Nelson Cruz: Appeal or No Appeal

[TheRangerDude]

Cruz at DH will still be providing RBI'S

The problem is, he has to agree to DH DT. Cruz likes to play D and if we are not going to let him... he will just got to a team that will. Personally, I'm confident the Rangers are fine with him in the OF if they can agree on a contract... they have put him out there almost every game this season.

 

[romeo212000]

The problem is, he has to agree to DH DT. Cruz likes to play D and if we are not going to let him... he will just got to a team that will. Personally, I'm confident the Rangers are fine with him in the OF if they can agree on a contract... they have put him out there almost every game this season.

I didn't say it had to happen next year.

 

[DT LUNA]

Early on we lost games because of pitching and as I recall not scoring many runs. My hope is present pitching, as good as it is, will keep opposition runs much lower than early on and the offense will produce enough to win. If we acquire any offensive help at all we will win games because of pitching strength. Lest we forget our schedule should help too.

 

[pegasusredleg]

Well, lets see if the lifetime AAA player can catch lightning in a bottle.

The ESPN article below explains that lightning could strike twice:

Dallas Texas Rangers Blog - ESPN Dallas

"Butler is in his third season with Triple-A Round Rock and has never broken through to the big leagues. In an interesting aside, Cruz spent five seasons in Triple-A from 2004-08 and was considered a "Class 4A" player before belting 33 home runs for the Rangers in 2009.

Butler could finally get his chance because of a player who was in a similar place in his career at the same age."


Now of course Nelly's last full year in AAA was leaps and bounds better than Butler's last full year. Butler is much better against LHP, so at best he platoons with Murphy, thus making Gentry a full time player until a potential waiver trade deal.

 

[RevSader]

Please tell me none of you are bemoaning Cruz and labeling him a cheater?

 

[romeo212000]

The ESPN article below explains that lightning could strike twice:

Dallas Texas Rangers Blog - ESPN Dallas

"Butler is in his third season with Triple-A Round Rock and has never broken through to the big leagues. In an interesting aside, Cruz spent five seasons in Triple-A from 2004-08 and was considered a "Class 4A" player before belting 33 home runs for the Rangers in 2009.

Butler could finally get his chance because of a player who was in a similar place in his career at the same age."


Now of course Nelly's last full year in AAA was leaps and bounds better than Butler's last full year. Butler is much better against LHP, so at best he platoons with Murphy, thus making Gentry a full time player until a potential waiver trade deal.

Not sure I get this. Where does baker's lefty killing bat fit in all of this?

 

[Jbear]

Wash said they have plan A, B, C, and D. Butler looks like plan Q based on his stats for this season. You have got to be kidding that he is the best available option in all the Rangers minor league system. Hell I would rather them try out Manny for a couple weeks than waste time on this deal. At least Manny might see something to help out Moreland or Murphy. He did something to help Olt about two days after he arrived. I am not in love with Manny either but at least he has a history and big stage experience.

 

[RevSader]

Not sure I get this. Where does baker's lefty killing bat fit in all of this?

1st base. Mitch has regressed.

 

[romeo212000]

Wash said they have plan A, B, C, and D. Butler looks like plan Q based on his stats for this season. You have got to be kidding that he is the best available option in all the Rangers minor league system. Hell I would rather them try out Manny for a couple weeks than waste time on this deal. At least Manny might see something to help out Moreland or Murphy. He did something to help Olt about two days after he arrived. I am not in love with Manny either but at least he has a history and big stage experience.

Based on his stats? He's hitting .291...

 

[Jbear]

Not sure I get this. Where does baker's lefty killing bat fit in all of this?

Maybe as a Moreland platoon. I do not like this idea but makes sense if you squint enough I guess.

 

[pegasusredleg]

Not sure I get this. Where does baker's lefty killing bat fit in all of this?

I think that depends on how Mitch. If his bat comes back, we may see more of Baker in LF against lefties (along with Butler in RF instead of Gentry); if not Baker may see some time at 1B. I think the Cruz "adjustments" may all come in house. Looking at the "rules" of the waiver trade block, it will be difficult or unwise to grab some of the players mentioned.

 

[TheRangerDude]

Please tell me none of you are bemoaning Cruz and labeling him a cheater?

I think I have seen maybe one disowning him and calling him a cheater. Personally, I love Cruz, he is one of my favorite players but if he did actually use steriods for the purposes of bettering his game, that is cheating by the rules set forth by the MLB. It will be interesting to see what he says about the whole thing now. Perhaps he just did them to help put back on weight after that really bad stomach sickness he had where he lost like 20 lbs.

 

[jaar01]

Please tell me none of you are bemoaning Cruz and labeling him a cheater?

Well why is he accepting a 50 game suspension then?

 

[RevSader]

Well why is he accepting a 50 game suspension then?

That's pretty shitty logic.

 

[bradw516]

You are kidding? The DH hits everyday? But seriously, Cruz is not going to accept a DH position... he will just go to another team. He is pretty vocal about liking to play defense and his not as bad at it as some of you make him out to be. He is not a premium defender by any means but he is not yet at the point where a team isn't going to sign him unless he will DH. I for one surely hope our OF next season is not Beltre, Gentry, and Martin. We need at least one power bat out their.

He will take whatever the best offer is, be it to DH or to play outfield. Clearly by him taking his suspension, money is his motivating factor. So if he gets a better offer to DH for a team vs. playing defense, you can bet he will be DHing.

 

[DT LUNA]

He will take whatever the best offer is, be it to DH or to play outfield. Clearly by him taking his suspension, money is his motivating factor. So if he gets a better offer to DH for a team vs. playing defense, you can bet he will be DHing.

Agree there plus he will still get some playing time.

 

[RevSader]

He will take whatever the best offer is, be it to DH or to play outfield. Clearly by him taking his suspension, money is his motivating factor. So if he gets a better offer to DH for a team vs. playing defense, you can bet he will be DHing.

Even if he appealed, there is no promise it gets entirely delayed till next year. The MLB seems to be pretty adamant about making a show of these suspensions at the moment. I'd rather him take the suspension now, and than appeal get really hot and then be suspended for parts of the season, the post season, and the start of next season.

 

[romeo212000]

1st base. Mitch has regressed.

Well he's gonna have to figure out how to pick it back up.

 

[jaar01]

That's pretty shitty logic.

So you believe Cruz is not a cheater, even though there is ample evidence connecting him to a clinic where banned substances were issued to several players, including Cruz. Just asking.

 

[Tharvot]

A couple of interesting points. While it certainly understandable that there is an incentive to cheat, it seems to me that it is up to MLB to come up with rules and procedures to eliminate (or at least minimize) that incentive.

As far as whether Cruz's development as a player is wholly attributable to PEDs, I guess that is unknowable. Personally, however, I'm not prepared to accept that as a "fact", since lots of players don't develop until later into their careers.

Not a fact, just a curious coincidence until proven otherwise I suppose.

I don't think there is any way to effectively remove the incentive to cheat in sports, especially when money is tied to performance. The best MLB can do is remain vigilant in rooting out and persecuting violators.