Poor Toby's Almanac....St. Patrick's Eve
A dog's eye view of the most interesting matchups in Rangers camp.
David Murphy vs. Marlon Byrd
Byrd hardly deserves to lose a job based on Spring Training numbers but the simple fact is Murphy is having a terrific spring to this point. Murphy is a left-handed hitter and Byrd swings from the right side but they both hit well against lefties and righties last year. Byrd's defense and leadership can not be discounted. The Cubs interest in him is also intriguing. What may be happening here is Murphy making a bid for a more prominent role on the team and it may be that Byrd is the one who moves around from position to position as the fourth outfielder. Of course if Milton Bradley isn't ready, the Rangers will need both,
Jason Botts vs. Kevin Mench
On Thursday in Tucson, Botts made an ill-advised attempt to take third on a wild pitch with Josh Hamilton at the plate. He was thrown out and then snapped at the umpire. The Rangers liked both. Word is Botts is showing some fire and aggressiveness this spring that the Rangers felt has been missing. He is also swinging the bat well. The Rangers like the idea of Mench as the right-handed designated hitter and he is a better athlete than Botts. But the Rangers also know Botts is out of options and they could lose him to waivers at the end of spring. Mench has a Minor League contract. The Rangers could start the season with Botts on the team and Mench in the Minors and see where that goes.
Gerald Laird vs. Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Laird has this one under control. The big question is if Saltalamacchia starts the season in the Minors or stays around as a backup catcher and right-handed DH. Seems like Triple A is the likely scenario.
Sidney Ponson vs. Luis Mendoza
Ponson is only getting started and still has much more to show. But he looks like a good bet to start the season with the Rangers. They could take a hard look at him for six or seven starts and see if he's back to what he once was. If not, they could call on Mendoza or even Eric Hurley. The Rangers seem reluctant to push Hurley, judging by their measured response to what was a strong outing on Saturday.
Bullpen
Best guess right now:
1. C.J. Wilson
2. Eddie Guardado
3. Joaquin Benoit
4. Kazuo Fukumori
5. Wes Littleton
6. Jamey Wright
7. Scott Feldman
Feldman is a guess but he can pitch multiple innings and that's what the Rangers need. Franklyn German has been the most impressive, Jason Davis has the best stuff and Kameron Loe has not yet stepped up. Josh Rupe was getting mentioned early but not lately. Frank Francisco? Rangers still waiting on the breaking stuff to come around. It's been a little better lately. The Rangers may carry eight relievers for the first two weeks of the season.
Oracle of Elysian Fields:
"I'm scared to death running the bases when he's up to bat."
David Murphy on Josh Hamilton
Toby's Top Five
1. David Murphy – It takes someone like Hamilton to overshadow what he's done this spring.
2. Josh Hamilton – Is .607 considered a good batting average? He has been on base in ten straight plate appearances.
3. Chan Ho Park – He's in China with the Dodgers and almost started an international incident when he tried to defy security forces to sign autographs for over-zealous Korean fans.
4. Tampa Bay Rays – A new name, a new look, a new attitude and some great young talent. Plus they aren't backing down to the Yankees.
5. Oakland Athletics – They aren't supposed to be any good but they've won 13 of their first 18 going into today's game against the Rangers.
Ex-Ranger of the Week
The best catcher in baseball over the past 20 years is still going strong. Ivan Rodriguez has six home runs for the Tigers, the most in either Florida or Arizona.
Birthdays: A.J. Murray turns 26 on St. Patrick's Day. Murray was born in 1982 in Vernal Utah, a town of 7,714 people in the northeast corner of the state that is also the birthplace of actor James Woods. Vernal is also the largest city in the United States without a railroad running through it.
Anniversary – It was on March 16, 1907 that the Detroit Tigers wanted to trade Ty Cobb to Cleveland for Elmer Flick. Cleveland didn't want to do it. Cobb was in just his third year with the Tigers but manager Hughie Jennings was already fed up with him.
Last call:
May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.
~Irish Blessing
You meant to say Murray was born in 1982, not 1962.
I personally don't want to see Feldman in the bullpen. I say (granted, I'm not in Surprise, but anyways)
1. CJ
2. Eddie
3. Benoit
4. Kaz
5. Wright
6. German
7. Rupe, Littleton, or maybe Frankie later
I still don't see why there are haters about Hamilton. I'll be the first one to buy his all-star game jersey.
David Murphy's too.
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Hey rangerfan, i am not a hater on Hamilton. All i said was that you can't count on addicts. They are just too unpredictable. But hey, i can see that this guy is a huge talent and if he fulfills his talent, can stay clean, then the sky is the limit for this guy. He is evidently a player. Now on to Pudge, i thought he was washed up and could no longer catch. If he were on the Rangers is he still the catcher? Yes. Who has replaced him? Laird? If Salt doesn't make the MLB team as the catcher then play him at first or the outfield. Teagarden is the future catcher here, probably sooner than later. Davis is the first baseman probably sooner than later so where is Salt going to play DH? I hope Murphy plays every freaking day. I really like the way he plays the game and he can hit. Anything that interferes with that, well is interference. I want Cruz, Botts and Mench on this team. I would like to see Cat and Byrd dealt. Get some pitching for Byrd. You can salary dump Cat for all i care. Byrd is a good player and rebounded last year, but i want to see if Cruz and Botts can take the next step this year, with this team. To me this year isn't about winning its about finding our future. If we can find 3 or 4 position players and 2 to 3 pitchers that are going to help us in the future for the long haul then i am ok with that. Wash says while referring to Hurley: "he is certainly in our future" My question to Wash is are you in ours? I am all for Hurley going to AAA, along with Mathis and Feldman. Not so much for Mendoza going. I think he is ready to pitch here now. He just needs the chance. Jennings looks like a mistake, his readings on his fastball are horrid. I could hit that 80 mile an hour fastball. He better get in shape or he won't reach his incentives. Don't our starters look great, Karate Man, Two boilermakers, 1 Rubberarm and the Era King Gabbard. Out of those 5 if healthy, I like Gabbard the best, i like the way he pitches. He can pitch.
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I thought Feldman was a starter?
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Is Broussard a better first baseman than Saltalamacchia? Salt can hit and is a switch hitter. This is what drives me crazy about this "organization"! Teagarden is the future catcher here. Everyone knows this. So why does Salt go to AAA to learn a position that he isn't suited for reportedly. He is going to be eventually moved to another position so why not move him now? Put him at first base or DH him. Davis is future at first though, so what is the plan?
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I agree about Salty at least platooning w/ Broussard at 1st. Teagarden is going to be the catcher probably next year, so why delay his and Salty's development by putting them both @ AAA? Plus, Teagarden went to Creekview HS, which is were I go, and he donated money to us so I want him to play.
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Has everyone forgotten that Saltalamacchia doesn't want to play first base?
I would also agree he could contribute more at the ML level at first; however, shades of Soriano, he believes his calling is at catcher. That may be true after he learns the postion at AAA.
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Who cares where Salty wants to play? Did Young want to move to Short for Soriano? No. But he did it because he is a great person and because it was for the good of the team. Now if Young had stayed at second, that would be okay because his quality of play gives him that free will. But Salty hasn't earned squat yet. He needs to DH at AAA so he doesn't swing at every pitch like he did when we got him. I personally think he's overrated for what he's done so far.
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Re: Salty and first base:
Here is all you need to know:
-Before last season, when the Braves put him there in an attempt to get his bat in the lineup, he had never played a proffessonal game at first base.
-He made 10 errors at first base in 38 games.
-He hit .203/.236/.346 while playing first, as opposed to .325/.373/.503 while backstopping.
It's pretty clear: not only is catcher is natural position, but the splits show his level of play is not the same at first base.
Please, enough with the "Salty should be at first" schtick - he is of less value there, both offensively and defensively. This idea that "anybody can play first" is not only untrue, but it's pretty ignorant, too. It may not be the most important position on the field defensively, but it does not mean you can stick a hack there, either.
http://lonestarincalfornia.mlblogs.com/
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Who said "anybody can play first base"?
You only mentioned Salty's batting statistics while playing catcher and only the year 2006. In 47 total games he has allowed 37 SB while throwing out eight. Certainly there should be agreement on catcher being an important fielding position.
There is no need to call people ignorant simply because they have a different opinion on a very subjective subject.
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I'm merely trying to point out that Salty was flat-out horrible at first base last year - every bit as bad as he was behind the plate.
But people routinely ignore that fact, and instead choose to concentrate on his supposedly horrid defense behind the plate. But even Matt Walbeck admits Salty's defense is a lot better than he thought, and even has had praise for Salty's game-calling skills. His throwing may not be all that great, but it'll come in time - and besides, there are catchers who get by with weak throwing arms. Paul Lo Duca being one, and the Mets did fine with him back there - and then of course there's Josh Bard of the Padres, who was an incredibly bad 10-131 in throwing out basestealers last year. And the Padres won 89 games.
Salty's never going to be the best defensive catcher, but with his offensive potential, he probably won't have to. That's what the Rangers really need to develop, is his bat - they need to find out if he can carve a niche for himself as an offensive catcher in the Major Leagues - preferrably before Taylor Teagarden starts pushing for playing time. Unfortunately, however, the Rangers seem blind to this fact, instead choosing to play Gerald Laird, who will probably not be with this team past this year, instead.
http://lonestarincalfornia.mlblogs.com/
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