Monday Morning Manager...The Longest Day

1. Team wide slump - does anyone see more than 4 pitches per at bat? Too many swings for the fences, and let's not even talk about hitting with runners in scoring position. For the month of June: Salty is hitting .229, Marlon Byrd .224, Nelson Cruz .194, Ian Kinsler .236, Elvis Andrus .205, Michael Young .257. I'm kind of wondering if the fingers should be pointed at the hitting philosphy and the coach.

2. Chris's struggles are exacerbated (bet you never thought you'd see that word on baseball blog) by the struggles of everyone else. If the Rangers replace Chris Davis - then what are they going to do about everyone else who is in the same slump (see my answer above). Stick with Chris - does anyone remember that Michael Young hit .249 and .262 in his first 2 seasons? He wasn't a .300 hitter until he'd had around 950 AB's with the major league team - Davis has about 500 major league AB's - let show a little paitence.

3. It's always about pitching.

4. Not at $5 million guaranteed dollars - if he'll sign an incentive laden contract - maybe.

5. T.R. Sullivan

1. This team can't get on base right now, plain and simple. Every team goes through slumps, but the fact that this team can't walk is really being exposed right now because of it.

I don't think myself that this offense is capable of winning the division without the addition of a high-OBP bat to back Hamilton up when he gets back and provide some sort of an anchor in the meantime.

2. I've been among the more adamant Davis defenders this year, but even I'm to the point where I've had it. The guy can't catch up to the fastball right now, and he's had plenty of chances to make the adjustment in the majors.

The first step to defibrillating this offense might very well be to get rid of it's biggest struggler so far, and we're just going to have to live with the defensive hit we'll take by replacing him with Blalock for the time being.

3. Like I said in #1, if we want to win this year, I think we need to find a relatively cheap high-OBP anchor for the middle of the lineup. Josh Willingham is my favorite target, but I'd take Nick Johnson in a heartbeat too. Even Adam LaRoche could act as a stabilizer, although he doesn't exactly have the drool-inducing OBP skills of the other two.

We could use another bullpen arm or a starter of course, but I've got a feeling the pricetag on a quality pitcher is going to be quite a bit less palatable than that of a Willingham or Johnson. One can still hope, however.

4. Too expensive, without enough guaranteed upside to justify the price, IMO. Signing our draft picks and Latin interests should take priority over ventures like Pedro - let someone else make the gamble that he's not washed up.

5. Justin Smoak. You'll see.

1. Horrible pitch selection and over aggressiveness are on display nightly. I would like to see it turn around before Hamilton gets back instead of sitting around waiting on him to be the missing piece. There are too many good big league hitters in that line up to be experiencing this kind of futility.

2. I’d been saying yes up until about a week ago. His strikeout rate is unacceptable and it’s not getting better. I was on board with giving him a chance to work through it, but when you go months seeing no consistent progress it’s time to make a change. I’m not saying that only for the good of the team, but the player himself. If he’s going to get his head straight he’ll have an easier time doing that in the minor leagues.

3. Bullpen. We need at least one more reliable arm out there. Willie Eyre or Orlando Hernandez could fit that bill internally, but I’m sure there will be due diligence to see what’s available. I actually like the state of the rotation at current, but wouldn’t mind an upgrade there. Regardless of what happens, I don’t think this is a deep-into-the-playoffs club so I don’t want any top talents (Holland, Feliz, Smoak, Perez, Beavan etc.) dealt. If high end talent is involved in a deal it had better be for a reliable, proven arm that will be here for another season or two. The offense? I’m looking at Hamilton as our big “acquisition” there, although a stop gap at first wouldn’t hurt.

4. None for me, thanks unless they’re just blown away by him at a workout. I’ll leave that to scouting, but I don’t want him in here unless he’s a clear upgrade.

5. Tom Grieve. He’s the living embodiment of Ranger-ness, having been a player, executive and broadcaster. I associate him with the Rangers more than any other single person. Jim Sundberg is the only who comes close to Grieve in that regard.

I guess it depends on your criteria as far as players. How many good seasons are necessary? Will Clark had one mediocre season sandwiched among 4 outstanding ones. If you don’t vote him in, I don’t see how you let Franco in when he’s eligible.

1. It's making me sick seeing all of this goo pitching go to waste. This is not the offense I'm used to seeing here in Texas. I always thought that once we got any kind of pitching combined with out offense, this team would go places. Now, I just don't know what to think anymore.

2. Keep Davis. Do we have anybody better? Maybe he could use a few more AAA at bats to learn pitch selection. Also, his defense saves runs/errors.

3. The Rangers should stcik with it and not trade away their prospects. Let's keep that pipeline working.

4. Why?

5. Kenny Rogers

1. Opposing teams are taking advantage of the Ranger hitters, to their credit. We strike out WAY too much, and we haven't been moving runners in key spots. We don't seem to get enough runners lately to even hit & run to try to open up some holes. Pretty disappointing to see how many hitters in the lineup are batting over .270 (Young and Byrd)!

2. I suppose we could put the equally hacktastic Hank Blalock at first. I wouldn't support a trade for a 1B, so I say keep sending Davis out there.

3. What you trade for depends on your goal, how close you believe you are to reaching that goal, and your focus (longer- or shorter-term). This team's stated plan is longer-term, and my take on the team is that they would be first round fodder should they make the playoffs - therefore I would support trades which add significant pieces to improve the team for the long term, while I would not get as excited about adding a reliever or 1B on a 1yr deal.

It doesn't matter to me if it's a starting pitcher or an outfielder - as long as it fits with the long term goal and is a significant upgrade over in-house options. I wouldn't make a trade for offense because the team is slumping, and I wouldn't add a reliever on a 1yr deal (today). However, if someone wants to give us a young starter for a catcher +, I'm listening...

4. I think I'd rather see Rupe.
-briant

1. I think the offense will recover. I think they are all pressing right now to pick up the slack for eachother and the result is the aggressive flailing at every pitch. Once they start to settle down and start working the counts and stop swinging for the fences, they'll be back. This is a young team and there is too much talent for them not to recover. I want them to win the West, but remember, none of us expected it, so we shouldn't knee jerk with a drop off. Patience.
2. Yes. Who do you plug in for him? Besides, if he goes down and continues his slump, then what happens to his head? They made the commitment to him so leave him up here and let him work through it. Patience.
3. I'm not big on going to Newberg's Step 5 yet. If there is a trade that can impact the future with out depleting it, go ahead. But, don't trade for that one player to get us over the hump because I don't think we are to that point yet. Patience.
4. No thanks. There is a reason no one else has signed him.
5. CHUCK MORGAN (Personally responsible for ballpark experience, voice of the ballpark, a Ranger as much as the players), Mike Hargrove (Rookie of the year, Human Rain Delay), Al Oliver (Scoop-lifetime .300 hitter), Jeff Burroughs (first MVP), Bert Blyleven (hard luck lost a lot of 1-0 and 2-1 games with Rangers), David Clyde (filled stadium first, franchise abused him, he is a Ranger legend with no good stats), Pete O'Brien (another fan favorite, consistent player on inconsistent teams), Julio Franco (consistent feared hitter all star MVP), PUDGE (any questions?) Bobby Valentine (He never got that championship, but he marketed the Rangers unlike any other manager I've ever seen), and I would love to say Raffy and Juan, but there are just too many questions to be answered. If they would come out and be honest, maybe I could accept them for what they meant to the team in a time when they were probably doing what most players were doing. But if all we have from Raffy and Juan is no comment, then no Hall of Fame.

I forgot one more for the Rangers Hall of Fame and sooner rather than later. The great Dick Risenhoover! (Good-bye baseball!) He was the voice of the Rangers who called many bad Rangers games in the 70's until his death. He made me feel like I was there in the middle of the excitement that he generated with his style. I NEVER missed a game on the radio and I mourned if there was an off day or rainout. He should be in there beside Holtzie right now. As d'god would say, period, end of story.

I was at the game in SF yesterday. It was painfully obvious that our Texas boys don't know how to proverbially "manufacture" a run. We've been losing a lot of close ones lately. Not the sign of a good baseball club. In the 8th inning trailing by a run, Andrus gets to first and I was expecting some exciting baseball. Maybe he'd stress the pitcher a little, get the pitcher thinking about him at first, fake a few starts towards second and then maybe go for the steal. In any case, give the pitcher something to sweat over, try to make him make a mistake to Young at the plate. No such luck. Young swings at the first offering he sees and pops it up, inning over. I'm old enough to remember the Nellie Fox-Luis Aparicio batting combo. Those guys could produce a run almost on demand in close games. Aparaicio would get to first, steal second and Fox would single him home. The Sox won the pennant because of them. Our Rangers need more focus on the "small" baseball game.

I second that zapo. The basic fundamentals have been non-existent during this drop. Let's hope that they can re-focus. If not, my word is still patience. What they are going through should be a positive learning experience. No coaching can replace what they are going through as long as they are paying attention.

1. Right now, it stinks. Swinging and missing a lot. Failing to score runners from 3B with less than 2 outs.......No getting runners in scoring position......And I swear it seems like there have been more popups and and weak flyballs than any team I can ever recall. I am confident that the guys will get it turned around though......Blind faith perhaps.

2. I have been singing his praises to anyone that would listen but everything else has been tried......the biggest concern i have is that the Rangers will start giving up more runs without him out there......If Davis heads off to OKC, then everyone is going to have to bite the bullet, pitchers included, when they need to get 2-3 extra outs per game with Blalock at 1B and perhaps even more if Jones is out there. It wont just be extra errors but more hits because neither Jones nor Hank are even adequate at first.

3. Bullpen.........Starters have been decent overall and hitting would be a stop gap measure.......Encouraged by Franks outing though and maybe that is the guy that puts the bullpen back to where it needs to be.

4. Instead of who in the rotation and for how much? Going to take out Holland or Harrison from the rotation for a 3 month guy? Feels like a step in the wrong direction.

5. besides the ones mentioned, Jeff Russell

Anybody think the Rangers are the best team in baseball? Anybody doubt they miss Josh Hamilton?

1. What's your take on the Rangers offense? For starters, Kinsler's massive uppercut hurts the whole order, as he's swinging for the fences every time. He's best at setting the table when he's going to center/right and occasionally hitting a ball out. Everyone is overswinging, I think pressing, to make up for the lack of hitting in every single AB. The only guy with a sensible swing is David Murphy and Michael Young at present. I think Blalock could be terrific if he went to left field/center, and I think Chris Davis has been watching Jason Botts' film too much. Or maybe Brad Wilkerson's. I know I dumped on Wilkerson, but, he at least walked once in a while, which Chris Davis doesn't. I would preach patience, working the count, and teaching these guys to bunt situationally. Overall, Rudy has talented guys, but they are ALL pressing without the ringleader, Josh Hamilton, anchoring the batting order. I personally don't see any relief in sight, though, they could find "it" as quickly as they "lost" it.

2. Should the Rangers stick with Chris Davis? If Chris would stop watching the Jason Botts' videos--he's doing a perfect impression of Botts. Really an asset defensively, I think he should keep playing until Josh comes back. One factor that could change my mind, is, even with the offensive woes, we are (up to the second I type this), still in first place, due mainly to our pitching and defense. IF WE ARE STILL HAVING THE SAME PRODUCTION from Chris Davis, and we cling to some lead, I think we need to put Justin Smoak in there because it isn't every day the Rangers are in first place, and we CANNOT afford a huge non-contact person in a major run-producing spot as First Base, IF we plan on competing and making a real run. First Base is too important to just keep someone in there for sentimental reasons, and for defense only, when we have a chance to win the division.

3. Should the Rangers trade priority be offense, starting pitching or bullpen? I think it depends on when Brandon McCarthy is coming back, and if Matt Harrison shows his pre-DL form.....otherwise, I'm happy with the pitching, which leaves us needing a bat somewhere.....Defense has been good, I wouldn't tinker with that.

4. Pedro Martinez anybody? If he's unsigned, I'd say, ABSOLUTELY! If healthy, who wouldn't want Pedro? Goodness, besides Johan Santana, there isn't a better guy who has the potential to make a real difference. He's a heck of a lot better than "El Duque!"

5. Who should be in the Rangers Hall of Fame that's not? It's a shame Al Oliver didn't play more years, because he was the consummate hitter. I was wondering when Toby Harrah would be selected, and I am glad he was chosen along with Ruben. Is Buddy Bell in, I can't remember? Also, two guys who pitched well for us, but didn't have too much longevity, was Jon Matlack and Bert Blyleven. Those 3 I mentioned I'd put on the list.

Lastly, Tom Grieve would be a perfect choice; he's held every position in the Rangers organization, and done all jobs well. I love Tom as a color commentator, and man. Great person!

1) This offense is dead in the water. Ron needs to start dropping some bombs to get it started again...

2) Davis needs to be demoted; over a month ago; probably down to Frisco (Bakersfield if it was up to me). Salty can take 1B, Teagarden take full time C, give Salty 1 per wk at C and let Jones cover 1B. If Smoak gets healthy before Davis sees the light then promote Smoak over Davis. If Salty's dissapointed then let him work it out with Davis.

3) Rangers focus should be on shrewd trades. Best bang for the buck rather then going for broke. No one is dying of old age, one more year won't hurt. Let's turn this best farm system to the best ml team.

4) I really like the Rangers reclamation projects; as long as the price is right, they can bring in as many of these as they want.

5) Honestly, for a team that's only won one post season game in the entire franchise history, they should be a little slower about voting guys into any sort of HoF.

adub74, I respectfully disagree with your las point. The Rangers Hall of Fame is about those players who have meant something to the organization in spite of the lack of championships. During all the lean years, we have always had guys on the team that were good players, leaders, and brought hope for the losing to end. I'll always remember Jim Sundberg's snap throws to first and that rifle shot to second. On a losing team, he changed the game for opponents. They may sweep the series but it wasn't going to be while running the basepaths. These guys were the ones we cheered for when there was nothing else. And over the past 37 years, there have been many. The franchise wins the championships, but the players are why we watch. Otherwise, there would be no fans.

1. painful to watch
2. No! he has options, use them!
3. Bullpen, anything else would be too expensive
4. Naw, it's not even my money, and I still don't want to see it
5. Induct: Pudge, Juan, Rafi, Clark. We can't be picky about steroids in texas. :)

rudy is OVERRATED BY A MILE. We play in a hitters park.
the players have no plate discipline.

Pretty sad when a 20 yr old works the pitcher pretty much harder than any other starter. Elivs and Murphy should be 1-2 in the batting order.

Wash needs extreme makeover!

Kneejerk, much? Ruday Jaramillo built his reputation in a pitcher's park, the Astrodome. One bad month does not mean he's overrated or that he's forgotten how to teach hitting. All he can do is teach these hitters the skills necessary to succeed. He can't walk up to the plate with them and keep them from swinging at trash.

At some point the hitters have to be held accountable. If Chris Davis got to the big leagues without being able to tell the difference between a fastball and a breaking ball, that's hardly the fault of the major league hitting coach. Pitch recognition and selectivity are skills that need to be learned in the low minors. That's were the changes in this organization need to take place. Engel Beltre and Christian Santana are prime examples.