Friday Happy Hour at the Elysian Fields Bar & Grill

Tina Padilla has a nice ring to it.

I'm excited about Max Ramirez, I just don't know where he's going to play. We seem to be deep with young catchers and teams rarely go with young, unproven guys at DH, but he's going to force their hand soon if he keeps this up.

After last night's game Max is up to .398/.480/.722 - unreal.

I don't understand why the Rangers play someone in the minor leagues at a postion that they have no intention of playing them at in the major leagues? Ramirez can hit and if you can hit they will find you a position. Catcher is a grinding position, so why not find Ramirez another postion that can help us, like outfield or firstbase. Wasn't that the point of playing Salt at catcher at AAA? Is salt that good of a catcher or does he need to play first base. Hamilton is a great guy and player, but his future is in Right Field. Which that is ok, but i believe Volquez is going to be a stud, Laird even said it, at this point, i would just like Daniels to say, hey you have to give up something to get something and move on. It is wonderful to watch our young pitchers have success on other major league teams, it just goes to show you that they didn't get enough of an opportunitiy here. I am sure most of them are glad to be out of here. Gabbard is a pitcher, boy does Boston have a talent rich organization or what? Beltre was supposed to be the player and may still be, but Gabbard and Murphy are what is keeping Daniels in a job. Speaking of jobs, rumor has it the Rangers have interviewed Grover and Baylor about the managerial job. Jackie Moore as pitching coach. May have been a little premature as it looks like the players like Wash and evidently don't want a change. IF, they keep playing as they have then we may not get a new manager this year. I sure would like Hargrove as manager and Jackie Moore as pitching coach, along with Baylor as bench coach.

Carlos Delgado caught all the way up until reaching the big leagues. The Mariner's DH, Jeff Clement was catching this year and last year at AAA. Brandon Inge and Scott Hatteberg both made the major leagues as catchers and then were moved to other positions. This is another one of those "I don't understang why the Rangers........" when it's not a Rangers thing so much as a baseball thing.

Moving Ramirez from catcher would decrease his value if he were to be part of some trade later. A good hitting catcher is much, much more valuable than a good hitting DH/LF/1B.

Like you said, Dgod, if he can hit, they'll find a place for him. Teixeira and Palmer both played some outfield when they were getting their feet wet. Tex actually learned to play first base while in the majors. His and Palmer's careers didn't appear to be impacted negatively.

Also, Richie Sexson is a punk. I hope he's in the lineup on Monday night against Vicente.

Hefe, I agree on the Sexson comment and Vicente is just the man for the job... That was about the lamest thing I've seen a player pull on the field lately.

In my opinion this platoon at first is potentially better with Shelton and Cat than with either Broussard or Botts. Shelton is a better defender than Broussard or Botts and Cat is a career .298 hitter. Shelton at least looks like he has a plan at the plate.

Everyone is ready for Davis but what does Nate Gold have to do to get a shot? He may not be hitting for average yet this year but the power numbers are definitely there. Oh wait, there's that 40 man roster mess rearing its ugly head again.

Broussard should be crying too loud, he's got 3.85 million reasons to enjoy the rest of the summer if not the rest of his life.

Almost forgot:

Congrats to the team on 4 straight SERIES wins. Keep that up and you will have folks looking over their shoulders.

Thanks to everyone for putting up with my sorry proofreading before I hit submit...

If they DFA's Shelton that would clear a spot for Gold and I for one wouldn't be necessarily be opposed to that. I think that scouts will tell you the same sorts of things about Gold that they would Botts; that he's a great AAA hitter, but has a hole (or holes) in his swing that will be exploited by the more refined pitchers and scouts in the big leagues. But, numbers-wise why not give him a shot, especially if Shelton stays on his current track. Gold is hitting lefties to the tune of 257/350/629 at AAA. For what its worth, Shelton has 800+ career at bats in the big leagues to Gold's goose egg and they are virtually the same age.

Max Ramirez is 5' 11". Given the trend far bigger and taller ballplayers these days, would he be considered tall enough to play 1B/OF? Perfect for a catcher (has anyone noticed the contortions poor old Salty has to undergo when he crouches), and at least being "short" has the advantage that when D'god turns against him the sneers will go over his head......

As for Padilla, I hope he doesn't plunk a Seattle batter next week-at least not early in the game. Of course, the entire Seattle team expects it to happen, so let them get themselves out waiting for it. "The threat is stronger that its execution".

Oops. "The threat is stronger than its execution."

D'god, Laird also said that he wouldn't take back the Hamilton- Volquez trade for anything. Did you not read that bit, or is this you simply ignoring anything that doesn't fit into your fantasy world?

5-1 with an ERA of 1.07 is a pretty good freaking fantasy for a Ranger pitcher.

Random stuff from tonights game:

We were there early enough for warmups etc. The guys are out there as a TEAM going through warmups. This is a departure from even last year when guiys just did their own thing to get ready. Today, everyone was doing the high knees, together, loosening up the arms, together. Then we go to infield practice. But they were all in it together. This cannot be a bad thing...

Brandon Boggs is just playing his butt off.

Kinsler was all over the place. I think he had half the put outs in that game.

Feldman was really scuffling early but his last two innings were the best of the night for him, nice way to battle back.

MY was the first guy out there to check on Boggs after he went into the wall, he might not be Will Clark in the clubhouse but I'll bet he has the respect of every guy in it and that has to be earned. "nuff said on MY as a leader.

Reading comments from the alot of the Ranger blogs leaves me with the impression that a bunch of so-called fans are only interested in the trade value of this player and that player, or cut this guy and bring up this guy and on and on like this is a fantasy team...COME ON!!!! I've been a Ranger fan since 1980 and have endured some really bad teams to get my baseball fix, rooting for the Rangers no matter what...every now and again you're lucky enough to watch and enjoy what is starting to happen here right now--a group of individuals with unique talents that click and come together and play as a team...I'm not saying this is a play off caliber or the most talented team but these guys have bonded as a group and believe they can compete and win--and that's what they have been doing...instead of breaking this group just yet let's give them enough time and support for playing great and see how far they go...with all the talent that's being groomed in the minors this is just the beginning of some really great baseball in Arlington for years...

True, d'56, very true. I've been a fan since 1973, and haven't had the fortune(nay, privilege) of watching a live game since the last home game of 1974. Let the loonies scoff-I'm enjoying this team and the way they are performing. Go Rangers!

56, I could not agree less. Despite their recent wins, this year's Rangers are going nowhere in 2008 and 2009. I refuse to blindly go to the Ballpark and watch fundamentally poor baseball and be content with finishing 3rd or 4th place every year. If you enjoy watching mental and fielding errors, poor plate discipline and pitchers who walk too many batters, this year's version of the Rangers is for you.

I want the Rangers to get better. I want them to get in the playoffs and compete toe to toe with the best teams in the AL. They should have plenty of payroll funds to work with, but they have trouble attracting and developing young pitchers. They can only get better by getting as many quality young players rather than older retreads like Broussard, Catalanatto and Bradley who will not be around come 2010.

I don't care if they have "bonded as a group" because this is not the group that will be able to make a playoff run, despite recent success.