Monday Morning Manager...The Big Move

1. Good idea. I had wondered about the possibility myself. I wonder if Blalock will be a Ranger next year. This probably improves the prospect that he will, while he holds a place for Davis.

2. Duran goes down. He's not ready yet.

3. Their long-term third baseman is not in the organization. I doubt that Metcalf will ever hit major league pitching well enough to be an every day third baseman.

4. Yes. One of Washington's most obvious mistakes in handling this pitching staff.

5. No.

1. Blalock to first: Fantastic, you have to love this move

2. Moves: Shelton, gone

3.Who is long term 3rd baseman: Remains to be seen, Travis Metcalf will be brought up after some AAA.

4. C J Wilson: Do not understand Washington on this one. It seems as if he intentionally tries to hurt players he does not like.

5.Road trip winning record: yes

1. Wow. There are just so many angles on this that it is difficult to pick a place to start.

In the locker room:
Think there were some shock waves there yesterday? Can't imagine Shelton or Cat being in a very good mood (though Cat should have been released already). Yet another time I would love to be a fly on the wall in the Rangers' offices.

In the GM's office:
I am really surprised that JD backed this move because Blalock has more value at 3B. A position change at this point in the season is just silly, and offers me more evidence that JD is simply lacking a plan, or lacking the resolve to stay the course. Let's say it together, JD - "No Hank, we appreciate the offer, but you are our third baseman, though, yes, we do have plenty of spares playing first right now".
The only way this even remotely makes sense is if the team is committed to extending Hank, and if they think that he has a better chance of staying healthy playing first.

At third:
I don't think Vasquez will hold up over a full season - he may get exposed as a solid sub who's not able to handle the grind. He's played 100 games in a season only once since 2003. Metcalf needs more time in OKC, and I hope we are not going to bring him up now. Please don't do to him what we are doing to Salty!

Other front office issues:
Is the team doing this because it thinks it can contend this season? I'll save this topic for another day, but the summary for now is: it's not June yet.

2. I'm still stumped by the move. I'm not ready to go there.

3. MY is the long term 3B.

4. No pitcher pitches exclusively in save situations.

5. No, but I hope I'm proven wrong.

1. Good move for Hank and the team...Is this about fitting back in the line-up, worried about getting playing time, or if the surgery is affecting his abilty to play third?
2. Bradley is also gonna be ready for at least one game a series in the field with Byrd in the outfield otherwise, so Boggs and Duran go down to AAA to play full time, Shelton is released and outrighted to OKC, and Metcalf comes up to platoon at third with Vazquez.
3. I think MYoung is your third baseman for the next couple of years at least...Metcalf will get serious playing time this year--just gotta keep Vazquez in the line-up ona regular basis..
4. With his relative youth, inexperience and control isssues, there's no way he can stay sharp or improve without pitching regularly--save situation or not. He needs to follow Eddies' example (NOT Gagne's) about the mental preparation aspect of closing.
5. Entirely possible--winning road trip record and overall record...

1. I don't understand it. With Chris Davis doing well at Frisco, Max Ramirez starting to take ground balls at first, and John Mayberry playing there this weekend it seems like there are a lot of young guys capable of playing first who could be ready as soon as next year.

2. Chris Shelton to the minors/DFA'd.

3. Long term the answer should be Michael Young depending on when Arias or Andrus is ready. For now go with Vasquez/Duran unless Metcalf starts to hit at Oklahoma.

4. Save situations and only when he needs the work to stay sharp, but considering he's on pace to appear in over 70 games that doesn't seem to be a big problem.

5. No.

To paraphrase the commanding officer of the 4077th – Colonel Sherman Potter: “There’s the right way, the wrong way and the [Ranger] way.”

1. I’m not sure what to make of it – I applaud Hank for being willing to move, team first attitude and all those platitudes…but this appears to be the GM and Manager making another strange decision to put a band aid on the gaping wound at 1B. Everything they’ve done to fill in after the departure of Mark Teixeira has turned out abysmal.

2. When Hank comes back I think they ought to take Chris Shelton off the roster. He’s not a good defender at 1B and only other position is an emergency catcher – plus his production has ranged from sporadic to non-existent, while Frank Catalanotto can at least play the outfield and has been a little more productive offensively. Plus there’s no guarantee Hank will stay healthy, considering how often he’s been on the DL the past couple of seasons, it’s probably wise to keep Vasquez and Duran on the roster.

3. Michael Young might be the long term third baseman – have you seen Elvis Andrus play defense? I have. Like a double play – Andrus is the pitcher’s best friend on defense.

4. Right now while the team is playing well – yes, save situations only. If the Rangers fortunes change and there are fewer close game – then that situation would need re-evaluating.

5. I have no idea – this season has been such a roller coaster. My assumption is that the teams they are facing on this road trip are the toughest competition since the Boston series about a month ago – I think they’ll come back to Arlington in about the same position they are today: one or two games under .500

http://emcmlb.blogspot.com/

1-I agree with briant on this one. This move brings up more questions than sloutions. Too numerous to ask. This appears to be more of a career saving move for the oft-injured Blalock (and I do mean OFT) than for the team. With all the different players you hear about being tried out at first, it brings in to question the decisiveness of this teams management. Which looks more and more suspect all the time.
2-How 'bout we send Duran to Arizona and try him out at starting pitcher and then try Cat over at third so Vazquez can go back to utility infielder and if that doesn't work we still have Blalock to play third if he doesn't work at first base and then..............
3-Mike Young is the logical 3rd baseman for the future.
4-Since Wilson is better suited for the closer role, use him as a closer. Should he pitch in a non-closing situation? Why wouldn't he? A relief pitcher is called on to get outs no matter what the situation.
5-Don't be so nervous, TR. 5-5.

1. http://dallassports.wordpress.com/2008/05/19/moving-to-first-last-place-move/

2. Cut David Murphy.

3. Ramon Vasquez.

4. He should pitch everyday, every inning.

5. 10 and 0.

1. happy that hank did this for the team. we needed a productive first baseman and hopefully hank will.

2.send duran down

3. metcalf would be nice to have.

4. every inning he can get.

5. not sure but possible.

1) I think it is a solid move if the plans really are to move Young eventually to 3rd.
2) Boggs may need more time in the minors and clear up the log-jam in the outfield.
3) Let's go ahead and bring Andrus up and shore up the defense. Young at 3rd if that is the plan for the future.
4) I don't believe in the specialized closer role. Let him pitch the late innings and if he's uneffective, put in one of the other guys who would probably do just as well in that role (Benoit, Eddie G, Wright, Frankie)
5) 7-3

Hey TR, maybe this bit of information might help. I looked in the dugout the other day and I saw Blalock, Shelton, Vazquez and Cat all gathered around Jon Daniels and Ron Washington and it looked like they were all playing Rock-Paper-Scissors........haha, fooled ya, not really, they were flipping a coin.

Rock-Paper-Scissors? Isn't that a bit complicated for ballplayers.....? [ Just joking :-) ]

1. It's certainly going to be an interesting move. I'm going to wait and see how Hank handles the change before I form an opinion on it.

2. Duran. He could use some more time in the minors. (I really hope bigdsport is kidding about cutting David Murphy. That would just be insane.)

3. Metcalf will get here eventually, but I'm not sure if he's the long-term option. Whittleman will probably be here before long too.

4. Ditto what EMC said.

5. I have no idea. Minnesota isn't playing well, but those tides could change any day. Cleveland and Tampa Bay are on right now though, so they'll be a real challenge. If they return at .500, I'll be pleased.

http://baseballismyboyfriend.blogspot.com

Yeah, anthony, that's why they had to flip a coin.

#3. Wheel and deal for Josh Fields. He's the 3B of the future. I'm afraid that Hank is destined to spend more time on the DL than in the field.

Fields and Davis. That's raw, young power at the corners.

1) Should have went there last year when Salt told Rangers he wanted to play catcher.
2) Cat and Blalock are the same player, Cat needs to be traded.
3) Young at third he ain't **** and it will only get worse. Move him now.
4) Yes
5) Yes

I put in the abreviation for "SS" for shortstop and it blocks it????

1. My in-depth take can be found here. In short, however, I don't think this move makes a whole lot of sense, and it seems like the sort of thing a desperate team who's trying to contend again with a patch job of marginal players would do.

2. Either Shelton or Catalanotto will have to go. From a practical standpoint, it should be Cat, because you don't want to have too many left-handed bats on the bench, but Shelton is the one with the expendable contract. That's a tough situation, brought on by a stupid move.

3. My guess is, Metcalf will be up before long, as soon as he's knocked some rust off in AAA. He will probably be the stopgap for the remainder of this season. Long term though, I bet we'll see Michael Young moved to 3B as soon as next year. Young very well might be the worst defensive shortstop in baseball right now, and I think on eo the reasons for this move was to open 3rd base for him.

4. I think CJ Wilson needs to start getting consistent outs, no matter what the situation he's pitching in.

5. I'm gonna say no. At best we'll be right where we are right now, at about .500. Minnesota is one thing, but Cleveland and Tampa Bay are good teams. This hot streak isn't going to last forever, and I think we'll see it broken on this road trip.

http://lonestarincalifornia.wordpress.com/

Sorry, the link above wouldn't embed in question #1. My in depth take:

http://lonestarincalifornia.wordpress.com/2008/05/19/rangers-miss-sweep-again-blalock-to-play-first-base/

Yes diamondgirl I was being facetious, but I've come to expect such sanity and seriousness from the Rangers. They treat their baseball fans with the utmost of respect and candor that I find it hard to criticize any move they make, any step they take, every game they play, every word they say, every single day, every night they play I'll be respecting them.

1-I think they have hired Dr. Frankenstein as a consultant

1. The move might eventually be a good one but it's going to have its growing pains. The timing is weird and doesn't make much sense. Why make such a drastic change when the team is playing well? Time will tell but it should be a crazy roller coaster ride

2. Logically I would think it would have to be Shelton or Boggs. You can't keep 3 first baseman on the roster so if the club options Boggs then that moves Cat into the DH and OF role. Duran shouldn't be moved down because we need that UTL infielder. I would option Shelton.

3. Long term is still up in the air. Arias should be given a look up in the majors at some point. i don't agree with moving MY to 3rd. Not for a couple of years. Metcalf will be given a chance eventually but now is not the time. No reason to give up on Duran or move Vasquez away from 3rd when he has been hitting the ball as well as he has recently.

4. No, closers have to stay fresh and sharp and at some point they have to pitch in non-save situations. They are called on to get outs just like anyone else in the bullpen. This has always been the case.

5. The Rangers have been on a hot streak. I think the Rangers will finish with a 6-4 record. They have yet to sweep a series. This will be a tough roadtrip against some very hot teams. However, the A's, Astros were both red hot before getting beat by the Rangers.

I've been thinking this is the exact move the Rangers need to make.

This is my first time to see your blog, I can't get it at work and I'd like to see your mailbag more often. To hell with the haters.

Right now it's Vazquez to 3rd. But as a permenant solution I think Michael Young as 3rd base. I wasn't a big fan of Kinsler's defense, but he's been a master of 2B lately so I can't see moving him to LF.

So move Young to 3B, keep Kinsler at 2nd, Blalock to 1B and a stud defensive #9 PTBNL defensive SS, if he can hit so much the better (but we're talking 2009). Metcalf, no, we've got Vazquez for 2008.

At least we've finally got an outfield that can hit and field. Boggs, Murphy, Byrd and of course Hamilton.

How long have we got these guys before we lose them to free agency, and how soon can we sign Hamilton to a 5 year contract, or whatever it takes?

As for the other question, Duran goes down, C.J. rocks and should play whenever the situation calls for it, and no, I can only hope the Rangers are still one game under .500 after the roadtrip, I'd be thrilled if they go 5-5 overall.

Out of context, but NBA refs do it, the balls and strikes make me think cheating in the game I'm watching. How bad can it be, and one sided? WOW! I've just gotta say it somewhere. Is the home plate umpire just that bad? Or is he cheating? It's either one or the other.

C.J. has had problems his last five outtings, last night being no exception. Hopefully he'll regain some command. If you can not close a game out, (his role), it's gonna be a longer season than the Rangers might anticipate.

1. Supposedly this is to avoid changing the successful chemistry of the team. The short-term result is to put pressure on Vazquez, which he won't handle well, make MY answer questions every day on when he's moving to third, which he won't like, move Cat to the bench, which is a waste, and install a trainee firstbaseman. Long-term is a major block on all the developing young options for firstbase.

1. I'm sure he can field the position, however, if he doesn't hit, we're in the same place we are now with three non-hitting 1st basemen on the roster. Does everyone expect Hank to come in hammerin' away?
2. One of those non-hitting 1B or Duran should be moved.
3. Long-term 3B is Young. But, defensively, he's not as bad as some may think. "Entering Monday's game, Young was second among American League shortstops in fielding percentage, third in double plays and fifth in range factor." -TR - We won't see that move until 2009 or beyond. Meanwhile, we've got stop-gaps at third now, rather than 1st. So, this move is a wash. However, I like Vasquez filling in while we wait for young talent rather than Shelton/Cat.
4. CJ needs to be out there anytime he can to find the strike zone. Our closer has lost his killer instict. And needs the work.
5. No, on the winning record. But, we'll just be 3-4 games back.