Texas Rangers 2021 - 2022 Offseason Thread

[scotsman1948]

I would throw the players a bone by increasing the amount before the penalty tax hits. I think they have proposed going from $210 million to $214 million. Make it $225 and have that escalate each year of the CBA.

Get rid of revenue sharing and get rid of the draft pick penalty for signing a FA with a QO. Teams need to sink or swim.

Leave the draft as it is, with maybe the exception of limiting teams to a top 5 pick no more than 2 years in a row.

Adopt the DH for every team like should have happened a few decades ago.

Do not increase the number of teams in the postseason.

Keep arbitration as it is.

Make it harder for teams trying to game the system and gain an extra year before the player goes to arbitration.

i'm sure the owners would jump on that

 

[saddles]

 

[DT LUNA]

Duck Allen was a force. HOF induction can be a joke unless you are a recognized member of country club. SMH

Happy for Minnie Minoso

 

[saddles]

 

[Kelleyman]

Happy for Minnie Minoso

Funny how I can remember guys who definitely passed the HOF eye test as a kid. Minoso was legendary back in my day but before my time, Allen was not

 

[saddles]

We have discussed the Royals catching prospect, MJ Melendez, a lot this offseason. As of today,, Baseball America projects the 2025 Royals lineup to feature Melendez at catcher and Perez at DH. What they don't say is what the projected lineup is in 2023 and 2024.

 

[Kelleyman]

We have discussed the Royals catching prospect MJ Melendez a lot this offseason. As of today,, Baseball America projects the 2025 Royals lineup to feature Melendez at catcher and Perez at DH. What they don't say is what the projected lineup is in 2023 and 2024.

You really need two catchers. There would be no impetus for the Royals to try to trade one for now

 

[saddles]

Some insight from Scott Lucas:


Seager

Balls hit 95+ MPH have a .522 average and 1.083 slugging percentage during the past three years. Production below 95 drops precipitously; anything below 92 is an out nearly 80% of the time and nearly always a single at best. So, among 2021 Rangers and incoming free agents, who had the highest percentage of plate appearance resulting in a walk/HBP (guaranteed base) or contact at 95+ MPH (high likelihood of serious damage)?

C. Seager, 48%
W. Calhoun, 42%
N. Lowe, 41%
J. Gallo, 41%
M. Semien, 39%
A. Ibanez, 38%
K. Calhoun, 35%
A. Garcia, 35%
J. Heim, 34%
N. Solak, 33%
J. Trevino, 32%
D. Dahl, 30%
I. Kiner-Falefa, 29%
D. Peters, 28%
L. Taveras, 28%
C. Culberson, 28%
E. White, 24%
Y. Hernandez, 23%

Seager stands alone. Among current Rangers, he had the highest hard-hit rate (35%) and the highest walk rate (13%) in 2021. Incidentally, the name that stands out to me in this exercise is Willie Calhoun. Calhoun walked at an acceptable rate in 2021 and hit the ball hard. How did he bat only .250/.310/.381? The answer, best as I can tell, is a higher proportion of grounders and low liners than the average hitter, resulting in a relatively poor .705 slugging percentage on hard-hit balls, second lowest among Rangers with at least 20 in play. Seemingly, if Calhoun could elevate that contact a little, he’d be a force.

On the podcast, Michael Tepid asked how many more years Seager would last at short, and I casually threw out five. After some research, I’d stick to that guess. Since 2011, there have been 234 player-seasons in which someone has manned shortstop for at least 81 of his team’s games. Only 18 (8%) have been by players aged 33 or more, and three were from the very generously handled Derek Jeter. Seager’s Year 33 season will be his sixth as a Range

 

[saddles]

More from Lucas:

Semien

Semien clubbed a career-high 45 homers last year. Not to cast aspersions on his signing, but a repeat is unlikely.

The Baseball Savant site has a fun feature: it takes every player’s homer and uses exit velocity, launch angle and direction to estimate whether it would have escaped any other park. Savant claims that only 32 of his 45 homers would have counted at Globe Life. Only Kansas City (27) ranked lower.

Globe Life does favor pitchers, and Semien’s former home in Toronto favors hitters, but neither is extreme. So why such a huge drop?

Two reasons. One: Because of pandemic restrictions, Semien actually played over half of his games in Dunedin or Buffalo, both of which were more hitter-friendly. Two: Semien hit many homers between the pole and alley in left, which is deeper in Arlington than where he usually played.

Of course, Semien will play only half of his games in Arlington, not all. And, as Sports Illustrated’s Chris Halicke pointed out, he’ll add several games in Houston, where even his most ungainly swings might plate a few runs.

 

[Kelleyman]

 

[Kelleyman]

 

[scotsman1948]

may be the only thing we have going for us

 

[DT LUNA]

may be the only thing we have going for us

What a shame. Rich owners and players punishing the fans that made them wealthy.

 

[Kelleyman]

Some insight from Scott Lucas:


Seager

Balls hit 95+ MPH have a .522 average and 1.083 slugging percentage during the past three years. Production below 95 drops precipitously; anything below 92 is an out nearly 80% of the time and nearly always a single at best. So, among 2021 Rangers and incoming free agents, who had the highest percentage of plate appearance resulting in a walk/HBP (guaranteed base) or contact at 95+ MPH (high likelihood of serious damage)?

C. Seager, 48%
W. Calhoun, 42%
N. Lowe, 41%
J. Gallo, 41%
M. Semien, 39%
A. Ibanez, 38%
K. Calhoun, 35%
A. Garcia, 35%
J. Heim, 34%
N. Solak, 33%
J. Trevino, 32%
D. Dahl, 30%
I. Kiner-Falefa, 29%
D. Peters, 28%
L. Taveras, 28%
C. Culberson, 28%
E. White, 24%
Y. Hernandez, 23%

Seager stands alone. Among current Rangers, he had the highest hard-hit rate (35%) and the highest walk rate (13%) in 2021. Incidentally, the name that stands out to me in this exercise is Willie Calhoun. Calhoun walked at an acceptable rate in 2021 and hit the ball hard. How did he bat only .250/.310/.381? The answer, best as I can tell, is a higher proportion of grounders and low liners than the average hitter, resulting in a relatively poor .705 slugging percentage on hard-hit balls, second lowest among Rangers with at least 20 in play. Seemingly, if Calhoun could elevate that contact a little, he’d be a force.

On the podcast, Michael Tepid asked how many more years Seager would last at short, and I casually threw out five. After some research, I’d stick to that guess. Since 2011, there have been 234 player-seasons in which someone has manned shortstop for at least 81 of his team’s games. Only 18 (8%) have been by players aged 33 or more, and three were from the very generously handled Derek Jeter. Seager’s Year 33 season will be his sixth as a Range

Conversely Eli White is suspect but guess his defense and versatility coming into play

Good point re Willie

 

[Uncle Siggy]

Why a lockout is good for baseball fans. – Rangers Rounding 3rd

www.rangersrounding3rd.com

Lockouts supposedly haven't resulted in any games being cancelled but player strikes have...

 

[Kelleyman]

My my time flies

 

[DT LUNA]

My my time flies

A little pricey at the time

 

[saddles]

My my time flies

I remember General Admission being $2.00 for 13 and under in 1974 and afterwards for a few years. Seems like a 6 Flags ticket was about $18 or so at the time. Gasoline had recently went up to around .50 a gallon.

 

[DT LUNA]

I remember General Admission being $2.00 for 13 and under in 1974 and afterwards for a few years. Seems like a 6 Flags ticket was about $18 or so at the time. Gasoline had recently went up to around .50 a gallon.

Was a first year teacher then and worked a second job and had to listen on the radio. Seems like a dream. Still hard for me to feel sorry for owners and players when it comes to salaries and money.

 

[Kelleyman]

He has a good point

I remember General Admission being $2.00 for 13 and under in 1974 and afterwards for a few years. Seems like a 6 Flags ticket was about $18 or so at the time. Gasoline had recently went up to around .50 a gallon.

it was $2for at least 18 and under for several years I believe. In high school and went with a friend and his Dad quite a bit. Brought my 2 bucks and bought a ticket