2014 Offseason

[jta4437]

Yea ... after reading that from Maddux Darvish went into his backyard and started throwing at the target on the back of his garage.

Unless darvish is suddenly competing for the 4 or 5 spot, then that comment wasn't intended for him, top 3 is pretty much locked barring injury

Not sure if that was intended to be snarky but it came off that way

 

[fordman84]

Hey guys, the issue with multiquote comes and goes. It has to do with the servers. because of how many people we have on the Hoop as well as the number of 12 year olds that think DDoS attacks are "hacking" and fun, Hammer has some pretty sophisticated stuff running the site (stuff s the technical term lol). We recently upgraded two different things to add stability, as the vB version we were on was outdated and not supported.

It went off without much of a hitch, but he is working through the issues. We all have the multiquote problem, and the issue where you click on a quote to go back to that post but ending up at the top of the page is happening to me occoasionally as well. He knows about them, and is working on them. Right now his focus is on avoiding the server issues and page timeouts that plagued us around the CFB Champ game.

One thing I can recommend is to log out of the hoop, restart the browser, and log back in. That usually fixes little issues like not going to the true "latest post" en sech. MQ is just a PITA that sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. Same with the thumbs up and down.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Hey guys, the issue with multiquote comes and goes. It has to do with the servers. because of how many people we have on the Hoop as well as the number of 12 year olds that think DDoS attacks are "hacking" and fun, Hammer has some pretty sophisticated stuff running the site (stuff s the technical term lol). We recently upgraded two different things to add stability, as the vB version we were on was outdated and not supported.

It went off without much of a hitch, but he is working through the issues. We all have the multiquote problem, and the issue where you click on a quote to go back to that post but ending up at the top of the page is happening to me occoasionally as well. He knows about them, and is working on them. Right now his focus is on avoiding the server issues and page timeouts that plagued us around the CFB Champ game.

One thing I can recommend is to log out of the hoop, restart the browser, and log back in. That usually fixes little issues like not going to the true "latest post" en sech. MQ is just a PITA that sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. Same with the thumbs up and down.

Thanks fordman for the update.

 

[scotsman1948]

Here's an article about our move with Houston. But at the end of it they talk about Tepesch too. See what you think?

Frankly, as far as the catching move is concerned, I'm not wild about it. For me, I'd much rather keep a young arm, and invest in a more proven - although not glamorous - FA like Soto.

If we really feel like Alfaro is our long term solution at catcher, and Chirinos would be a terrific tandem with him, then why invest in a unproven catcher now?

if i read his status correctly, Corporan is a UFA after the 2015 season so it looks like the plan is have him serve as the backup to Chirinos this year and then let him walk if Alfaro isn't quite ready when 2016 rolls around. i think the Rangers aren't going to rush Alfaro probably starting him at AA and then moving around minor league mid-season to AAA

 

[Xx srs bsns xX]

if i read his status correctly, Corporan is a UFA after the 2015 season so it looks like the plan is have him serve as the backup to Chirinos this year and then let him walk if Alfaro isn't quite ready when 2016 rolls around. i think the Rangers aren't going to rush Alfaro probably starting him at AA and then moving around minor league mid-season to AAA

Nah...he's a FA in 2018

 

[donaldson79]

Nah...he's a FA in 2018

Is this good news?

I said earlier, for the life of me I don't understand why we give up a very young pitching prospect for this guy. Why didn't we just spend a little money and sign a FA, i.e. Soto?

This guy is said to be a so-so catcher, and he's been a backup for one of the worst teams in baseball for the last 4 years. What am I missing here?

 

[Bmurph]

Is this good news?

I said earlier, for the life of me I don't understand why we give up a very young pitching prospect for this guy. Why didn't we just spend a little money and sign a FA, i.e. Soto?

This guy is said to be a so-so catcher, and he's been a backup for one of the worst teams in baseball for the last 4 years. What am I missing here?

My guesses are it was about the dollars that signing a FA would cost, or they weren't really all that hot on Soto after the marijuana bust. They've had all offseason to sign Soto, which I thought would have already happened. Maybe it was an olive branch that JD sent Nolan's way in the case of the Bostick? I would have thought they would have given Akeem a little more time, however maybe they know something I don't about an arm issue or injury or maybe he just stunk and they decide to cut bait now.

 

[donaldson79]

My guesses are it was about the dollars that signing a FA would cost, or they weren't really all that hot on Soto after the marijuana bust. They've had all offseason to sign Soto, which I thought would have already happened. Maybe it was an olive branch that JD sent Nolan's way in the case of the Bostick? I would have thought they would have given Akeem a little more time, however maybe they know something I don't about an arm issue or injury or maybe he just stunk and they decide to cut bait now.

Hadn't really considered the Nolan angle. But I'd be shocked if this had anything to do with it.

And of course Akeem needs more time, he's only 18 years old. And apparently has a real live arm. At least what's been reported on him. Honestly, I didn't know who the guy was until a few days ago.

And it didn't have to be Soto. But we gave up a young, although unproven arm, for a guy who can't start for the Houston Astros. I say again, I swear I just don't get it.

It's probably not a huge deal. Just one I don't understand is all.

 

[Bmurph]

Hadn't really considered the Nolan angle. But I'd be shocked if this had anything to do with it.

And of course Akeem needs more time, he's only 18 years old. And apparently has a real live arm. At least what's been reported on him. Honestly, I didn't know who the guy was until a few days ago.

And it didn't have to be Soto. But we gave up a young, although unproven arm, for a guy who can't start for the Houston Astros. I say again, I swear I just don't get it.

It's probably not a huge deal. Just one I don't understand is all.

I thought it was strange as well, I mean shit they should have sent them Kirkman for crying out loud he's at least had plenty of years and chances

 

[Bmurph]

In a piece for FOX Sports, Dave Cameron of Fangraphs examines the changes in Yovani Gallardo‘s arsenal of pitches over the past few seasons and wonders if the Rangers can receive better results from the 28-year-old by trying to revert him to his previous ways. Gallardo has switched from pitching primarily off a four-seam fastball to throwing significant amount of two-seamers. The results, Cameron notes, has been an increase in grounders and a decrease in strikeouts. However, Cameron theorizes that part of the thinking behind the conscious shift from Gallardo was that Milwaukee catchers excel at expanding the bottom half of the strike zone. Meanwhile the Rangers ranked 29th in team ground-ball percentage in 2014 and typically emphasize four-seamers over two-seamers. Cameron wonders if the change in scenery could cause Gallardo’s strikeout rate to rise, which could pay significant dividends for Texas.

Why?
I mean strikeouts are good and all, but does Cameron not understand the importance of the ground ball rate at Globe Life being BIG as well. Maybe he can mix in a few more K's and keep his ground ball rate up, but I wouldn't think he needs to go make wholesale changes to how he's pitched the past couple years.

It also wouldn't be prudent to take the ground ball rate of the 2014 team into account considering most of those guys won't be pitching much in the ballpark this year.

 

[scotsman1948]

Nah...he's a FA in 2018

Okay i wasn't sure because spotrac showed him as UFA in 2016

 

[True Rangers Fan]

In a piece for FOX Sports, Dave Cameron of Fangraphs examines the changes in Yovani Gallardo‘s arsenal of pitches over the past few seasons and wonders if the Rangers can receive better results from the 28-year-old by trying to revert him to his previous ways. Gallardo has switched from pitching primarily off a four-seam fastball to throwing significant amount of two-seamers. The results, Cameron notes, has been an increase in grounders and a decrease in strikeouts. However, Cameron theorizes that part of the thinking behind the conscious shift from Gallardo was that Milwaukee catchers excel at expanding the bottom half of the strike zone. Meanwhile the Rangers ranked 29th in team ground-ball percentage in 2014 and typically emphasize four-seamers over two-seamers. Cameron wonders if the change in scenery could cause Gallardo’s strikeout rate to rise, which could pay significant dividends for Texas.

Why?
I mean strikeouts are good and all, but does Cameron not understand the importance of the ground ball rate at Globe Life being BIG as well. Maybe he can mix in a few more K's and keep his ground ball rate up, but I wouldn't think he needs to go make wholesale changes to how he's pitched the past couple years.

It also wouldn't be prudent to take the ground ball rate of the 2014 team into account considering most of those guys won't be pitching much in the ballpark this year.

Thankfully Texas has one of the best pitching coaches in the game and one of the best pitchers of all time on staff.

 

[ESPN Refugee]

Is this good news?
I said earlier, for the life of me I don't understand why we give up a very young pitching prospect for this guy. Why didn't we just spend a little money and sign a FA, i.e. Soto?

It may just be the fact that the Rangers may not think very much of him if they decided to give him up at the tender age of 19 or whatever he is. Add to that perhaps the organization didn't want to bring Soto back unless there were no other options or just out of desperation.

 

[saddles]

Is this good news?

I said earlier, for the life of me I don't understand why we give up a very young pitching prospect for this guy. Why didn't we just spend a little money and sign a FA, i.e. Soto?

This guy is said to be a so-so catcher, and he's been a backup for one of the worst teams in baseball for the last 4 years. What am I missing here?

If they were going to get this guy why didn't they just go after the cheapest free agent catcher available, pick up someone who is let go, or use Gimenez. They must have really found something out about Bostick that they didn't like.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Soto being signed to a minor league deal with the White Sox.

 

[WilltheThrill]

Is this good news?

I said earlier, for the life of me I don't understand why we give up a very young pitching prospect for this guy. Why didn't we just spend a little money and sign a FA, i.e. Soto?

This guy is said to be a so-so catcher, and he's been a backup for one of the worst teams in baseball for the last 4 years. What am I missing here?

You're not the only one who has wondered about that move. I mean, Corporan is just fine as a backup catcher, so I have no problem with the player and what role he wil be filling. But it just seems like Texas really wanted him a lot and jumped on the chance to acquire him as soon as he was designated for assignment. I'm like you in that I don't see why anyone would want Corporan enough to give up anything at all for him. There's a long list of low average/solid power/decent defense backup catchers readily available, guys like Buck, Baker, and Soto. The only real unique asset Corporan brings that others don't is that he's a switch hitter. Maybe the Rangers see something in him though that they really like more so than the Astros did.

 

[WilltheThrill]

If they were going to get this guy why didn't they just go after the cheapest free agent catcher available, pick up someone who is let go, or use Gimenez. They must have really found something out about Bostick that they didn't like.

This.

 

[jta4437]

Is this good news?

I said earlier, for the life of me I don't understand why we give up a very young pitching prospect for this guy. Why didn't we just spend a little money and sign a FA, i.e. Soto?

This guy is said to be a so-so catcher, and he's been a backup for one of the worst teams in baseball for the last 4 years. What am I missing here?

Because Soto is never healthy and can't be relied upon even for a back up spot is my guess

 

[scotsman1948]

Because Soto is never healthy and can't be relied upon even for a back up spot is my guess

he only had 87 AB's last year between the Rangers and A's because of all the injuries

 

[saddles]

2015 Prospect Watch: Top 10 catchers | texasrangers.com

Alfaro is #2 on the list.

Jorge Alfaro has two plus tools in his power at the plate and his arm behind it.