Early season hitting prospects

[jta4437]

Only had time to focus on hitters

Hitters: AVG / HR / RBI / OPS / Level-Age

Leonys Martin: .333 / 3 / 10 / .946 / AAA-24

J. Profar: .214 / 3 / 8 / .692 / AA-19

M. Olt: .271 / 4 / 8 / .881 / AA-23

Engel Beltre: .290 / 4 / 11 / .967 / AA-22

J. Alfaro: .290 / 0 / 4 / .732 / A-18

R. Odor: .279 / 2 / 13 / .879 / A-18

 

[romeo212000]

Martin is looking good. I really think he has to be brought up next year.

 

[scotsman1948]

Martin is looking good. I really think he has to be brought up next year.

have to agree which in my book makes Murphy expendable during the off-season, especially if they re-sign Hamilton. next season outfield should be Hamilton in LF, Martin in CF and Cruz in RF with Gentry as the backup OF'er

 

[Windingmywatch]

Martin is looking good. I really think he has to be brought up next year.

Were it not for the fact that Wash likes veterans (Murphy) and guys who will run through walls for him (Gentry) ... I could see Martin moving up.

If Moreland heats up to take a full or half share at 1b ... then Snyder might provide an opening for Martin ... but Snyder and Gonzalez are great insurance that we don't see MY at 3b with Beltre on the sidelines for an extended period like we did last year.

Makes no sense for MY to be in the field in any capacity if the primary isn't available to DH.

 

[scotsman1948]

Were it not for the fact that Wash likes veterans (Murphy) and guys who will run through walls for him (Gentry) ... I could see Martin moving up.

If Moreland heats up to take a full or half share at 1b ... then Snyder might provide an opening for Martin ... but Snyder and Gonzalez are great insurance that we don't see MY at 3b with Beltre on the sidelines for an extended period like we did last year.

Makes no sense for MY to be in the field in any capacity if the primary isn't available to DH.

Except that Washington sees MY as a valuable commodity that gives him a better than average player who can play multiple positions for the Rangers. His words not mine. And the general has not done too bad going with his gut the last couple of years

 

[Windingmywatch]

Except that Washington sees MY as a valuable commodity that gives him a better than average player who can play multiple positions for the Rangers. His words not mine. And the general has not done too bad going with his gut the last couple of years

That's true ... when the primary has been available to DH and Wash wanted to give the primary a day off in the field.

As relates to Beltre's being out right now ... and no other bench player a suitable DH ... makes better sense for Gonzalez to play 3b and Young DH ... especially tonight versus Sabathia.

I assume against Sabathia that Napoli plays 1b with Gentry starting in CF as TEX loads up all the RH bats it can.

Course saying all this I wouldn't be surprised at all for Wash to use Young at 3b like you say he might. If he does that then who is DH?

 

[Windingmywatch]

That's true ... when the primary has been available to DH and Wash wanted to give the primary a day off in the field.

As relates to Beltre's being out right now ... and no other bench player a suitable DH ... makes better sense for Gonzalez to play 3b and Young DH ... especially tonight versus Sabathia.

I assume against Sabathia that Napoli plays 1b with Gentry starting in CF as TEX loads up all the RH bats it can.

Course saying all this I wouldn't be surprised at all for Wash to use Young at 3b like you say he might. If he does that then who is DH?

See Fordman ... you were right. Don't know we all keep trying to reason with Wash decisions on playing MY at 3b. Drives me nuts.

 

[romeo212000]

See Fordman ... you were right. Don't know we all keep trying to reason with Wash decisions on playing MY at 3b. Drives me nuts.

Especially with as well as Gonzo has played so far this season.

 

[scotsman1948]

Especially with as well as Gonzo has played so far this season.

Wash stills sees Gonzo as a utility player who can fill a spot for a couple of games but not as a long term solution. he sees MY as a player he can stick in a position such as 3rd as a long time solution if the starter goes down. we may not agree but Wash is the man making the decisions and he has done pretty making those calls

 

[Al Falfa]

Wash stills sees Gonzo as a utility player who can fill a spot for a couple of games but not as a long term solution. he sees MY as a player he can stick in a position such as 3rd as a long time solution if the starter goes down. we may not agree but Wash is the man making the decisions and he has done pretty making those calls

BS. If my refrigerator could hit it would be a long term solution, too.

 

[Windingmywatch]

Wash stills sees Gonzo as a utility player who can fill a spot for a couple of games but not as a long term solution. he sees MY as a player he can stick in a position such as 3rd as a long time solution if the starter goes down. we may not agree but Wash is the man making the decisions and he has done pretty making those calls

The words "position" and "long time solution" scare me when used in association with MY.

 

[scotsman1948]

BS. If my refrigerator could hit it would be a long term solution, too.

and your refrigerator probably knows more about baseball than you do

 

[scotsman1948]

The words "position" and "long time solution" scare me when used in association with MY.

maybe so but it doesn't seem to scare Wash, Nolan or JD

 

[jta4437]

maybe so but it doesn't seem to scare Wash, Nolan or JD

Yet Util IF was one of the major focuses during ST

Might not scare them on a periodic basis, but I think they realize that the Rangers have issues defensively if Beltre goes down for an extended period of time

 

[scotsman1948]

Yet Util IF was one of the major focuses during ST

Might not scare them on a periodic basis, but I think they realize that the Rangers have issues defensively if Beltre goes down for an extended period of time

last season, they had Blanco as the Utility IF and who did they use when Beltre went down with his hamstring? Blanco was used as an occasional starter and defensive replacement and that is how the Rangers are using Gonzalez but if someone like Beltre, Kinsler or Moreland goes down for a lengthy time it would be MY that Washington uses for the long time replacement with Gonzalez as a possible late-inning defensive replacement at 2nd or 3rd and with Napoli & Snyder probably sharing the load at 1st

 

[jta4437]

last season, they had Blanco as the Utility IF and who did they use when Beltre went down with his hamstring? Blanco was used as an occasional starter and defensive replacement and that is how the Rangers are using Gonzalez but if someone like Beltre, Kinsler or Moreland goes down for a lengthy time it would be MY that Washington uses for the long time replacement with Gonzalez as a possible late-inning defensive replacement at 2nd or 3rd and with Napoli & Snyder probably sharing the load at 1st

Only b/c of the better bat, and blanco was hurt most of last year

 

[Windingmywatch]

maybe so but it doesn't seem to scare Wash, Nolan or JD

So playing Young at 3b for one game and using Snyder as DH made sense? Long term or short term?

Agree Wash's opinion is the only one that counts between the lines ... but here it remains my opinion that Gonzalez at 3b and Young @ DH made more sense than the weaker defensively MY and weaker offensively Snyder at DH.

Never mind that Wash's alignment precluded Snyder PHing late for Moreland ... instead having to use Gonzalez, Murphy or Torrealba ... which would left TEX having to move Napoli to 1b and install "Concrete Feet" behind the plate.

As I admitted going in and deferred to fordman that he was right at the end of the day ... Wash' decision considers other factors than on the field performance. Doesn't mean we can't kabitz about the finer points of lineup noodling.

 

[Windingmywatch]

Only b/c of the better bat, and blanco was hurt most of last year

Plus last year Torrealba was the starting catcher so moving Young onto the field ensured Napoli's bat in the game at DH. This year with Torrealba not a primary piece and Napoli already in the lineup @ C or 1b ... when Young fields for Beltre or Kinsler it calls for the primary then DHing.

If the primary isn't available to DH ... makes more sense for Gonzalez or Snyder to play in the field and Young remain as DH.

 

[scotsman1948]

Note:my argument was based on who would Washington would put on the field if the starter at a position was down for an extended period. if Beltre were down for 15+ days like he was last year i think you would see MY at 3rd, Napoli DHing, Torrealba catching & Moreland & Snyder at 1st with Gonzalez providing backup at 2B, SS and 3B. If Moreland went down for the same period you would see MY and Napoli splitting between DH & 1B. if Kinsler went down i still think MY would get the majority of Kinsler's down time over Gonzalez with Napoli at DH and Torrealba catching. The only position that i see Gonzalez getting extended time would be at SS if Elvis went down.

 

[Windingmywatch]

Note:my argument was based on who would Washington would put on the field if the starter at a position was down for an extended period. if Beltre were down for 15+ days like he was last year i think you would see MY at 3rd, Napoli DHing, Torrealba catching & Moreland & Snyder at 1st with Gonzalez providing backup at 2B, SS and 3B. If Moreland went down for the same period you would see MY and Napoli splitting between DH & 1B. if Kinsler went down i still think MY would get the majority of Kinsler's down time over Gonzalez with Napoli at DH and Torrealba catching. The only position that i see Gonzalez getting extended time would be at SS if Elvis went down.

This was about the 1 - 3 day Beltre day to day ... not long term.

However ... no matter whether long term or short term that MY would be the choice in the field makes sense if he is a plus defensively over the positional alternatives (Gonzalez and Snyder). And that the DH alternatives replacing MY would be equal to his offensive potential ... with recognition that if they are DH then their defensive talent and reason they are on the roster is lost for the game.

If any of the primary IFers are out for extended period (a position player going on the DL) ... it would be logical to see Snyder as the long term replacement at 1b and Gonzalez the long term replacement at the other three spots. Unless TEX was able to make an acquisition or bring someone up who is suitable to fill in until the primary returns.

MY was exposed very dramatically in last year's post season and was at the center of one play that cost TEX a win. TEX will continue to protect MY and provide him the leadership opportunities on the field ... but I don't think we will again see MY in the field for expended number of games like last year.