Monday Morning Manager...From Here to Eternity

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” -- Albert Einstein

1. You are talking about a pitcher who at the beginning of the season had pitched a total of 4 games at AA and AAA. I’ll repeat the same refrain: Holland should have spent the first part of the season starting every fifth day at AAA and then get the call up after the All-Star Break.

2. Very worried about Frankie Frank – but feeling much better about CJ’s ability to close games in Francisco’s absence.

3. Honestly don’t know, this pitching staff has a different feel about I that I can’t quite explain – except to say I have more confidence in them than I have in any group of pitchers since the (glorious) 1996 squad. I think there’s a chance they might hang in there .

4. I think the offense misses Milton Bradley more than it misses Josh Hamilton. The Rangers are second in the AL in K’s at 500 and 13th out of 14 teams in BB’s at 178. The entire offense has never seen a ball they don’t want to swing at – it does make you wonder about the aggressive hitting philosophy espoused at the major league level. And the irony is not lost on most of us: the Rangers have always had a reputation as a team with no pitching and lots of offense – but when pitching has finally come around the offense is MIA.

5. There are still 3 games left with Houston –considering the way things have gone on this homestand - let’s wait and see where things stand on Friday morning before we start any celebrations.

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1. I don't have any concern for Holland but it's been clear to me for a while that he needs to be back in AAA where he probably belonged all along. It was a nice dream but we have AA and AAA for a reason.
2. Now Francisco I do have concern for. We need him andI think we ought to hold him out (on the DL) until he's ready this time. We have Wilson and O'Day to fill in.
3. I think Padilla, Millwood and Feldman will hold up but after that I'm worried. We have bigger problems than holding up on the relief side.
4. I just don't know. Hamilton hasn't hit all spring for average and yet in the early part of the spring Young and Kinsler were hot...which leads me to think it's not Hamilton. Thatl said a healthy Hamilton has to make everyone better doesn't it?
5. Duh!

....my favorite Kipling..."a woman is only a woman but a good cigar is a smoke."

1. Not concerned about Holland, but they need to make a plan for him and stick with it. He probably should've stayed in AAA, but I gave them the benefit of the doubt on the bullpen gig. He probably should've stayed in the bullpen for the rest of the year (inspite of the injury situation). But, I think the kid needs a consistent plan to help him keep his head together. This is on the job training. On the brighter side, he only allowed 4 runs in 5 innings. He's not that far away. We've had many starters through here that if they put up his numbers, it was a quality start. Those guys didn't have his up side. I'm sticking with patience without panic.
2. I'm concerned about Frankie only in that I want them to let him heal completely before he comes back. We seem to have enough depth right now to get by for a little while.

3. Is anyone's pitching going to hold through the hot summer? I have lived here all my life and I just don't get the hot summer blame game. If pitchers are pitching well, they'll be fine. Have you ever heard Fergie, Blyleven, Charlie Hough, Rick Honeycutt, Ken Hill, John Burkett, or even Kevin Brown say the heat held them back? I haven't.

4. I think the offense definitely misses Josh, but I'm more concerned with all of the swings and misses.

5. Let's see, the Silver boot.....for me, a failed attempt to orchestrate a rivalry. There is no rivalry between the Rangers and Astros. Means nothing to me. Rivalries need meaningful games and these teams have never played eachother in meaningful games. I'm more interested in the Rangers winning the West, no matter how weak the division may be. And, we'll all stand and cheer for Pudge if he breaks the most games caught record here. That doesn't happen in a heated rivalry for a coveted trophy.

1) Derek to me is the Feldman of 2009- in a place where he shouldn't be yet, but because of injury can't be moved back. Here's hoping things open up so he can either go back to the pen or get some starts at AAA.
2) If when he comes back he's healthy for the rest of the season then no. But if he comes back and gets hurt again, yes.
3) I think it can barring further injury.
4) Josh is definitely missed, but that's not the only problem. As others have mentioned, Rangers are not being very patient at the plate as a whole. Averages are down across the line-up. Even so, I think things would be better if Kinsler would just start hitting again. When your top of the line-up guy is down to .260 and not getting walks, that affects everyone else in the line-up.
5) By buying some silver socks.

1. I'm not concerned. He's been shuffled around since he got called up. Pick a place for him and he'll do well.

2. I don't think Frankie will come back 100%. I see this going on all year. But I think C.J. and O'Day can hold up for the time being.

3. I think if any pitching staff can hold up in this weather, it's ours. We shouldn't use "it's hot" as an excuse for anything.

4. I'm not sure the offense misses Josh much at all. You can't tell me he was doing much for this offense even before the DL stint. No matter how good we are, people think Josh will win us games.

1. What is your level of concern about Derek Holland?
Concern....not much long term. Just doesnt seem to be ready for this level......Better off at AAA but with the injuries, we are shorthanded at SP......please dont let Mathis be any kind of answer for mcCarthy's spot

2. What is your level of concern about Frank Francisco
Fair......It opens a hole even if O'Day/CJ close, now the 7th and 8th inning is a question then.......How many days will Jennings pitch 3 innings? Grilli is still an unknown.......EG not entirely effective. Hope that Mad Dog pitches as well as he has at OKC.

3. Is the Rangers pitching going to hold up through the hot summer?

Time will tell.......Feel good about Millwood and Feldman.....Padilla has been a little up and down but I feel ok about him. After that, questions abound. I am hopeful though

4. How much does the offense miss Josh Hamilton

Last year's hamilton......A bunch. This year's version......not so much. Hopeful that he is the July 31 bat that gets picked up........Even this year's version takes some pressure off guys like Cruz, Blalock, Jones.

5. How will you celebrate the winning of the Silver Boot.

not sure how to answer that

1. I think we're seeing how basically starting the season in the bullpen has hurt Holland. He hardly threw his secondary pitches at all out of the 'pen, his changeup in particular, and now he doesn't seem to have the confidence or ability to rely on them when his fastball command deserts him.

He needs to stay in the rotation and work on being less reliant on his fastball, whether it's the big league rotation or the OKC rotation.

2. On a scale of 1 to 10? 6 and rising.

3. As long as the defense keeps backing them up like it has, I expect them to hold up fine (although it'll be interesting to see if our 5th-lowest-in-the-majors BABIP and dead-last-in-the-majors strikeout rate catches up with us any).

4. Hamilton wasn't hitting too well when he went down, but he was at least hitting for power and playing good defense in CF. And this team is definitely missing that.

What we're really missing though, and have been all year is a high-OBP lineup anchor like Milton Bradley. Don't get me wrong, I'm not lamenting letting Bradley go, but we need to get somebody like Nick Johnson, Brad Hawpe or Josh Willingham in here to anchor our struggling offense or we're not going to be able to back up our newfound pitching and defense on the scoreboard.

5. By saying "yay"?

1. whether he is in the rotation or in the bullpen I think he is gaining valuble expirence. I know he is taking some lumps here and there right now. I think he has the mental makeup to over come the tough games he is going through now. I think what he is going through now will make him a better starting pitcher sooner rather than later. I know we are a contending team right now but Holland is going to be a intrigal part of what the Rangers will be in years to come. I now fans are hoping for him to dominate and blow hitters away. But i think in do time he will be a very good top of the rotation starter he just needs to work out the qinks.
2. The health of Franky is critical if we are going to win the AL west. He is by far the best end of the game guy we have at this point and time. His presence at the end of games adds to what we have in the bullpen with the way C.J and Darren O'Day have pitched lately. I think the rangers are another good late inning guy away from being a pretty good bullpne if Frank is healthy that is.
3. I think the pitching will hold up but will the pitchers hold up. They have been dropping like flies here lately. We can not have an major injury to any of these three starters Millwood, Padilla or Scott Feldman. I certainly hope the Rangers are actively looking for another good starting pitcher. We might want to pick up the phone and call Cleveland and make them an offer for Cliff Lee. Has anyone seem what he has been doing lately. He is actually what the Rangers need right now. A top left handed starting pitcher to go between Millwood and Padilla.
4. At first they were doing ok. but once he hit the DL this time they have missed him a lot. I think if the Rangers take Chris Davis out of the lineup and put in Andruw and Hank in that will help the offense get out of there slump. I say it is time for Davis to go to triple AAA and work on his hitting. I am sicking of seeing him strike out over and over again when we need a ball put in play. Our offense has been sub par all year if you ask me.
5. I could care less about the silver boot. I like that the Rangers and Astros play every year now. But I could care less about the silver boot.

1. Mild. He could be dominating at AAA, but they’ve got him up here learning at this level and it’s not been an easy transition, though I think it will help him in the long run. As far as his last start, that was just bad command by a young guy. It’s going to happen.

2. Ever-increasing. I’m ok with CJ filling in and Jennings and O’day have been strong, but we don’t have enough depth out there. Losing Frank long term will cause a ripple effect and impact the team in an extremely precipitous way unless somebody (Madrigal? Moscoso?) steps up.

3. I’ll say yes and here’s why: I think a lot of the pitching success stems from improved infield defense and the heat shouldn’t affect that.

4. It looks like a lot. They need him back in the line up, not only hitting for power, but getting on base at a good rate. If he comes back hot it should alleviate some pressure from the other hitters and hopefully that will lead to better selectivity.

5. I’m not sure, but I bet the haul I brought back from the Majestic on East Chase Parkway this weekend will play a part.

1. What is your level of concern about Derek Holland? I think Derek is up to the task--he just needs to locate his fastball better and find an off-speed pitch. I have confidence in him, although, right now, I think he's better suited in the bullpen, a situational guy against the Jim Thomes, Jason Giambis, Ichiros, etc. . .depending on the other pitchers, he might have to go down to OKC to get his stuff in order. THE PROBLEM IS SIMPLY THIS: The hitters are sitting on his fastball. Period. If he gets a forkball/cutter/curve or monster change, Derek would RULE!

2. What is your level of concern about Frank Francisco? Pretty concerned, because I see no one else who can mow down the side like Frankie. He's a great closer. CJ should be used situationally, though he's done very well recently. Last year is a blur, as it wasn't a great success for him as closer.

3. Is the Rangers pitching going to hold up through the hot summer? There are different ways to look at it. One, the staff holds the major league low, I believe, for strikeouts. Quick retort: They are utilizing the "pitching-to-contact" philosophy which is great with me, because of one Elvis Andrus. God Bless Elvis for solidifying our defense. Also, at one point, (before the Yanks/Sox/Jays/Dodgers series recently), we had one of the lowest walk totals in the majors--another reason for our better record this year. Overall, IF the starters can feed off Kevin and Padilla, and IF Harrison can re-claim his solid role, then it will keep the bullpen fresh, which is a key in this rotisserie oven that is The Ballpark, in the summer here.

4. How much does the offense miss Josh Hamilton? Whoooosh! That's the sound of the bats fluttering in the wind. Whatever happened to patience? Josh is a huge missing piece in the middle of our order, and a stabliizing force. Before he got hurt, I did notice that the pitchers had adjusted to him better than he'd adjusted to the way they were pitching to him. I'm sure Rudy will work that out. One more thing: PLEASE Ian, get rid of the mammoth uppercut on your swing. You're a MUCH better, superior hitter when you go to right, up the middle, etc.....go back to what made you great......lose the desire to hit homers everytime. Lastly, one thing impressing me about the Dodgers, was their bunting. I wish the Rangers would bunt for hits more, and sacrifice more--ESPECIALLY in our light-hitting spell we are in.

5. How will you celebrate the winning of the Silver Boot? By sipping a cold one at the COOLNESS of my living room. This hot spell makes me wish we had put a retractable roof on our facility. I know, the traditionalists will scream at me for this (for I am a MAJOR traditonalist/purist), but it is SO wrenching, so draining, makes the team labor so, when it is so danged hot. I wish they'd give up the DAY games in June, August and September...it's TOO, TOO hot. And it isn't a dry heat either.