OFFICIAL OFF SEASON THREAD ( 2017 )

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

Gallo with an XBH.

 

[donaldson79]

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Conversations with Rangers manager Jeff Banister have softened Shin-Soo Choo's stance on designated hitter.

In January, Choo balked at anything more than a cameo role in the position. After hearing out Banister, Choo has come around on the subject.

"The opportunity to make a better team, I can do that," Choo said Wednesday. "I play for the team first. Everybody comes to spring training working hard for the season with only one goal: win the World Series. That's why I'm here.

"I talked to Banny about what's best for me and best for the team. It's always what's best for the team."

The next step for Banister is to determine the rate at which Choo will be used at DH. Defense will figure into that.

The Rangers had mediocre, at best, outfield defense last season. According to The Fielding Bible, associated with analytics godfather Bill James, they were minus-11 in runs saved by the outfield, the fifth-worst score in the American League. Boston led at plus-42.

 

[saddles]

Rangers ace Hamels pleased with outing in minor-league game

Hamels, pitching in a High A game, worked two scoreless innings, striking out three, before allowing a triple and a single to open the third. He also hit a batter in the inning but picked off a runner.

Somehow doing that against High A players doesn't impress me.

 

[saddles]

I guess I didn't realize Choo was not playing in consecutive games and that he is having trouble seeing the ball.

Rangers’ Choo accepts need for slow spring build-up

 

[saddles]

The right fielder/designated hitter hasn’t played on consecutive days so far this spring, but that’s been entirely by design. He’s certain he can do, but he’s making a concerted effort this spring for the first time in his career to take things nice and easy.

Choo is concerned about the number of pitches he didn’t see last season after four stints on the disabled list, something he and manager Jeff Banister discussed Tuesday. Choo has noticed in the games he has played that he isn’t seeing the ball as well as he normally does and has chased some pitches out of the strike zone.

 

[saddles]

The general thought is that Joey Gallo has had a good spring camp. Do you agree? I think he has, too. He’s had three or four balls he’s smoked to the right side that have been outs, but it’s loud contact. There’s a calmness at the plate, a comfort taking pitches. Some of the things they’ve worked on in the cage you’ve seen it in games. The way he’d handled the normal ups and downs of springs has been great. I’m encouraged.

Rangers GM Daniels: WBC players not affecting spring prep work

 

[saddles]

I see that Josh Morgan is doing some catching again this spring.

 

[romeo212000]

The general thought is that Joey Gallo has had a good spring camp. Do you agree? I think he has, too. He’s had three or four balls he’s smoked to the right side that have been outs, but it’s loud contact. There’s a calmness at the plate, a comfort taking pitches. Some of the things they’ve worked on in the cage you’ve seen it in games. The way he’d handled the normal ups and downs of springs has been great. I’m encouraged.

Rangers GM Daniels: WBC players not affecting spring prep work

Not encouraged or discouraged. Let's look at his numbers including K rate around the all star break.

 

[romeo212000]

Rangers ace Hamels pleased with outing in minor-league game

Hamels, pitching in a High A game, worked two scoreless innings, striking out three, before allowing a triple and a single to open the third. He also hit a batter in the inning but picked off a runner.

Somehow doing that against High A players doesn't impress me.

You're a funny guy, man.

 

[donaldson79]

You're a funny guy, man.

How so? ha ha ha

 

[saddles]

This from Jamey Newberg today.

"Profar is hitting .522/.577/.870 for the Netherlands squad in the World Baseball Classic, which has moved into the Championship Round along with Japan, awaiting the arrival of two of the United States, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Nobody with as many as Profar’s 23 WBC at-bats has as high a batting average, or as high an on-base, or as high a slug, or as high an OPS among the 16 team’s hundreds of players, and nobody has as many as his six extra-base hits.



It’s an absurdly small sample, but notable if for no other reasons than the level of competition and the relative stake of the at-bats."

 

[Kelleyman]

 

[Kelleyman]

This from Jamey Newberg today.

"Profar is hitting .522/.577/.870 for the Netherlands squad in the World Baseball Classic, which has moved into the Championship Round along with Japan, awaiting the arrival of two of the United States, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Nobody with as many as Profar’s 23 WBC at-bats has as high a batting average, or as high an on-base, or as high a slug, or as high an OPS among the 16 team’s hundreds of players, and nobody has as many as his six extra-base hits.



It’s an absurdly small sample, but notable if for no other reasons than the level of competition and the relative stake of the at-bats."

Probably not good to make a total buy in but still think this sparks optimism

 

[Kelleyman]

Rangers ace Hamels pleased with outing in minor-league game

Hamels, pitching in a High A game, worked two scoreless innings, striking out three, before allowing a triple and a single to open the third. He also hit a batter in the inning but picked off a runner.

Somehow doing that against High A players doesn't impress me.

Thinking pitchers are still working on specific pitches. Late spring is more telltale IMO. Hamel's history affords him a bit more slack than Nick or Cheech

 

[DT LUNA]

Re-sign. Catchers like him are not easily found.

 

[saddles]

Thinking pitchers are still working on specific pitches. Late spring is more telltale IMO. Hamel's history affords him a bit more slack than Nick or Cheech

We shall see. After the way his season ended last year I would like to see a little more from him at this point in the spring.

 

[Duane1952]

Ranger game is on KTXA channel 21 today.

 

[donaldson79]

Ranger game is on KTXA channel 21 today.

I believe it's on FSSW at 3 PM.

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

I believe it's on FSSW at 3 PM.

You're both right. Two games today (night game is in San Antonio).

 

[donaldson79]

You're both right. Two games today (night game is in San Antonio).

The split squad games are curve balls to me.