Series Thread: Rangers Host Angels for Three Games August 14-16

[scotsman1948]

So Martinez not in the lineup and Grossman is. Ridiculous.

At least Grossman is only DH’ing and not on the field

 

[saddles]

The financial side of that is definitely undesirable, but I'd rather make extra sure Eovaldi is healthy for the playoffs, even if that means the team is on the hook for more money to Heaney.
If a healthy Eovaldi helps them win a WS, the situation with Heaney won't matter much.

To me the Eovaldi decision has nothing to do with Heaney's contract. I want him back as soon as he is healthy and stretched out. He is passing every test so far to show he is healthy.

I certainly don't want him to sit out any longer than he has to. The longer he is out the longer it might take him to get back to his normal self. He doesn't need to be any more rusty.

The Heaney contract is just a side benefit.

 

[Duane1952]

At least Grossman is only DH’ing and not on the field

That’s true. Just don’t like taking one of the hotter bats out of the lineup.

 

[saddles]

What do we do with him? He’s going to get paid by the Rangers whether he starts or not and I doubt they’re going release him and based on everything most are saying I doubt they’ll be able to trade him

And no I don’t think he’s worth 20M

Several teams would want him as a starter. We could trade him if we wanted to.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

At least Grossman is only DH’ing and not on the field

My feelings exactly. I think Bochy likes to keep guys active from time to time in case there is a need. Grossman as far as a hitter has had some big hits for us. I know when I was at the Miami game his 3 run homer brought us back into what was a 5-0 deficit.

 

[saddles]

There will be other pitchers in play eventually, but if it ever came down to a decision next spring to start Heaney or Bradford, put ne down on team Bradford.

 

[saddles]

Grossman as a RH hitter against LH pitching is fine with me, as a DH. To me, if JPM was playing tonight he should be in CF instead of Leody.

 

[saddles]

From Evan Grant:

With the entire front office watching, Leiter, who hasn’t appeared in a game since early July, threw a live batting practice session at Globe Life Field. He faced rehabbing infielder Brad Miller and backup catcher Austin Hedges. Leiter has not pitched in a game since July 7, when he failed to get out of the first inning. He was placed on the Developmental List a week later.

The development plan for the second-overall pick in 2021 is a sensitive topic. General manager Chris Young, through a team spokesman, said that the session was a biomechanical periodic check-in. Also, through a spokesman, Young said there remains no timetable for Leiter to return. Neither Young nor Leiter answered questions.

The Rangers are trying to tweak Leiter’s delivery to slow him down a bit and get him in a better direction moving toward home plate. His drive toward home plate had gotten so aggressive that at times he appeared to almost be jumping down the slope of the mound.


Young had addressed the Leiter situation with the Dallas Morning News over the weekend in San Francisco. The Rangers had tried a change in philosophy with Leiter to get him to focus on more fastballs earlier in the year. That seemed to get some initial results, but he struggled in June before the Rangers committed to a longer-term plan.

“If your swing gets off on timing and direction, you aren’t going to hit the ball as far as you can or as straight as you can,” he said. “That’s the best comparison I can make. His body wasn’t moving the way it needs to for him to pitch the way he needs to pitch. The [philosophy element] is correlated, but they are different buckets. You can fix one, but it’s hard to improve the other if you body isn’t working right.

“You have to let it play out to an extent, but it got to a point where we said we need to address it.”

When the Rangers drafted him out of Vanderbilt, they spoke of the “vertical approach angle” on his fastball being unique. But as his timing has sped up and his body has moved out of synch, the fastball has been more up and out of the zone.

 

[saddles]

 

[scotsman1948]

That’s true. Just don’t like taking one of the hotter bats out of the lineup.

Same here

 

[scotsman1948]

Several teams would want him as a starter. We could trade him if we wanted to.

Hope so

 

[Kelleyman]

https://x.com/sportssturm/status/1691856552687272280?s=46&t=y4Pv59dV5ugp-4OQjDxHwQ

Former guy from the Athletic wrote about the Rangers and Houston

 

[scotsman1948]

Astros up 5-0 going the bottom of the 1st

 

[Kelleyman]

I would not give up on Heaney being a starter next year maybe only a spot starter but 20 million is too much for him. We shall see
If he is here at 13 million and opts in perhaps we can trade him especially if we extend Montgomery

 

[scotsman1948]

I would not give up on Heaney being a starter next year maybe only a spot starter but 20 million is too much for him. We shall see
If he is here at 13 million and opts in perhaps we can trade him especially if we extend Montgomery

I agree but it is going to stop him from reaching the 150 innings plateau when he only needs 35.2 to get there. He will get probably at least 3 starts maybe 4 before Eovaldi returns to full action so he may only need around 10-12 innings or less

 

[scotsman1948]

5-2 Astros after 1

 

[scotsman1948]

Gray needs to be on his A game tonight

 

[scotsman1948]

6-4 Astros in the 4th

 

[Sir Robin Of Camelot]

Don’t get many chances with the heat the last couple of weeks…

Won’t get a chance for the next week at a minimum…

So…

 

[scotsman1948]

Ohtani deep 1-0