Series Thread: Rangers Travel to LAA for Three Games September 25-27

[Kelleyman]

So, you think it is the secrecy factor that I laughed off at being a possibility originally.

I guess I laughed at that possibility because all these guys are going to pitch this series, most likely. They already have to prepare for all of them.

Not a reaction to laugh but I do think there is a slight bit of gamesmanship here but also do think it is legitimately up in the air re Tuesday

All hands on deck until we clinch

 

[saddles]

Anyone looking forward to Sborz being activated soon?

 

[saddles]

One guy the Rangers may be counting on to pitch in relief in 2024 is Brett Martin. They kept him on the 40 man last Fall instead of protecting someone else on the 40, so they value him.

 

[saddles]

do think it is legitimately up in the air re Tuesday

Okay. That goes back to what I asked earlier then. So, you think Bochy hasn't decided who he wants to pitch tomorrow? Do you think he wants who he sees as the best between Heaney and Bradford to pitch tonight, if Gray leaves early, or does he want to save the best to start tomorrow?

 

[Kelleyman]

Okay. That goes back to what I asked earlier then. So, you think Bochy hasn't decided who he wants to pitch tomorrow? Do you think he wants who he sees as the best between Heaney and Bradford to pitch tonight, if Gray leaves early, or does he want to save the best to start tomorrow?

I think he prefers not to pitch Bradford and let him start Tuesday and let Heaney be one or two inning reliever.
But if Gray is pulled early he puts in Bradford
My pure speculation
Of course I also wonder if he brings up someone Tuesday if pen is burned
Does Kent have a shot?

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

Does Kent have a shot?

No, he just pitched.

 

[Kelleyman]

So maybe Sborz is done seeing how JHern was utilized

 

[saddles]

So maybe Sborz is done seeing how JHern was utilized

I believe I read where Sborz would be activated soon.

 

[saddles]

I think he prefers not to pitch Bradford and let him start Tuesday and let Heaney be one or two inning reliever.
But if Gray is pulled early he puts in Bradford
My pure speculation
Of course I also wonder if he brings up someone Tuesday if pen is burned
Does Kent have a shot?

Okay, let's say you are right. That means he really only wants Heaney to go 2 innings max. If Bradford goes in tonight, then isn't tomorrow a bullpen game with Heaney only going 2. If Heaney could go more than 2, wouldn't he be better used tonight and leave the better of the two, in his mind, to start a fresh game and not bring him in when they are already down a few runs?

Or, maybe he only brings in Bradford tonight, if both the Angels and the Rangers have done well offensively, and the game is still very winnable.

Lots of interesting takes and possibilities

 

[scotsman1948]

Anyone looking forward to Sborz being activated soon?

No

 

[scotsman1948]

Okay, let's say you are right. That means he really only wants Heaney to go 2 innings max. If Bradford goes in tonight, then isn't tomorrow a bullpen game with Heaney only going 2. If Heaney could go more than 2, wouldn't he be better used tonight and leave the better of the two, in his mind, to start a fresh game and not bring him in when they are already down a few runs?

Or, maybe he only brings in Bradford tonight, if both the Angels and the Rangers have done well offensively, and the game is still very winnable.

Lots of interesting takes and possibilities

It is all possible

 

[jaar01]

All I know is this: the offense is going to have to carry the day these next 2 games. Gray has stunk for a good while and a bullpen game with Heaney/ Bradford et al sounds bad.

And don't forget Heaney needs 9 more innings to escalate from 13m to 20m next season. That will factor in to his use this week.

 

[Kelleyman]

Okay, let's say you are right. That means he really only wants Heaney to go 2 innings max. If Bradford goes in tonight, then isn't tomorrow a bullpen game with Heaney only going 2. If Heaney could go more than 2, wouldn't he be better used tonight and leave the better of the two, in his mind, to start a fresh game and not bring him in when they are already down a few runs?

Or, maybe he only brings in Bradford tonight, if both the Angels and the Rangers have done well offensively, and the game is still very winnable.

Lots of interesting takes and possibilities

If a close game and Gray goes only 3 or 4 I can see Bradford going in easily.
If Gray does well and goes 6, I see Heaney going in

Really hard to nail down
I don’t think they let Bradford or Heaney do garbage time. Smith might do that

 

[saddles]

The more we discuss this and the more I think about it, I think the mystery is mostly about what our offense does early in tonight's game.

 

[saddles]

Let's score early and often tonight and let Gray go 6 or7 innings.

If that happens, I think we'll see Heaney start tomorrow but with a very short leash.

 

[scotsman1948]

If a close game and Gray goes only 3 or 4 I can see Bradford going in easily.
If Gray does well and goes 6, I see Heaney going in

Really hard to nail down
I don’t think they let Bradford or Heaney do garbage time. Smith might do that

Exactly the level of tonight’s game will impact what happens tomorrow so that’s why nothing has been decided about tomorrow

 

[scotsman1948]

The more we discuss this and the more I think about it, I think the mystery is mostly about what our offense does early in tonight's game.

Exactly. Our offense has a pattern of shutting down after a big series. Point of fact: the Cleveland series after the big trashing of Toronto

 

[WilltheThrill]

Anyone looking forward to Sborz being activated soon?

No. Capital letters NO. Don’t care if he throws 3 scoreless initially, he will blow up and cost us an important game soon enough.

 

[scotsman1948]

I don’t know what the team has planned for tomorrow but I do know that we don’t take at least 2 from the Angels we could easily find ourselves outside the playoffs looking in