Series Thread: Let The Wild Card Battle Royal Begin vs. Kansas City July 14-16

[saddles]

Would we be better off in the long run if we lose all three games?

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[Nightcrawler]

I always enjoy watching the team play against the royals up there. I like the ball park. I've never been tho and I wish that I have.

 

[saddles]

Trade Rumblings: Darvish, Marlins, Starters, Tigers, Astros, Iglesias, Hand

There’s “increasing buzz” that the Rangers will listen to offers on top starters Yu Darvish and Cole Hamels if they don’t open the second half of the season with strong play, tweets ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick. It’s been previously reported that the Rangers will hold onto Darvish even if they fall out of the race, so that’d represent something of a change of mindset for GM Jon Daniels & Co. Darvish is set to hit the open market at season’s end, so if the Rangers are out of the race and don’t trade him, they run the risk of losing him to free agency (though he’d obviously receive and reject a qualifying offer, affording Texas some draft compensation). Hamels, meanwhile, hasn’t been listed as a potential trade target to date. He’s earning $23.5MM this year and next, and he’s owed at least $6MM as the buyout on a $20MM club option for the 2019 campaign. That contract and a bizarrely low strikeout rate (4.9 K/9) could complicate Hamels’ market, though he’s shown recent improvement with 12 strikeouts in his past 14 1/3 innings of work.

 

[donaldson79]

Why would we not give him a shot?

 

[True Rangers Fan]

 

[saddles]

 

[DT LUNA]

Seems obvious doesn't it? (looking at other options) More of JD's not to show his hand. I'm thinking Darvish goes July 31 of course we all have opinions.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

saying they expect to contend has got to be JD doing his Nuke Laloosh impression. There's absolutely no way JD looks at this team and thinks they're just a move or two away from amounting to anything. At best, they get into the wild card game, and THAT would take some doing.

And, I should add, I don't see how the Rangers make any dent in October.

 

[PhantomWarrior]

I always enjoy watching the team play against the royals up there. I like the ball park. I've never been tho and I wish that I have.

Nice ball park. Went there back in '98 when they were playing Toronto. Buddy was a big KC fan and got some good seats behind home plate. Conseco was playing for the Jays back then and I mercilessly heckled him.

He hit a homerun on his 3rd at bat and before rounding the bases looked back in my direction.

 

[PhantomWarrior]

Seems obvious doesn't it? (looking at other options) More of JD's not to show his hand. I'm thinking Darvish goes July 31 of course we all have opinions.

Maybe sooner as the first place teams are looking for immediate impact. With Quintana off the block and rumors of Verlander going soon, we might just get a good early offer for Yu.

 

[donaldson79]

Listening to Hitzges this morning he pointed out that JD is looking at a team as healthy as they've been this season and this road trip will determine everything, as far as where we're headed in the buyer/seller market.

His point was, if you're JD, you can't make a decision today. This trip will tell all.

 

[DT LUNA]

Listening to Hitzges this morning he pointed out that JD is looking at a team as healthy as they've been this season and this road trip will determine everything, as far as where we're headed in the buyer/seller market.

His point was, if you're JD, you can't make a decision today. This trip will tell all.

Sounds right to me. So right I thought I said it myself. haha

 

[Nightcrawler]

It's tough because I want to see us build for the future. I don't really think this team could win it all, but it's hard to root against the team while they're still pushing for a wild card. Ideally we see a fire sale and go into tank mode, but it seems unlikely.

 

[donaldson79]

It's tough because I want to see us build for the future. I don't really think this team could win it all, but it's hard to root against the team while they're still pushing for a wild card

Yeah, we haven't been in this position in a while now. But really and truly, this team needs to be more in a rebuild mode now than trying to be the Dallas Mavericks of the baseball diamond.

 

[DT LUNA]

Yeah, we haven't been in this position in a while now. But really and truly, this team needs to be more in a rebuild mode now than trying to be the Dallas Mavericks of the baseball diamond.

JD knows this as well and will come to light on or before July 31.

 

[DT LUNA]

Crawler it's good to see you and the boys back tonight. Damn it's been a boring four days.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Yeah, we haven't been in this position in a while now. But really and truly, this team needs to be more in a rebuild mode now than trying to be the Dallas Mavericks of the baseball diamond.

I don't see the comparison honestly.

The Rangers have shown ( with the exception to front line starting pitching) that they can draft and develop talent. Draft and development is something that we haven't seen from mark Cuban since he's owned the team. In addition, the Rangers have had some success in free agency ( Yu Darvish and Adrian Beltre). The Mavericks have struck out for 5 years in a row and looked foolish doing it. I think it's an insult to compare the Rangers front office to the Mavericks in any way, shape, or form. However, the Mavericks draft pick this year is tearing up the summer league and looks pretty darn good. I'd say it's about time, because Dirk was the last good draft pick that I've seen from that organization and he was picked around the time that Timmy was a rookie or a second year player.