Texas Rangers Spring Training 2020

[WilltheThrill]

There's a lot to unpack here. What does "the owners care nothing about their players" even mean in this context, and what does that have to do with "greed?" And how would the players (or their wives) come to the conclusion that the "only reason" the owners cared about being in the postseason was ticket sales?

Not trying to defend the owners here. But I think it's important to note that the demographic of "wives of professional athletes" does have a few negative stereotypes, based on a lot of examples we've seen.

What I can say about the wives/families I was privileged to be around frequently (and in a few cases even get to know on a personal level) is that they were some of the most down to earth and nicest people you would want to meet. I know exactly what you mean about the common stereotype of the gossipy/materialistic/gold digger player wives who are out there, but the families I was around were just that- VERY family-oriented.

I’ll clarify a little further and give you guys some extra tidbits. A good majority of my time with the team was spent about an hour or so after many games down in the player’s garage and the family reception room attached to the garage, which was where the wives, kids, and friends of the players would meet up with them after each game. I was escorted down there by Jackie Moore’s wife (who my whole family is friends with) or by Hoggy (the Rangers’ clubhouse manager), also a family friend.

I got to meet almost every one on the team over those 2 years. Here is what I quickly learned about a lot of the guys:

JD- I spoke to him all of ONE time, and it was a very brief “hello” after I was introduced to him. JD was NEVER around.

Mike Maddux- HUGE country boy, drove a big red pickup and wore big belt buckles. Very friendly.

Ron Washington- never met him or even saw him. Not. Once. Don’t know where he was. Didn’t ask.

Josh Hamilton- he and his wife Katie were always the first to leave and never stuck around to hang out with anyone. Katie was NOT well-liked by anyone. That’s putting it nicely. I never saw Josh’s girls there. So needless to say, I never talked to Josh even one time.

CJ Wilson- arrogant douchebag to the extreme. He and his arm candy never stuck around that long, and he acted like he was too good for everyone there. Most of the team would say bye to one another as they left. CJ never said a word to any of them. My lasting memory of him was him getting into his Porsche, revving the motor, and then peeling out of the parking garage as Hoggy shook his head and rolled his eyes.

Vlad Guerrero- MASSIVE dude. He’s even bigger looking up close in street clothes. Soft spoken and kind of quiet, but pleasant and friendly.

Nelly Cruz- also a big dude, and also a pretty nice guy. Didn’t get to talk to him much though.

Elvis Andrus- insanely nice and personable young guy. I get tired of his antics sometimes during games, but it’s impossible to dislike the guy because he was so amazingly kind to both me and my parents. He was just a kid then, and yet he took the time to have a 30-minute conversation with me the first time I met him. He talked like we were old friends. And after seeing me down there a few times, he even remembered my name. Just a great guy.

Mike Young- he and his wife Cristina were as nice as they could be. His son Mateo was a cute kid and well-mannered. And I got to know them because, oddly enough, they lived 3 doors down from me for one year before they bought a house in Highland Park. After they moved out, Mike kept the house and let Marlon Byrd live there for a year, and then after Marlon moved, Colby Lewis lived there.

Colby Lewis- just an awesome guy. He’s every bit the family man and red-blooded American he comes off as on tv. He and his family couldn’t have been any nicer, and when I mentioned to him I had seen him out walking on our street, he started asking me all about what restaurants nearby were good and how I liked the neighborhood. I will always be a Colby Lewis fan.

David Murphy- just like Colby Lewis, Murph too was a super family guy. He and his family always stuck around a long time and talked with everyone. His kids remembered me because I helped them get ice cream sandwiches out of the freezer once, and so they would always ask me to get their ice cream for them. But Murph was just a ridiculously nice guy.

Ian Kinsler- seemingly nice guy overall. His wife Tess was always really nice. Ian didn’t really say much to me, but I can’t blame him. I was just some random dude he didn’t know.

Endy Chávez and his family were really nice. I got to meet Misty May-Treanor during the World Series, but she was never around during the regular season. It was always just Matt. Never met Cliff Lee or Mike Napoli... not sure where they were. Never met Neftali Feliz either.

Anyway, the point to all of those stories is that the people I did meet and hang out with were very family-oriented and NOT the gossipy or superficial types. In fact, the topic of Davis and Simpson wasn’t even brought up but a few times. And when it was, the wives talked about it as though the info came straight from their husbands. It was talked about in a matter-of-fact way, like it was no big secret they weren’t well liked by the players. Furthermore, since I knew both Jackie Moore and Hoggy, I heard it straight from them where Davis and Simpson’s interests lied. So because the group of players and wives I got to know and my two good friends all said the same exact thing about those two owners, I believed them.

And I think the comment about them not caring about their players was more or less meant to be that Davis and Simpson were detached and more interested in their players as financial assets versus wanting to get to know them well. I don’t think they meant that the owners were uncaring monsters.

 

[WilltheThrill]

And I didn’t realize how much I had rambled on until I just saw how long my post was. Haha. Don’t blame anyone for not reading all of that. Once I started down memory lane there, I just kind of kept on going. Those were fun times to be a fan.

 

[saddles]

And I didn’t realize how much I had rambled on until I just saw how long my post was. Haha. Don’t blame anyone for not reading all of that. Once I started down memory lane there, I just kind of kept on going. Those were fun times to be a fan.

I enjoyed reading all of it.

 

[Uncle Siggy]

Who Else Could The Red Sox Target In Trades?

1st name after Myers is interesting

Oh gee look another article where the big, long term contract for the "average/below average stat" free agent blew up in the teams face "AGAIN" and now they want to get rid of it/him

 

[Kelleyman]

This is a real good read and detailed re Astros and technology in the game. Maybe the best I have read in a while.

 

[Kelleyman]

Side note re last article

Big decisions ahead with CBA etc.

And BTW the 3 pitcher rule is dumb. Making fixes after other dumb fixes to shorten the game. The instant replay length is a beat down

 

[Uncle Siggy]

Side note re last article

Big decisions ahead with CBA etc.

And BTW the 3 pitcher rule is dumb. Making fixes after other dumb fixes to shorten the game. The instant replay length is a beat down

I don't really see where they're going to be able to shorten the game when the average fan seems to be more interested in seeing runs scored, which takes time. Shorter well pitched defensive games are boring to them and they won't go if they feel they're not going to be entertained. Also concessions make more money the longer the game goes on so they'll catch blowback from them too.

All I can say is good luck to MLB in getting what they want...

 

[saddles]

Side note re last article

Big decisions ahead with CBA etc.

And BTW the 3 pitcher rule is dumb. Making fixes after other dumb fixes to shorten the game. The instant replay length is a beat down

I am a big fan of the three hitter rule. I have wanted something like that for a long time.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

I don't really see where they're going to be able to shorten the game when the average fan seems to be more interested in seeing runs scored, which takes time. Shorter well pitched defensive games are boring to them and they won't go if they feel they're not going to be entertained. Also concessions make more money the longer the game goes on so they'll catch blowback from them too.

All I can say is good luck to MLB in getting what they want...

I think the key is shorter at bats and less walks, but accomplishing that is really difficult. The love affair with "working the pitchers" or working the count, is a big source of the problem to me. I am not sure if there is any answer.

As a baseball fan. I find nothing wrong with a 2 hour 45 minute game. It is when they go beyond 3 hours that starts to bother me.

 

[jta4437]

And I didn’t realize how much I had rambled on until I just saw how long my post was. Haha. Don’t blame anyone for not reading all of that. Once I started down memory lane there, I just kind of kept on going. Those were fun times to be a fan.

Always appreciate the insight, read it all... better than reading a another short post about how Odor/JD suck

 

[jta4437]

I think the key is shorter at bats and less walks, but accomplishing that is really difficult. The love affair with "working the pitchers" or working the count, is a big source of the problem to me. I am not sure if there is any answer.

As a baseball fan. I find nothing wrong with a 2 hour 45 minute game. It is when they go beyond 3 hours that starts to bother me.

Honestly i don't even notice the length of a game... i actually like baseball

 

[Nightcrawler]

It’s disappointing, but Duffy and Bird haven’t done shit so far.

I was hoping they would at least push Guzman to hit better.

 

[saddles]

Honestly i don't even notice the length of a game... i actually like baseball

If the Rangers are batting a long time I love it. If the opposition is batting a long time I hate it. So, I guess for me, a long game could be a lot of fun or it could be awful.

 

[DT LUNA]

It’s disappointing, but Duffy and Bird haven’t done shit so far.

I was hoping they would at least push Guzman to hit better.

Someone needs to alright.

 

[Kelleyman]

I think the challenge to NY with video replay and its long tenuous delay is my biggest beef in the slow play of baseball. I don't have a problem with limiting mound trips and even pitch clocks if not too legalistic.

Changes to offset bad past changes is bogus

 

[Kelleyman]

It’s disappointing, but Duffy and Bird haven’t done shit so far.

I was hoping they would at least push Guzman to hit better.

Not sure re Duffy but Byrd has hit the ball hard with no luck. It is still a small sample size. To me that is a good sign

 

[Kelleyman]

PSA
Single game tickets go on sale this Friday.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Not sure re Duffy but Byrd has hit the ball hard with no luck. It is still a small sample size. To me that is a good sign

oh ok.

spring training I just look at the box scores. Don’t think about it too much.

odor and Guzman need as much competition as humanly possible. When those guys get comfortable. They play awful.

 

[Uncle Siggy]

I think the key is shorter at bats and less walks, but accomplishing that is really difficult. The love affair with "working the pitchers" or working the count, is a big source of the problem to me. I am not sure if there is any answer.

As a baseball fan. I find nothing wrong with a 2 hour 45 minute game. It is when they go beyond 3 hours that starts to bother me.

About the only time I have a problem with the game length is when they have a rain delay, after about an hour I'm ready for good food and refreshments in another zip code. Once in awhile all of the "non strategy" sessions on the mound get on my nerves but usually I'm good.