Series Thread: Battle for last place continues with the Dis-Astros

[saddles]

There is a great article at ESPNDallas that mentions Nick Martinez and his quest to learn to be a better pitcher.

Extra Bases: What does Mike Maddux's future hold? - ESPN Dallas

Martinez picks Maddux's brain: During the latest road trip, Nick Martinez, who earned the win against Houston on Tuesday, spoke to newly-minted Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux throughout the Rangers' entire game against the Los Angeles Angels. Martinez didn't pitch that series, but he wanted to pick Maddux's brain.

"Shame on me if I don't talk to him," Martinez said of the chat.

Maddux, a special assistant to the GM, wanted Martinez to stop rushing to throw his fastball, which is his best pitch, early in the count. If Martinez just worked the count more by mixing his pitching and throwing strikes, Maddux said, his pitch count can be handled better, and when he's ahead of hitters, he can throw a fastball.

He did that against the Astros on Tuesday, when he went 6 2/3 innings and struck out five while throwing 101 pitches.

"I think I was pressing a little bit to get quick outs," Martinez said. "That's where those long innings come from so early, and they mount up. This time I attacked people and threw strikes and relied on my fastball with two strikes."

 

[Justinkm83]

In my opinion they don't have the offense to compete next year the way things stand. If Tepesch and Martinez finish next season with ERAs below 3.50 they still won't have the offense. We can spend a lot of money and get expensive pitching in here and we still won't compete with our offense unless a bunch of guys exceed expectations.

To me the two Nicks are placeholders until guys like Chi Chi, Jackson, and Ortiz arrive. I do think they have done a fine job in maturing into decent pitchers over the course of the last two months though. They will still have some ups and downs, but they have made me feel a lot better about going into next season with them pitching for us.

My starting pitching goal for this offseason is to sign a #3 to a one or two year contract. By that I mean someone that can be expected to have an ERA between 3.50 and 3.75 or so. If we don't get that done and have to go with Yu, Derek, Colby, Nick and Nick that won't bother me too much either.

If that's our starting rotation next year I will be very disappointed. I don't think they can afford (in attendance) to head into the year with that rotation. That's good for 4th place in this division.


We need to bring Latos or Rev's idea (Cashner from SD) here, and sign a FA. Let those 3 and Mikolas fight for the 5th spot. I doubt Colby is even brought back though.

 

[saddles]

Are you saying you think JD is only looking for the next Washington, if he remains "consistent" in his thought process?

I don't see this at all. There's a lot of good managers in MLB and many have varying styles. And each GM can change his mind on what style he wants, depending on what's available.

I am saying that JD has changed in his approach. You are absolutely right in that a GM can change his mind about managers. It just follows to me that that means the GM can also change his mind on letting the manager put together his staff. Just because he helped Wash with his staff does not mean he will continue to do so.

 

[Justinkm83]

LSAT's on saturday. Then I'll finally get to post on here with some regularity. I've missed it lol. People lose interest when I'm watching a baseball game with them and trying to explain the more "internal" things that don't really get noticed. They're just like "WHY IS THAT GUY SWINGING AND THAT GUY RUNNING...AT.THE.SAME.TIME."

Have you head anything on what our scouts think of Tomas?

 

[donaldson79]

If that's our starting rotation next year I will be very disappointed. I don't think they can afford (in attendance) to head into the year with that rotation. That's good for 4th place in this division.


We need to bring Latos or Rev's idea (Cashner from SD) here, and sign a FA. Let those 3 and Mikolas fight for the 5th spot. I doubt Colby is even brought back though.

I'm assuming you're penciling in Darvish and Holland at # 1 and 2. Then the FA at # 3 with Latos/Cashner and Mikolas, maybe Lewis for the final two spots?

Why the faith in Mikolas and none for Tepesch or Martinez?

 

[saddles]

If that's our starting rotation next year I will be very disappointed. I don't think they can afford (in attendance) to head into the year with that rotation. That's good for 4th place in this division.


We need to bring Latos or Rev's idea (Cashner from SD) here, and sign a FA. Let those 3 and Mikolas fight for the 5th spot. I doubt Colby is even brought back though.

Are those guys even available and what would we have to give up to get them. Wouldn't you want to know that before wanting a trade? It is a whole lot easier for us to name a pitcher we want in trade than it is get that trade done in reality. What about how much a free agent pitcher would cost? I would have to know that before saying I want them to sign a free agent pitcher. It is easy for us to play Lets Make A Deal, but in reality those don't work out very often. I do think we will be involved in a few trades this offseason, but I just don't know if any of them will bring back a Cahner or Latos type pitcher.

It is also easy for the MLB Trade Rumors site to play Let's Make A Deal, but they are seldom right where it regards Rangers trades and free agent acquisitions.

 

[donaldson79]

I am saying that JD has changed in his approach. You are absolutely right in that a GM can change his mind about managers. It just follows to me that that means the GM can also change his mind on letting the manager put together his staff. Just because he helped Wash with his staff does not mean he will continue to do so.

OK I'm with ya.

According to Fraley, JD - along with many of today's newer GM's - considers the on field manager as middle management, and therefore they put together the staff.

Personally, surely the new manager will have at least substantial input on who he'll be working with. That just seems like common sense to me.

 

[donaldson79]

Are those guys even available and what would we have to give up to get them. Wouldn't you want to know that before wanting a trade? It is a whole lot easier for us to name a pitcher we want in trade than it is get that trade done in reality. What about how much a free agent pitcher would cost? I would have to know that before saying I want them to sign a free agent pitcher. It is easy for us to play Lets Make A Deal, but in reality those don't work out very often. I do think we will be involved in a few trades this offseason, but I just don't know if any of them will bring back a Cahner or Latos type pitcher.

It is also easy for the MLB Trade Rumors site to play Let's Make A Deal, but they are seldom right where it regards Rangers trades and free agent acquisitions.

From what I gathered the Rangers have around 48 players they'd like to protect. As you know, 48 doesn't go into 40 very well, so we'll probably have some decent players to package in trade opportunities.

 

[Justinkm83]

I'm assuming you're penciling in Darvish and Holland at # 1 and 2. Then the FA at # 3 with Latos/Cashner and Mikolas, maybe Lewis for the final two spots?

Why the faith in Mikolas and none for Tepesch or Martinez?

Yu, Latos, Holland, FA, our own at 5. I really don't have any more faith faith in Mikolas than I do NM or NT. I think he has better stuff. I just haven't seen enough of him.

 

[saddles]

I'm assuming you're penciling in Darvish and Holland at # 1 and 2. Then the FA at # 3 with Latos/Cashner and Mikolas, maybe Lewis for the final two spots?

Why the faith in Mikolas and none for Tepesch or Martinez?

I don't get the love of what Mikolas has done either. Between him and the two Nicks give me both of the Nicks way before Mikolas. That's just me though.

 

[saddles]

From what I gathered the Rangers have around 48 players they'd like to protect. As you know, 48 doesn't go into 40 very well, so we'll probably have some decent players to package in trade opportunities.

Yes, JD has already said they would be active on the trade front. I just don't know if that means trading for quality MLB pitching. It could work out that way, but it might not.

 

[Justinkm83]

Are those guys even available and what would we have to give up to get them. Wouldn't you want to know that before wanting a trade? It is a whole lot easier for us to name a pitcher we want in trade than it is get that trade done in reality. What about how much a free agent pitcher would cost? I would have to know that before saying I want them to sign a free agent pitcher. It is easy for us to play Lets Make A Deal, but in reality those don't work out very often. I do think we will be involved in a few trades this offseason, but I just don't know if any of them will bring back a Cahner or Latos type pitcher.

It is also easy for the MLB Trade Rumors site to play Let's Make A Deal, but they are seldom right where it regards Rangers trades and free agent acquisitions.

Yes, there have been multiple reports that CIN is going to make at least 1 of their starters available. I know it's easier to name a player than it is to actually make a trade. I think everyone is aware of that. I don't think Latos or Cashner is far-fetched. Will it happen, probably not, but that's why I'm just a couch GM. They are also trying to move Brandon Phillips which leaves an opening in their IF where we are deep.

 

[saddles]

OK I'm with ya.

According to Fraley, JD - along with many of today's newer GM's - considers the on field manager as middle management, and therefore they put together the staff.

Personally, surely the new manager will have at least substantial input on who he'll be working with. That just seems like common sense to me.

In the ESPNDallas article I referenced in an earlier post JD mentions that he would like to get a new manager as quickly as possible so that the new manager can have input on if he wants to keep any of the present coaches.

 

[saddles]

Yes, there have been multiple reports that CIN is going to make at least 1 of their starters available. I know it's easier to name a player than it is to actually make a trade. I think everyone is aware of that. I don't think Latos or Cashner is far-fetched. Will it happen, probably not, but that's why I'm just a couch GM. They are also trying to move Brandon Phillips which leaves an opening in their IF where we are deep.

Oh, I don't have a problem with anyone proposing trades. I do that myself at times. I am just not letting myself count on any of that when thinking about next year's roster.

There is also the longer term picture to consider. I think the 2016 staff will include Yu, Derek, Chi Chi and Martin. Therefore, I don't have a problem with the possibility of us not pursuing more than one pitcher this offseason. If you simply put the best of the rest with those four guys I have penciled in for 2016 I wouldn't even have a problem not going after any pitching that wouldn't be easily flipped in a trade within a year. Your guy Latos would work great in that scenario as he will be free after next year. Once we fall out of contention we could trade him next July.

 

[Justinkm83]

Oh, I don't have a problem with anyone proposing trades. I do that myself at times. I am just not letting myself count on any of that when thinking about next year's roster.

There is also the longer term picture to consider. I think the 2016 staff will include Yu, Derek, Chi Chi and Martin. Therefore, I don't have a problem with the possibility of us not pursuing more than one pitcher this offseason. If you simply put the best of the rest with those four guys I have penciled in for 2016 I wouldn't even have a problem not going after any pitching that wouldn't be easily flipped in a trade within a year. Your guy Latos would work great in that scenario as he will be free after next year. Once we fall out of contention we could trade him next July.

Yeah I thought of that too. Plus the cost of acquiring him won't be as high with him only having 1 year of team control.

 

[saddles]

Here are some other notes from the Gerry Fraley question and answer session this morning.

He takes the under on Fielder hitting over or under 20 HRs next year.

He thinks both Tepesch and Lewis will be in the rotation next year.

He thinks the budget will either stay the same or go down for next season.

When asked which of the players who have come up to fill in this year will be up here next season he included "Chirinos, Odor, Rosales, Rua, Mendez, Tepesch, possibly Smolinski or Robertson."

When asked how the guys in the clubhouse feel about Darvish he said, "No one, at least to me, has questioned his absence from the field."

He did mention the Reds 3 pitchers who will be free agents after next season as possible Ranger trade targets.

He thinks we are more likely to add pitching through trades than free agency.

 

[darrylgann]

Yes, there have been multiple reports that CIN is going to make at least 1 of their starters available. I know it's easier to name a player than it is to actually make a trade. I think everyone is aware of that. I don't think Latos or Cashner is far-fetched. Will it happen, probably not, but that's why I'm just a couch GM. They are also trying to move Brandon Phillips which leaves an opening in their IF where we are deep.

Were deep. Don't think the future necessarily bodes well for young Profor.

 

[terpsfball09]

Good luck to you. Be really careful in your endeavor to the law arena.

Generation of Debt: Debt increases for law students as job prospects fall

hahaha that's depressing

 

[terpsfball09]

Have you head anything on what our scouts think of Tomas?

Nothin man. Haven't talked to him since that Monday he was at the meeting, sorry. I've been really under the radar with this thing

 

[donaldson79]

Were deep. Don't think the future necessarily bodes well for young Profor.

Yeah. We were really deep until the bad news on Profar.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he's not damaged goods at this point. Know he's young, but regardless of age, he's been hurt more than he's played.