have to earn your playing time, supposedly??? The bottom line is we do not have a consistent philosophy other than to change it every 6 months. I remember when Soriano was given away, the words were he was going to free-agency and we weren't going to be able to re-sign him. Well less than 6 months later we trade Cordero, a closer, Mench, and Nix to Milwaukee for an impending free agent Carlos Lee and Nelson Cruz. I believe Lee was an impending free agent. But alas we were told it was Cruz who we really wanted and the draft picks. I believe that Soriano and Lee had similar numbers at the all star break, with Soriano having more steals. I say that to say this, are you hearing me? Are you with me? Wouldn't it have been better to keep Soriano than to give him away? I am personally tired of the **** that the boy wonder slings, what is the philosophy. Even if it is one where he says, i can't get taken. That would be good enough for me. The bottom line is the games this year won't count for anything if we don't start finding long term solutions, players that are going to play for us for a contender in the future. Hamilton is the only acquisition that fits that. He is young and appears to be a stud. I like the guy, did you hear me Courtney. I just hope he has learned and fullfills his potential. Other than him, their has been nothing else that makes any sense. Cat, Laird, Ponson, Young, Bradley, Broussard and Mench are just fill ins until Davis, Teagarden, Metcalf, Duran, Mayberry, Hurley, Harrison, Mathis, and Mendoza take the next step. Those guys are our future. In my book, the future is now. Play them now, and get over the hump. That is a future that is so bright, well you gotta wear shades! Stop trading our future for a season of last place finishes. If we play .500 ball this year and don't develop any long term solutions, then it is a wasted season. When are they going to learn this?

How many outfielders are we going to keep? Murphy, Hamilton, Mench, Cruz, Byrd, Bradley and Catalanotto? That is seven players for 4 spots. Does Cruz have any more options left. I know Botts doesn't so who gets traded and/or released. Can Daniels really afford to release and/or trade Botts and/or Cruz and have them become players elsewhere? Would that be the last straw. Trade Byrd and play Cruz i say. Let Botts play some first base. Why do we need a right hitting first baseman, didn't wash say Broussard would play everyday. Has Wash already soured on Broussard as an everyday player. If he has then why not Shelton?

“Davis, Teagarden, Metcalf, Duran, Mayberry, Hurley, Harrison, Mathis, and Mendoza take the next step. Those guys are our future. In my book, the future is now. Play them now, and get over the hump.” –
Davis- 30 games at AA. Teagarden: 14 games caught above A-ball. Metcalf: .148 avg. at AAA. Duran: No AAA experience. Mayberry: zero AAA experience. Hit .241 at AA. Hurley: AAA ERA was almost 5. He has work to do. If he’s going to get big league lefties out his changeup is going to have to be more consistent. He’s still only 22 years old. Harrison: zero AAA experience. Mathis: Got rocked in his first dose of AAA. Mendoza: has to pitch well enough to prove he’s ready. Not only does calling these guys up before they’re ready stunt their development (see Hank Blalock’s ’02) it starts the clock on their service time, making it sooner that they’ll be eligible for arbitration and then free agency. Calling them up early and letting them get their ***** handed to them is only going to make them free agents sooner. You have Eric Hurley under control for 6 years. 5 of them are going to be 2009-13. Would you want that 6th one to be when he’s 22 and raw in 2008 or 28 and polished in 2014? There’s no logical reason to rush these guys up. NONE.

Absolutely correct, hefe. Both TR and Jamey Newberg have said it, "Service time is huge". Hence we didn't trade Gagne (for example) -we traded TWO MONTHS of Gagne. But the Dweedledums of this world will never get it.

I've got news for you anthony and hefe, if these guys become players, they will be gone anyway, either through trade or free-agency. While they recently stepped up to pay Kinsler and Young, they didn't do it for Pudge, Soriano, Juan or any other legitimate players they have acquired. Here is some advice, if the player has Boras as his agent, steer clear. Get it steer clear, avoid them. That player wants money and wants to win. He may get the money, but the winning part won't be. That is not a priority here. They do what to win, but only under certain parameters. If the owner wins and doesn't make money, then he doesn't want to win. The money is the principal goal here. We were 27th out of 30 on payroll. While money isn't the principal indicator, it does show a financial committment. Note to HICKS THIS IS A MAJOR MEDIA MARKET IT IS CALLED THE METROPLEX DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT and all other things that make this a worldwide area. It is laughable that we aren't at least in the mid point on Salaries.

Failing to resign Pudge was a colossal mistake by John Hart, but Juan Gonzalez? Really? The Rangers offered him a massive multi-year extension which he (thankfully) rejected before being traded and going on to have a grand total of 1 more good season. Are you even trying to make coherent points?