Series Thread: Rangers Host Tampa Bay Ray for Three Games July 17-19

[saddles]

Hopefully we don’t need to go crazy for a bat but that Garcia HBP worries me

If the Rangers were willing to bring up one of those AAA guys with a near to or above, .900 OPS, we might find we don't need a hitter at all. That isn't going to happen though.

 

[scotsman1948]

If the Rangers were willing to bring up one of those AAA guys with a near to or above, .900 OPS, we might find we don't need a hitter at all. That isn't going to happen though.

How about Martinez?

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

How about Martinez?

He is one of about 4 and has had a phenomenal year.

 

[Xeliou66]

Welcome aboard

Thanks!

 

[scotsman1948]

X-rays on Gray and Garcia negative. Garcia has a bruised elbow day to day

 

[saddles]

Bochy says both injuries are just bruises.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

How about Martinez?

that would be my choice, by far

 

[saddles]

Here is something Scott Lucas had to say about the success of JP Martinez this year.

Someone asked about JP Martinez. After years in the .400-.450 range, JPM is now slugging .603, which i wouldn't have thought possible even in a modest 47-game span. I'd say some his improvement is real and some is luck. Martinez is getting 1-0 counts at a much better rate than his peers, walking more, and striking out less. He's maximizing his opportunities for success. On the other hand, Martinez's median and top-range exit velocities are actually slightly below the average of all participants in Round Rock's games.

In all the negative baskets I created for velo/angle groups -- grounders, anything over 45 degrees, soft contact, and "hard but usually caught by an OF" -- Martinez has exceptionally high batting averages. For example, he's hitting .356 on grounders (excluding bunts and balls hit exceptionally hard at barely negative angles). The team is hitting .165. Sure, he's fast, but even Bubba Thompson batted .194 on grounders last year. All told, Martinez is batting .453 on balls in play (that is, excluding homers and strikeouts), which doesn't seem sustainable. Remember Joey Butler? I would need to dig into the data deeper, but I just can't help but be skeptical of a .351/.467/.603 line from him.

 

[saddles]

There are actually 7 guys on that Round Rock roster with an OPS of upper .800s or higher.

 

[scotsman1948]

There are actually 7 guys on that Round Rock roster with an OPS of upper .800s or higher.

I know but it would be interesting to see JP at GLF

 

[True Rangers Fan]

as long as it's not Huff

 

[saddles]

as long as it's not Huff

ABH!

 

[Kelleyman]

ABH!

What?

 

[Kelleyman]

So only got to keep up with game on MLB app.
Seems like Speas has a deadly cutter but wondering how his FB was?

 

[saddles]

What?

Anybody But Huff

 

[Kelleyman]

Another good thing is we now own the tiebreaker against the Rays

Also the current 1st place Orioles owe us a debt of gratitude

 

[saddles]

So only got to keep up with game on MLB app.
Seems like Speas has a deadly cutter but wondering how his FB was?

Only threw it twice. They were both balls. He did that well and didn't even need his 101 MPH fastball.

 

[saddles]

Cleveland came into town in first place and left out of first place.

Then the Rays came into town in first place and left out of first place.

The Dodgers are currently in first place.

 

[saddles]