Series Thread: Rangers Host the Astros For Four Games May 15-18

[WastinSomeTime]

From Shawn McFarland:

Texas Rangers right-handed pitcher Kumar Rocker threw two “innings” during a live bullpen session before Sunday’s series finale vs. the Houston Astros at Globe Life Field. If Rocker responds well physically, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said, Rocker will be cleared to begin a rehab assignment. It’s unclear exactly how many rehab starts Rocker will need, but, it will be more than one and “he’s going to need to get stretched out again,” according to Bochy.

“All went good there,” Bochy said. “Stuff is good. If he feels good tomorrow, he’ll get set to start a rehab. He used all his pitches, good day for him.”

I am sure he will start rehabbing at Frisco or Round Rock. I wonder what they do once he is ready. Our rotation has been really good. I can't wait to get Gray back. It cannot come fast enough. I know I always say use him as a closer but I would have loved to have him come in this game today and give us 2 innings. I want Bradford back as well but just not sure if he can hold up health-wise. Hope so because that would help. We need to stay close until the All Star break and hope we have our staff at full speed. I if that happens we can move ahead.

 

[Kelleyman]

No way Osuna gets called up yet unless we have an OF go on the 60 day IL
. When Evsn is ready we will lose likely Kevin P

Tough loss but a lot of games to play

 

[Duane1952]

I'm not going to get into a debate but I like the runs that Garcia has saved with his defense. Nothing personal towards your opinions.

Like he’s the only one that can make those defensive plays. In my opinion he’s a showboat. A lot of those sliding plays, could be made if he stayed on his feet. Years ago you didn’t see players go into a slide when they could catch the ball ankle high. How long should the Rangers put up with his crappy offense when they need help scoring runs.

 

[Duane1952]

No way Osuna gets called up yet unless we have an OF go on the 60 day IL
. When Evsn is ready we will lose likely Kevin P

Tough loss but a lot of games to play

Piss poor offense last season and the start of this season. You can’t get into the playoffs in May, but sure not make the playoffs because of the way you play in May.

 

[Kelleyman]

Piss poor offense last season and the start of this season. You can’t get into the playoffs in May, but sure not make the playoffs because of the way you play in May.

They have done pretty well the last 10’games.
If we bring Osuna up he needs to come up as a starter

 

[WastinSomeTime]

They have done pretty well the last 10’games.
If we bring Osuna up he needs to come up as a starter

Exactly. He is better off playing everyday at AAA. Otherwise he will play sparingly. Garcia is not going to be benched unless he goes on the DL.

 

[saddles]

I would have liked for our offense to have scored more today. I would have liked for the bullpen to have pitched better. Even so, if that umpire would have called balls and strikes right, we would have went to the 9th up 3-1. His blunder should not be overlooked. Bad things tend to happen more when the pitchers have to get more than 3 outs in an inning.

 

[saddles]

Bochy or any other manager could bench Osuna in 2026 or 2027, too.

 

[Kelleyman]

Bochy or any other manager could bench Osuna in 2026 or 2027, too.

What is your point?
If it is calling him up to platoon. I agree that is a bad idea
I like Osuna

 

[saddles]

What is your point?
If it is calling him up to platoon. I agree that is a bad idea
I like Osuna

I am saying if someone doesn't want Osuna up simply because of the possibility that Bochy won't play him enough, then they should have the same concern in those other years as well.

When it is time to bring him up, Bochy needs to be told he is being brought up to play.

To me this offense still needs some more spark and I am ready to give Osuna a few weeks to see if he can provide that spark, much like Carter did in September of 2023. Carter's injury gives us an opportunity to find out.

If someone doesn't think Osuna is ready then I can certainly understand that sentiment. I just think we should be desperate enough to try it.

But, the Bochy factor should be a completely different subject, because he could refuse to use Osuna this year, next year or the next. Bochy will have to be dealt with at the proper time.

 

[saddles]

If it is calling him up to platoon. I agree that is a bad idea

I could live with him sitting against most LH pitchers because we don't face very many of them. Of course, we don't know if that is even needed, yet.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

I am saying if someone doesn't want Osuna up simply because of the possibility that Bochy won't play him enough, then they should have the same concern in those other years as well.

When it is time to bring him up, Bochy needs to be told he is being brought up to play.

To me this offense still needs some more spark and I am ready to give Osuna a few weeks to see if he can provide that spark, much like Carter did in September of 2023. Carter's injury gives us an opportunity to find out.

If someone doesn't think Osuna is ready then I can certainly understand that sentiment. I just think we should be desperate enough to try it.

But, the Bochy factor should be a completely different subject, because he could refuse to use Osuna this year, next year or the next. Bochy will have to be dealt with at the proper time.

If Bochy is willing to roll the dice and let Osuna play then I can agree with what you are saying. The difference is Langford is in LF where he wasn't in 2023 so an opening happened for Carter but with the way things are now I just don't think Bochy would do that. But just so you understand that is my main concern. I think it would be great to just say we are going to quit with this CF carousel and let Osuna be the everyday starting CF and see if it rejuvenates the offense.

 

[Uncle Siggy]

As Lexi Maddux puts it, "This is an unfortunate non-strikeout."

It could have made a huge difference.

View attachment 397880

That ump left a lot to be desired yesterday both managers were giving him grief and Espada got tossed, combine this with Jonah's base running mistake and it ends up being a loss...

 

[Uncle Siggy]

The mediocre crap that Young has assembled and calls a bullpen is disgraceful.

So should the team have brought back Kirby Yates???

 

[Uncle Siggy]

I really don't get all the angst about Bochy and young players he's played Jung, Carter, Bradford, Leiter, Rocker, Smith, Duran and they've all stuck and got regular playing time cause they've produced. The other young players that have come and gone either looked like the weren't ready to him or they didn't produce or both, it's a pretty simple concept...

 

[fanman8825]

So should the team have brought back Kirby Yates???

This team probably would have had a hard team winning 75 games last year if it was not for Yates performance.
I thought 13 mil for this year was too high for a 38 year old who was unlikely going to come close to what he did last year with the 1.17 era and only 2 blown saves.

 

[saddles]

I really don't get all the angst about Bochy and young players he's played Jung, Carter, Bradford, Leiter, Rocker, Smith, Duran and they've all stuck and got regular playing time cause they've produced. The other young players that have come and gone either looked like the weren't ready to him or they didn't produce or both, it's a pretty simple concept...

He only played some of those guys when he absolutely had to. That is finally what happened with Smith and he succeeded. He has sat Duran for long periods of time when he didn't have to play him.

There has always been a big difference in how top draft picks are treated and how the rest of the younger players are treated. Guys like Rocker, Leiter, Jung, and Langford are in a completely different category than the rest of the prospects. Most likely, this year's first round draft pick will also be in that category.

Bradford had to have a lot of injuries happen to starting pitchers before he was given a chance. Smith languished on the bench without being given much of a chance until Seager was unable to play for an extended period of time.

Sam Huff was never given a chance with Bochy despite his good numbers he put up in the past.

It was well known throughout the industry that Ragans was a different pitcher when he came to spring training 2 years ago, and yet Bochy never gave him much of a chance.

Now, it isn't just Bochy, though. Wash was terrible at doing that. Woodward failed in that area as well. It is an industry wide problem. Bochy isn't alone in doing so, but that doesn't keep it from being a counterproductive way of running a team.

The opposite is a problem, too. Allowing guys like Pederson and Semien as much leeway as they are given is counterproductive.

The groupthink in baseball says keep running the veterans out there no matter how terrible they are. There is a completely different way they look at non-veterans, and especially the non-high-draft-pick non-veterans. Playing time is much more often determined by seniority than anything else, even more so than production.

Having Semien playing every day is a great example of what is wrong with the groupthink. Having him hit 5th is borderline organizational treason. These kinds of unwritten rules are bad for the sport.

There is no telling how many younger players, who could have eventually been very good, have given up the sport prematurely, because they were never given enough chances, while veterans occupied roster spots while at the same time stinking up the joint.

The concern that Bochy would sit Osuna too much is a legitimate concern. It will be a concern next year as well. Unlike Semien, Pederson, Grossman, and Garcia, Osuna would have to hit the ground running. He wouldn't be given any runway unless the issue was forced on Bochy either through multiple injuries or through the front office.

 

[Kelleyman]

I am not certain Osuna is ready. I think he will succeed but may hurt the club at first.
Ok letting him play AAA until the break bu. I reason to bring him up unless he is here to stay or start
Batting Marcus 5rh is a headscratcher
Do think Joc will come around
Why not make it all merit based battinf order wise?

sorry I don’t buy that we ruined MLB careers not playing guys like Huff or Foscue
Ragans is complicated and I thought it was too much in the trade
Harris is the only one now I think might improve with playing time
I am about done with Duran offensively. Have to be able to hit and recognize pitches that are not FBs

Not difference between success at AAA and MLB level

 

[saddles]

According to Umpire Auditor, Nick Mahrley was the day's lowest rated umpire. He was awful.

 

[saddles]

sorry I don’t buy that we ruined MLB careers not playing guys like Huff or Foscue

No one said those two had their careers ruined.