Series Thread: Rangers Host the Mariners For Four Games July 24-27

[saddles]

A lot of folks expect this to be a pivotal series. They expect one of these two teams to take command of the division. That probably means there will be an even split and absolutely nothing will be decided.

Gore, Eovaldi, deGrom amd Rocker will take the hill for the Rangers in this 4 game set. In all four games the Mariners hold the edge when comparing starting pitchers' ERAs. What offsets that ERA advantage is that the Rangers are a much better hitting team than the Mariners.

The Rangers come into this series a half game up on the Mariners despite a .500 record. Evan Grant mentioned yesterday that in their last 354 games, the Rangers have put up exactly a .500 winning percentage. This is a very mediocre team, at best.

What is also true is that the Rangers farm system is extremely bare. The trades over the last 24 months has done a lot of damage. The mediocrity and the barren system means not only should the Rangers not be buyers at the deadline, but to restore some system depth to help the team rise above mediocrity in the future, this team needs to be sellers. This team is poorly constructed and needs a fairly quick rebuild in order to be able to have a chance a going to another World Series. A massive sell off and then an open pocket book by Ray Davis should allow for a quick rebuild.

That brings us to an ugly conclusion. The Rangers need to be swept by the Mariners. Then they need to lose the series with the Rays and the one against the Astros. It might take every bit of that to convince CY not only to not buy, but to sell. I hate that it has come to this, but I really hope we get swept this weekend.

 

[DTLUNA]

Game is on channel 33

 

[fanman8825]

So if the team goes 1-3 against the Mariners
1-2 against the Rays and 1-2 against the Astros that would put them at 54-58. And that is very possible given who they play. They might still be just 2 games out because the Mariners play 3 games at the Dodgers right after playing us.
I dont think the Rangers have enough on the farm to justify any major trade Sure they could trade Pence Scarborough Castillio Dreiliing Disla but that could be catastrophic for the future of this team.
As much as I dont trust CY there are rumblings that he needs to see this team win and perform better. I honestly dont think he will do another Gore/Kelly type trade. Seriously the pitching is overall awful down on the farm. If he trades away Pence and or Scarborogh it could seal his fate as GM. If the Rangers are 57-55 or 58-54 on deadline day CY may do some smaller⁰ deals like maybe acquire a set up man.
I just dont feel he will cripple the farm despite being a bit uncomfortable with his previous trades.

 

[saddles]

From Jamey Newberg:

• The Arizona Complex League’s regular season ended yesterday, and the Rangers won’t play on in the league’s four-team playoffs. In their season finale, a 21-3 win over the Angels:
  • Josh Owens, making his 12th pitching appearance and hitting in his 40th game, did both for the first time, going 2 for 6 with a grand slam (his ninth homer) and five RBI while allowing one hit (a pop-up single) and fanning one swinging in a scoreless inning. He posted an .814 OPS for the season while registering 24 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings.
  • SS Seong-Jun Kim singled and added a two-run homer (his seventh) and drove in three runs. He pitched only five times this season but had glittering numbers on both sides of the ball: one earned run allowed in 8 2/3 innings (10 strikeouts) plus a .303/.419/.545 (.964 OPS) slash line.
  • C Noah Franklin capped off a huge summer (.363/.426/.627 [1.054 OPS]) by going 3 for 4 with a double. He threw out 25 percent of would-be basestealers this season.
  • OF Braulio Cavero, who earned a late-season promotion after a huge .413/.529/.680 (1.209 OPS) run in the Dominican Summer League, was even more productive in 29 ACL plate appearances, finishing at .480/.552/.880 (1.432 OPS) after yesterday’s two triples and a single.

 

[saddles]

I would imagine several of the ACL guys will be promoted to Hickory or maybe even to Hub City. I really want to see how Franklin, Owens and Kim perform against better competition.

 

[saddles]

Bradford pitches tonight. I hope he gets 3 innings. It appears he is starting every 6 days. That could put him in line to be able to go 5 innings on August 5, and to go 6 innings in August 11.

 

[DTLUNA]

Bradford pitches tonight. I hope he gets 3 innings. It appears he is starting every 6 days. That could put him in line to be able to go 5 innings on August 5, and to go 6 innings in August 11.

I doubt we see the same Bradford. It has been so long getting back but if we do he will be welcomed back with open arms.

 

[saddles]

From Shawn McFarland:

The Rangers have signed LHP Anthony Veneziano to a minor league deal. He’s been in the KBO this season.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

Cody Freeman goes to Round Rock from the ACL.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

From Jeff Wilson:

Jack Leiter said that he will throw off a mound tomorrow with more intensity. If it goes well, his buildup could begin in earnest.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Only 2 teams are worse against lefties than Seattle. Gore will have no excuses if he lays an egg.

 

[Kelleyman]

Strange season

Can’t root for the Rangers to lose but can root for CY to do the right thing and not overhype
We just lost critical games with both JDG and Evo,our potential 1& 2 pitchers if we slip into the playoffs

But Seattle is in the same position. Better pitching but quiet bats

So the question is are we playing just to win a division by default or grow a competitive team for the years to come

 

[saddles]

Strange season

Can’t root for the Rangers to lose but can root for CY to do the right thing and not overhype
We just lost critical games with both JDG and Evo,our potential 1& 2 pitchers if we slip into the playoffs

But Seattle is in the same position. Better pitching but quiet bats

So the question is are we playing just to win a division by default or grow a competitive team for the years to come

I understand the sentiment. I just have to tell myself that I am actually rooting for a much better chance to win in 2027 and beyond. I would take a 10 game losing streak now if that meant we would be better in the future.

I know it is not going to happen though. I can see what is about to happen. It will happen like this;

1) We will go on a streak of winning 7 of 8, or 8 of 10.

2) CY will trade for 2 relievers, 1 or 2 bats, and maybe 1 starting pitcher.

3) We will struggle mightily for 2 to 3 weeks sometime in August or September and fall out of the race.

4) We will play 2027 as a mediocre team again.

5) A year from now we will repeat the whole process again.

I don't know how we get out of this cycle. This is why I never wanted an expanded playoffs, even though this year it is the poor division that is keeping us in it. Most years it has been, and will be, the wildcard race that leads to us making poor decisions.

 

[saddles]

Malcolm Moore moved up 14 spots on MLB Pipeline's Rangers Top 30 list. He is now at #4.

I think they have Rafe Perich way too low at #19. Neither Disla nor Morrobel made the list.

 

[Kelleyman]

I understand the sentiment. I just have to tell myself that I am actually rooting for a much better chance to win in 2027 and beyond. I would take a 10 game losing streak now if that meant we would be better in the future.

I know it is not going to happen though. I can see what is about to happen. It will happen like this;

1) We will go on a streak of winning 7 of 8, or 8 of 10.

2) CY will trade for 2 relievers, 1 or 2 bats, and maybe 1 starting pitcher.

3) We will struggle mightily for 2 to 3 weeks sometime in August or September and fall out of the race.

4) We will play 2027 as a mediocre team again.

5) A year from now we will repeat the whole process again.

I don't know how we get out of this cycle. This is why I never wanted an expanded playoffs, even though this year it is the poor division that is keeping us in it. Most years it has been, and will be, the wildcard race that leads to us making poor decisions.

If I am a betting man we go 5-5 in the next 10 games and we are about in the same position
Seager is still hurt and its division or bust.
Wonder how fast they push Leiter

 

[DTLUNA]

While the Rangers can't even figure out who will be televising games, don't expect CY to do any better.

 

[DTLUNA]

Game is also on BZZR if you don't get cw33

 

[saddles]

From The Prospect Times:

Caden Scarborough's line today against the Drive:

4.1 IP / 1 R / 3 H / 1 BB / WP / 6 SO

16 whiffs

62/48 strikes