Official 2014 Texas Rangers Spring Training Thread

[RevSader]

He made a couple bad pitches and seemed to struggle with his command at times but that 2nd inning for him was the issue, he made quality pitches in his 1st (minus the HR) and 3rd inning

Not going to make excuses for him but he also seemed to be having an issue with the mound, but I only saw him and Soria pitch

His command is always an issue. That career walk rate....Yikes.

 

[jta4437]

His command is always an issue. That career walk rate....Yikes.

This is very true, he'll probably always be prone to the infamous "big inning" as a result, even when he's pitching well

 

[RevSader]

This is very true, he'll probably always be prone to the infamous "big inning" as a result, even when he's pitching well

That's what makes Cliff Lee's story pretty damn impressive to me. His command was erratic and then all of a sudden he comes back and it's there. Guys that can just hang around until they figure it out are rare, and that's why it's hard to give up on Kirkman, but at some point you just gotta let another team fix him.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

His command is always an issue. That career walk rate....Yikes.

I am with you on that. It seems like there was a game that he came into last year and it might have even been a 1-2-3 inning but it still took him over 20 pitches to get it done. So we are lucky if he does that for an inning but can you imagine hoping to see him start and pitch 5 innings. You know we would all be waiting for the implosion to happen at some point.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

That's what makes Cliff Lee's story pretty damn impressive to me. His command was erratic and then all of a sudden he comes back and it's there. Guys that can just hang around until they figure it out are rare, and that's why it's hard to give up on Kirkman, but at some point you just gotta let another team fix him.

His command was crazy good. When I would watch him I would think if I am the batter I might as well go up there ready to swing because there is a good chance he will throw me a strike. Now of course it was not right down the middle most of the time.

 

[RevSader]

I am with you on that. It seems like there was a game that he came into last year and it might have even been a 1-2-3 inning but it still took him over 20 pitches to get it done. So we are lucky if he does that for an inning but can you imagine hoping to see him start and pitch 5 innings. You know we would all be waiting for the implosion to happen at some point.

Escaping the big inning is the problem with any AAAA arm, but that probably goes without saying I guess. You can nearly set your watch to his implosions. I am more surprised when he gets through clean than if he gives up a few walks and a few hits.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Escaping the big inning is the problem with any AAAA arm, but that probably goes without saying I guess. You can nearly set your watch to his implosions. I am more surprised when he gets through clean than if he gives up a few walks and a few hits.

And that last sentence is the problem. Liked the AAAA reference.

 

[ESPN Refugee]

That's what makes Cliff Lee's story pretty damn impressive to me. His command was erratic and then all of a sudden he comes back and it's there. Guys that can just hang around until they figure it out are rare, and that's why it's hard to give up on Kirkman, but at some point you just gotta let another team fix him.

Damn I miss Cliff Lee. That 4 month fling with him in 2010 was so great. I'd still love to have him on this team if possible.

As for Kirkman I agree. His stuff is great but he'll continue to be a 4A player as long as he's in this organization.

 

[ESPN Refugee]

Cowlishaw: Ron Washington's lineup order in need of serious tinkering | Dallas Morning News

Evan Grant's response.

Five things I think I think about the Rangers: Keep Elvis Andrus right where he is | Dallas Morning News

 

[RevSader]

Evan Grant's response.

Five things I think I think about the Rangers: Keep Elvis Andrus right where he is | Dallas Morning News

Tim Cowlishaw really shouldn't be listened to about anything of consequence. I really don't know how much he understands about baseball as a hole.

 

[Bmurph]

Did not keep up with the threads during the game but 20 pitches per inning for Perez and Kirkman is nonsense. I expect Perez to fix that but that is about par for Kirkman.

Perez had one at bat vs Sandoval that went on forever, never saw how many pitches it ended up being but I kept walking out of the room and coming back several times thinking wow he is still in the same at bat.

 

[DT LUNA]

Tim Cowlishaw really shouldn't be listened to about anything of consequence. I really don't know how much he understands about baseball as a hole.

"a hole"? lol Funny and I agree.

 

[Windingmywatch]

I was never enamored with Lewin but I always found him to keep Grieve less than boring as hell. I didn't miss him until he was gone and now I would love to have him back. Rhadigan was bad as well as Barnett and Busby thinks every high fly ball is a HR off the bat.

Lewin was goofy to play alongside TAG's goofyness ... that's what got him fired by Nolan. Nolan couldn't or didn't want to fire TAG too. Lewin was the best play-by-play guy of the bunch though.

Radio was invented to broadcast baseball games at night to kids and old men sitting out on the porch in July. Eric Nadel and perhaps Matt Hicks are radio play by play guys. They have to do the play by play and provide the visual color so we can 'see' what is going on in our imagination. Nadel provides a far more expansive picture of what is happening than does Busby (or the others) plus TAG.

Nadel is a radio broadcast artist.

 

[RevSader]

"a hole"? lol Funny and I agree.

Lol that was just a typo. However that was an appropriate Freudian slip I suppose.

 

[Windingmywatch]

Am not ordinarily in agreement with what EG says ... and I can't ever remember agreeing with Cowlishaw.

I kinda like aspects of Cowlishaw's lineup but he used OPS as the basis for justifying it. EG to his credit politely pointed out that #1 and #2 spots out to be driven by OPB not by OPS.

Back during the off season we spent a good bit of time debating Rios as #5 and some of us said thought even with acquisition of Choo and Fielder that TEX still needed to upgrade its #5. Well TEX didn't and Rios is Wash' #5 ... and we know how effective outsiders are (even in the FO) getting Wash to change his mind.

Here's my solution to solving the #5 weak spot and putting Choo in his more historical #3 spot and Prince in #4 where he's been the most. Recognizing it moves Beltre down but the thought of having to face those three guys in a row would be terrifying.

1 -- Profar
2 -- Andrus
3 -- Choo
4 -- Fielder
5 -- Beltre
6 -- Rios
7 -- Moreland
8 -- Soto
9 -- Martin

Putting Choo behind Profar and Andrus protects him from being taken on by LOOGYs too.

 

[Justinkm83]

Am not ordinarily in agreement with what EG says ... and I can't ever remember agreeing with Cowlishaw.

I kinda like aspects of Cowlishaw's lineup but he used OPS as the basis for justifying it. EG to his credit politely pointed out that #1 and #2 spots out to be driven by OPB not by OPS.

Back during the off season we spent a good bit of time debating Rios as #5 and some of us said thought even with acquisition of Choo and Fielder that TEX still needed to upgrade its #5. Well TEX didn't and Rios is Wash' #5 ... and we know how effective outsiders are (even in the FO) getting Wash to change his mind.

Here's my solution to solving the #5 weak spot and putting Choo in his more historical #3 spot and Prince in #4 where he's been the most. Recognizing it moves Beltre down but the thought of having to face those three guys in a row would be terrifying.

1 -- Profar
2 -- Andrus
3 -- Choo
4 -- Fielder
5 -- Beltre
6 -- Rios
7 -- Moreland
8 -- Soto
9 -- Martin

Putting Choo behind Profar and Andrus protects him from being taken on by LOOGYs too.

It's an interesting idea, but I think that puts too much pressure on a 21 year old kid. Plus he hasn't shown the ability to get on base at a high enough rate. Of course that could all change this year, but at this point I think he's best towards the end of the line-up. I wouldn't mind seeing him in front of MM though, if he keeps hitting like he is during ST.

 

[Justinkm83]

On a side note: I couldn't remember if Profar was 21 or 22so I looked it up. Who knew his middle name was Barthelomeus? JBP kinda rolls off the tongue, however Jurickson Barthelomeus Profar does not.

 

[romeo212000]

MLB Choo never far from Rangers' minds - ESPN

This is a great article that gives some insight into how they rangers acquired choo. Turns out, he's been on their radar since last year. As we've all talked about, the front office is incredible about keeping tight lipped and not showing their cards.

So next time one of you are bitching that the front office isn't doing something, stfu and remember this.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

MLB Choo never far from Rangers' minds - ESPN

This is a great article that gives some insight into how they rangers acquired choo. Turns out, he's been on their radar since last year. As we've all talked about, the front office is incredible about keeping tight lipped and not showing their cards.

So next time one of you are bitching that the front office isn't doing something, stfu and remember this.

That was a good article. Read it earlier today.

 

[PDay8810]

Lewin was goofy to play alongside TAG's goofyness ... that's what got him fired by Nolan. Nolan couldn't or didn't want to fire TAG too. Lewin was the best play-by-play guy of the bunch though.

Radio was invented to broadcast baseball games at night to kids and old men sitting out on the porch in July. Eric Nadel and perhaps Matt Hicks are radio play by play guys. They have to do the play by play and provide the visual color so we can 'see' what is going on in our imagination. Nadel provides a far more expansive picture of what is happening than does Busby (or the others) plus TAG.

Nadel is a radio broadcast artist.

comparing Nadel to these guys is like comparing Brooks Robinson to Dean Palmer.

has there been any changes in the TV booth this year?