Official Season Thread - 2013 Edition

[Xx srs bsns xX]

Cubs Claim Julio Borbon: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com

Cubbies.

 

[Windingmywatch]

So HOU passed. CHC was next.

 

[HammerDown]

 

[HammerDown]

Cubs Claim Julio Borbon: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com

Cubbies.

 

[Windingmywatch]

TEX got Charles Leeman (11th round 2008) 26yo LHP off waivers from CHW at extended ST due to ACL surgery from last fall. If accepts assignment goes to the 40-man.

Soooooo ... I'm real unclear on why a healthy Jeff Beliveau (8th round 2008) 26yo LHP TEX got off waivers from CHC was DFA'd and why it makes sense to use Borbon's spot for a rehabing LHP.

 

[slugger82685]

TEX got Charles Leeman (11th round 2008) 26yo LHP off waivers from CHW at extended ST due to ACL surgery from last fall. If accepts assignment goes to the 40-man.

Soooooo ... I'm real unclear on why a healthy Jeff Beliveau (8th round 2008) 26yo LHP TEX got off waivers from CHC was DFA'd and why it makes sense to use Borbon's spot for a rehabing LHP.

Borbon was out of options....he would have been the 5th OF on team the not including Jeff Baker. He couldn't be DFA'd because of the fact he is out of options so they had no choice but to put him on waivers.

 

[Windingmywatch]

Borbon was out of options....he would have been the 5th OF on team the not including Jeff Baker. He couldn't be DFA'd because of the fact he is out of options so they had no choice but to put him on waivers.

My post had nothing to do with Borbon (other than Leeman goes into Borbon's roster spot).

My question is: What is the material upgrade of Leeman over Beliveau that warranted his DFA and then a week later selecting Leeman off waivers from CHW? Looks to be the same guy ... same age ... same amateur draft class (Beliveau Round 8, Leeman Round 11) ... same basic experience and performance in the minors.

Since Beliveau and Leeman are the same guy ... so not worthy of direct trade ... the only thing it could be was on the timing of the Robinson Chirinos availabilty and his acquisition from TBR.

Chirinos wasn't on TBR's 40-man and hadn't played since 2011. For some reason TEX wanted him and wanted to place him on its 40-man roster too. Perhaps the spot Beliveau occupied had the least downside of being cleared.

As it turns out a week later TEX is able to replace Beliveau with Leeman (if he accepts the assignment) ... so perhaps 'no harm no foul'. And Chirinos one of four position players on the 40-man at Round Rock (Engle Beltre, Olt and Profar the others) is having a nice 2013 start for Round Rock.

But I suggest that until 8 April ... few if any TEX fans had ever heard of Robinson Chirinos ... and now he's on the short list to be playing for TEX this year.

 

[Xx srs bsns xX]

^Cubs catcher prospect that TEX tried to acquire a couple years back - in order to flip him to TB for Garza.

 

[Windingmywatch]

^Cubs catcher prospect that TEX tried to acquire a couple years back - in order to flip him to TB for Garza.

He was part of the eight player trade between CHC and TBR that included Garza as the primary piece.

 

[Xx srs bsns xX]

He was part of the eight player trade between CHC and TBR that included Garza as the primary piece.

2. According to Peter Gammons (MLB.com), the Rangers offered Derek Holland, Frankie Francisco, Engel Beltre, Cubs minor league catcher Robinson Chirinos, and cash to Tampa Bay for Matt Garza, before the Rays shipped the righthander (along with outfielder Fernando Perez and lefthander Zach Rosscup) to the Cubs for outfielder Sam Fuld and four prospects: righthander Chris Archer, outfielder Brandon Guyer, shortstop Hak-Ju Lee, and Chirinos.

The Chirinos component to the Rangers' offer obviously meant he was a key for the Rays and that Texas attempted to get the Cubs involved in its own effort to acquire Garza. Stories from Bruce Levine (ESPN Chicago) and Ed Price (FanHouse) in November and December suggested that the Rangers and Cubs were in talks that might have involved Chris Davis (and possibly Darren O'Day) on the Texas side, and Chirinos (and possibly righthander Rafael Dolis) on the Chicago side. So to take the Gammons note a step further, the cost from the Rangers - who were "the other team in it to the end" for Garza, along with the Cubs - might have included Holland, Francisco, Beltre, Davis, and cash. That's a lot. (The Yankees also backed off a Garza deal, according to Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News, because the Rays' ask was too high.)

Stuff. | Texas Rangers Blog | The Newberg Report

 

[RangerDanger]

great game tonight.... what a way to end it

 

[bone3421]

welcome rangerdanger

very good win tonight

 

[Windingmywatch]

May have missed it during the telecast ... but TEX reports Soria is now not projected to be out through at least June due to pectoral soreness.

Texas Rangers to be without reliever Joakim Soria through at least June | Texas Rangers Blog

 

[RangerDanger]

welcome rangerdanger

very good win tonight

great to be here,,,

 

[HammerDown]

 

[bone3421]

so what,, he goes back on waivers???

 

[Xx srs bsns xX]

^free agent

 

[Windingmywatch]

Whaaaaa? His agent probably told him that he's working a great deal for him with PIT!

 

[Windingmywatch]

Photos: Nellie Cruz all smiles after blast, Angels can't hang with Yu Darvish in Rangers' big win | Texas Rangers News - Sports News for Dallas, Texas - SportsDayDFW

Some great pics from last night's series finale @LAA. Couple of them might be perfect for inclusion in 2013 banner.

And if you haven't seen this one ... got it in this morning's email from Jamey. http://SportsHoopla.com/TheCoolestBaseballGIFever

incredible!

 

[BigDDude]

In hopes that someone here can find this info useful -

Texas Rangers fans are looking forward to a new chase after the pennant this season. Questions surrounding players, management, and other MLB teams are debated throughout Dallas. One of the most important questions, though, is not about any pitcher, batter, or team. It is about the fan's experience.
Where's the best place to watch a Rangers game? Obviously, Rangers Ballpark is the top choice. When that's not an option, however, there are a number of baseball bars throughout Dallas-Fort Worth. Here are five of the best.

Best Bar to Watch the Texas Rangers: Bobby V's Sports Gallery Cafe
4301 S. Bowen Road, Arlington
Walking into Bobby V's Sports Gallery Cafe is like walking into a Texas Rangers museum. Memorabilia from former seasons covers the bar itself, as well as the walls. The baseball-bat railings also reflect the bar's enthusiasm for America's favorite pastime. Named for former Texas Rangers manager Bobby Valentine, Bobby V's is about a 20-minute drive (without traffic) to Rangers Ballpark. This is one of the few sports bars that strictly prohibits inappropriate behavior and language, so the whole family can come and have a meal before or after a home game.
Best Baseball Bar Near SMU: Milo Butterfingers
5645 SMU Blvd., Dallas
Although Milo Butterfingers is within walking distance of Southern Methodist University, it attracts both college kids and adults. While the two different demographics usually congregate here at different times, both can be found hanging out when the Rangers are playing. With two 65-inch big-screen televisions, the views here are almost better than at the ballpark. The beer certainly is cheaper than at the stadium.
Best Beer at a Baseball Bar: Humperdinks
700 Six Flags Drive, Arlington
Humperdinks Restaurant & Brewery is well-known throughout the Metroplex. A restaurant and bar, the food here is good, and the beer flows freely. The kitchen offers a gluten-free menu, and the microbrewery always has something delicious on tap. Best of all, the Humperdinks location in Arlington offers a shuttle that patrons can take to and from any home game for $10.
Best Hotel Bar for a Rangers Game: The Gaylord Texan
1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine
Rarely does a hotel bar make the list of top sports bars in any city. The Texas Station Sports Bar and Grill, which is part of the Gaylord Texan, however, deserves to be on this list. With 50 TVs, including one that's 52 feet wide, everyone in the house is afforded an excellent view. There is a Rangers watch party for every game of the season. For the ultimate experience, book a night in one of the rooms and turn a Rangers game into a mini vacation.
Best Baseball Bar in Dallas and Fort Worth: Frankie's Sports Bar and Grill
3227 McKinney Ave., Dallas
2516 S. Stemmons Freeway, Lewisville
425 W. Third St., Fort Worth
With three locations, Frankie's Sports Bar and Grill is one of the most accessible baseball bars in the DFW Metroplex. It also happens to be the best choice for anyone going on a date. All of the Frankie's locations are upscale and capable of impressing a special someone. For sports fans, there are plenty of large televisions and table-top speakers, which ensure every fan can see and hear each game. Even those not as interested in the Rangers, though, will enjoy sampling a few of the 100 different beers available.