Monday Morning Manager...The Boston Marathon

1. Too tough to talk about.

2. He's the last thing this team needs. Think younger, not older.

3. Guts. Particularly from veterans such as Young, Blalock. Leadership is more than numbers. Leadership is big hits, big defensive plays, in big situations; setting a winning example. It's time for the team leaders to lead or get out.

4. Yes.

5. My advice would be to J.D.: When hiring an executive level employee (e.g. manager) there is more to the process than the job interview. You got snowed by the interview and forgot to evaluate everything else about the candidate. Rookie mistake. You've been here long enough that it's time to stop making rookie mistakes. Patience is wearing thin.

1. Very tough – it appears the strength of the 2007 team (the bullpen) is becoming the Achilles heel of the 2008 team.

2. NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3. Patience and a new manager (I was never on board with Ron Washington, and I’m fully convinced he is not the type of manager this organization needs if it is indeed building for the future.)

4. Yes

5. Instead of answering this question – I’ll ask one of my own: Why has native Texan and locally born Lance Armstrong never been honored as a Texas Hero and asked to throw out the first pitch on opening day at the Ballpark?

If you need a dose of baseball tonight (since there is no Ranger game) – you might check out: “Through A Cat’s Eyes” a documentary on the Fort Worth Cats on KERA Channel 13 at 8 p.m. followed by a profile of Roberto Clemente on the American Experience at 9:00 p.m.

http://emcmlb.blogspot.com/

1. Consistantly wasting good outings by our starters is upsetting to say the least.

2. Not in Texas.

3. Somebody to get mad, kick some *** in the clubhouse and get these guys fired up. Way too often they look like they're sleep walking.

4. Yes. Maybe by June when the heat starts to get to them the bullpen will be in order.

5. Throw something, break some stuff, yell, maybe get tossed from a few games.

1. It's bad, but it's still just one loss.

2. I do see a need for him (in Seattle or maybe Oakland), but not on this team.

3. Soapbox time -
I see the need for youth. This retread roster that JD put together to bide time until the farm system begins to produce in 2010 is proving itself to be inept. I see the need for the all-star break so we can begin to trade our guys on one year deals like Milton Bradley who can produce for young players who will be part of the future today, not in 2012 or 2014. Unfortunately he may be the only one with any value.
Saltalamacchia needs to be in Arlington and Laird needs to be playing for the Reds (who are reportedly interested right now) or Mets. Cat needs to be on a beach. David Murphy needs to be in LF every day. Botts needs to be on 1B every day until the ASB, then we need to reevaluate his status. We need to see if he can play or not, after he is given a consistent opportunity to do so. If he can't then let's move on.
I could go on, but today I'm ready to get to the ASB and make significant changes based on what I've seen so far.

4. I feel very good about the job that Millwood and Padilla have done. The bottom half of the rotation much less so.

5. Heh heh. Teed this question up for me.
My advice for baseball man would be to stop coaching and start managing. I think RW is a very good coach, but that isn't his job anymore. Stop moving people around in the field (and in the lineup) and commit to your starting players that each of them are the guy - every day. Keep Murphy in LF every day. Let Bradley DH every day (good call on this Sean). Let Botts, yes Botts, play every day until the ASB. Don't pull him for a 'defensive replacement' or a pinch hitter. Stop overmanaging - the result has been inconsistency due to players who are playing tight.
Finally, buy into youth, or you'll be gone by July 11th.

1. yes it was tough but you have to take out of it that our starting rotation is pitching well.

2. no no no

3. the leaders need to take charge. this team looks flat at times. coaches need to toughen this team up and if wash cant do it he needs to be kicked to the curb or move back to the spot where he is not over his head as a position coach.

4. yes i am. millwood padilla and gabbard have been excellent. jennings when he keeps the ball down is good. and you cant tell on mendoza yet not enough starts. liked hearing that patterson is getting close. he will be up at some point this year. if mccarthy is smart and trying to see if rehab can fix his elbow he is mistaking and taking valuable recovery time for surgery. if he needs it GET IT DONE NOW!!

5. been saying this on every blog NOLAN, JD you need to be on the phone with mike hargrove and see if he would be interested in this non disciplined team. you have to make these players accountable. i remember a couple of years ago when Bobby Cox pulled andruw jones in the middle of an inning for loafing around. stupid mental mistakes should not be tolerated from these guys. start sitting people you have to do something to get these guys to be accoutable for the action on the field.

after all the negative i have to put something postitive. the starting rotation has been a pleasant suprise so far. Josh Hamilton has been excellent in the field and at the plate. Milton Bradley has been excellent at the plate and with no outbursts so far.

1. It was brutal. Bullpen meltdowns are becoming far too common.

2. I was going to make the same comment about sending him to another AL West team, but briant77 beat me to it. Let's just go with absolutely not.

3. Again I was beaten to it, but someone in the clubhouse (Young? Blalock? Bradley? Hamilton?) needs to take charge.

4. Absolutely!! Millwood, Padilla and Gabbard have been great. Jennings looked good in his last start so maybe he is coming around. I haven't seen Mendoza pitch so I can't really comment. I figured they would be OK, but not this good. Very pleasantly suprised. I'd love to see this trend continue.

5. See if he can work some more magic with Benoit like he did last year. His stuff is too good for him to be pitching like he has been this year. Keep Botts in the lineup. Get rid of Broussard. He's not hitting, and his fielding is not that great either. Bat Murphy leadoff and Ian second. I still like Washington as a manager - I think he was hired as the Anti-Showalter, and I think it is what the team needs. Having said that, I also agree with hefe300 that he needs to get PO'd at his team and fire them up a little.

I have a question to add - I have watched all but a few of the 19 games played so far. I am sick of Josh Lewin and his lame comments. I love Tom Grieve's (sp?) analysis, but Lewin drives me up a wall. Am I the only one?

1. No loss is easy to take.

2. No. Not on this team.

3. I echo all the points about leadership. Someone needs to take charge of this team and get them in gear. These men are far more talented than their recent play or record shows.

4. Millwood and Padilla have been good. Jennings and Gabbard are getting there (I hope). Not sure about Mendoza at this point.

5. I'm just going to ditto what briant77 said for his #5.

http://baseballismyboyfriend.blogspot.com

1. You always hate to lose but in the end it's just one game. You hope for those you lose like that the team follows the Mark Holtz "peck away " theory and wins a few.
2. Not a need...an opportunity.
3. Patience from TR bloggers
4. At first blush you have to say they're stepping up...but for instance look at Millwood's hit/walk total for each game. Even with that I have to say Millwood Gabbard and Padilla have been better than expected I guess.
5. Keep pounding on fundamentals...find out if there's something wrong with Benoit. I have a suspicion. Try to keep the guys from getting down on themselves. Avoid reading TR's blog unless he wants to lose confidence too. Some fans evidientaly think that Ron Washington was trying to close that game out yesterday. I personally thought it was CJ Wilson...guess I'm wrong.

1. How tough was the Rangers loss: Tough but we still have a lot of games to play and watching Hamilton bat is exciting.

2.Frank Thomas: What for, no, no, no.

3. What do you see a need for: A new Manager

Feeling on rotation: Very good, hope they do not lose confidence.

Advise for Ron Washington: Leave

The Rangers need to win three of their next five games to match last years record, after twenty-five games. Hopefully, that is possible. Once again, the ASB will decide who plays and who goes. As for Josh L., his redundent reading of stats is TMI and even when he reads he makes errors. Sorry he can not go to OKC or Frisco, along with a select few.

1. Tough, If you lose the games YOU SHOULD WIN and lose the games you should lose then how many losses are we looking at 100????
2. No
3. NEW MANAGER who was supposed to bring defense, 22 errors. He will be gone by mid May and should be.
4. Pyrite is good, Bullpen is torching our leads. What do you expect with Nippert and others
5. Resign before you implode. It appears you are what you are and may not be as high as what we expected. So far you are winning 35 percent of your games. This when you new how important it was to get off to a good start. We are going to be burried in the cellar again before the end of April. I know, i know, he doesn't hit, field, throw, run. And he obviously can't prepare his players to do those things either. Can't motivate, lead or DIRECT them. Someone said last week that i thought i knew more than Washington. At this point, i am going to say that i would win more games than him and have my players in position to win. In all reality, Wash was set up for failure here when he brought only 1 of his coaches with him Art Howe. The rest are from Buck Showalter's staff. Wash is a great guy, but as Harry S. Truman said, "the buck stops here." It may not be fair, but Daniels set him up to take the fall and it will be off with Washingtons head. Daniels is Washingtons, Benedict Arnold, get ready to watch it ain't gonna be pretty. Do it next Saturday, during the NFL draft and only a few of us will notice. Ha ha, we talk about being better, but i just don't see it. How much longer before Young, who can't play SS, starts whining about how he wants to win and go to another team? Where ever he goes, he is either going to play second or third base, not shortstop. He doesn't have the range. A Ranger without any range, Ha Ha. How does this look C Salty
1B Davis
2B Duran
3B Kinsler
SS Andrus
LF Murphy
CF Borbon
RF Hamilton
DH Botts/Blalock.
That is the future folks so lets get on with it. We aren't that far from hitting rock bottom @ 35%. So trade Young, Cat, Laird, Milton, Broussard, Millwood and Padilla and lets REBUILD it is our only hope. We continue to patch it together and it just doesn't work. BRING ON THE UTES. Grover is the right guy, do it now, he is ready to manage and always wanted this job so give it to him. It is the right thing to do. Remember Hart still lurks.

i sure could use some baseball after seeing the rangers play. washington needs to be gone. he don't know how to manage.

Kev,
Next time you're in Bosstown, shoot me an e-mail or call.

Best to all ... and those Rangers will turn it around,

Yer cuz

Is the manager a leader? Well since we all like Latin here, lets try this one Manus, which means hand. According to Webster's Manage is defined as: To control the movement or behavior, To have charge of, direct, to succeed in accomplishing. Leader means- one who leads, the guiding head, to direct, to guide by influence, to be the head of, to show the way, to be ahead in a contest. I particulary like the last one, ha ha. So either Washington isn't any of those things or the players aren't responding to him. Either way is bad and he has to go. So if we are to believe in Mr. Webster and we all do, except for our writer friend who doesn't contact relatives when he is in town, then our man Washington is not fullfilling his end of the bargain. He wants defense, working the count, but can't get his players to do it. I am not even going to get into what MOTIVATE means, but he has failed. I LIKE WASHINGTON BUT WOULD THEY DO US ALL A FAVOR AND DO THE DEED? He is going to get paid this year and next year for sitting at home or being a third base or bench coach somewhere. You have to admire the guy for wanting to be the head guy, but i bet you if you ask him if he wanted a do over, he would tell you he wishes he was still in that third base coaches box in Oakland. Hey TR did you owe your relative some money? Ha Ha. Next questions: Have you lost faith in Washington? How many more games should he get? Who should replace him? How many games do the Rangers have to lose before, they say the word REBUILDING? Why is this team so bad when it appears to be talented?

Who hit the ball, you throw the ball, you catch the ball, you lollygag in the infield, you lollygag in the outfield. You know what makes you? A bunch of lollygagers. How is it that so called professional baseball players who had to be fundamentally sound to get these contracts have forgotten how to play the game with fundamentals. Would Billy Martin have accepted this type of play. He would have tore up the clubhouse, assaulted a few players. I hate to say it but i just don't think that their is any respect for Washington and i don't know why. He seems like a nice guy and that may be the problem. Too nice. Most of all your successful coaches are a bunch of hardasses. It is just the way it is.

D'god as usual your rants totally ignore the facts and contain outright bull.
By "Grover" I assume you mean Mike Hargrove. Not being his intimate friend I don't presume to call him "Grover", a name he is said not to like. You say he's ready to manage. How do you know that...I checked online ...it's not there. Did you talk to him personally. pshaw! I know ...as a cop you stopped him and checked it out...pshaw!
Your trade of Michael Young is laughable and I won't even address it further. You include a number of 1st year AA and AAA players...evidentially you have no idea of seasoning in the minors. Absolutely unbelievable.
You again bring up Saltalamachia. You know that Mr Saltalamachia was not even the 3rd best catcher last year on the Rangers in terms of "caught stealing?" First there was Gerald Laird who placed 2nd in the league for qualified catchers. Stewart and Melhuse both ranked above your favorite. Evidentially you don't believe in statistics either.

Billy Martin is your poster child as manager? Maybe you don't recognize Manic behavior and alcoholism but most of us are smart enough to know that Mr. Martin's behavior was destructive in addition to being counter productive. When I watched a guy that the "ole perfesser" loved like a child hurting himself like that it was almost enough to bring tears to the eyes.

Here's one more for some of you...many of you don't use your real name in your criticism of Ron Washington. Because you're anonymous you can say whatever ridiculous thing comes to mind...knowing of course that the man can't defend himself. Seems like a lack of "fair play" doesn't it?

I SAID LAST YEAR THAT IF I WAS PAYING THE SALARY OF THESE GUYS I WOULD CALL A MEETING AND TELL ALL 25 PLUS COACHES IF THIS PRODUCT DOES NOT IMPROVE THEY CAN ALL GO TO OKC AND I WILL PROMOTE THAT TEAM TO ARLINGTON JUST SWAP THEM OUT IT CANNOT BE ANY WORSE

Personally,gmf, I like Josh Lewin's zany humour. He and Tom Grieve make a great team. I watch my games on mlb.com, living as I do in Australia. Mlb invariably takes its feed from the home cit, so I get to sample the commentators on a range of networks. Be grateful for the Josh and Tom! The worst I've come across are the Seattle pair, while the Boston crew treat the opposition as though they were the opponents of The Harlem Globetrotters.

Fred, please ignore him. He might go away.... Or perhaps remind him what happened to David Clyde when they rushed him straight into the show(Happy memories!! I was in the ballpark to see Davids first game!!) Or perhaps you could point out that Elvis A made three errors in the first inning yesterday. But I was right the first time-jusy ignore him.

1. That was one of the most pathetic things I have ever witnessed. Even for this ballclub.

2. Hahahahaha... no.

3. A new manager. Namely Matt Walbeck.

4. The rotation has been a bright spot. Millwood and Padilla have bee better than I dared hope, and Kason Gabbard hasn't melted down yet. I just hope he's still healthy after today's early exit. Jennings and Mendoza though... I'm not so sure about those two. Jennings doesn't seem to have the velocity or the control to be effective yet, and Mendoza is Kam Loe reincarnated. I can't wait until Brandon McCarthy and John Patterson are ready to try their comebacks.

5. When you get canned, don't let the door hit you on the way out. Or, until then, what Briant77 said.

http://lonestarincalifornia.wordpress.com/

Yeah, let's get Grover in here. The guy who less than a year ago walked away from a team in contention saying that his "passion has begun to fade." That's sure to cure what's ailing this bunch. A manager who give up on a team that went on to win 88 games because his heart wasn't in it. Genius.

Thank you, Hefe. I was going to say the same thing about Hargrove.
1. That loss was miserable, but that was Sunday's loss not Saturday's
2. Frank looks better as a commentator on FOX.
3. Relief pitching and situational hitting. How can they have the bases loaded 3 times, without getting 1 single run across.
4. I have been pleasantly suprised by Millwood, Padilla, and Gabbard. Jennings looked good yesterday, and Mendoza has looked good. Hell even Feldman looked good in his one start, and I'm no Feldman fan.
5. Wash: Love ' ya, but you are not management material. You should negotiate a demotion to 3rd base coach, and Ryan and Daniels find a real manager.

1. Definitely a tough one, the 'pen better start putting some of those away or the starters will begin to lose focus.
2. We already have the DH thing more than covered.
3. Timely hitting and consistent defense. The team leads the world in doubles but none ever happen with guys on. The leading the world in errors is just getting embrassing.
4. I with the others on this kind of eval and waiting til the ASB to really see where we are. Gabbard is a worry at this point but Jennings had much better velocity in his last start and that probably contributed to a better start. Mendoza might be overmatched just now. Millwood and Padilly may just take matters in their own hands and start thowing complete games in order to get a W.
5. RW needs to be more consistent with the line up. Consistency starts at the top, if guys know who is going to be where they can be better prepared. I'm sure it feels like playing the lottery to the players everyday when they see the lineup card.

1) I'm already getting a sixth sense that, despite sterling starting pitching for the most part, that this team is a "clunker."

2) Heck yes, I'd sign Frank Thomas. Has anyone else seen the "NO CLUTCH HITTING?", or is it just me? There is little pop, little "OOOMPH!" Yes, I'd sign him for relatively cheap, a la Sammy Sosa, or just go out and find out where Sammy is and sign him. Jeez, this team hasn't had a timely hit yet. Sammy choked up and got the run in, or knocked it out. Sign Thomas, yes.

3) Robinson Tejeda looks a heckuva lot better than the "illustrious" Dustin Nippert...why on earth did we choose Nippert over Robinson? Stupid decision. Also, is there any reason not to have Salty's bat on the Major League level? If we were hitting, I wouldn't worry. As to the non-starting pitchers, we look very, very weak.

4) I'm feeling much better about the starters, yes. Ask me about the rest of the bunch, and I'd have to hold my nose. They've cost us at least being a .500 team by now....along with our "clutch hitters."

5) What I'd recommend for Ron Washington would be a stiff Jack and Coke, or two, or whatever it takes to forget most of these games. YUKKKKK!

P.S....I still HATE this new blog format, the other one was much preferable, not jumpy, and easier to view and type. T.R.....this one is sub-standard.

1. It's the Rangers, it's April, it's normal.
2. Dave Burba, Sammy Sosa, Kenny Lofton, why not!
3. A new manager
4. A very nice surprise! Too bad the bullpen has bombed. If it's not one thing, it's another.
5. More cowbell

I will never understand why you people get mad at me about the things i write, but don't get mad about the "product" that is put onto the field. Please direct your criticism to the field and the field house. I didn't say bring up all of those players now, i said they were our future. Washington isn't getting the job done, it is not personal. The results will be personal for him. Grover, and i don't care if he likes it or not, said in a newspaper article that he was ready to manage again. Who can blame a guy for stepping aside to deal with some of his wifes medical issues and marital problems? His wife was quoted in that paper as saying that Grover, needed to get a job. Hargrove has always wanted to manage here, but the timing has always been off. I think he lives here in Texas. That guy could help us, it could happen. Don't count him out. Hart still lurks. Besides, he could just come in here, have a positive interview and be hired right. WE ARE NOT PLAYING FUNDAMENTAL BASEBALL PERIOD and that falls on the manager. As for Billy Martin well it ain't no secret that he was an alcoholic, but he always got the best out of his teams at least for a few years. At this point, i wish Washington would get drunk, punch a few walls, throw a fit, show some freaking emotion. How many times has he been ejected as a head coach? Not too many times that i have seen, but then again i am usually watching a major league game.

D'god, check Billy Martin's stats as a Ranger Manager. In three years at the helm he had only 1 winning season in 74 at 84/76/.525. In the total 279 games hewas 137/142/.495. And his record in 19 years was 1253/1013/.553. Yes he was a good manager, but his off field problems affected his on field performance late in his career. While I agree with you that RW is not the man for the job, here and needs to get in a few faces in the clubhouse (yes I am agreeing with you on this), I would not wish for him to take the same road as Billy Martin. Martin's temperment would not be tolerated in the clubhouse now, by either the Players or by the front office.
As for Mike Hargrove, I haven't seen the article that you referred to, but I would be interested in reading it. I think you have an affection for players from the old days. And Hargrove is the only former player that has played t the big level. Could he get the job done? Maybe, but it starts with getting in a few faces.
Of course what happens in the clubhouse is never aired out in public, but I agree that if RW can't get in a few faces, and I include MY in that list, then he is not the right man to lead this team. Broussard needs to be sat or sent down to AAA, along with Mench. Nippert needs to be given his outright release, and Fukumori needs to spend time at AAA, to adjust to a new country and style of baseball. "Everyday" Eddie should also be shown the door to make room for Ponson. And if Botts isn't hitting .270/.450/.450, then he needs to be sent on, and replaced with Boggs or Ellison. Or even Cruz, who is absolutely killing AAA again.
Rudy Jaramillo has also got to start working with the offense and teaching situational hitting. On Monday the bases were left loaded 3 times, because we have batters that have never been taught that a single will score 2 in that situation.
They are only taught to swing for the fence everytime they get up to bat. Part of fundementals is getting runner from 1st-2nd-3rd, with as few outs as possible.
As for the defense, I don't have a clue. It is like these guys are asleep. That is where RW getting in playres faces comes in.
But these are just one mans opinion.

D'god, check Billy Martin's stats as a Ranger Manager. In three years at the helm he had only 1 winning season in 74 at 84/76/.525. In the total 279 games hewas 137/142/.495. And his record in 19 years was 1253/1013/.553. Yes he was a good manager, but his off field problems affected his on field performance late in his career. While I agree with you that RW is not the man for the job, here and needs to get in a few faces in the clubhouse (yes I am agreeing with you on this), I would not wish for him to take the same road as Billy Martin. Martin's temperment would not be tolerated in the clubhouse now, by either the Players or by the front office.
As for Mike Hargrove, I haven't seen the article that you referred to, but I would be interested in reading it. I think you have an affection for players from the old days. And Hargrove is the only former player that has played t the big level. Could he get the job done? Maybe, but it starts with getting in a few faces.
Of course what happens in the clubhouse is never aired out in public, but I agree that if RW can't get in a few faces, and I include MY in that list, then he is not the right man to lead this team. Broussard needs to be sat or sent down to AAA, along with Mench. Nippert needs to be given his outright release, and Fukumori needs to spend time at AAA, to adjust to a new country and style of baseball. "Everyday" Eddie should also be shown the door to make room for Ponson. And if Botts isn't hitting .270/.450/.450, then he needs to be sent on, and replaced with Boggs or Ellison. Or even Cruz, who is absolutely killing AAA again.
Rudy Jaramillo has also got to start working with the offense and teaching situational hitting. On Monday the bases were left loaded 3 times, because we have batters that have never been taught that a single will score 2 in that situation.
They are only taught to swing for the fence everytime they get up to bat. Part of fundementals is getting runner from 1st-2nd-3rd, with as few outs as possible.
As for the defense, I don't have a clue. It is like these guys are asleep. That is where RW getting in playres faces comes in.
But these are just one mans opinion.

I think Ron Washington is probably a good guy, but seems to be way over his head. If he were to get in guys faces at this point it would come off as phoney, and probably too little too late. I don't know who would be a good replacement, but find one fast. And a new GM too. Danks, Gonzalez, Young.....I think I'm gonna be sick now.

1) It hurts. My whole family is Red Sox fans and being swept by them is going to make this a long baseball season.

2) No, Let Botts and Brousard battle it out. We also have plenty of DH's.

3) Somebody needs to step up and be leader of this team. We paid big money to a couple of players and they haven't said a single word. Millwood, Young, Kinsler, and I few others, we are waiting.

4) I feel good about Millwood and Padilla (despite what happened in Detroit) but not the rest of the rotation. I am beginning to wonder if it isn't time to find a new pitching coach.

5) It's time to stop being a "player's manager" and take charge. You were brought in because of your work with A's infielders and their fielding %. How many errors do we have this season? Also, find a lineup and stick with it. I live in KC and have seen what happens when you play with lineups to much (you lose 100 games).