Series Thread: Let's Make AJ Wish he'd never have left.........3 in SD

[RevSader]

Since the whooping by the Yankees Texas has gone 23-10.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Since the whooping by the Yankees Texas has gone 23-10.

I read in the last 30 days we have gone from 8 out to 2 out. Not bad.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

You know I get irritated with Banister for things like not letting a hot Napoli play all 3 games where a lefty was the starter then PH him twice in 3 days against a RHer, pitching Kela and Tolleson when it was not needed, starting Gallo, bring Scheppers in to blow the game up and things of that nature. But he is not quite at the same level as RW. He has taken the reigns off of Andrus who no longer feels like he is just a punch and Judy hitter that RW had him be, he does not leave a pitcher out there until it is just too late (he did at first but not so much lately), he was willing to tweak the lineup to see what works, to get Odor to get his act back together, to keep experimenting with a bad BP to try and find something that works, to can the closer who inherited the job when Banister came and so on. Moving Tolleson to closer along with Kela turning out to be a stud and adding Dyson and Diekman has made a huge impact on the back end of the games. Banister was at our BP mercy in the beginning and it was hard to make a good choice then. So I have to give him some kudos but the jury is always out with us fans.

 

[saddles]

You know I get irritated with Banister for things like not letting a hot Napoli play all 3 games where a lefty was the starter then PH him twice in 3 days against a RHer, pitching Kela and Tolleson when it was not needed, starting Gallo, bring Scheppers in to blow the game up and things of that nature. But he is not quite at the same level as RW. He has taken the reigns off of Andrus who no longer feels like he is just a punch and Judy hitter that RW had him be, he does not leave a pitcher out there until it is just too late (he did at first but not so much lately), he was willing to tweak the lineup to see what works, to get Odor to get his act back together, to keep experimenting with a bad BP to try and find something that works, to can the closer who inherited the job when Banister came and so on. Moving Tolleson to closer along with Kela turning out to be a stud and adding Dyson and Diekman has made a huge impact on the back end of the games. Banister was at our BP mercy in the beginning and it was hard to make a good choice then. So I have to give him some kudos but the jury is always out with us fans.

Him being willing to move Choo down in the lineup is one of the most impressive things about him to me. I will cut him some slack regarding some of his in game moves during his first year as manager, but he is far above our previous manager in that category already in my opinion.

 

[saddles]

A couple of notes from Scott Lucas this morning.

Tate has faced 25 opponents and allowed only five to reach safely.

Mazara has eight multi-hit efforts in 16 AAA games. Brinson needs just one more walk to match his total of six in 28 AA games. In only three games with Round Rock, he's got four singles and five walks.

 

[Bmurph]

Feels so good to win games on the road while the Astros are losing at the juice box. Huge huge help tonight. Angels next.

Hey can you give us an Astros update, how are they doing?

 

[Bmurph]

I see Napoli got to PH against a RHer again.

When I saw Nap was hitting vs a RH'er I asked what the heck, he's pretty terrible vs righties but all he needed to do was get the ball in play really and he would have done his job. Sac fly woulda worked. Instead he was called out on a tough pitch and didnt get it done. Still not sure on that move though, surely there was another option than Mike vs a righty

 

[Bmurph]

I hear you on that. We should have just let things be with him. Striking out 3 times on 10 pitches is no confidence builder.

I didnt see his first AB's but the one I did see, he was hacking at terrible pitches too. Not your garden variety strike out, swinging at neck high pitches. He is just not on his game right now, which is a AA game at this stage anyway.

 

[donaldson79]

Him being willing to move Choo down in the lineup is one of the most impressive things about him to me.

There sure were a lot of posters unhappy with Choo moving into the two hole not so long ago.

But I'm with you, I've gotta tip my hat to the guy for pushing the right buttons in many cases.

 

[donaldson79]

Hey can you give us an Astros update, how are they doing?

Stirring that pot a little are ya? ha ha ha

 

[jta4437]

There sure were a lot of posters unhappy with Choo moving into the two hole not so long ago.

But I'm with you, I've gotta tip my hat to the guy for pushing the right buttons in many cases.

At the time it happened it didn't make sense, Odor and Choo were hitting well in their respective spots, they changed them and Odor slumped for a couple games, so it made even less sense but then he turned it around and now all is well again

 

[WastinSomeTime]

At the time it happened it didn't make sense, Odor and Choo were hitting well in their respective spots, they changed them and Odor slumped for a couple games, so it made even less sense but then he turned it around and now all is well again

I was going to say that the main thing was moving Elvis out of the 2 hole. Odor did great in the 2 hole so to me it is not just the moving of Choo to the 2 spot but moving Odor/Choo. Problem is if we left Choo down at #6 he may have started sulking. That is just a long agreement to your post jta.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

There sure were a lot of posters unhappy with Choo moving into the two hole not so long ago.

But I'm with you, I've gotta tip my hat to the guy for pushing the right buttons in many cases.

I liked Odor at the 2 spot myself because he was kicking butt there and his speed right behind DeShields was putting pressure on the opposing pitcher and team. At first it was not working but it ironed itself out eventually.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Does anyone think that it was not really Banister's decision to start Gallo and put him in LF? Because no one can justify that move no matter how hard they try.

 

[saddles]

Does anyone think that it was not really Banister's decision to start Gallo and put him in LF? Because no one can justify that move no matter how hard they try.

I really don't think so. Now if Banister was the kind of manager that is too stubborn to try young players and had Gallo been racking when he was brought up then I might be more tempted to think so. Wash acknowledged several years ago that he didn't make the decision to move Kinsler out of the leadoff spot, but that was an unusual situation with a manager who was too stubborn to make changes. Years later when Profar should have been playing more there was no forcing Wash to do the right thing by JD. I think it has to be a very unusual circumstance before JD steps in and forces the manager to do something.

I think Banister simply wanted to know if the changes Gallo had been working on was going to help. I think Banny wanted to find out. Now he knows--maybe. He very well may try it again in a few days though.

 

[donaldson79]

I think Banister simply wanted to know if the changes Gallo had been working on was going to help. I think Banny wanted to find out. Now he knows--maybe. He very well may try it again in a few days though.

It'll be interesting to see what is decided about Mr Gallo over the next week or so.

What to do you think of Hitzges new co-host?

 

[WastinSomeTime]

A nice surprise for us Ranger fans today. With Samarzija pitching and giving up a grand slam the White Sox still came from behind and just beat the Twins so we moved to 1 1/2 games ahead of them. Didn't think the Twins would lose to Jeff S the way he has been pitching.

 

[WilltheThrill]

When I saw Nap was hitting vs a RH'er I asked what the heck, he's pretty terrible vs righties but all he needed to do was get the ball in play really and he would have done his job. Sac fly woulda worked. Instead he was called out on a tough pitch and didnt get it done. Still not sure on that move though, surely there was another option than Mike vs a righty

He pinch hit for Strausborger and the lefty bats from the bench had all been used by then. They needed a sac fly and Kimbrel was struggling with his control, so I had no problem with a selective hitter with some pop pinch hitting for the really weak Strausborger.

 

[Bmurph]

He pinch hit for Strausborger and the lefty bats from the bench had all been used by then. They needed a sac fly and Kimbrel was struggling with his control, so I had no problem with a selective hitter with some pop pinch hitting for the really weak Strausborger.

Makes more sense now, Straus is a PR basically. I didnt get to watch much of that one last night. Had a ballgame and then watched a pretty weak bar fight towards the end of the game.

 

[Bmurph]

Rangers infielder Kyle Blanks will miss the rest of the season due to surgery on both of his feet, the team announced Thursday.

Blanks will have arthroscopic surgery on his right foot for a chronic condition Friday. He will then have the same surgery on his left foot in 4-6 weeks.

Sounds painful