Series Thread: Rangers Travel to Houston For Three Games July 31 - August 2

[saddles]

Just as everyone thought the Mariners series last weekend was the biggest of the season, this one seems to be just as big. Okay, Skip Schumaker seemed to sacrifice yesterday's game for this series. It had better pay off or his decision will look foolish.

Once again, the bats have grown silent. That has been the weakness of the team off and on all season.
This team seems to be missing Josh Jung's bat. Maybe Corey Seager will step right in and help. If the bars don't wake up this series could lead to a swerp by the Astros. Of course, if they do wake up, the Rangers could sweep.

I think this series will help shape CY's trade deadline plan implementation. I know others disagree with that. I think if we play very well in this series, it will embolden him. If not, he may only make a couple more trades like this last one. Meaning, he will not give up much and will only get back a decent reliever and maybe a RH platoon bat.

Some things to keep in mind about what to expect at trading time.

1) The players you might really dislike because they are performing well and you don't expect them to in the future, will not likely be wanted by another team if they feel the same way.

2) A struggling player may be at his low point as far as trade value goes, but he may be at his high point when judged ftom this point going forward. It is a gamble.

3) The Rangers cut payroll the past two seasons in order to reset the CBT. CY's failure to do that last year caused that to have to be the goal again this year. The Rangers did not cut back because Ray Davis is out of money. They can afford to add salary as long as we don't get close to the CBT threshold after bonuses are factored in. I have read that the Rangers can't acquire much payroll, but there is no reason for that to be the case.

4) The Rangers will improve via trades. That will most likely be the case for any postseason opponents as well. In fact, most teams can afford to improve to a greater extent than the Rangers can with the Rangers limited resources, both financially and prospect-wise. Don't expect to improve how competitive we will be against other contenders. Even if we improve, we will most likely be less competitive on paper in four days than we are now, with those other contenders.

 

[fanman8825]

I agree with you on how this series plays out will determine what CY will do. Even if we get swept he will probably make a couple of smaller trades or two that could also help the team in the future.
CY did say he had to see the team win more before deciding on if he will buy at the deadline. A sweep by Houston would probably change things because that would be losing 5 out of the last 6. Forget the Mariners series because that team is a mess right now.
At this point I would like to see a catcher and a relief pitcher added to our roster. I don't see a starter as needed because Montgomery will start soon. I believe it's less than 50/50 that he winds up being formidable. But on the other Bradford may actually be the pitcher that sticks. He may wind up being the one that pitches us into the postseason

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Just as everyone thought the Mariners series last weekend was the biggest of the season, this one seems to be just as big. Okay, Skip Schumaker seemed to sacrifice yesterday's game for this series. It had better pay off or his decision will look foolish.

Once again, the bats have grown silent. That has been the weakness of the team off and on all season.
This team seems to be missing Josh Jung's bat. Maybe Corey Seager will step right in and help. If the bars don't wake up this series could lead to a swerp by the Astros. Of course, if they do wake up, the Rangers could sweep.

I think this series will help shape CY's trade deadline plan implementation. I know others disagree with that. I think if we play very well in this series, it will embolden him. If not, he may only make a couple more trades like this last one. Meaning, he will not give up much and will only get back a decent reliever and maybe a RH platoon bat.

Some things to keep in mind about what to expect at trading time.

1) The players you might really dislike because they are performing well and you don't expect them to in the future, will not likely be wanted by another team if they feel the same way.

2) A struggling player may be at his low point as far as trade value goes, but he may be at his high point when judged ftom this point going forward. It is a gamble.

3) The Rangers cut payroll the past two seasons in order to reset the CBT. CY's failure to do that last year caused that to have to be the goal again this year. The Rangers did not cut back because Ray Davis is out of money. They can afford to add salary as long as we don't get close to the CBT threshold after bonuses are factored in. I have read that the Rangers can't acquire much payroll, but there is no reason for that to be the case.

4) The Rangers will improve via trades. That will most likely be the case for any postseason opponents as well. In fact, most teams can afford to improve to a greater extent than the Rangers can with the Rangers limited resources, both financially and prospect-wise. Don't expect to improve how competitive we will be against other contenders. Even if we improve, we will most likely be less competitive on paper in four days than we are now, with those other contenders.

Considering how we just scored 2 runs not pitching Eovaldi was probably the right thing to do regardless what the results are tonight.

 

[saddles]

Considering how we just scored 2 runs not pitching Eovaldi was probably the right thing to do regardless what the results are tonight.

We could have seen Eovaldi pitching 7 shutout innings, though. As far as blaming Skip, I am not going to let him off the hook because he had no idea we would only score 2 runs.

 

[saddles]

I believe that mental and psychological factors influence hitters sometimes. I can see it affecting the hitters when a manager intentionally decides to use a bullpen game when he doesn't have to.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

We could have seen Eovaldi pitching 7 shutout innings, though. As far as blaming Skip, I am not going to let him off the hook because he had no idea we would only score 2 runs.

I can understand why Skip did it. Each division game is a 2 game swing. Compared to some of the managers we have had in the past he has done a pretty decent job.

 

[Duane1952]

Seagar activated. Smith sent down. Silseth added to roster. Curvelo called up. Santos sent down. Gonzales DFA’d

 

[saddles]

 

[DTLUNA]

What channel is appletv?

 

[Kelleyman]

What channel is appletv?

DT it’s on an app. No channel I know of

 

[Duane1952]

What channel is appletv?

It’s an app that you have to pay a monthly subscription. 12.99 a month

 

[saddles]

From Jamey Newberg's trade rumor report:

• Ken Rosenthal (The Athletic) reports that, even after the trade that brought them RHP Chase Silseth and C Logan O’Hoppe from the Angels, the Rangers “continue to explore other deals. But how hard they push might hinge in part on how they fare this weekend against the Houston Astros.” He adds that Texas is still on the hunt for another reliever, a right-handed-hitting center fielder, and possibly a back-end starting pitcher, but “[c]lub officials do not anticipate filling all three of those needs.”

• Jeff Passan (ESPN) suggests that “[h]ow much more the Rangers do depends on cost, and that goes two ways: in prospects and cash. Texas isn’t trading 20-year-old shortstop Sebastian Walcott, who’s back from elbow surgery and destroying Double-A. Otherwise, they’ve got enough talent in their system to land [Giants 2B Luis] Arraez or potentially an outfield bat — someone to join a lineup that finally has a healthy Wyatt Langford and should soon get Corey Seager back as well.”
• Passan adds that “[e]very team that needs relief pitching — the Yankees, Pirates, White Sox, Rangers, Diamondbacks, Braves, Twins and more — want at least one of [Mets relievers] Luke Weaver, Brooks Raley, A.J. Minter, and Huascar Brazoban. Raley and Minter will move for certain, and Weaver is expected to generate enough interest to warrant dealing him with one year left on his contract.” Minter moved late last night, going to the Twins for two fringe prospects.
• Katie Woo and Fabian Ardaya (The Athletic) report that the Rangers and Phillies have checked in with the Dodgers on right-handed-hitting OF Alex Call, who has had a big year against left-handed pitching. Call is capable in center field but plays more often on the corners.

 

[saddles]

If we trade for a RH bat for the OF, don't get someone who is terrible as hsunst RH pitchers. That just sets you up for a mismatch late in the game after your bench is used up.

In other words, don't trade for Alex Call.

 

[Duane1952]

If we trade for a RH bat for the OF, don't get someone who is terrible as hsunst RH pitchers. That just sots you up for a mismatch late in the game after your bench is used up.

In other words, don't trade for Alex Call.

Call hasn’t shown he can hit and he’s 31. If you’re going to trade for a bat, make it a younger player who is going to be here for 3-4 years. No more rentals.

 

[jaar01]

Ideally we take 2 of 3 and finish this challenging stretch at 8-8 and still in 1st place .

But honestly 1 of 3 is more realistic considering how the Astros have been playing.

If we get swept, I hope , I mean really hope, CY sees that it is not worth pillaging our already thin farm to make deals.

 

[Kelleyman]

No Rafe in Riders lineup. Hmmmm

 

[Senator_fan]

Alvarez is 12-25 against Nate. Have to be nuts to not pitch around him.

 

[DTLUNA]

DT it’s on an app. No channel I know of

Thanks Kell

 

[fanman8825]

No Rafe in Riders lineup. Hmmmm

Interesting

 

[Duane1952]

Alvarez is 12-25 against Nate. Have to be nuts to not pitch around him.

I wouldn’t pitch to him in the series. Make someone else beat you.