Los Angeles Angels at our Texas Rangers Series Thread

[Swangin]

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.

A team with shitty pitching still has a number 1. But if he wouldn't be the number 1 on the majority of teams in the league, more than likely when discussing your rotation you would say, "this team needs a number 1"

 

[ESPN Refugee]

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

Gagree

 

[romeo212000]

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.

For most of his career he's been facing mostly RH pitching in a platoon. It's different. It's a little different. His babip this year has a lot to do with his awful approach.

 

[ESPN Refugee]

A team with shitty pitching still has a number 1. But if he wouldn't be the number 1 on the majority of teams in the league, more than likely when discussing your rotation you would say, "this team needs a number 1"

I remember when Rick Helling, Kevin Millwood, and Scott Feldman were our number 1's.

 

[romeo212000]

I remember when Rick Helling, Kevin Millwood, and Scott Feldman were our number 1's.

Case in point!

 

[Windingmywatch]

I don't get the concept of a 4th OF. He had basically a full season last year and it was a career year for him. Where do you make the designation between a full timer and a 4th guy?

Best definition of a #4OF I can come up with ... a guy who plays only when there is no one else better who isn't already playing.

For me #4OF qualifiers would be his 5-tool Marginality Ranking (also called Spareness). A legitimate #4OF would not excel in any category over any of the other OFers on the roster.

 

[TheRangerDude]

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.

I get that he is bad and this season he has played worse than replacement level player evidenced by his negative WAR but technically he is still a starter. It just seems like the term 4th OF is poorly founded. Calling someone a replacement level player, even simply a bad starter, or not fit to start seems like it meshes well with the actually situation much better. I mean if you have 2 starters and a 3 4th OF's it makes it sound like you only play 2 people in your OF. Anyway, I get point and will shut up about it after this.

 

[romeo212000]

I get that he is bad and this season he has played worse than replacement level player evidenced by his negative WAR but technically he is still a starter. It just seems like the term 4th OF is poorly founded. Calling someone a replacement level player, even simply a bad starter, or not fit to start doesn't seem like it meshes well with the actually situation ever. I mean if you have 2 starters and a 3 4th OF's it makes it sound like you only play 2 people in your OF. Anyway, I get point and will shut up about it after this.

You are way too stuck on the terminology.

 

[ESPN Refugee]

I get that he is bad and this season he has played worse than replacement level player evidenced by his negative WAR but technically he is still a starter. It just seems like the term 4th OF is poorly founded. Calling someone a replacement level player, even simply a bad starter, or not fit to start doesn't seem like it meshes well with the actually situation ever. I mean if you have 2 starters and a 3 4th OF's it makes it sound like you only play 2 people in your OF. Anyway, I get point and will shut up about it after this.

Oh ya no doubt this season he has been a starter and evidently will still continue to be a starter if and until this ship has sunk but history tells us that he's best suited to be a 4th OF'er platoon player and that is fine there is nothing wrong with that. He gets a nice salary to do just that.

 

[Windingmywatch]

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

Didn't Wash say "Murphy scorched that ball"?

I wasn't watching the post game ... but he was quoted here by someone about a dozen pages back.

I think like Wash's view of MY and DM is like the story of the Emperor's new clothes. I'm wondering if when JD saw the interview up in his office after the game when Wash said that he said: "WTF?"

If your manager is delusional when it comes to his decisions it does not speak well for the next contract extension. (Why wasn't Profar or better yet Gentry called on to PH (bunt) for Murphy last night?)

 

[terpsfball09]

Didn't Wash say "Murphy scorched that ball"?

I wasn't watching the post game ... but he was quoted here by someone about a dozen pages back.

I think like Wash's view of MY and DM is like the story of the Emperor's new clothes. I'm wondering if when JD saw the interview up in his office after the game when Wash said that he said: "WTF?"

If your manager is delusional when it comes to his decisions it does not speak well for the next contract extension. (Why wasn't Profar or better yet Gentry called on to PH (bunt) for Murphy last night?)

He said he smoked it.

 

[Windingmywatch]

Oh ya no doubt this season he has been a starter and evidently will still continue to be a starter if and until this ship has sunk but history tells us that he's best suited to be a 4th OF'er platoon player and that is fine there is nothing wrong with that. He gets a nice salary to do just that.

Odds are he gets a 1 year deal as some second division #4OF next year ... and maybe a non-roster invitee the year after.

 

[Windingmywatch]

He said he smoked it.

Ahhhhh ... 'smoked it'. Something Ron knows about.

 

[bradw516]

For most of his career he's been facing mostly RH pitching in a platoon. It's different. It's a little different. His babip this year has a lot to do with his awful approach.

Fair enough! I do puke a little each time I see him swing first pitch trying to pull everything.

 

[ESPN Refugee]

Odds are he gets a 1 year deal as some second division #4OF next year ... and maybe a non-roster invitee the year after.

You know I was thinking about that today is if Murphy was waived right now would he be claimed? And as for next year I think he'll get a 1 year guarantee deal that will be low money and who knows he may do better but I think teams will look at his past and see he was a part of the Rangers the whole time during the team's successful years and go by that I am thinking.

 

[Windingmywatch]

Fair enough! I do puke a little each time I see him swing first pitch trying to pull everything.

Every little league academy has films of Murphy to show the youngsters how to make a text book roll over swing to GDP.

You just know middle infielders love it when Murphy comes up with a man on 1st. It's a wonder the scoreboard doesn't light up and start flashing so the fans can place their bets whether the SS or 2bman will get to field it.

 

[Swangin]

Didn't Wash say "Murphy scorched that ball"?

I wasn't watching the post game ... but he was quoted here by someone about a dozen pages back.

I think like Wash's view of MY and DM is like the story of the Emperor's new clothes. I'm wondering if when JD saw the interview up in his office after the game when Wash said that he said: "WTF?"

If your manager is delusional when it comes to his decisions it does not speak well for the next contract extension. (Why wasn't Profar or better yet Gentry called on to PH (bunt) for Murphy last night?)

Wash puts bunts on probably more than any other manager in the game, and the one time it really calls for it, he doesn't? And his response was "Murphy scorched that ball" instead of giving a reason why he didn't bunt in that situation? I don't know if he was hoping Murphy could come up with a hit to change people's mind, if he did it in hopes for Murphy to come up big personally? But in the end he didn't do what was best for the team to prove something? I don't know, just didn't make sense when looking at the entire picture

 

[TheRangerDude]

You are way too stuck on the terminology.

I know, that's why I am shutting up about it... it just sounds silly though.

 

[Windingmywatch]

Wash puts bunts on probably more than any other manager in the game, and the one time it really calls for it, he doesn't? And his response was "Murphy scorched that ball" instead of giving a reason why he didn't bunt in that situation? I don't know if he was hoping Murphy could come up with a hit to change people's mind, if he did it in hopes for Murphy to come up big personally? But in the end he didn't do what was best for the team to prove something? I don't know, just didn't make sense when looking at the entire picture

I was corrected. He didn't say he "scorched" the ball. Wash said he "smoked" it. Which is an entirely different thing.

 

[pegasusredleg]

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.

Cruz, with the advice of his agent, will no doubt do what is best for his business situation. Which is probably striking a deal with MLB to do his suspension this year. This way he is free and "clear" for the FA market.