Friday Happy Hour at the Elysian Fields Bar & Grill

I hate to say it, but Mike Young's 200 hit streak isn't just in jeopardy, it's teetering on the edge of extinction. Last time I looked he was only on pace for 180-some odd hits, and going into last night, he was hitting a mere .200 his last 14 games (that's not counting his official 1-5 last night). That's not exactly gonna get it done.

But perhaps that will turn out to be a good thing, as it could finally call some attention to the real issues with Young: his continually declining OPS and fielding range at shortstop, which is going to cost us 80 million dollars up until he's 36.

Mike Hindman had a pretty good post on the subject yesterday over at the DMN blog that is definitely worth checking out if you haven't already:
http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/09/the-looming-albatross-michael-youngs-con.html

It's a real eye-opener, but something I've alluded to myself in the past. Basically, Young might very well be an 80-million dollar man without a position within a couple years, and he won't be providing near enough offensive production to justifably stick at DH. All that "leadership" we're supposedly paying for very well could wind up costing us a place to play a vastly superior young player down the road - a proposition that scares me quite a bit.

Forget the Chris Young trade - my prediction is the Young contract turns out to be the bane of Jon Daniels tenure as GM.

http://lonestarincalifornia.wordpress.com/

Jon..."bah humbug" and "other stuff." I think Michael Young's lack of production is a matter of record. The second player (behind that guy in Seattle) with 200 hits per year...yeah...he's sure slacked off.! Do you watch the games Jon or just blog? Michael's been playing for the last month(?) with two broken fingers... I know that wouldn't bother you while hitting (shish) Give the guy a break...most guys would have been playing the end of the bench.

Do you know the game of baseball Jon? Have you looked what happened to players like Molitor when they got to be 36? Or do you just see Andrus down there and figure he's going to come up in two years and Michael has to go bye bye. A good team appreciates a leader...a gamer...and finds a place for them in the game...every day ...where they belong..

TR...by the big cheese I'm sure you were referring to the largest round of colby cheese in Neillsville WI...right?

Michael's not going to get to 200 and his production overall has dropped, but common sense will tell you that 2 broken fingers has a lot to do with that.

As far as his contract, I'm taking a wait and see apporach. Inflation being what it is in baseball, I'm not sure it's going to look as bad as it does in 3-4 offseasons from now. That will also depend on his production to a great degree, of course.

Also, Hicks has said that payroll is player specific. If the MY contract prevents the Rangers from going after a free agent they need in order to compete at some point, then I will be upset, but we're talking in hypotheticals here. There's no way to predict how Hicks is going to control the purse strings. This is the guy who gave a quarter of a billion dollar contract to a single player.

Albatross is a very strong metaphor for a guy who's been to 5 consecutive all-star games and unlike so many others who have come through here, actually wants to be a Ranger. I'm not saying Hindman isn't right, just that time is going to tell how pronounced any negative impact of the contract is going to be and any conjecture at this point, is just that. Conjecture.

Jon, you might also like to read Evan Grants rebuttal of Mike Hindman's post, on the same website. (Sorry, I'm not tech savvy enough to give you the link). Michael Young is far too nice a guy to give you the finger (or if you're British, two fingers) for your post. Besides, he couldn't anyway. They're broken.

"IF they finish 71-91 that will be two years in a row that i have picked the won loss record"

A quote from the Ranger "fan" who hasnt showed up lately......Congrats to the guys for win #72 last night.......Maybe we wont have to hear about this again.

Wanna bet?

The debate about wether Michael Young is worth $16 million a year raises a far bigger question. Is ANY sportsman worth that amount? Yes, a difficult one I know, but I'm sure the collective brainpower of those who post here can come up with an answer. Baseball isn't the only sport to have seen an enormous increase in player earnings in recent years, and in the end it's the fans who foot the bill. Players used to be treated like serfs by owners who liked their feudal set-up, the players rebelled, and now the pendulum has swung way too far in the other direction. Players are NOT paid according to their worth, but according to how long they have been in the system. A relatively small amount for the first six (?) years and then it's a free-for-all. Mind you, I could jog along on nearly $400,000 a year...But I digress. Leaving aside Bradley, Michael Young, Cat, Kinsler, Padilla and Blalock, Millwood earns more than all Rangers players combined. And that includes AAA, AA etc. I think Millwood deserves better than the critiscism he gets here, but worth more than almost an entire organisation? And you don't have to look far for even worse examples. The Angels would happily give us Matthews back, and I doubt the Giants would ask too much for Zito. But it's the system we have and it will continue until the fans say no at the turnstiles. Is Michael Young worth $16 million? His contract says he is, so end of story. It's only too much if you consider that President Bush is only paid... oops, I don't think I'll go there. Besides, gotta go and study the new science of palintology.

For what George W. Bush does, he is way overpaid at $400,000 per year. Young is a good player but should be moved to another position. However, he doesn't have enough power to play the third base position and the Rangers aren't going to move Kinsler from second base, so where do you play him? You don't , you trade him for a starting pitcher if you can get one. It was admirable that Young changed positions when Soriano refused to play short, but Young just doesn't have the type of range that i like from my shortstop. The bottom line is if he isn't positioned right he isn't going to get to a ball. He also makes errors that he shouldn't make. Andrus is the future here and i don't believe he is that far off. He probably comes next year by mid season, the kid is that good and his defense is outstanding. He evidently was the key to the TEX deal, not Salty. Millwood gets criticism here, because he doesn't work at his craft and gets hurt too often. If i didn't prepare to succeed in my job by studing, knowing the law then i would get fired. Every Rangers pitcher on this staff should be asking Nolan: What did you do to maintain your longevity, how did you work out? Nolan pitched for numerous years. That is why i criticize Millstone, he is very talented, knows how to pitch he just evidently doesn't like to work out.

By the way, i missed the record last year by one game, so maybe we can lose 15 straight and i will be right again. Ha Ha. But hey we are playing for second place. 20 games out. Lets face it folks if we don't get some starting pitching then we are out of it next year. The Angels have that much pitching depth and that is who we are competing against.

Millwood doesn't work at his craft...How would you know? more bull doodles!

Told ya, berolfe.

I like to think I'm up on current events and I am getting familiarized with the governess of Alaska, but upon googling the term "palintology" I was dimayed to learn that it had nothing to do with Monty Python.

"Maybe we can lose 15 straight, so I can be right again. Ha Ha". Whatever. Good thing we don't have Volquez. Maybe you should be glad we traded him so you can get your win-loss prediction.

You've got to love what you've seen out of Matt Harrison tonight. The offense is going great. Anyboydy miss Mark Teixeira?

Ohhhhh...too bad D'god...we caN't lose 15 in a row because Matt Harrison pitched a doozie and the guys hit a ton. Tooo bad...you're wrong wrong wrong!

"If i didn't prepare to succeed in my job by studing, knowing the law then i would get fired." Classic. Keep it coming.

I forgot to mention T.R. I don't really care where T.O. hails from.

hefe- I'm not missing Tex as bad as I thought I would.

"...but Young just doesn't have the type of range that i like from my shortstop".
Hey D'Goodie, when did the Rangers become "YOURS", as in "my"? Must be another one of your delusions. When the Rangers win one more game, you'll probably say that you, in fact, missed last years guess by two. Just admit you are wrong, go take a long, six months nap and we'll see ya after Spring Training next season.

Who is the Rangers top pitching prospect? I can't wait til he is named so he can be traded. Just for the record how many games has Volquez won? DVD, DVD, DVD anyone else remember that marketing campaign? It lasted just a little longer than our quest for the wildcard. The bottom line and the thing that irks me is, and hopefully it has changed, is the trading of our young pitchers. THIS HAS TO STOP. At this point, Padilla, Millwood, Nippert, Harrison and whoelse next year? Hurley, Mathis, McCarthy?????? Padilla has redeemed himself this year. It is common knowledge that Millwood doesn't not like the typical workout routine. "kickboxing because he doesn't like to ride the stationary bike." Well the roundhouse kick hasn't helped him, so do something more traditional. Somehow, someway, we have to come up with two reliable starting pitchers. I don't know how they will do it, but it needs to be done, somehow someway.........And by the way, i said 71-91 if we kept Washington, 81-81 if he was fired. I was wrong about Washington, the guy is resillient. With this pitching staff, he didn't lose the team. I guess what they say is correct, a good manager is good for 10 wins. 10 + 71 = 81 wins. Ron Washington is a good manager, a good guy and deserves another year. The man has adjusted learned from his mistakes and appears to be liked by the players. So i am all for him continuing. Maybe Daniels gets another year, hopefully he has learned also. Who knows. I do know this we have seen and done this before. Great offense followed by poor pitching. (I am not talking about last night), talking about for the whole year. WE have to improve the starting pitching period end of story. You can never have enough of it and we routinely go through how many starting pitchers and or pitchers????? When TR talks about the BIG CHEESE being 19, he is probably referring to his son.. Am i right TR??????

Well once again D'god and his rants come back to haunt us.

Isn't it amazing that after almost 2 years of referring to Ron Washington as "squinty" and ole "Wash" (just as if he was an antebellem houseboy in a southern home ) that now you were " wrong about Ron Washington." Who cares what your opinion is D'god. We lost respect for that one and "never trade pitching" and all the other rants associated with you. I got news for you...this out is going to lose 5 - 8 pitchers this off season through trade, dfa and release....I'm just dying to see your rants then.

And now in your make believe world. Through (who knows what source) you've discovered little known, insider, garbled facts and you have as the reason that Millwood is not succeeding is because he uses kick boxing moves to warm up. YOu probablly don't believe pitchers should warm up using a football either (ala Nolan Ryan....whoops I forgot...you call him the beef king)

Well you're just an idiot and I hope we WIN the next 14 straight! Hey I'll tell ya what...why don't you and Mike Hindman and Jon Lonstar get your own blog together...it's a cinch I won't read it.

"Who is the Rangers top pitching prospect? I can't wait til he is named so he can be traded." - If Feliz or Holland were traded this offseason the player coming back would have to be a top of the rotation starter.

Pre all-star break:

Josh Hamilton: .310/.367/.552 - definite MVP candidate.
Edinson Volquez: 12-3 2.29 ERA - definite Cy Young candidate.

Post all-star break:

Josh Hamilton: .295/.382/.532 - still smokin'
Edinson Volquez: 4-2 5.12 ERA - Honemoon's over. They play some good ball in the NL Central. They also have some good scouting.

Before Edinson's decline, dgod, you were fond of asking questions like "How many pitchers win 20 games?" and "When's the last time the Rangers had a 20 game winner?" Well, I have a question for you. How many major league center fielders have an on base% + sluggging% higher than Josh Hamilton's .917? How many even at .900? Beltran? Nope. Hunter? Huh-uh. Vernon Wells? Nein. Ichiro? Not even close. There's only one Josh Hamilton.

Josh is definitely a great player, but i do believe he is a future right fielder in order to protect his physical well being. Fredussr, take it easy boy, you are going to stroke out. I personally really don't care what you think about me, but you are entitled to your OPINION. Remember what they say about opinions. Every ******* has one.

And another thing, at least i admit when i am wrong something that those from WEESCONSIN evidently cannot do. By the way, anyone on here notice how when Texas has a natural disaster we handle it ourselves, pay for it ourselves and don't export our section 8ers to other states where they remain to further increase our crime and tax rolls? Fact the City of Houston experienced a 40% increase in its crime rate which was directly attributed to the influx of Katrina. Any word out of Lousiana for an offer of help to Texas, not a peep, nor will you hear it. RIDICULOUS!

You must not be living in the Metroplex USSRer. Millwoods Kickboxing work out routine is public information and was highly touted as going to help him. Read the newspaper boy and maybe you can garner some information. That is where most of the info came from, nothing i came up with.

I dont think there is anyone who posts here and has watched the Rangers this year that doesnt think that the pitching is the main reason why they are 2 games under .500 at this point. However, I do think that some people choose to focus on the positives of this season and look forward and some choose to focus on the negatives and/or the past. When I look back on this season, I will remember Hamilton and Kinsler's breakout seasons, the emergence of Murphy, Davis, Teagarden, Harrison, and Feldman (Probably forgetting someone), the person that Milton Bradley turned out to be, and Michael and Hank battling through the injuries to help the squad.......The All-Star Game and HR Derby, Josh's GW HR off of K-Rod, Byrd's walkoff GS against the Yanks, Max getting nailed at home and getting up and throwing the runner out at third against the Angels, and all of the exciting comeback wins. While one can focus on what the Rangers dont have, I look forward to next year with what we do have.......Just have to hope that JD and his staff make good decisions that enable the core guys to get to another level next season.

To all those down in southern Texas and Louisiana that may post/read this site, I hope and pray for your health and safety.

This is a baseball blog, not political. Please try and stay on topic and keep to your rants on the Rangers. We all get enough of your banter about the team and don't need the further headache with your opinion on non Ranger related issues.

"i do believe he is a future right fielder......." where he'll still be an elite player on both offense and defense.

Volquez looked like an elite player during his first dozen starts in the NL. In the 17 since he has a mediocre 4.65 ERA.