Monday Morning Manager...The Anniversary of the Mutiny on the Bounty

1. I'm honestly not sure where I fall on that. I wish Washington was a bit more upset about where this team is. When the Cubs had their losing streak last year, Piniella screamed and threw things, and the team seemed to click after that. The way Washington talks and acts, you'd think this record was okay with him, which is NOT okay with anyone else.

2. I don't like the thought of our catchers being off two or three days in a row. Saltalamacchia needs more time behind and at the plate so he can really be evaluated. I'm no manager, though, so I don't know how to adequately serve the needs of everyone here.

3. I think that's just one piece to the larger puzzle that also includes poor defense. The unearned runs this team has surrendered is just heartwrenching. You can't "give away" runs and expect to bounce back too often.

4. I'd say Hamilton or Murphy.

5. It depends on what you mean by sweeping. Do I think they need to hand walking papers to two or three of the players? No. I think it's too early for that. I don't know exactly which changes should be made ... but I think a change in mentality and motivation is much-needed.

http://baseballismyboyfriend.blogspot.com

1. He deserves more time.
2. Laird does not deserve to be put in this situation
3. How come Rudy Jaramillo is never brought up as being held responsible.
4. Hamilton
5. Broussard needs to go

1-It is time for Ron Washington to go for the very reason mentioned by diamondgirl. Mr. Washington has failed to motivate his players to win. He shows no passion to win. If he does, I can't see the proof. If he were to throw a Piniella-like fit now, it would be too little, too late.
2-With Melhuse gone, they obviously need a replacement. Laird still has to be the starting catcher, catching 5 or 6 days a week. If Salty is better than Laird, let him prove it just like any other MLB player. Let him EARN a starting job. He hasn't done that yet.
3- A lack of timely hitting is a huge reason. Terrible defense is too. There is more to that than meets the eye. What's going on inside these players heads is part of all that. They all need to RELAX and have some fun.
4- It has to be Hamilton leading the league in RBI. A distant second is Padilla with Murphy and Millwood and Kinsler.
5-If firing Ron Washington (one season plus 26 games) and releasing Botts and Broussard is a sweeping change, then yes. I've seen enough of Botts. Let him go already. Give Nelson Cruz one more shot. If he struggles release him. Ben Broussard is impeding the progress of the younger players. Why did they sign him anyway? I thought that's what we got Chris Shelton for. Shelton is the guy who should be here (1.054 OPS). Let him play first until Chris Davis is ready. Which won't be long.

1. I never liked the Washington hire in the first place, but whether he stays or goes doesn’t address the enormous underlying problems with this team and this entire organization.

It starts with an owner who over reacts like a fan – as one of my favorite Ranger writers said the other – “how many 5 year plans have the Rangers started and abandoned in the last 6 years?” …oh and let’s have another meeting to discuss it all.

The problems then move down the ladder to a GM with a roller coaster record of failures (two names: Danks and Young) and success (Hamilton, Murphy and cast of thousands in the farm system) then to a manager who shouldn’t have been hired to the first place

Finally – but not the least of which is a team, with few exceptions, that is simply performing under their average career expectations. Why is no one calling out the “face of the franchise” for his slow offensive start – and even worse fielding (which is almost inexcusable for a veteran and a player of his supposed standing in the clubhouse).

I liked and agree with this quote from Gil Lebreton’s column yesterday: “When it all comes down, hopefully, somebody …will stand in the middle of the Rangers clubhouse and tell them like it is. It's time for the players and the coaches to be held accountable, not merely the manager. If the players… aren't responding to Ron Washington, that sounds to me like a two-way street.”

2. Another curious move – if the Rangers are truly committed to another “5 year plan” then shouldn’t Salty get the majority of playing time? 50-50 playing time for Salty and Laird sounds like yet another halfway/lukewarm non-strategy – the same one that has seen this franchise flounder near or at the bottom of the AL West for eight of the nine past seasons.

3. I’d say about 75% - yes there have been pitching meltdowns – both starting and relief – and the errors especially from the IF are simply unforgiveable – but a few more timely hits and the Rangers might be a .500 team right now.

4. Josh Hamilton - period, end of discussion.

5. 26 games is a little over 16% of a 162 game season. For comparison’s sake: let’s say you work an 8 hour day – get to work at 8:00 a.m. and at 9:15 your boss comes in and says you are doing a lousy job and we need to make sweeping changes – how rational is that?

"I don't like them fellas who drive in two runs and let in three." - Casey Stengel

http://emcmlb.blogspot.com/

We've seen WAY more than just 26 games worth of bad baseball. Don't you have to consider a player's and coach's history? It would be foolish not to.

1) For whatever reason, I don't feel that the players "like" Washington. I feel that they tolerate him. I've always felt that the ideal manager instills a sense of loyalty and personality into the team, but at times is their worst enemy. See LaRussa, Piniella, and Torre. I was clamoring pretty hard for Trey Hillman a couple of years ago, as I think he'll be the next "big" manager. I think Washington is toast.

2) Salty looks a lot better behind the plate than he did. The problem we have is that we have two capable starters. Laird is not ready to be a back-up and it is unfair to him to assign him to that role. I say we trade Laird away for a true back-up (Paul Bako comes to mind) or pick up an experienced guy (Sal Fasano maybe) and let him "mentor" Salty. Let Salty mature at the major league level; if he's a bust, we've got a couple of guys in the pipeline (read: Max Ramirez and Taylor Teagarden), but it's clear that Laird isn't our future; why waste time?

3) BA with RISP is, in my opinion, a direct result of team chemistry, which is a direct result of management. Change the manager, change the attitude, and viola, you have "clutch" hitting.

4) Hamilton, but with a nod in the direction of Padilla and Millwood. They've turned it around, and while they've had a couple of poor games each, I think they've looked really good (or at least better than last year).

5) EMC's comment is not accurate. No, the better way to compare it is if you bring in a CEO to turn the company around, and after a little over a year the company is still in the red. Not only that, but they're farther in the red than they were when you came in. Do we have the players to turn it around? Yes; individually, several players are having good, if not great, seasons. It's the BA with RISP, which, to compare to the corporate world, is your relationships with your coworkers. A good manager massages this relationship and turns it into a team.

1,5) The fact the Rangers have just now realized they need to take organized infield practice says it all. They led the league in errors last season, and it apparently hadn't dawned on Washington that something needed to be done about it. Matt Walbeck for manager. No, it's not too early to change mangers.

2) Gerald Laird.

1. That ice is very thin, but hasn't cracked yet
2. Every-other day rotation
3. No worse than everything else that's going wrong
4. GO MURPH
5. April is too early, May is not.

1. IF a move is to be make I hope Matt Walbeck gets consideration for the job and that Art Howe is retained.

2. Split evenly or close to it with Salty getting additionaly at bats at 1b, DH or even LF. He can't be much worse that Cat or Botts out there. I just want him to stay in the lineup 5 days a week at least. There's no reason for him not to get consistent playing time. If you can get value for Laird via trade, do it.

3. It's been a huge part of the problem. At least as big, if not bigger, than the bullpen collapses and horrible defense.

4. Josh Hamilton. He's been one of the most dominant hitters in baseball.

5. Depends on what you call sweeping, I guess. I want to see Botts and Salty play every day. If Cat and Broussard sit then so be it. They aren't owed playing time. They're already making nice money. I'd like to see Laird traded sooner than later, Cat, Broussard, Jennings, and Bradley gone by the deadline and promotions for Brandon Boggs and Chris Davis and/or any pitchers that are deemed ready by Scott Servais and crew.

1. I think baseball man is a good coach. I think that is the position where he will be successful, and where he needs to be. Remember, he was hired when the team was still making moves (like Danks for McCarthy) to try to win - not rebuild. Now that this team faces rebuilding (despite its best efforts not to) RW is simply not a fit for the franchise's direction.

2. This is a mess. Bringing up Salty right now is a poor decision IMO unless Laird is traded within the week (even then, have we reduced what trade value he does have with Salty's promotion). I would support Salty's promotion if it were part of a larger shakeup where Broussard and Cat are released, but the timing doesn't make sense. If we just needed a backup to replace Melhuse, then bring up someone else like Kevin Richardson from OKC to ride the pine.
This move only helps seal RW's fate by giving him another platoon - it doesn't help in the clubhouse, and Salty comes into what looks like a sensitive and uncertain position. I really wish things weren't coming down this way.

3. It's just one of many issues. Defense has been a bigger issue.

4. Hamilton's the man.

5. I do think it is exceptionally early. However, this team is exceptionally bad. I think the team is right to pospone major change until late May at least. Most other teams haven't had enough time to identify what their needs will be as the season progresses. Waiting a little longer until there are more teams in the market for tradeable players is in our best long-term interest.
When change does come, to be significant enough to energize things I think it must include players, too. Our new manager (Matt Walbeck) will be a guy who is committed to youth, and puts them in the lineup. Guys who are not part of that movement need to be moved or released, as stated earlier.

1. I willing to see if the Rangers can have a strong May and get their wheels back on track. But if the team keeps on playing the way they have been and also keep on playing poor defense for a man that preaches defense then I think a change needs to be made. But I am willing to see if the Rangers can pull it all together and at least get this team back to playing .500 ball from here on out. Maybe the Twins and the Royals are a good cure for the team hitting woes. And Millwood and Padilla have actually been the 2006 version of themselves so far that is a little good news for how the season has gone so far they haven't been any part of the disappointing start to me. So I hope they can keep it up.
2. I didn't like the idea of Salty starting at Triple AAA in the first place so I am still a little mad and confused about that move. Send your catcher of the future or a player that will be part of your future in some capacity that has the ability already to handle hitting at the major league level. But I think they should platoon them. If the Rangers want to give Laird more starts that is fine. You can at least still find ways to get AB's for Salty as a DH when Milton Bradley plays the outfield as he gets healthier.
3. I think that is a huge part of there overall performance. Because everytime they have a chance to drive in runs and the more they didn't come through the more and more they press in those situations. But obvouisly Josh Hamilton hasn't been part of that he has at least been getting fly balls to at least drive in a run. But for th rest of the team they need to get there confidence back and then they should turn around there fortunes. The lack of hitting with runners scoring position also hurt because get opportunity to get back what runs you had just given up and get so close to getting them back and then it just happned over and over again. But hopefully after getting some good home cooking and wins at home they can get that stat turned around.
4. Josh Hamilton has no doubt been the player of the first month of the season he has kept this team from being worse then the record they already have. But no doubt its Hamilton although my second place vote would be for the way Kevin Millwood has been pitching so far i have like the way he looks this year he has been strong in just about every start. But Hamilton has been even more impressive that I think anybody thought.
5. Too early for organizational changes. Remember they played a lot better after the season got going and i think that if they keep swinging the bats like they have the last couple of days that they will be fine and at least get back to respectablity.

Defense has been the biggest problem -- infield defense. Isn't that where the team "leader" plays? And isn't that what the team manager supposedly coaches? I agree with the excellent point, above, that teams that are fired up and playing as a team, get big hits. That's what leadership does. It creates a sense that each player picks the other up. This team's leader isn't really a leader. He's not a bad guy, just not a leader. Until they get one (or two), or until one of the younger guys establishes enough clubhouse cred to lead, nothing will change.

1. washington should be let go. he hs not motivated his team.when he was hired he preached about being a definsive coach. this team has been horrible on d and this team has no leadership. Nolan should be on the phone with mike hargrove.

2. should be two games on two games off unless one gets hot at the plate

3. it is a one of the reasons but the defense has been horrible

4. kind of hard to go against .333 avg 5 hr and 27 rbi. which i think is leading the team in all. plus his defense has been excellent.

5. the people in place have been here longer then 26 games. washington should be gone. this teams needs some discipline and be accountable for what they do on the field. should have hired hillman. i think hargrove could help this team.

1) It's time for a change. This is exactly what we put up with last April. The team was not ready for the season, and the proper adjustments aren't simply being made. I say let Walbeck take over as Interim manager and give him a 130 game audition for the job.
2) I think they should rotate catching duties with Salty getting extra at bats as DH.
3) Probably 25%, with another quarter being awful defense, another quarter being attributed to little league baserunning, and the final quarter being erratic pitching.
4) Hamilton.
5) The coaching staff in place all have at least one season with this team, so they have been given more than 26 games to get the players to play to at least there potential.

1. Washington needs to be let go. It's not even the lack of passion and motivation that bothers me. It's his in-game calls that upset me. When he choses to substitute players in and out, his unwillingness to set up a double play and walk a guy to get to the 9th place hitter. There have been close games that have been lost because of management calls.

Our fielding has been beyond awful! He is supposed to be a defensive specialist. Didn't Chavez give him his gold glove? What is going on in this clubhouse?

2. I'd like to see Salty more but you can't put that much blame on Laird for the Rangers poor start.

3. It's hurt a lot. When you can't execute with runners in scoring position then its hard to win ball games.

4. Padilla... did I just say that? Padilla has pitched great

5. No make the changes!!! Start with the coach

1. Fired last week. Take Daniels with you.
2. Move Salt to 1B, Laird isn't the problem he is hitting .260 and playing defense well enough. Just another move by the Rangers to create excitement. Salt can hit so put him at first. God only knows Broussard is killing us.
3. Errors hurt too, but this teams inability to manufacture runs another supposed Washington strength? When it is going this bad don't you try to hit and run, sacrifice, steal, bunt do something?
4. Hamilton is a player, if he doesn't go off the deep end with this team then sign him to a long term deal.
5. No. The entire coaching staff should be swept out the door along with Trader JACK. Send JACK a Thank you card if any of his players in the minors ever become contributors. Some times the best things to do are to do nothing, like when Daniels took over. If he does nothing we have Gonzalez and Young. Forget Soriano, but if he does nothing with Galarraga we would have another pitcher. Tex was a protection trade, so forget that one. But except for the Gagne deal, he has made some horrendous deals. You don't tout a #1 left handed starting pitcher as your future and then not give him a chance to play at the major league level. LEARN FROM HISTORY CORNELL BOY. Those who don't remember the past are doomed to repeat it. Darling, Righetti, Nen, Henke,

He Daniels, trader jack, should be fired for The San Diego deal alone, but i will add Danks for any fence riders. Bye bye Dan, it was great to watch you attempt to set Ron up for the fall. To me it is a package deal. This is your hire. What in your mind led you to believe that this guy could manage? Both of you guys are in way over your heads, it shows every day. At this point, letting the both of you go would be an act of mercy. You suck!

1. He needs to go, We need a little fire put under these young guys. Rusty Greer? I know, kinda out there, but at least he's a winner and won't tolerate less than 100%.
2. Laird is fine and he's not exactly old! If someone would just tell him he doesn't have to be a power hitter, great wheels for a catcher, how about shorten up that swing and hit .280 and 10 home runs. Salty is a tremendous talent at the plate, but behind it he is VERY weak. The fact that he has come as far as he has is a testament to his athletic ability. Put the kid on first base and let him play everyday! Heck, I know you can make a corner outfielder out of him. Botts can DH, EVERYDAY, until he proves he's not a big leaguer.
3. Pretty big part of our shortfalls but it's just one ingredient of not being prepared out of spring training.
4. Punt, not enough info at this time.
5. This should have been done before the season started and it would have had the Rangers not played well in the second half of last year. Trade Bradley, let Broussard platoon with the guy in the horse suit, trade Cat for pitching, Let Murphy lead off, teach Kinsler about situational hitting, and don't make anymore moves that don't bring pitching here!!!!

Bring pitching here? Ha Ha Ha Ha. All we get here is stats about Nolan Ryan and his greatness. Hey Nolan you are a hall of famer, pitched 7 no hitters, 5,000+ strikeouts, over 300 wins. Your career is over! Prove to us that you are the PRESIDENT and fire all of these clowns and start over. The bottom line is that it was extremely important for us to start out at least with a .500 record. Wash knew this, knows this didn't happen is probably just waiting for the hatchet to fall. At this point, he probably would resign if he could keep his money. Wash is evidently a good guy, but was promoted beyond his capabilities. Next time try being a bench coach before bite off more than you can chew. He will not get another managerial job and should not have gotten this one. More than enough reason along with those bad trades to cut Daniels embilical cord too! What is Nolan waiting for?

1. The upcoming schedule has few top flight teams. If the team is not trending upward by June 1 a change should seem evident.

2. Laird is no Pudge but he isn't Einar Diaz. I agree with TR that he is far from the problem here. I expect one of these guys to be traded soon. Like they say in football, if you have 2 quarterbacks you actually have no quarterback.
3. Given the history of the Rangers who would ahve thought they would have trouble scoring runs. Imagine where they would be without the best hitting coach in baseball, if he really is.
4. Hamilton with honarable mention to Murphy. Millwood has been a tough luck guy.
5. No, but it is soon enough to say some I told you sos like Broussard was never going to get the job done at first.

1. Might as well ask it...what is your take on the managerial situation and what should happen there?

It is too early to fire the manager.

2. How should the Rangers handle the catching situation now?

Salty's first game results passed ball and poor throw to second on a steal. I still think his future is at first base. However he insists his position is catching. Laird is the starter and deserves the majority of playing time.

3. How much do you think the Rangers struggles in hitting with runners in scoring position has accounted for their overall struggles?

The hitting overall seems good. However with runners in scoring position we need Hamilton to be designated hitter for everyone else. RISP and ERRORS tie for the Rangers problems thus far.

4. Who is the Rangers Player of the Month for April?

Hamiliton No.1 Padilla No.2

5. Do you think 26 games is too early to make sweeping changes?

I think the Rangers are better than they have shown. If there is to be a early change why not bring Mench up to platoon at first base (if Salty won't play first)? Botts is expendible.

1. I think RW has had his chance and we need a change before things get really out of hand. This is a much better team than the results from this year and last has played to. I know the players deserve the most blame, but a change would be good for this team. No more players' managers, get someone in who will put some his team accountable for bad play.
2. Laird should be the starting catcher and get the bulk of the playing time. Let Salt prove his worth before we just hand him the position. I would give him more time at 1st, DH Botts, and drop Broussard.
3. The Rangers have has leads in most of the games they have played. Defense and pitching have been much bigger problems than hitting with RISP.
4. Hamilton without a doubt. His at bats have kept me interested in games even when the Rangers are down big like they always seem to be.
5. No, the play is also reflective of last year, so I would say we are judging based on 188 games, not just 26. I don't think a decent second half when nothing counts should yield more time to prove that the Rangers are going in the wrong direction. It's time for a change. I'm available to manage. I've seen Little Big League at least 5 times now.

1. We need a change, we have for a long time. Washington should have been fired this weekend. I understand that firing him on or the day before his birthday would be an undeserved punishment, but I think he should get the axe this weekend - even if we win every game this week. He's just not the manager this team needs going forward.

2. Salty should go full-time, and Gerald Laird can make his "impact" on the end of the bench. Salty needs the consistent AB's to develop - if the Rangers don't want to worry about him not being ready to go full-time once Laird is traded, then they need to play him full-time now.

3. I think we all know that's been a huge part of it. Rudy Jaramillio's gotta take some heat on that, just like Ron Washington has to take heat for his lousy management, and Mark Connor needs to take some heat for the pitching meltdowns. Something to take note of, though: Milton Bradley is hitting .174 with RISP. If that doesn't improve, a linuep change will be in order.

4. Josh Hamilton. And I think he might turn out to be the player of the month quite a few more times this year. Maybe even every month.

5. You make changes when you need to. 26 games of shoddily-played baseball, and one of the worst starts in franchise history should be more than enough evedence to someone in the Rangers chain of command that changes need to be made.

http://lonestarincalifornia.wordpress.com/

1) I think Washington needs to go. Having been around KC for the last 8 years, "player friendly" managers get you nothing more than 100 losses a year. You need somebody to light a fire under your players. Ron Washington is not that guy. I think if you are going to fire him, do it now or wait until the end of the season. Don't do it 2 months from now.

2) You tabbed Laird the starter at the beginning and he hasn't given you any reason to doubt that. Leave him there and when Melhuse is healthy, send Salty back down for more work and then decided in the offseason what to do.

3) It's a major piece of the puzzle. We can overlook errors and bad pitches if we are scoring runs.

4) Hamilton, hands down. If not him, Millwood. He has pitched great, and gotten no run support.

5) 26 games is to early. Can we pull a Rockies of a year ago, possibly. However, it is going to take a focused effort of everyone from the front office clear down to the players on the field.

Been out of town and just got thru the Tivo'ed games...

1. Took this long to dig the hole, give'em at least that long to fill it back in especially since half of the next 26 are against the division, then evaluate. Some of the little things I saw watching and listening show that maybe the players are going to just take care of it themselves. Hey Braint77, the guys seem to respect Walbeck, maybe you do have something there...

2. A significant catching change doesn't make sense to me until after the ASB. If we want Salty's bat, any kind of significant AB's need to come out of another position.

3. The RISP thing is just part of a three headed monster. Pitching, Hitting, Defense. None was worse than the other on that road trip. Based on MInnesota series, things may have trended up a bit in all departments but I'm gonna go cliche now: "25 guys pulling on the same rope..."

4. Hamilton, Runners-up: Kinsler & Murphy

5. See #1 for the manager, as far as on-field goes, not yet. Injuries are going to get some guys opportunites.

1) Washington and Daniels have to go, waiting to see after these divisional games won't matter- we're going to have our lunch handed to us.
2) The catching situation is the least of the Rangers worries. You want to do something drastic? Move Laird to 3rd, Salty behind the plate. What's the worst that can happen? More errors? Please.
3) Hitting with RISP is just another symptom of this dysfunctional team. The biggest problem is this team has no heart. Maybe they're a bunch of nice guys, but they need someone to turn over the lunch buffet. And not Bradley, he's a head case. To a man they should be ashamed of their play.
4) No one deserves player of the month with this start to the season. Alright, Hamilton.
5) 26 games in is not too early to make changes.
If my comments seem unduly harsh it's because this season really hurts. I've been a Rangers fan for nearly 40 years- yes, before they were the Rangers. And for 35 years it's been one rebuilding year after another. On the other hand maybe I'm just tired...

1) I think Ron needs a little more time. I think he was a good pick to lead the team, I like his bluntness, and think he will develop into a pretty good manager-whether with the Rangers or not. If he was canned, I wouldn't cry in my jack and coke, but personally, I'd give him more time. Last year we were I believe 45-35 over the last half of the season, so I believe he has what it takes.

2) Laird catches most every day, and Salty comes to spell him at catcher, because Salty SHOULD HAVE been playing first base from the get-go. Laird is very competent catching, and we need a bat at First. Salty is that choice--Bye Bye to Botts and Broussard is marginal, and not the future there.

3) I think (and know-it's obvious) that they are pressing. That's what ineptitude does, and it carries over into the field with them. Thank the Lord for Josh Hamilton. Where would we have been without him? (Of course, Tex should have been at first, Sori in an outfield spot, and Sammy should have been at DH. Think this woudn't make us a much improved hitting team?)

4) I guess I'd vote for Josh Hamilton or Millwood/Padilla. Millwood and Padilla have really impressed me.

5) All the Rangers are about is change, flux, movement. THIS is why we don't win. We always are waiting on the "kids" to arrive and save the day. Trouble is, we either trade them or they are over-estimated (READ: Jason Botts). If we ever decided to keep a core of solid veterans and plug in selected minor league studs, then we might have something. I'll never be on board by simply "waiting on the kids to save us." Then it becomes, "We'll win in 2011, or 2012, or......." This is a croc, in my humble opinion, to keep the masses hopeful and separating the fans from their dollars, while Liverpool Tom feathers the nest of his precious soccer team across the pond.