Series Thread: Rangers get a visit from celestial beings

[ESPN Refugee]

I wish we would have heard something similar to that last offseason instead of them telling us the budget would remain very close to the same as it was in 2013. When I heard JD tell Norm Hitzges that about 10-11 months ago I thought we were in for a disappointing 2014.

They spent 130 million on Choo and acquired Fielders contract with 7 years left. I think they're willing to spend money for the right pieces but this organization is also keeping the future in mind with the kids that are coming up and if/when the time comes that they need to get paid that they won't be hamstrung. And IMO the year isn't disappointing b/c they didn't spend but rather because this team was depleted with injuries even before spring training with Holland's injury.

 

[saddles]

They spent 130 million on Choo and acquired Fielders contract with 7 years left. I think they're willing to spend money for the right pieces but this organization is also keeping the future in mind with the kids that are coming up and if/when the time comes that they need to get paid that they won't be hamstrung. And IMO the year isn't disappointing b/c they didn't spend but rather because this team was depleted with injuries even before spring training with Holland's injury.

In the big picture the injuries actually helped. We weren't going anywhere this year anyway and this allowed us to be much worse than we were going to be. Therefore we didn't have the problem of chasing false hopes at the deadline and we get the top draft pick.

The Choo and Fielder acquisitions were both not very wise in my estimation. They are being paid way too much and for way too long. You can overspend on a guy for 2-3 years, but not for 7 years. A team looking to watch its budget can't afford spending like that. Those two contracts together are going to hamper us for awhile.

This team's budget is low when compared to market size and what other teams are spending.

 

[ESPN Refugee]

In the big picture the injuries actually helped. We weren't going anywhere this year anyway and this allowed us to be much worse than we were going to be. Therefore we didn't have the problem of chasing false hopes at the deadline and we get the top draft pick.

The Choo and Fielder acquisitions were both not very wise in my estimation. They are being paid way too much and for way too long. You can overspend on a guy for 2-3 years, but not for 7 years. A team looking to watch its budget can't afford spending like that. Those two contracts together are going to hamper us for awhile.

This team's budget is low when compared to market size and what other teams are spending.

When they acquired Fielder I think they only acquired him for 4 or may 5 really good to solid productive years. The last 2 or 3 years were just there since I think they saw this team's window still open. Same with Choo...I don't think they really expected a ton the last year or two which is why they went all in on those two guys. I think Choo will be productive his whole contract due to his ability to get on base but these two acquisitions told me that they're competing for the short term and if they somehow don't do much for us in their last 20-30% of their contract then that's fine since their window of opportunity is now.

 

[Justinkm83]

In the big picture the injuries actually helped. We weren't going anywhere this year anyway and this allowed us to be much worse than we were going to be. Therefore we didn't have the problem of chasing false hopes at the deadline and we get the top draft pick.

The Choo and Fielder acquisitions were both not very wise in my estimation. They are being paid way too much and for way too long. You can overspend on a guy for 2-3 years, but not for 7 years. A team looking to watch its budget can't afford spending like that. Those two contracts together are going to hamper us for awhile.

This team's budget is low when compared to market size and what other teams are spending.

I wish they would come out and say : We are going to spend in FA to upgrade this rotation. The problem is Ray Davis doesn't care about baseball. He only wants to profit. I hope he understands that he won't make near as much if they don't upgrade this rotation. Attendance is already showing that.

 

[ESPN Refugee]

I wish they would come out and say : We are going to spend in FA to upgrade this rotation. The problem is Ray Davis doesn't care about baseball. He only wants to profit. I hope he understands that he won't make near as much if they don't upgrade this rotation. Attendance is already showing that.

Curious as to how or why you make that claim.

 

[saddles]

When they acquired Fielder I think they only acquired him for 4 or may 5 really good to solid productive years. The last 2 or 3 years were just there since I think they saw this team's window still open. Same with Choo...I don't think they really expected a ton the last year or two which is why they went all in on those two guys. I think Choo will be productive his whole contract due to his ability to get on base but these two acquisitions told me that they're competing for the short term and if they somehow don't do much for us in their last 20-30% of their contract then that's fine since their window of opportunity is now.

I only saw Fielder as being able to help us for a couple of years. Guys his size decline very early. That was before I heard Fraley say that scouts told him that Prince's bat speed declined in 2013. Then I didn't expect much from him at all.

I would much rather have more power in the lineup that a bat like Choo's. We need power on the corners. We could afford to get by with a Murphy on the corner when we had Hamilton in CF, Napoli at C, and Kinsler at 2B, but now we need power at every corner position. I have never been that high on Choo compared to some folks.

Choo and Fielder were short term fixes, but the problem is JD didn't do enough short term fixing and that is especially true knowing Fielder's previous problems. Those two guys weren't enough to get us to where we all want to go in my opinion.

 

[Justinkm83]

Curious as to how or why you make that claim.

I hear it on the radio.

 

[donaldson79]

I wish they would come out and say : We are going to spend in FA to upgrade this rotation. The problem is Ray Davis doesn't care about baseball. He only wants to profit. I hope he understands that he won't make near as much if they don't upgrade this rotation. Attendance is already showing that.

I went to the game last night and I assure you there wasn't more than 13,000 (if that). The announced gate was over 26,000. Several of the the personal working there said the attendance was the same the previous night too.

 

[RevSader]

A's lose again.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

[/B]

I went to the game last night and I assure you there wasn't more than 13,000 (if that). The announced gate was over 26,000. Several of the the personal working there said the attendance was the same the previous night too.

And that is against the Angels. That should tell you something right there.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

I only saw Fielder as being able to help us for a couple of years. Guys his size decline very early. That was before I heard Fraley say that scouts told him that Prince's bat speed declined in 2013. Then I didn't expect much from him at all.

I would much rather have more power in the lineup that a bat like Choo's. We need power on the corners. We could afford to get by with a Murphy on the corner when we had Hamilton in CF, Napoli at C, and Kinsler at 2B, but now we need power at every corner position. I have never been that high on Choo compared to some folks.

Choo and Fielder were short term fixes, but the problem is JD didn't do enough short term fixing and that is especially true knowing Fielder's previous problems. Those two guys weren't enough to get us to where we all want to go in my opinion.

I am in wait and see mode with Fielder. I think his bat speed in 2013 could also be attributed to what eventually put him on the DL. There were posters who said the same thing about Cruz and he is doing alright. In the last 7 years or so the 2 years that were bad for Choo were years he missed games due to injuries. I don't think he will ever be much of an OF but I think he can help us on the offensive end next year. I do agree with some on here that the contracts are too long but time will tell.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

A's lose again.

Their offense is really struggling but a lot of offenses are against Sale with his 1.99 era. Bo Porter on MLB tonight last night said if Oakland makes it into the playoffs he thinks they should be the team that worries the opposition the most because they will be so relieved and relaxed to make it there and they have great starting pitching for a short series and will be able to move the other starters into the pen.

 

[saddles]

I am in wait and see mode with Fielder. I think his bat speed in 2013 could also be attributed to what eventually put him on the DL. There were posters who said the same thing about Cruz and he is doing alright. In the last 7 years or so the 2 years that were bad for Choo were years he missed games due to injuries. I don't think he will ever be much of an OF but I think he can help us on the offensive end next year. I do agree with some on here that the contracts are too long but time will tell.

The difference is that I never heard that there were scouts saying Cruz had lost bat speed. Also Cruz hasn't had a neck injury and is not overweight like Fielder.

When helathy Choo has a good OBP, but when he leads off he doesn't exhitbit very much power at all. He is occupying a position that we need to have power from in my opinion.

 

[donaldson79]

And that is against the Angels. That should tell you something right there.

And the crowd - what there was of it - was about half Angel.

It wasn't Cowboy bad, but bad enough.

 

[donaldson79]

The difference is that I never heard that there were scouts saying Cruz had lost bat speed. Also Cruz hasn't had a neck injury and is not overweight like Fielder.

When helathy Choo has a good OBP, but when he leads off he doesn't exhitbit very much power at all. He is occupying a position that we need to have power from in my opinion.

There have been LO men with power. But traditionally, it's not a power spot. It's a run scoring position IMO.

He is not "occupying a position" that we need power from.

 

[saddles]

[/B]

There have been LO men with power. But traditionally, it's not a power spot. It's a run scoring position IMO.

He is not "occupying a position" that we need power from.

If we don't have power from both our corners and we don't have it from anyone up the middle and we have no regular DH with power then where are we going to get our power from. When you have a Hamilton in CF, a Kinsler at 2B and a Napoli at C, then you can afford for your LF not to have power. As it stands now we need a lot more power.

 

[DT LUNA]

If we don't have power from both our corners and we don't have it from anyone up the middle and we have no regular DH with power then where are we going to get our power from. When you have a Hamilton in CF, a Kinsler at 2B and a Napoli at C, then you can afford for your LF not to have power. As it stands now we need a lot more power.

I do agree with you Bennie. At the present all we have is Prince(maybe) and Adrian. Don't consider Choo as a power hitter although he will hit some HR's but his OBP is his objective. We need power help.

 

[Justinkm83]

If we don't have power from both our corners and we don't have it from anyone up the middle and we have no regular DH with power then where are we going to get our power from. When you have a Hamilton in CF, a Kinsler at 2B and a Napoli at C, then you can afford for your LF not to have power. As it stands now we need a lot more power.

I hope we go after Bautista, or if we can move EA for him...Kemp. We've tried for 2 years to trade for Bautista. I would take him or EE.

 

[DT LUNA]

No runs in the first. That will make Les happy. Me too. Good start Nick.

 

[DT LUNA]

Martin with a lead off HR.