Series Thread: Bullpen challenged Rangers hosting the surprising Twins

[romeo212000]

Rangers 3B Joey Gallo homers, walks three times on Saturday

Rangers rookie third baseman Joey Gallocontinued his hot hitting to begin his career. On Saturday, Gallo connected for his third home run of the season, an estimated 471-foot blast, in the 11-7 win over the Twins.

"What he can do is pretty special," first baseman Mitch Moreland said, per MLB.com. "He's strong and has great leverage. It seems like every time he hits one, you want to be there to watch it."

The home run was his only hit of the game, but he drew a career-high three walks and scored twice, as he upped his batting average to .306. Gallo has been held hitless in just two of his first 10 games.

This is great to see, though I didn't actually get to see it

Through 10 games Gallo has posted the following line.

36AB/.306/.405/583/.988/3HR/6RBI/15k/6BB/2SB

I have to admit I'm quite surprised that his line looks this good. Obviously, this is a microscopic sample size, and the strikeouts are very high as we expected, but 10 of his 15 strikeouts came in his first 4 games. In his last six he's only had two once, and none in the last two. Again, extremely small sample size, but he at least seems to have made something of an adjustment. With all that said, his OBP is .100 points higher than his average. He also has 2 SB. I definitely didn't expect that.

I'll be far more interested in these numbers when he gets sent down once Beltre is healthy, but so far he's exceeded my expectations in a very small sample size.

 

[Bmurph]

Looking for another W from you guys today!

Headed to breakast, this 5 hour time difference is rough on an old man. Been up at 5 everyday on vacation. Oh well off to zip lining over the Hawaiian countryside after breakfast. More baseball talk soon, I hope.

Go SportsHoopla gang, and Go Rangers!

 

[WastinSomeTime]

We could call up Patton, Claudio and Reyes from RR for the BP. The last two are lefties. Like I say, the BP is wide open and a person getting a chance to pitch in the BP for the Rangers right now has an opportunity to win a job. Many times spots are already taken and you are stuck where you are at in the minors. Reyes did not pitch well in 2014 but has all other years.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Looking for another W from you guys today!

Headed to breakast, this 5 hour time difference is rough on an old man. Been up at 5 everyday on vacation. Oh well off to zip lining over the Hawaiian countryside after breakfast. More baseball talk soon, I hope.

Go SportsHoopla gang, and Go Rangers!

The nice thing is the games are all done early in the day. No late games! And even better than that you in Hawaii. Lived in Oahu from 1963-67 while in 5-8 grades. May be the greatest time in my life. Enjoy!

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Through 10 games Gallo has posted the following line.

36AB/.306/.405/583/.988/3HR/6RBI/15k/6BB/2SB

I have to admit I'm quite surprised that his line looks this good. Obviously, this is a microscopic sample size, and the strikeouts are very high as we expected, but 10 of his 15 strikeouts came in his first 4 games. In his last six he's only had two once, and none in the last two. Again, extremely small sample size, but he at least seems to have made something of an adjustment. With all that said, his OBP is .100 points higher than his average. He also has 2 SB. I definitely didn't expect that.

I'll be far more interested in these numbers when he gets sent down once Beltre is healthy, but so far he's exceeded my expectations in a very small sample size.

I agree. He has shown a good eye at the plate for the most part. Still has some work against LHers but that will come with experience. I really, really hate to send him down to the minors when he could be helping us win a pennant. But where to put him of course is the issue.

 

[romeo212000]

I agree. He has shown a good eye at the plate for the most part. Still has some work against LHers but that will come with experience. I really, really hate to send him down to the minors when he could be helping us win a pennant. But where to put him of course is the issue.

Fact is, there is no place to put him. The outfield isn't an option and that could actually hurt him.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Fact is, there is no place to put him. The outfield isn't an option and that could actually hurt him.

Unacceptable. You were supposed to come up with a solution.

 

[romeo212000]

Unacceptable. You were supposed to come up with a solution.

Problem is, I'm not just talking about this year. I believe we're going to want him to start the season with us next year. I'm trying to figure out which scenarios allow us to get him in the lineup either in the second half of next season.

1) Get Gallo work at AAA in the OF once Beltre is healthy, and look to trade Choo. That could open up a spot for Gallo. However, understand that Gallo's OF defense may be worse than Choo's with a far better arm. However, we need to consider whether we want to lose Chop's production, especially at the 2 hole. I'm obviously not married to Choo or his albatross contract, but consider the lines he's put up after an awful April in May (.295/.356/.533/.888/6HR/18RBI) and June (.295/.392/.409/.801/1HR/9RBI) and ask whether we can really afford to toss him and eat at least a third of his salary. Keep in mind Elvis probably returns to hitting second of Choo goes.

2) Look to trade Mitch or Fielder. Anyone think that's a great idea? Me either. Unless Mitch really regresses and shows his current form is just a fluke, I want to keep Mitch around.

3) Trade Beltre. He'd fetch a handsome return, but he's the heart and soul of this team. Yes, the team has performed admirably in his absence, but we're talking about a brief stint. Also, Beltre is a far superior option defensively.

Of the three, I'd have to choose the first option, but probably not until the offseason. Someone is going to be have to be moved eventually anyways with Rua, Gallo, Williams, and Mazara ultimately creating a log jam. Gallo can move back to third after Beltre's contract is up.

 

[donaldson79]

Looking for another W from you guys today!

Headed to breakast, this 5 hour time difference is rough on an old man. Been up at 5 everyday on vacation. Oh well off to zip lining over the Hawaiian countryside after breakfast. More baseball talk soon, I hope.

Go SportsHoopla gang, and Go Rangers!

Boy, life is such a bitch sometimes isn't it? Stop and desist with these complaints sir. No one really wants to hear them anyway. hahaha

 

[donaldson79]

Problem is, I'm not just talking about this year. I believe we're going to want him to start the season with us next year. I'm trying to figure out which scenarios allow us to get him in the lineup either in the second half of next season.

1) Get Gallo work at AAA in the OF once Beltre is healthy, and look to trade Choo. That could open up a spot for Gallo. However, understand that Gallo's OF defense may be worse than Choo's with a far better arm. However, we need to consider whether we want to lose Chop's production, especially at the 2 hole. I'm obviously not married to Choo or his albatross contract, but consider the lines he's put up after an awful April in May (.295/.356/.533/.888/6HR/18RBI) and June (.295/.392/.409/.801/1HR/9RBI) and ask whether we can really afford to toss him and eat at least a third of his salary. Keep in mind Elvis probably returns to hitting second of Choo goes.

2) Look to trade Mitch or Fielder. Anyone think that's a great idea? Me either. Unless Mitch really regresses and shows his current form is just a fluke, I want to keep Mitch around.

3) Trade Beltre. He'd fetch a handsome return, but he's the heart and soul of this team. Yes, the team has performed admirably in his absence, but we're talking about a brief stint. Also, Beltre is a far superior option defensively.

Of the three, I'd have to choose the first option, but probably not until the offseason. Someone is going to be have to be moved eventually anyways with Rua, Gallo, Williams, and Mazara ultimately creating a log jam. Gallo can move back to third after Beltre's contract is up.

(2) As much as I hate saying this, MM has been one "dick-teaser" from almost day one. What we're seeing from him right now is what we always suspected he could and should do. But he seldom maintains this position for long, primarily due to injury. Regardless, he's NEVER been able to be a player we could count on. If he can do this, day-n-out, he's really valuable to a lot of teams.

(3) I have always maintained "anyone and everyone is trade-fodder." PERIOD. If we can reap a proper reward for AB, then so be it. I love him as much as you do. I'm just approaching it from a cold/calculated standpoint. Adrian is at the end of his rainbow and frankly, if we can trade him to a good team with a win-win situation for all of us, adios sir.

"of the three" lets keep in mind that you haven't even mentioned 2nd base. And we've got second basemen running out our butts at the moment.

Do we keep Odor (strictly 2nd), Profar (hope for the best at one of the MI positions/maybe 3rd), or Alberto who has shown some promise and seems to have upside at SS, if I'm hearing what I'm hearing correctly.

Fun times to be a "pretend" GM ain't it?

 

[romeo212000]

(2) As much as I hate saying this, MM has been one "dick-teaser" from almost day one. What we're seeing from him right now is what we always suspected he could and should do. But he seldom maintains this position for long, primarily due to injury. Regardless, he's NEVER been able to be a player we could count on. If he can do this, day-n-out, he's really valuable to a lot of teams.

(3) I have always maintained "anyone and everyone is trade-fodder." PERIOD. If we can reap a proper reward for AB, then so be it. I love him as much as you do. I'm just approaching it from a cold/calculated standpoint. Adrian is at the end of his rainbow and frankly, if we can trade him to a good team with a win-win situation for all of us, adios sir.

"of the three" lets keep in mind that you haven't even mentioned 2nd base. And we've got second basemen running out our butts at the moment.

Do we keep Odor (strictly 2nd), Profar (hope for the best at one of the MI positions/maybe 3rd), or Alberto who has shown some promise and seems to have upside at SS, if I'm hearing what I'm hearing correctly.

Fun times to be a "pretend" GM ain't it?

I'd considered that about Mitch. That's why I think we need to wait till offseason to make a move. We simply cannot afford to trade Mitch or Beltre if we think we've got any shot at contending this season. Can probably add Choo to that list as well.

As for 2b, ideally I see Profar at SS and Odor/Rua at 2b. I think Profar or Rua could be an excellent two hole hitter. But there's way too many variables to make a call on that right now. Alberto is a bench player, plain and simple. He makes some contact, but isn't selective at all and has no power.

 

[darrylgann]

@TexSR_Mark: Matt Harrison and Nick Martinez being on the same schedule is interesting.. JD has stated if Harry comes back it will be as a starter.

 

[romeo212000]

@TexSR_Mark: Matt Harrison and Nick Martinez being on the same schedule is interesting.. JD has stated if Harry comes back it will be as a starter.

I would imagine that to be true for both of them. Harry is set to pitch today.

 

[Windingmywatch]

Harrison has not pitched more than 20 innings plus ST since 2012. That was a very long time ago.

If TEX activates him I imagine TEX either goes to a 6SP rotation or uses him to sprout each of the other five to give them a turn off, slip a day or have him planned to go 4IP with another SP getting it to the closer.

Until Blanks was activated TEX was going with a short bench so TEX could go back to that and add SP strength and maintain a 7 man bull pen. I might even accept a 6 man bullpen given that it has marginal quality anyway and keep the full bench.

I don't see Harrison taking anyone's spot until he's shown he is better than what is being put out. Right now ... all five SPs are pitching well and there is no assurance that Matt will overcome the three year competitive lay off.

 

[romeo212000]

Harrison has not pitched more than 20 innings plus ST since 2012. That was a very long time ago.

If TEX activates him I imagine TEX either goes to a 6SP rotation or uses him to sprout each of the other five to give them a turn off, slip a day or have him planned to go 4IP with another SP getting it to the closer.

Until Blanks was activated TEX was going with a short bench so TEX could go back to that and add SP strength and maintain a 7 man bull pen. I might even accept a 6 man bullpen given that it has marginal quality anyway and keep the full bench.

I don't see Harrison taking anyone's spot until he's shown he is better than what is being put out. Right now ... all five SPs are pitching well and there is no assurance that Matt will overcome the three year competitive lay off.

Somebody is going to regress in a big way soon. My money is on Martinez.

 

[scotsman1948]

Somebody is going to regress in a big way soon. My money is on Martinez.

well if the 1st batter is any indicator

 

[romeo212000]

well if the 1st batter is any indicator

Martinez has been getting extremely lucky. I got a feeling it's gonna get ugly on more than one occasion soon

 

[romeo212000]

That was in for a double regardless. Probably could've taken a better route.

 

[scotsman1948]

That was in for a double regardless. Probably could've taken a better route.

no doubt on that

 

[DT LUNA]

Not a very impressive start