Series Thread: Rangers Travel to Houston for Three Games September 5-7

[armadillooutlaw]

I've changed my mind a bunch on this, but If Huff proves he can hit when given the opportunity then I think they have to move on from Garver.
Too injury prone and we have a crap ton of up and coming hitters and will need to make space for some of them. Three catchers seems overkill unless one of them is DH-ing a bunch and honestly Lowe needs to be the full-time DH, IMO.
Duran hasn't been performing very well lately but still have a lot of potential, maybe he would be an enticing trade chip in a bigger package that could help bring back a starting pitcher or a significant bullpen upgrade?

 

[Duane1952]

I like this lineup.

 

[Duane1952]

Howard and White can stay there.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

I've changed my mind a bunch on this, but If Huff proves he can hit when given the opportunity then I think they have to move on from Garver.
Too injury prone and we have a crap ton of up and coming hitters and will need to make space for some of them. Three catchers seems overkill unless one of them is DH-ing a bunch and honestly Lowe needs to be the full-time DH, IMO.
Duran hasn't been performing very well lately but still have a lot of potential, maybe he would be an enticing trade chip in a bigger package that could help bring back a starting pitcher or a significant bullpen upgrade?

There isn't enough time for Huff to prove that before a decision has to be made on Garver for next year.

 

[DT LUNA]

Howard and White can stay there.

Disagree. Howard has no place in Ranger org. Wall Mart is hiring door greeters.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Disagree. Howard has no place in Ranger org. Wall Mart is hiring door greeters.

 

[saddles]

It seems like some are tending to write off Duran. Remember, even though he is hitting .240, that is with only 200 big league at bats and only 278 at bats above the AA level.

Let's compare him to Leody at a similar number of MLB at bats. By the time Leody had reached 200 MLB AB he was hitting 60 points less than Duran is. He also had had more than 1000 at bats above the AA level.

It is really, really, really early to judge Ezequiel Duran. If you are thinking of his defense at 3B, remember that position is still very new to him and he most likely will be playing in the OF if he plays for this team long term. If he does, he will be an OF who can switch and play 2B and SS well, if there is an injury to Semien or Seager. Him and Smith have the potential to be the only OF on our team who are that versatile.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

With how he runs I was nor surprised he injured himself playing an outfield position. His body type is not suited for that.

 

[DTC]

It seems like some are tending to write off Duran. Remember, even though he is hitting .240, that is with only 200 big league at bats and only 278 at bats above the AA level.

Let's compare him to Leody at a similar number of MLB at bats. By the time Leody had reached 200 MLB AB he was hitting 60 points less than Duran is. He also had had more than 1000 at bats above the AA level.

It is really, really, really early to judge Ezequiel Duran. If you are thinking of his defense at 3B, remember that position is still very new to him and he most likely will be playing in the OF if he plays for this team long term. If he does, he will be an OF who can switch and play 2B and SS well, if there is an injury to Semien or Seager. Him and Smith have the potential to be the only OF on our team who are that versatile.

I like his bat. Just don’t like his defense blunders, non heads up plays and terrible slides into bases. He is a rookie though so no big deal..I imagine all that would get much better with some coaching and time..
If 2B was open I would love to have him there.. don’t think he wants to go to LF..I think he has more value in a trade vs trying to force him into LF.

 

[armadillooutlaw]

There isn't enough time for Huff to prove that before a decision has to be made on Garver for next year.

I don't totally agree. He already looked good earlier in the bigs before Woody decided to stop giving him regular at-bats, he's been good in AAA since, and he could potentially get another 80-90 at-bats in the bigs to produce if they will actually play him.
Is that a huge sample? No.
But couple it with the other times (earlier this year before Woody went bonkers, and limited time in 2020) that he's been given REGULAR at-bats and did produce, and yes, a bit of projection, and I think they can and should make a call.

 

[saddles]

don’t think he wants to go to LF

When did he indicate that?

 

[saddles]

I don't totally agree. He already looked good earlier in the bigs before Woody decided to stop giving him regular at-bats, he's been good in AAA since, and he could potentially get another 80-90 at-bats in the bigs to produce if they will actually play him.
Is that a huge sample? No.
But couple it with the other times (earlier this year before Woody went bonkers, and limited time in 2020) that he's been given REGULAR at-bats and did produce, and yes, a bit of projection, and I think they can and should make a call.

To me, it is easy to choose him over Garver right now.

 

[armadillooutlaw]

To me, it is easy to choose him over Garver right now.

Even if he doesn't work out long term, neither is Garver.

 

[saddles]

I like his bat. Just don’t like his defense blunders, non heads up plays and terrible slides into bases. He is a rookie though so no big deal..I imagine all that would get much better with some coaching and time..
If 2B was open I would love to have him there.. don’t think he wants to go to LF..I think he has more value in a trade vs trying to force him into LF.

The thing about having him and/or Smith in the OF, is that when in the future, Carter is ready, you can move one of them back to the IF in place of Semien or Seager to get younger legs in those positions.

Not saying that has to be the long range plan, but it could work. Of course, there are lots of possibilities.

 

[Kelleyman]

Re catching situation

The one thing that makes sense is that it is ideal to have only 2 catchers rostered but we have 3- 4 including Viloria

Garver is due likely some raise on his last year of arbitration at 3.3 million. The question to be asked is that a value sign. He had one great year and injuries have hurt his value

We can alway tender and trade or maybe move Huff. I think we are keeping Heim

To me you don’t just nontender Garver. I guess the market needs to be assessed but yeah having 3 catchers rostered takes a spot likely needed for a pitcher

 

[DT LUNA]

I like his bat. Just don’t like his defense blunders, non heads up plays and terrible slides into bases. He is a rookie though so no big deal..I imagine all that would get much better with some coaching and time..
If 2B was open I would love to have him there.. don’t think he wants to go to LF..I think he has more value in a trade vs trying to force him into LF.

Good bench player IF/OF

 

[Kelleyman]

Now I am going to beat the drum of not overvaluing prospects thinking everyone is ready to grab them. We need pitchers rostered we can use next year but not ones we can’t pitch next year
There may be a couple that we think are earmarked for greatness but other than that why roster just because they eligible for the 1st time?
I guess you can stash pitchers and bury them i the pen but hitters are less likely to be picked up unless a specialist like Bubba was and maybe a utility guy like Ornelas but I doubt he get selected

We have alot if really good hitting prospects but none that are thought to be elite. Would not be bad to move a couple for a great one

 

[saddles]

Would not be bad to move a couple for a great one

Would you do that, if you had a great one and a team wanted to trade you two that you only considered good?

 

[saddles]

overvaluing prospects thinking everyone is ready to grab them.

Not everyone, teams that are rebuilding like we have been.

For example, the last few years, if a prospect like Crim or Englert were left unprotected on another team, I think it would have been wise for the Rangers to pick one or two of them up and keep them on the bench or the pen for a year. Then they could go to AAA the next year. It would certainly have made more sense that picking up DeShields.

 

[Kelleyman]

Would you do that, if you had a great one and a team wanted to trade you two that you only considered good?

Talent is in the eye is the beholder. The rays saw something special with Fairbanks and he delivered. Maybe the same with Lowe. Always some uncertainty