Rangers head west for a 2 game set against the Giants: TEX v SF 5/10-11

[True Rangers Fan]

Afternoon game today, everyone

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Betts to the Pirates? Redrafting the 2011 class

33. Rangers: Brad Miller, SS, Clemson
(from Phillies as compensation for free agent Cliff Lee)
Actual pick: Kevin Matthews, LHP, Richmond Hill (Ga.) HS ($936,000 bonus). Miller: second round, Mariners ($750,000 bonus).
The 2011 Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year, Miller was a bat-first shortstop who came with questions about his defensive ability, and he has lived up to that reputation during his nine seasons in the Majors, highlighted by a 30-homer season with the Rays in 2016. Matthews was a surprise first-rounder who most teams rated as a third-round talent, and he developed control issues and shoulder problems almost immediately as a pro and wound up pitching just 156 2/3 innings in the Minors.

(posting this as an example of how crappy the Rangers drafting has been in years past)

 

[True Rangers Fan]

10 under-the-radar adds paying off big in '21

Nate Lowe, 1B, Rangers
The six-player trade between Texas and Tampa Bay that brought Lowe to the Rangers was far from the most seismic swap of the offseason. Lowe was the only player involved with Major League service time, and while his .251/.322/.447 slash line in 71 games with the Rays in 2019-20 was solid, he wasn’t able to crack the regular lineup. With the Rangers, he’s had that opportunity and seized it. Lowe has a .287/.374/.478 slash line in 36 games. At 25 years old, he’s emerged as a potential fixture on a Texas team trying to put the pieces together.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

 

[saddles]

I wonder what is up with Trevino?

 

[True Rangers Fan]

I wonder what is up with Trevino?

 

[Nightcrawler]

10 under-the-radar adds paying off big in '21

Nate Lowe, 1B, Rangers
The six-player trade between Texas and Tampa Bay that brought Lowe to the Rangers was far from the most seismic swap of the offseason. Lowe was the only player involved with Major League service time, and while his .251/.322/.447 slash line in 71 games with the Rays in 2019-20 was solid, he wasn’t able to crack the regular lineup. With the Rangers, he’s had that opportunity and seized it. Lowe has a .287/.374/.478 slash line in 36 games. At 25 years old, he’s emerged as a potential fixture on a Texas team trying to put the pieces together.

what was the board reaction to this trade? I recall supporting it because I’ve never been a fan of the condors bat.

 

[Nightcrawler]

How much playing time do you guys think Davis should get?

 

[True Rangers Fan]

 

[saddles]

what was the board reaction to this trade? I recall supporting it because I’ve never been a fan of the condors bat.

Here are three things I had to say the day the trade was made. At the bottom is an article I linked to shortly thereafter. The one kid we gave up is killing it in the minors right now and he was very well thought of. My lack of excitement for the trade was based on what we gave up and on us already having a couple of players who were thought to eventually transition to 1B in Huff and Apostle.

"The Rangers gave up some very young, but very good hitters in this deal. I am not sure I like it on first blush."

"Apostle was thought to be moved to 1B in the very near future. Now he is blocked. Unlike the Rays, we don't seem to be able to make great trades for our blocked players. When we unload Apostle a year from now for an underwhelming return, remember this trade."

"At some point in the fairly near future we will need to trade a catcher, unless they see Trevino as a backup. There will not be many 1B AB to be had by Huff or Trevino."

Rangers Pay a Steep Price to Add Another 1B/DH in Nate Lowe

Texas has a new first baseman in Nate Lowe, though the cost to get him was high—maybe too high.

blogs.fangraphs.com

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Can't say that I'm bothered by trading any of those names.

 

[saddles]

Can't say that I'm bothered by trading any of those names.

I wonder how many teams will regret trading for pitchers because those pitchers get fatigued as the season winds down, due to not pitching very many innings last year.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

I wonder how many teams will regret trading for pitchers because those pitchers get fatigued as the season winds down, due to not pitching very many innings last year.

Wouldn't be surprised if some teams move to a 6 man rotation for that very reason

 

[saddles]

Wouldn't be surprised if some teams move to a 6 man rotation for that very reason

That would certainly increase the demand for starting pitchers come trade deadline time.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

That would certainly increase the demand for starting pitchers come trade deadline time.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Really needed a run there, Joe

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Really needed a run there, Joe

correction: we got one

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Lyles has got to go