2014 Offseason

[WastinSomeTime]

The guy just didn't realize how good he had it here. I have always said when he left every party involved lost. The Angels lost, Hamilton lost, and we lost. He is such an odd individual with such an odd background that I think he could only be successful in very few places and this was one of them. If he would have done a 4-5 year deal with us for about $15-18 million per year I think he would still be here and would still be a productive player. I wonder if he has realized that yet.

Can agree with that.

 

[Windingmywatch]

lol I can remember when the only stations you could watch baseball on were NBC and ABC on Saturday afternoons and a few Monday nights. It was so rare back then to get a Ranger game on.

Baseball was not meant for TV. The purest way to enjoy baseball is on the radio out on the porch in the summer tuned by anexact turning of the knob ... the distant station fading in and out. Amazing the distance sometimes you were able to tune some nights. Then along came TBS and WGN broadcasting all the Braves and Cubs games respectively on TV. Ted Turner owned the Braves and TBS and the Wrigleys still owned the Cubs. They along with KMOX (STL) owned all the midwest. Those were the days.

 

[Bmurph]

“I’ve always wanted to be in big league camp and be around some of those guys and learn from them, guys like Beltre and Prince,” Gallo said. “I’m excited to face big-league pitchers and see how I can compare.”

Joey Gallo on becoming (sort of) famous after big minor league season: ‘It’s kind of weird’ | Dallas Morning News

I will say standing in front of this kid and talking to him for a bit today, he's a big boy. Arms on the guy are solid, should have even more pop this year. Scary power, now if he can just make more contact and improve his eye at the plate, he will produce well I imagine.

 

[Windingmywatch]

When I was in 5-8 grades (1963-67) we lived in Hawaii and there were no live broadcasts of any sport of any kind until the Michigan St-Notre Dame game in 1966. That was with Terry Hanratty for ND and Bubba Smith for MSU and it ended 10-10. That should tell you how old I am. We had moved from Washington DC to Hawaii. Guess who was playing in DC. Yeah and they stunk but my favorite players as a kid were Chuck Hinton and Claude Osteen as they had picked him up. In Hawaii since the World Series was a tape delay played the next day I listened to the 1964 Yankees-Cards WS on my transistor radio (some of you know what that is) and when the Cards won I became a Cards fan. We then moved to Cape Cod and sure enough the Cards played Boston in the 1967 WS. Then we moved to San Antonio and it was while I was in living in San Antonio when the Senators moved to Arlington (and yeah they stunk too) then to Denver then to West Texas. Well in West Texas there were no Ranger games ever. I would go into the kitchen and listen to every game on the radio. When we move to the Dallas area in 1989 and our apartment had cable which started showing many Ranger games it was awesome. Man, I am ready for some regular season Ranger baseball.

Was stationed on Guam '76-77 and we got to see everything except local news (one camera studio) one week later. Baseball, football, Olympics, evening national news ... one week late. Think sometimes the games were on the AFRTS radio in the middle of the night.

I think I was a Mets fan then. I didn't stay up to listen very often.

 

[saddles]

Baseball was not meant for TV. The purest way to enjoy baseball is on the radio out on the porch in the summer tuned by anexact turning of the knob ... the distant station fading in and out. Amazing the distance sometimes you were able to tune some nights. Then along came TBS and WGN broadcasting all the Braves and Cubs games respectively on TV. Ted Turner owned the Braves and TBS and the Wrigleys still owned the Cubs. They along with KMOX (STL) owned all the midwest. Those were the days.

I have done my fair share of listening to guys like Dick Risenhoover and others out of the porch and also in bed at night when I was supposed to be going to sleep. I remember right where we were sitting in the yard listening to the game the night David Clyde made his debut.

 

[Windingmywatch]

As ticked off as I was with him that last year he was here I would like to have him back in comparison to what we have out there but just do not see it happening as the Angels would have to pay for a huge amount of the salary and I do not want to give the Angels prospects that we would regret later on.

Huh? And how would it be better this next time? There is a reason ANA wants to unload him. We knew this day was going to come for them and carrying a 50-ton anchor around their neck is nice.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Huh? And how would it be better this next time? There is a reason ANA wants to unload him. We knew this day was going to come for them and carrying a 50-ton anchor around their neck is nice.

I think you saw my qualifiers which pretty much ruled it out.

 

[donaldson79]

I think you saw my qualifiers which pretty much ruled it out.

Here's what I had to say about this "wonderful possibility" yesterday.

First, we'd have to send them young prospects. Second, he's well past his prime. Third, we should be out of the adult/baby-sitting business permanently. Fourth, we need to see what Rua can do out there in LF IMO.

And I didn't even mention what money we'd have to pay him.

Of course, we may still be able to pick him up when he becomes a FA in 2018.

 

[Bmurph]

The Rangers are hunting for relief help, reports Anthony Andro of FOX Sports Southwest. In particular, the club would like to add a left-handed reliever to supplement Robbie Ross, Michael Kirkman, and Alex Claudio. As GM Jon Daniels points out, there aren’t many lefties remaining in free agency – MLBTR lists only seven. We learned earlier today that the Rangers were uninterested in re-signing Neal Cotts.


Looks like Cotts will not be back

Left-Handed Relievers

Joe Beimel (38)
Sean Burnett (32)
Phil Coke (32)
Neal Cotts (35)
David Huff (30)
Franklin Morales (29)
Joe Thatcher (33)

I hope we are not in on Phil Coke

 

[scotsman1948]

The Rangers are hunting for relief help, reports Anthony Andro of FOX Sports Southwest. In particular, the club would like to add a left-handed reliever to supplement Robbie Ross, Michael Kirkman, and Alex Claudio. As GM Jon Daniels points out, there aren’t many lefties remaining in free agency – MLBTR lists only seven. We learned earlier today that the Rangers were uninterested in re-signing Neal Cotts.


Looks like Cotts will not be back

Left-Handed Relievers

Joe Beimel (38)
Sean Burnett (32)
Phil Coke (32)
Neal Cotts (35)
David Huff (30)
Franklin Morales (29)
Joe Thatcher (33)

I hope we are not in on Phil Coke

agree but he seems to be the best of the 7 left

 

[saddles]

"I have paired up with [Chirinos] several times, so it shouldn't be any problem," Darvish said. "I am able to communicate with Corporan, too."

Daniels, Rangers focused on adding bullpen depth | texasrangers.com

I am glad he put that nonsense to rest.

 

[DT LUNA]

agree but he seems to be the best of the 7 left

Why do you not want him if you think he is the best of the seven?

 

[romeo212000]

Daniels, Rangers focused on adding bullpen depth | texasrangers.com

I am glad he put that nonsense to rest.

Gotta wonder how much of that nonsense was Wash's doing.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

So who all made it to FanFest? It was my first time and I really enjoyed it. I had the FastPass so my experience was probably a lot different. It took me awhile to figure out the system of times and locations, and it didn't help that they were showing the Q and A's on the monitors in place of times and locations of autograph sessions (there were several that I would have missed had I not gone to the locations myself and asked). But all 31 scheduled players showed up along with Ryan Rua, who I don't think the Rangers were even expecting because he didn't have a placard on the table beforehand. I was able to get all 32 players, and once in a line I never waited more than 5 minutes once the signings started. It was awesome. They were showing the Q and A's on the JumboTron so I sat out in the stands and watched those while I had time to kill. Didn't get a chance to make it to the clubhouse (line was too long) but I got to see a lot of the Ballpark I hadn't seen before.

I have to say, I've always liked Elvis but he's never been one of my absolute favorites, but that may have changed after yesterday. He was by far the most engaging with me during the signing; he asked where he wanted me to sign (I had a piece I was getting multiple players on) and I said wherever he'd like. He starts to sign right able Beltre's auto and I said "you're getting Beltre again, huh?" and he laughed and said "yeah, getting him on the head one more time." And his Q and A was great. I didn't realize his father passed away when he was 7, and he said he tries to write his dad's name in the dirt before each game. He talked about learning English by listening to country music, how his mom is tiny and quiet (his complete opposite), and how playing baseball is all he's ever wanted to do. I realize performance-wise there might be things we can criticize, but man, Andrus has one of the best personalities I've ever seen from a player.

I also made it to the Awards Dinner the night before. That was pretty cool as well. Beforehand they had some players signing; Odor/Chirinos, Helling/Harrison, and Gallo/Gonzalez. I wasn't thrilled with this setup, because it was early enough that there were not that many people for it but they only allowed you to get in one line. It seemed like they could have just formed one line and limited it to 100 and then all 100 get all 6 players, but nope. So my buddy and I got in the Helling/Harrison line, because we wanted Helling more than anything. But my friend snuck into the Gallo/Gonzalez line and got them too, which was awesome for him. The dinner itself was pretty cool, most of the team was there. Lots of video highlights, a quick Q and A with Gallardo, and some thank you's from Beltre, Odor, and Darvish. Darvish's was funny because he had his translator there, and one of the answers he gave in Japanese was how he stayed in Dallas this offseason so his English has improved. That got a big laugh from the crowd. They made him answer a couple in English and he said he exercised and played puzzle games on his phone so far this offseason. They asked him "anything else?" and he said "yes... Go Rangers!" and that got a round of applause.

 

[romeo212000]

The Rangers are hunting for relief help, reports Anthony Andro of FOX Sports Southwest. In particular, the club would like to add a left-handed reliever to supplement Robbie Ross, Michael Kirkman, and Alex Claudio. As GM Jon Daniels points out, there aren’t many lefties remaining in free agency – MLBTR lists only seven. We learned earlier today that the Rangers were uninterested in re-signing Neal Cotts.


Looks like Cotts will not be back

Left-Handed Relievers

Joe Beimel (38)
Sean Burnett (32)
Phil Coke (32)
Neal Cotts (35)
David Huff (30)
Franklin Morales (29)
Joe Thatcher (33)

I hope we are not in on Phil Coke

I want none of those pitchers.

 

[scotsman1948]

Why do you not want him if you think he is the best of the seven?

not sure that any of them are any good just think he is the best of them.

 

[Bmurph]

I want none of those pitchers.

gotta hope kirkman claudio or robbie can hold up as the lefty specialist i guess, I'm not interested in any of the others and would just as well have cotts back vs any of them

 

[saddles]

Gotta wonder how much of that nonsense was Wash's doing.

I have kinda suspected that all along.

 

[saddles]

So who all made it to FanFest? It was my first time and I really enjoyed it. I had the FastPass so my experience was probably a lot different. It took me awhile to figure out the system of times and locations, and it didn't help that they were showing the Q and A's on the monitors in place of times and locations of autograph sessions (there were several that I would have missed had I not gone to the locations myself and asked). But all 31 scheduled players showed up along with Ryan Rua, who I don't think the Rangers were even expecting because he didn't have a placard on the table beforehand. I was able to get all 32 players, and once in a line I never waited more than 5 minutes once the signings started. It was awesome. They were showing the Q and A's on the JumboTron so I sat out in the stands and watched those while I had time to kill. Didn't get a chance to make it to the clubhouse (line was too long) but I got to see a lot of the Ballpark I hadn't seen before.

I have to say, I've always liked Elvis but he's never been one of my absolute favorites, but that may have changed after yesterday. He was by far the most engaging with me during the signing; he asked where he wanted me to sign (I had a piece I was getting multiple players on) and I said wherever he'd like. He starts to sign right able Beltre's auto and I said "you're getting Beltre again, huh?" and he laughed and said "yeah, getting him on the head one more time." And his Q and A was great. I didn't realize his father passed away when he was 7, and he said he tries to write his dad's name in the dirt before each game. He talked about learning English by listening to country music, how his mom is tiny and quiet (his complete opposite), and how playing baseball is all he's ever wanted to do. I realize performance-wise there might be things we can criticize, but man, Andrus has one of the best personalities I've ever seen from a player.

I also made it to the Awards Dinner the night before. That was pretty cool as well. Beforehand they had some players signing; Odor/Chirinos, Helling/Harrison, and Gallo/Gonzalez. I wasn't thrilled with this setup, because it was early enough that there were not that many people for it but they only allowed you to get in one line. It seemed like they could have just formed one line and limited it to 100 and then all 100 get all 6 players, but nope. So my buddy and I got in the Helling/Harrison line, because we wanted Helling more than anything. But my friend snuck into the Gallo/Gonzalez line and got them too, which was awesome for him. The dinner itself was pretty cool, most of the team was there. Lots of video highlights, a quick Q and A with Gallardo, and some thank you's from Beltre, Odor, and Darvish. Darvish's was funny because he had his translator there, and one of the answers he gave in Japanese was how he stayed in Dallas this offseason so his English has improved. That got a big laugh from the crowd. They made him answer a couple in English and he said he exercised and played puzzle games on his phone so far this offseason. They asked him "anything else?" and he said "yes... Go Rangers!" and that got a round of applause.

Glad to hear that about Elvis. I have never had the opportunity to meet him in person like that, but from interviews and seeing him interact with his teammates he has always seemed like a great guy. I sure hope he rebounds in a big way this year.

 

[Bmurph]

EA has a great personality and interacts very well with the fans, I always enjoy visiting with him. I was giving him shit yesterday about how much better he looked this year vs last year when he showed up to FF with that goofy ass Abe Lincoln beard. We got some laughs out of it and he said "yeah I think I will keep it like this from now on" while he rubbed the little tuft of a goatee he had. Really hope he is focused and has a good season.

Rua making it out was a bonus, he has become my new favorite of the young guys. He seemed much smaller of a guy sitting there next to Gallo. I happened to have an extra bat for him to sign, as I had items prepared prior to the event for each player to sign. I managed with the help of my wife to lug around 90+ items all over the ballpark yesterday and up and down all the stairs. It was a great time but lots of work. My legs and feet are paying their dues today. My back held up though and I hope I didn't mess up my injections from Wednesday.

Colby, Prince and Derek Holland are always very friendly and outspoken when we talk to them. As one of the younger guys Gallo spoke up as well. Some of the players get overwhelmed I think with 5000 people standing around wanting autographs and gawking at them. There is also a difference with the few that don't speak great English it seems, they tend to say few words as you'd expect.

Overall the event is a lot of fun and great for the fans and players interaction. I got to spend about 25 minutes with Jeff as there weren't a lot of folks around when I went to his signing spot. He's very excited to be here and managing this team. Go Rangers!