Series Thread: Texas comes home to face an old friend in Nelson Cruz.

[saddles]

Then why is he not pitching deeper into games?

He hasn't went over 100 pitches yet so my guess is the team has decided to take it easy on his pitch count. They are being really careful with him. They will likely ease up on that as we get deeper into the season I would expect. It certainly doesn't seem to be a reflection on his pitching.

 

[romeo212000]

OK....never fucking mind.....see ya.

Who pissed in your corn flakes?

 

[jta4437]

He hasn't went over 100 pitches yet so my guess is the team has decided to take it easy on his pitch count. They are being really careful with him. They will likely ease up on that as we get deeper into the season I would expect. It certainly doesn't seem to be a reflection on his pitching.

I will also notice that the 5th and 6th innings have been rough on him this year, lots of stressful situations, he's escaped most times relatively unscathed, but its usually been a signal that he was done

 

[Windingmywatch]

Except Martinez doesn't miss many bats. This means more fouled off pitches and longer at bats.

And quicker to 2 strikes.

(OT -- not sure how that poster was able to post to the old LAA thread. Soon as you locked it yesterday I got the banner reporting it closed. Don't get a post draft window or Quote either. Wish there were a way to post a quote from an older thread to the current one.)

 

[jta4437]

He hasn't went over 100 pitches yet so my guess is the team has decided to take it easy on his pitch count. They are being really careful with him. They will likely ease up on that as we get deeper into the season I would expect. It certainly doesn't seem to be a reflection on his pitching.

Think it might have been you that posted that the way Nick Martinez was pitching is what is key, more use of his slider and where he's throwing his fastball (inside) and attacking hitters and generating ground balls instead of fly balls

He'll always be prone to basehits but as long as the defense is competent behind him and he keeps the walks down, then he should be ok

 

[romeo212000]

And quicker to 2 strikes.

(OT -- not sure how that poster was able to post to the old LAA thread. Soon as you locked it yesterday I got the banner reporting it closed. Don't get a post draft window or Quote either. Wish there were a way to post a quote from an older thread to the current one.)

I think you can. Try the quote+ button and then "insert quotes" and see if it doesn't show up.

 

[RevSader]

"At this rate" is the key. He could not keep those numbers up at this rate if he struck out one per inning either.

What kind of a regression do you have in mind? Do you think he is going to wind up with an ERA north of 4.00 by season's end?

If he doesn't start missing more bars that is a very real possibility.

 

[Bmurph]

• The Rangers likely represent Josh Hamilton‘s last clear chance of reestablishing himself in the big leagues, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale writes. The Rangers appear likely to be getting Hamilton at such a steep discount that he can be a good value for them even if he’s just a bench player. Meanwhile, though, they’ll also have to try to help him as he battles addiction issues that have now caused problems at several points in his career.

 

[Windingmywatch]

His peripherals are not good. He's due for some serious regression. His strike outs are too low.

Which peripherals? His 26.0IP and 94AB aren't going to generate enough of a picture for most metrics. Think his minuscule ERA is more due to LAA batters struggling against pretty much anyone except a few pitchers who are struggling more.

I'll just enjoy watching for awhile to see where it goes. Any guy who graduates from a Jesuit high school and Jesuit college is more than very likely to know how to focus on important things.

 

[saddles]

I will also notice that the 5th and 6th innings have been rough on him this year, lots of stressful situations, he's escaped most times relatively unscathed, but its usually been a signal that he was done

His 5th innings have been pretty good. In 4 games he has given up 2 singles and 1 walk in the 5th. His 6th innings he has given up 4 singles and 1 walk in a total of 4 innings which is not too bad at all. In his 2 games where he has pitched in the 7th he has given up 2 singles and 1 walk. No extra base hits during those 5th, 6th, and 7th innings. In 10 total innings comprising the 5th through 7th inning he has a WHIP of 1.10.

 

[jta4437]

His 5th innings have been pretty good. In 4 games he has given up 2 singles and 1 walk in the 5th. His 6th innings he has given up 4 singles and 1 walk in a total of 4 innings which is not too bad at all. In his 2 games where he has pitched in the 7th he has given up 2 singles and 1 walk. No extra base hits during those 5th, 6th, and 7th innings. In 10 total innings comprising the 5th through 7th inning he has a WHIP of 1.10.

Then I don't know what I'm thinking of, but it always seems like his pitch count balloons the inning before or in which he gets pulled

 

[saddles]

If he doesn't start missing more bars that is a very real possibility.

How many more starts do you think it takes before it can be said that Nick has proven the peripherals wrong as an indicator of his success?

 

[saddles]

Then I don't know what I'm thinking of, but it always seems like his pitch count balloons the inning before or in which he gets pulled

Maybe as Ranger fans we get worked up a little easier than we should with such an anemic offense. That would tend to put us in worry mode a little sooner than we should be at times with our pitching knowing that we aren't going to score very much. Just a theory.

 

[saddles]

Also, isn't there a probability that Nick's ability to strike batters out will increase with experience? He struck out 8.1/9 innings in the minors. He hasn't even had 30 starts in the big leagues. He is just in the beginning of his learning curve still.

 

[Xx srs bsns xX]

Trade official. Here's hoping it all works out and doesnt implode.

 

[Xx srs bsns xX]

And I cant even with some of these comments.........

 

[saddles]

Trade official. Here's hoping it all works out and doesnt implode.

I am happy for him and his family. I hope I wind up being just as happy for myself as a Ranger fan. Kudos to JD for being able to take advantage of the Angels ownership's emotions.

 

[romeo212000]

How many more starts do you think it takes before it can be said that Nick has proven the peripherals wrong as an indicator of his success?

The entire season.

 

[saddles]

The press conference is at 3:30 today. Josh will be there.

 

[romeo212000]

The press conference is at 3:30 today. Josh will be there.

What channel? FoxSW?