2014 Offseason

[Bmurph]

Besides the talk about hitters taking so long at the plate isn't there talk about shrinking the strike zone. If that has been or will be implemented I think that is idiotic. The umpires already think a pitch is high when it goes above the belt. Plus the umps have their own interpretation anyway. Now if they could correct the pitches that are a mile outside from being called a strike that would be great.

Have to admit when I heard about the shrinking of the strike zone, I cringed. The umpires cant get this right to begin with and know you want to change it on them? Stop jacking with the freaking game of "baseball", damn!

 

[saddles]

As pointed out by Dan Syzmborski and Dan McLaughlin, D'Angelo Jimenez and Jay Payton were two highly touted prospects like Profar who missed substantial time in their early 20s, and it derailed their development:

• Jimenez hit .327/.392/.492 in 126 Triple-A games as a 21-year-old in 1999 and Baseball America ranked him as the 89th best prospect in the game before the 2000 season. He suffered a back injury in a car accident in January 2000, missed just about the entire season, and was never the same. He hit .262/.333/.393 in Triple-A in 2001 and spent parts of eight seasons in MLB as a non-descript utility player.

• Payton, the 29th overall pick in the 1994 draft, dealt with numerous injuries from 1996-99, including two Tommy John surgeries and shoulder surgery. (Baseball America ranked him as the 21st best prospect in the game prior to 1996.) He played only 229 games from 1996-99, including zero in 1997. Payton did reach the big leagues for good in 2000 and had some solid years with the Mets, but he fell well short of his ultimate ceiling.

Both Jimenez and Payton missed time in the early formative years of their careers and never recovered. The good news is both did go on to have big league careers after their injuries -- Jimenez played 634 games from 2001-07 and Payton played 1,231 games from 2000-10 -- but these guys were projected stars (or at least above-average players) who became role players after getting hurt.

That doesn't mean Profar is now destined for a career as a role player, of course, but it goes to show how tough it is from missing this much time in your early 20s. This is development time he won't get back. Baseball, especially hitting, is a repetition sport, and he's not getting those reps. Missing two straight years like this is very difficult to overcome.

As for the Rangers, they're losing a player for two years. Not just any player either, a player who was ranked as the consensus No. 1 prospect in baseball a few years ago. Someone everyone expected to be a star. They're also losing two of Profar's cheap pre-arbitration years, which is a huge part of the value of young players. Those years are gone and they're not coming back.

The Rangers and their fans can take solace in the fact that it is not impossible to come back from what Profar is going through. Just look at ex-Ranger Josh Hamilton. He did not play at all from ages 22-24 -- literally zero games -- but returned to the game and became a superstar anyway. He's an extreme outlier obviously, but it can be done. Profar has superstar skills too.

For now, the Rangers and Profar just need to focus on getting healthy. Have the shoulder surgery, attack the rehab, then worry about getting back to baseball. There's not much else they can do. Profar has a major uphill climb ahead of him now. Missing two straight years at this age is a massive obstacle on the path to success.

Just some info on players missing development time, take it for what its worth

I don't think the guy who was in a car wreck and hurt his back is a very good comparison. Also, even if he hadn't gotten hurt it is a lot different for an 89th overall prospect to not pan out than it would be for a #1 overall prospect to not pan out.

I really think Profar, like Harrison, is in a very unique situation with no precedence for us to go by at all.

 

[Bmurph]

Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton could be sidelined a month longer than expected, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Hamilton underwent surgery on his right shoulder in February, and was initially expected to be sidelined for six-to-eight weeks. That may have been an optimistic target. "It could be six to eight weeks, it could be as much as 12 weeks," general manager Jerry Dipoto said. "He had a bone shaved down to create less friction in an arthritic shoulder. Until he gets on site and on the field, it's tough to determine how long it will take."

Hamilton is set to rehab in Houston, and will join the club when he's ready. As of right now, there's no timetable for his return to the team.

The 33-year-old hit .263/.331/.414 over 338 at-bats last year. He's entering the third year of a five-year, $125 million deal. Hamilton will make $23 million in 2015.

Who didn't see this coming?

 

[saddles]

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/texa...ls-not-totally-surprised-profar-needs-surgery

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton could be sidelined a month longer than expected, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Who didn't see this coming?

Arte Moreno

 

[Bmurph]

Arte Moreno

Touche

 

[Bmurph]

I gotta get to the ballpark in April to get one of those Derek Holland "Dumb and Dumber" garden gnomes. That thing is awesome!

 

[Justinkm83]

If he's serious then he's a blithering idiot.

Oh he was being serious. I just hope he doesn't know something we don't. He does know people in the organization

 

[DT LUNA]

Oh he was being serious. I just hope he doesn't know something we don't. He does know people in the organization

So does Evan and Calvin

 

[DT LUNA]

I gotta get to the ballpark in April to get one of those Derek Holland "Dumb and Dumber" garden gnomes. That thing is awesome!

I know the family will be proud to be seen with you.

 

[donaldson79]

So does Evan and Calvin

Good point.

Frankly, we - some of us anyway - certainly may be WAY TOO optimistic. But until the kid gets his surgery, we hear from the doctors, and we see how he physically responds, I'm taking a wait and see approach.

I see no advantages to all this panicked conversation of his "baseball" life is over at the ripe old age of 22.

 

[donaldson79]

The latest from JD on Profar:

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels defended Jurickson Profar from criticism that he should have had surgery last fall. In bypassing surgery, Profar made an unselfish decision in hopes of helping the club all of this season, Daniels said.

And this on Chirinos:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/te...o-catch-here-s-where-he-needs-improvement.ece

 

[DT LUNA]

The latest from JD on Profar:

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels defended Jurickson Profar from criticism that he should have had surgery last fall. In bypassing surgery, Profar made an unselfish decision in hopes of helping the club all of this season, Daniels said.

And this on Chirinos:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/te...o-catch-here-s-where-he-needs-improvement.ece

Not worried. Expect him to continue improving. Worry about the back up more.

 

[UK Cowboy]

The latest from JD on Profar:

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels defended Jurickson Profar from criticism that he should have had surgery last fall. In bypassing surgery, Profar made an unselfish decision in hopes of helping the club all of this season, Daniels said.

And this on Chirinos:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/te...o-catch-here-s-where-he-needs-improvement.ece

Nice kid, hope he does well. Cute wife to boot

 

[saddles]

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/texa...5963/rangers-holland-happy-to-be-back-at-camp

 

[saddles]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/te...ad-levine-updates-jurickson-profar-injury.ece

When you’re prospects are human beings there is going to be some volatility that you’re just not expecting, you can never predict their performance. I don’t think we sit here as an organization, and I sure hope our fan base doesn’t look at it with any sort of regret of opportunity lost, I think we still look at it as his future is very bright. We still control him. He’s still a Texas Ranger. He’s going to deliver for us, and will be a major contributor for this franchise. Now, it’s not exactly the time that we expected, but nonetheless, that contribution is still on the horizon.

 

[saddles]

http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/2015/02/darvish-up-first-as-texas-rangers-begin-workouts.html/

 

[gregrey972]

Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton could be sidelined a month longer than expected, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Hamilton underwent surgery on his right shoulder in February, and was initially expected to be sidelined for six-to-eight weeks. That may have been an optimistic target. "It could be six to eight weeks, it could be as much as 12 weeks," general manager Jerry Dipoto said. "He had a bone shaved down to create less friction in an arthritic shoulder. Until he gets on site and on the field, it's tough to determine how long it will take."

Hamilton is set to rehab in Houston, and will join the club when he's ready. As of right now, there's no timetable for his return to the team.

The 33-year-old hit .263/.331/.414 over 338 at-bats last year. He's entering the third year of a five-year, $125 million deal. Hamilton will make $23 million in 2015.

Who didn't see this coming?

Maybe we could offer them Profar for him? haha

 

[DT LUNA]

I suppose most of you took mama to the mall shopping because haven't heard hide nor hair from anyone since Bennie dropped by a little after one. Not much to report thus far today. See if you can muster up some bb news.

 

[DT LUNA]

Maybe we could offer them Profar for him? haha

Guess we could but Josh is DONE and Profar's not. lol