Texas Rangers Spring Training 2020

[Uncle Siggy]

One of the biggest scandals in baseball history is currently unfolding - involving the Rangers' bitter rival - and all this board can do is piss and moan about who has the best guess as to how the Rendon contract offer played out.

The ones I like the most are the ones who are pissed at the management because "Player X" wasn't signed even though they have no clue exactly what was said in those negotiations For some reason they don't realize players are human beings and have likes/dislikes, wants/desires. (They conveniently seem to forget the recent past of FAs not wanting to play in Texas all year long in what they consider to be the stifling heat)

I.E. not everything revolves around $...

 

[DT LUNA]

The ones I like the most are the ones who are pissed at the management because "Player X" wasn't signed even though they have no clue exactly what was said in those negotiations For some reason they don't realize players are human beings and have likes/dislikes, wants/desires. (They conveniently seem to forget the recent past of FAs not wanting to play in Texas all year long in what they consider to be the stifling heat)

I.E. not everything revolves around $...

Could not agree more. Expressed earlier that I do not believe Rendon wanted to play in Texas. If he did he would have found a way. Boras is tough but he still works for the players. You made some good points.

 

[Kelleyman]

Could not agree more. Expressed earlier that I do not believe Rendon wanted to play in Texas. If he did he would have found a way. Boras is tough but he still works for the players. You made some good points.

Yes it just bites because some how Texas needs some elite players in the lineup to contend in years to come and 3B was obvious building block.

 

[WilltheThrill]

The ones I like the most are the ones who are pissed at the management because "Player X" wasn't signed even though they have no clue exactly what was said in those negotiations For some reason they don't realize players are human beings and have likes/dislikes, wants/desires. (They conveniently seem to forget the recent past of FAs not wanting to play in Texas all year long in what they consider to be the stifling heat)

I.E. not everything revolves around $...

So when zero impact players are signed, we should all just pretend that money DIDN’T play a factor? There is a long list of players who could have significantly improved the roster... specifically the infield... and not one of them signed with the Rangers. Are you honestly going to make the argument that we went after all of them and offered plenty of money and they all chose to sign elsewhere for “other reasons”?

Money is the primary deciding factor in the majority of free agent decisions. The player’s union makes sure of that. Sure, some guys turn down slightly better offers for personal reasons. But money still rules the day in general.

 

[Kelleyman]

 

[saddles]

The ones I like the most are the ones who are pissed at the management because "Player X" wasn't signed even though they have no clue exactly what was said in those negotiations For some reason they don't realize players are human beings and have likes/dislikes, wants/desires. (They conveniently seem to forget the recent past of FAs not wanting to play in Texas all year long in what they consider to be the stifling heat)

I.E. not everything revolves around $...

Lol

We know when players choose other teams for non-financial reasons. Cliff Lee did. We know when we didn't really get to negotiate because we went about the process wrong. That happened with Rendon.

Those stories come out either while negotiations are going on or afterwards. This isn't some secret meeting of the Masons at the Masonic Lodge or something with secret handshakes involved. Lol

Once again, I never hear the "you really don't know how that happened" flimsy argument as a counter argument when someone takes a pro front office stance. It is only used in a one sided manner against those who take a non-pro front office stance.

These discussions are becoming very comical.

Newsflash: no one is going to take away your Texas Rangers Fan Card if you dare to think the front office has made some very serious blunders which have set the team's return to prominence back. You can love the team, the franchise, the stadium, and the nachos and still think the front office is doing a poor job overall.

 

[saddles]

The idea that a guy from Texas didn't want to play for the one team in Texas that is not under a cloud and for a team with a brand new state of the art stadium is silly. He didn't value all of that over money, but he surely didn't have an inclination to not want to play here. He didn't exactly go to a team with an immediately bright future, so it didn't have anything to do with how food we are presently.

There has not been one quote saying he didn't want any part of playing here. Claiming he didn't want to play here is just grasping at straws to try and feebly prop up our upper management.

Comical!!!

 

[Kelleyman]

Lol

We know when players choose other teams for non-financial reasons. Cliff Lee did. We know when we didn't really get to negotiate because we went about the process wrong. That happened with Rendon.

Those stories come out either while negotiations are going on or afterwards. This isn't some secret meeting of the Masons at the Masonic Lodge or something with secret handshakes involved. Lol

Once again, I never hear the "you really don't know how that happened" flimsy argument as a counter argument when someone takes a pro front office stance. It is only used in a one sided manner against those who take a non-pro front office stance.

These discussions are becoming very comical.

Newsflash: no one is going to take away your Texas Rangers Fan Card if you dare to think the front office has made some very serious blunders which have set the team's return to prominence back. You can love the team, the franchise, the stadium, and the nachos and still think the front office is doing a poor job overall.

Hahaha maybe approach was wrong with Rendon but Boras as a businessman should try as a general rule to get as much as he should for his client and his pocket. Refusing to have further negotiation goes against this. Unless his client Rendon told him.... I want to play for Angels and their elite players.

I do agree you are allowed to keep your long standing Rangers fan card though lol

 

[Uncle Siggy]

Lol

We know when players choose other teams for non-financial reasons. Cliff Lee did. We know when we didn't really get to negotiate because we went about the process wrong. That happened with Rendon.

Those stories come out either while negotiations are going on or afterwards. This isn't some secret meeting of the Masons at the Masonic Lodge or something with secret handshakes involved. Lol

Once again, I never hear the "you really don't know how that happened" flimsy argument as a counter argument when someone takes a pro front office stance. It is only used in a one sided manner against those who take a non-pro front office stance.

These discussions are becoming very comical.

Newsflash: no one is going to take away your Texas Rangers Fan Card if you dare to think the front office has made some very serious blunders which have set the team's return to prominence back. You can love the team, the franchise, the stadium, and the nachos and still think the front office is doing a poor job overall.

This sure is a long round about way of saying "I'm right and you're wrong".

It would have been easier to just post a link to the transcripts of the negotiations between the Rangers and the players agents that you got your info from, then the rest of us could determine for ourselves what really happened.

 

[Uncle Siggy]

So when zero impact players are signed, we should all just pretend that money DIDN’T play a factor? There is a long list of players who could have significantly improved the roster... specifically the infield... and not one of them signed with the Rangers. Are you honestly going to make the argument that we went after all of them and offered plenty of money and they all chose to sign elsewhere for “other reasons”?

Money is the primary deciding factor in the majority of free agent decisions. The player’s union makes sure of that. Sure, some guys turn down slightly better offers for personal reasons. But money still rules the day in general.

Some folks don't get all upset when the team management doesn't do exactly what we think should be done, life is so much nicer when you have lower blood pressure

 

[Nightcrawler]

So when zero impact players are signed, we should all just pretend that money DIDN’T play a factor? There is a long list of players who could have significantly improved the roster... specifically the infield... and not one of them signed with the Rangers. Are you honestly going to make the argument that we went after all of them and offered plenty of money and they all chose to sign elsewhere for “other reasons”?

Money is the primary deciding factor in the majority of free agent decisions. The player’s union makes sure of that. Sure, some guys turn down slightly better offers for personal reasons. But money still rules the day in general.

to add to what will said,

we had so many positions that could’ve and most would argue should’ve been upgraded after we failed to get rendon. I don’t think most people are specifically upset about just rendon, it’s the big picture.

we still have an extremely questionable infield. Odor and Elvis combined to be the worst middle infield last year. Condor shit the bed and had to be demoted to triple A and Cabrera was a band aid who didn’t really work out. He played 5X better for the nationals at his natural position than he did for us.

in my mind, Elvis kind of gets a pass because he’s the only link to the old World Series team. We can keep him for leadership reasons or whatever.

odor and condor need to be on THIN ICE. However, we all know the front office has the tendency to say the right things, but when the moment comes where a decision needs to be made they always puss out and say “ we believe in our guys”.

I really don’t know why we have to have BY FAR the most patient front office in Major League Baseball. We undoubtedly do and the approach doesn’t really pay off for us.

You’d think we would have a reputation of “ standing up for our players” and other players would want to come here in free agency, but that approach is undermined by the miserly stooges we have as owners who won’t give FA’s market value or better. The front office is so worried about getting screwed that they keep these bad to mediocre players around who are “ home grown”, “ great guys” who are doing “ all we ask”. I’m over it.

the infield freaking sucks ass. I can’t and won’t overlook it.

DFW is what the 4th largest media market? And yet the team is run more like Tampa bay or Oakland except without the smart people in their organizations.

I’ll always be a ranger fan until I die, but I won’t lie. I hate the infield and I’m disgusted with the front offices lack of effort to upgrade it. We better see some big moves next offseason and some talent upgrades or I fully support a change in the front office of this team.

 

[DT LUNA]

to add to what will said,

we had so many positions that could’ve and most would argue should’ve been upgraded after we failed to get rendon. I don’t think most people are specifically upset about just rendon, it’s the big picture.

we still have an extremely questionable infield. Odor and Elvis combined to be the worst middle infield last year. Condor shit the bed and had to be demoted to triple A and Cabrera was a band aid who didn’t really work out. He played 5X better for the nationals at his natural position than he did for us.

in my mind, Elvis kind of gets a pass because he’s the only link to the old World Series team. We can keep him for leadership reasons or whatever.

odor and condor need to be on THIN ICE. However, we all know the front office has the tendency to say the right things, but when the moment comes where a decision needs to be made they always puss out and say “ we believe in our guys”.

I really don’t know why we have to have BY FAR the most patient front office in Major League Baseball. We undoubtedly do and the approach doesn’t really pay off for us.

You’d think we would have a reputation of “ standing up for our players” and other players would want to come here in free agency, but that approach is undermined by the miserly stooges we have as owners who won’t give FA’s market value or better. The front office is so worried about getting screwed that they keep these bad to mediocre players around who are “ home grown”, “ great guys” who are doing “ all we ask”. I’m over it.

the infield freaking sucks ass. I can’t and won’t overlook it.

DFW is what the 4th largest media market? And yet the team is run more like Tampa bay or Oakland except without the smart people in their organizations.

I’ll always be a ranger fan until I die, but I won’t lie. I hate the infield and I’m disgusted with the front offices lack of effort to upgrade it. We better see some big moves next offseason and some talent upgrades or I fully support a change in the front office of this team.

Agree. Too much to do to worry about the loss of one. But to do nothing,other than pitching, is hard to understand.

 

[Kelleyman]

 

[Nightcrawler]

I really hope we don’t “ Profar” this kid.

 

[DT LUNA]

Mentioned Solak Bird Frazier and Guzman. But no Odor! There is your answer right in front of you Woody. It could all change by the end of ST and hopefully it will if Odor fails after time spent with Cruz.

 

[Kelleyman]

I really hope we don’t “ Profar” this kid.

Profar a fav of mine minus not plays early in career got injured. This is what hurt the most. Perhaps a beef re when they did surgery could be argued.

I root for all Rangers

 

[WastinSomeTime]

So when zero impact players are signed, we should all just pretend that money DIDN’T play a factor? There is a long list of players who could have significantly improved the roster... specifically the infield... and not one of them signed with the Rangers. Are you honestly going to make the argument that we went after all of them and offered plenty of money and they all chose to sign elsewhere for “other reasons”?

Money is the primary deciding factor in the majority of free agent decisions. The player’s union makes sure of that. Sure, some guys turn down slightly better offers for personal reasons. But money still rules the day in general.

I actually find it to be a short list. Rendon. I couldn't care less after that in what was available in regards to the IF.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Mentioned Solak Bird Frazier and Guzman. But no Odor! There is your answer right in front of you Woody. It could all change by the end of ST and hopefully it will if Odor fails after time spent with Cruz.

You may be right and Woody deserves some rope to see how responds to how things go with Odor.

 

[WilltheThrill]

I actually find it to be a short list. Rendon. I couldn't care less after that in what was available in regards to the IF.

Yasmani Grandal would have been a major upgrade over Mathis or Chirinos. And as much as I despise the guy (and am glad we didn’t sign him), Donaldson would have been a substantial upgrade over Todd Frazier. Moustakas would have been better than Frazier as well.

And again, I’m not someone who gets upset when “his players” aren’t signed by the team. I’m also not one to advocate the team going out and buying a bunch of over-priced guys in a foolish bid to try and compete for a title before the team is really ready.

But, like many fans, I want to see progress made toward the future. And there was literally NOTHING done this offseason with an eye on the team’s long-term plans. They signed enough mediocre guys to essentially tread water. That’s all they did. Not one single guy brought in this offseason will be with them in 3-5 years when they are ready to compete, nor was the team improved for this season.

You’re either building a team to win now or in the future. Otherwise, you’re just killing time. I don’t like seeing an entire offseason just wasted. It doesn’t have to be “my plan”, just “a plan”. For instance, I’m not a huge fan of Kris Bryant. But if they put a package together to get him, I could at least say “ok, now we’re at least TRYING to put some pieces in place.” That wouldn’t be my chosen player, but at least it would be a sign of ownership and management making a commitment to winning in the future.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Yasmani Grandal would have been a major upgrade over Mathis or Chirinos. And as much as I despise the guy (and am glad we didn’t sign him), Donaldson would have been a substantial upgrade over Todd Frazier. Moustakas would have been better than Frazier as well.

And again, I’m not someone who gets upset when “his players” aren’t signed by the team. I’m also not one to advocate the team going out and buying a bunch of over-priced guys in a foolish bid to try and compete for a title before the team is really ready.

But, like many fans, I want to see progress made toward the future. And there was literally NOTHING done this offseason with an eye on the team’s long-term plans. They signed enough mediocre guys to essentially tread water. That’s all they did. Not one single guy brought in this offseason will be with them in 3-5 years when they are ready to compete, nor was the team improved for this season.

You’re either building a team to win now or in the future. Otherwise, you’re just killing time. I don’t like seeing an entire offseason just wasted. It doesn’t have to be “my plan”, just “a plan”. For instance, I’m not a huge fan of Kris Bryant. But if they put a package together to get him, I could at least say “ok, now we’re at least TRYING to put some pieces in place.” That wouldn’t be my chosen player, but at least it would be a sign of ownership and management making a commitment to winning in the future.

I understand what you are saying but I really do not want Donaldson or Moustakas. I would rather hold on to the money in hopes of getting something better down the road. But the question most of us have is will they use that money. I was really not thinking of a catcher when it came to the IF situation. So to me the prize was Rendon and after that I did not care.