2014 Offseason

[saddles]

Jon Daniels will be on with Norm Hitzges this morning on The Ticket. Not sure of the time, but it will be between now and Noon.

 

[Xx srs bsns xX]

Jon Daniels will be on with Norm Hitzges this morning on The Ticket. Not sure of the time, but it will be between now and Noon.

on next (10:30 segment)

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

on next (10:30 segment)

Let us know if anything of note is said (I'm assuming it'll be the standard spiel).

 

[saddles]

Here are a few of the highlights from Norm's interview with JD.

JD likes being counted out in the national publications. He says external expectations are down, but not the internal expectations.

Of course he sees Prince returning healthy as very important.

He wants Profar playing everyday and he expects his talent level to still be as high as ever. He mentioned his instinct, internal clock, feel for the game, and control of the strike zone as what he has going for him that should still be just as good as ever.

He mentioned Rua as competing for at bats in LF.

He acknowledged that the 5th spot in the rotation is open for competition.

When asked who he is looking forward to seeing in ST he mentioned Elvis and Leonys as two veterans he wanted to see. He wants to see if they are ready to raise their play to a new level. He also mentioned that he wants to see if Detwiler will be a rotation member or a power piece in the bullpen. He mentioned seeing Jackson and Kela as youngsters that he wanted to see. He is interested in seeing if they fit in now or later.

 

[saddles]

This coming October JD will become the longest tenured Rangers GM in franchise history and will be the 6th longest tenured current GM in the big leagues.

 

[donaldson79]

This coming October JD will become the longest tenured Rangers GM in franchise history and will be the 6th longest tenured current GM in the big leagues.

I found this to be very surprising.

I like JD. And the one of the things I've always appreciated about him is his straight forwardness in dealing with questions. He didn't bob or weave when Hitzges asked if it was fair to say the organization/team is "somewhat dependent" on Prince bouncing back, and not just for the 2015 season.

 

[saddles]

I found this to be very surprising.

I like JD. And the one of the things I've always appreciated about him is his straight forwardness in dealing with questions. He didn't bob or weave when Hitzges asked if it was fair to say the organization/team is "somewhat dependent" on Prince bouncing back, and not just for the 2015 season.

He is a straight shooter. When he says something is going to happen in a certain fashion then you can count on it. If he can't be upfront he will say he can't comment. You can trust him to do what he says he will do. He is also available to make comments like that on a regular basis and I really like that.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

This from the DMN and pretty interesting too. But let me ask ya something, "are the folks at the DMN so busy they can't check their spelling?" The spelling of potential in the Profar question, is potetail, which is ridiculous.

Will Jurickson Profar, Joey Gallo or Jorge Alfaro play for the Rangers in 2015? | Dallas Morning News

Potetail, I think that is the Cajun word for potential. HA!

 

[donaldson79]

Potetail, I think that is the Cajun word for potential. HA!

Somebodies got their clever hat on.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Based on the interview with JD I am ready to see what transpires. I really think we will see Prince come back to being a very productive bat. And if Choo can stay healthy I see him getting things back together.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Somebodies got their clever hat on.

Yeah, I think I misplaced my Dunce hat somewhere. Not sure how you spell it.

 

[donaldson79]

Based on the interview with JD I am ready to see what transpires. I really think we will see Prince come back to being a very productive bat. And if Choo can stay healthy I see him getting things back together.

That was a good question and answer session with the two of them wasn't it?

I think Choo will be fine. He took one for the team - unnecessarily so IMO - last year. He should have been put down - not literally of course - much early in the year.

My highest of hopes for ST this year is (1) decent health and (2) everyone given a fair/equal opportunity to win a spot. (2) hasn't always been this way for us I don't think.

 

[Hambombs]

He is a straight shooter. When he says something is going to happen in a certain fashion then you can count on it. If he can't be upfront he will say he can't comment. You can trust him to do what he says he will do. He is also available to make comments like that on a regular basis and I really like that.

I don't think it will 100% happen just cause he says it lol

 

[saddles]

I don't think it will 100% happen just cause he says it lol

That depends on if he is giving an opinion or telling you something that he has control over. I haven't seen him lie to us yet.

 

[saddles]

I am not sure if any of you on this board are in the DMN Bloggerheads Fantasy Baseball League besides Murph, but I have renewed the league just now. If you are in it you should have received an email invitation to rejoin.

I am looking forward to another year of fantasy baseball.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

That was a good question and answer session with the two of them wasn't it?

I think Choo will be fine. He took one for the team - unnecessarily so IMO - last year. He should have been put down - not literally of course - much early in the year.

My highest of hopes for ST this year is (1) decent health and (2) everyone given a fair/equal opportunity to win a spot. (2) hasn't always been this way for us I don't think.

I can agree with those points completely. I think if we stay healthy we will have a very competitive team that could land at least a wild card spot.

 

[Justinkm83]

I can't wait for ST to start. I enjoy watching the youngsters and when the regulars start mixing it with them. I wonder who will be the surprise this year?

 

[DT LUNA]

I can't wait for ST to start. I enjoy watching the youngsters and when the regulars start mixing it with them. I wonder who will be the surprise this year?

Hope it's the rotation but Rua and Profar would be nice

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

I can't wait for ST to start. I enjoy watching the youngsters and when the regulars start mixing it with them. I wonder who will be the surprise this year?

I keep thinking Choice is going to put it together this year.

 

[donaldson79]

This from Jim Bowden on where FA pitcher Joba Chamberlain may fit.

Joba Chamberlain
Best fits: 1. Rangers, 2. Twins

Chamberlain, 29, has the same problem as Soriano: He must explain away a poor second half. Chamberlain was quite impressive in the first half, with a 2.63 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 37 2/3 innings. But his ERA jumped to close to 5.00 in the second half, and his strikeout rate dropped significantly.

Chamberlain is hoping to hitch on to a contender, but he might be better served signing with a team with which he can have a strong first half and then get traded to a contender at the trade deadline. Both the Rangers and Twins could use another reliever, and Chamberlain would be a good gamble (and potential trade chip) for either one.