Los Angeles Angels at our Texas Rangers Series Thread

[ESPN Refugee]

Personally, I think what makes the most sense as a definition of a 4th OF is the OF on the team that has the 4th most GP. I'm not sure stats or splits should have anything to do with it. To me, if you are backing people up most of the time, you have less GP... so that logically makes the most since as a definition IMO. I mean you can be a starter and a backup can have better stats than you... it happens all the time. A great example is Baker.

I think being a 4th OF'er is also about expectations, mindset, and approach. Because Murphy was penciled in the starter things just changed of what was expected out of him. Whatever Murphy gave us before was sort of that icing on the cake. It was more of a hey I have nothing to lose approach because I got Nelly, Josh backing me up and have another pretty solid platoon player that I share time with. This season is the complete opposite and I do believe that's played a part albeit maybe minor part.

 

[jaar01]

What are people's thoughts on a possible Cruz suspension? Does he appeal it and play out the rest of the season for the Rangers, thus likely having to serve it next year with a new team? Or does he take it now, and hit the FA market ready to play on day 1 with his next team? Best thing for him personally would be to take it now. Best thing for his current team would be to appeal. That's a tough call.

 

[ESPN Refugee]

What are people's thoughts on a possible Cruz suspension? Does he appeal it and play out the rest of the season for the Rangers, thus likely having to serve it next year with a new team? Or does he take it now, and hit the FA market ready to play on day 1 with his next team? Best thing for him personally would be to take it now. Best thing for his current team would be to appeal. That's a tough call.

I've gone back and forth with the Cruz situation. If there was ever an instance where Texas can take advantage of the situation this would be the time in terms of extending Nelly for a few more years at a reasonable rate and years, tell him to take the suspension and still come back for a possible playoff run. Yes I know it's unlikely but he would be helping the team and he'd be getting his money.

 

[Xx srs bsns xX]

What are people's thoughts on a possible Cruz suspension? Does he appeal it and play out the rest of the season for the Rangers, thus likely having to serve it next year with a new team? Or does he take it now, and hit the FA market ready to play on day 1 with his next team? Best thing for him personally would be to take it now. Best thing for his current team would be to appeal. That's a tough call.

Personally, I think he takes the suspension. Business wise - its the smart decision to make.

I mean, in theory... he already "cheated" the team by "allegedly" using something. So what's another couple months of "putting yourself first over the team".

 

[TheRangerDude]

I think being a 4th OF'er is also about expectations, mindset, and approach. Because Murphy was penciled in the starter things just changed of what was expected out of him. Whatever Murphy gave us before was sort of that icing on the cake. It was more of a hey I have nothing to lose approach because I got Nelly, Josh backing me up and have another pretty solid platoon player that I share time with. This season is the complete opposite and I do believe that's played a part albeit maybe minor part.

I see what you are saying, there might be a psychological impact of being "named" the starter. I am just simplifying the term. I mean the 4th OF is really just the guy who plays of the bench for your OF. Currently, Murph is the starter b/c he simply gets the most starts... even if you don't feel like he he should be the back up, he is still the starter, not a 4th OF. Just like last year, even though he was never really named the starter for whatever reason, he really was because on most days he was out there. The whole thing is really cliche.

 

[terpsfball09]

What are people's thoughts on a possible Cruz suspension? Does he appeal it and play out the rest of the season for the Rangers, thus likely having to serve it next year with a new team? Or does he take it now, and hit the FA market ready to play on day 1 with his next team? Best thing for him personally would be to take it now. Best thing for his current team would be to appeal. That's a tough call.

No way he appeals it. He'll take whatever they give him. Its gonna happen soon too. He won't finish the season with us

 

[TheRangerDude]

What are people's thoughts on a possible Cruz suspension? Does he appeal it and play out the rest of the season for the Rangers, thus likely having to serve it next year with a new team? Or does he take it now, and hit the FA market ready to play on day 1 with his next team? Best thing for him personally would be to take it now. Best thing for his current team would be to appeal. That's a tough call.

At the end of the day he has to do whats best for himself, so I think he would just take it now. It would be awesome and show his allegiance to the team if he didn't though... but I wouldn't expect that.

The thing that really gets me about the whole situation though is that if he used last year, it had the opposite effect on him... he had a career low year. I'm sort of thinking if he did, it had something to do with getting rid of that horrible stomach virus he had in the off season that caused him to lose all that weight. Which is still a moot point to the MLB.

 

[romeo212000]

You guys are thinking about this too much. 4th OF means the guy doesn't have the ability to be maintain enough production every day to be a goo starter. Murphy is a 4th OF, baker is a 4th OF, Gentry is a fourth OF, Francoeur is a 4th OF.

 

[RevSader]

Personally, I think he takes the suspension. Business wise - its the smart decision to make.

I mean, in theory... he already "cheated" the team by "allegedly" using something. So what's another couple months of "putting yourself first over the team".

That's ludicrous to me. Unless the MLB tells them they have tangible proof I hope he fights it.

 

[bradw516]

You guys are thinking about this too much. 4th OF means the guy doesn't have the ability to be maintain enough production every day to be a goo starter. Murphy is a 4th OF, baker is a 4th OF, Gentry is a fourth OF, Francoeur is a 4th OF.

I get what you are saying, but he did it last year and did it well.

 

[terpsfball09]

BTW sorta off topic but EA is hitting the ball well as of late... think he has an 11 game hit streak

 

[Xx srs bsns xX]

That's ludicrous to me. Unless the MLB tells them they have tangible proof I hope he fights it.

They had enough proof on Braun to make him retract everything from a couple years ago....

 

[TheRangerDude]

You guys are thinking about this too much. 4th OF means the guy doesn't have the ability to be maintain enough production every day to be a good starter. Murphy is a 4th OF, baker is a 4th OF, Gentry is a fourth OF, Francoeur is a 4th OF.

Honestly, it sounds like you are the one over thinking it. How is it not cliche to call a starter a backup? I get what you are saying but not being good or productive doesn't make you a back up... being a back up makes you a back up.

 

[romeo212000]

I get what you are saying, but he did it last year and did it well.

His .333 babip indicated it wasn't sustainable. Turns out it wasn't.

 

[romeo212000]

Honestly, it sounds like you are the one over thinking it. How is it not cliche to call a starter a backup? I get what you are saying but not being good or productive doesn't make you a back up... being a back up makes you a back up.

I guess you're over simplifying it then. A guy can be starting and still only have the talent level of a backup. Case in point, Murphy.

 

[TheRangerDude]

I guess you're over simplifying it then. A guy can be starting and still only have the talent level of a backup. Case in point, Murphy.

Granted he has been bad but if at one point no one thought that he had the talent level to start... why was he named the starter? Ah, never mind... I really don't even care any more... the term just seems cliche that's all.

 

[romeo212000]

Granted he has been bad but if at one point no one thought that he had the talent level to start... why was he named the starter? Ah, never mind... I really don't even care any more... the term just seems cliche that's all.

Murphy earned his shot. Last year was the culmination of that. I was in board with giving him his shot. He had it and he got exposed. It's time to try something else.

 

[ESPN Refugee]

Granted he has been bad but if at one point no one thought that he had the talent level to start... why was he named the starter? Ah, never mind... I really don't even care any more... the term just seems cliche that's all.

They didn't really replace Josh. Ya I guess Leonys solidified his spot as a starter but he wasn't yet proven so to speak to play on the everyday basis during the off season. Murphy and Gentry are best suited to platoon but it also hurt the offense because whatever we may think of Josh they lost 43 HRs and 128 RBIs. Murphy has just flat out sucked balls this season. There's really no other way to put it. No point in putting that lipstick on a pig because he's had an awful year and it looks like he will continue to be bad until the season is over. I hope I am wrong and he proves me and all of us wrong but I just don't see it.

 

[bradw516]

His .333 babip indicated it wasn't sustainable. Turns out it wasn't.

Career .304 BABIP, not really too far off. I would venture to say his .225 so far this year is more of an anomaly than last years .333.

 

[romeo212000]

They didn't really replace Josh. Ya I guess Leonys solidified his spot as a starter but he wasn't yet proven so to speak to play on the everyday basis during the off season. Murphy and Gentry are best suited to platoon but it also hurt the offense because whatever we may think of Josh they lost 43 HRs and 128 RBIs. Murphy has just flat out sucked balls this season. There's really no other way to put it. No point in putting that lipstick on a pig because he's had an awful year and it looks like he will continue to be bad until the season is over. I hope I am wrong and he proves me and all of us wrong but I just don't see it.

The most maddening part of it is wash will not do anything about it.