The future is now, old man: CWS @ TEX 8/4-7

[saddles]

Scott Lucas' report on the Frisco game last night:

Aaron Zavala: 3-4, 2B, .429/.538/.810
1B Blaine Crim: 3-4, .282/.347/.462
3B Justin Foscue: 1-4, HR (8), .281/.363/.467
2B Luisangel Acuna: 2-4, 2B

Through 4.2 innings, Jack Leiter was at a spiffy 64 pitches and had allowed two hits and a walk while striking out three. Then: double by ex-Ranger Ti'Quan Forbes, eight-pitch walk, five-pitch walk (including a wild pitch), single, and finally a strikeout. Leiter has the worst strand rate (56%) in the system among starting pitchers because of nights like these.

Justin Foscue is now up to four homers in a week-and-a-half since my podcast partners wondered where his power was. Early returns on Aaron Zavala and Luisangel Acuna in AA are excellent.

 

[saddles]

Winn goes tonight.

 

[saddles]

 

[Kelleyman]

 

[DTC]

Little surprised
Previous 4 years were very good

Guardians Designate Franmil Reyes For Assignment

The Guardians have designated DH/outfielder Franmil Reyes for assignment, reports Zack Meisel of The Athletic. Though his 2022 numbers have …

www.mlbtraderumors.com

 

[saddles]

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Any word on Woody stepping down? Because that's not a Woody lineup.

 

[DTC]

Nice to see the young guys in the lineup
Would rather see Smith at 3B, Duran at DH and Leody in LF(if not CF).

Duran has made quite a few errors (5, .937 fielding percent) and a few other blunders that didn’t go down as errors.

 

[saddles]

Duran has made quite a few errors (5, .937 fielding percent) and a few other blunders that didn’t go down as errors.

Isn't that to be expected while he learns the position though?

 

[DTC]

Isn't that to be expected while he learns the position though?

They have Smith who has shown he can play 3B
Smith is ranked 4th in fielding percent vs the other 40 players with at least 200 innings at 3B
Duran is ranked 38th.
It’s a small sample size but feel like they’re catering to Duran because “he doesn’t wanna play the outfield”

Durans speed is 95th percentile
Josh Smith is 74th
Duran would probably be a better OF imo

 

[DTC]

 

[saddles]

Nice to see the young guys in the lineup
Would rather see Smith at 3B, Duran at DH and Leody in LF(if not CF).

Duran has made quite a few errors (5, .937 fielding percent) and a few other blunders that didn’t go down as errors.

If the Rangers couldn't sign any free agents, how would you want the lineup to look in 2024.

There are a lot of ways to go with this but here is one.

C Huff
1B Foscue
2B Semien
3B Jung
SS Seager
LF Harris
RF Duran
CF Smith
DH Crim

Maybe in 2025 move Seager to 1B and Semien to DH with Smith and Foscue moving back to SS and 2B. Carter takes over in CF. Duran goes to DH with Zavala replacing him in RF. Or Acuna at SS in 2025.

Like I said, there are many ways it could work out. And, we will certainly sign at least one more position player FA, I would think.

 

[saddles]

They have Smith who has shown he can play 3B
Smith is ranked 4th in fielding percent vs the other 40 players with at least 200 innings at 3B
Duran is ranked 38th.
It’s a small sample size but feel like they’re catering to Duran because “he doesn’t wanna play the outfield”

Durans speed is 95th percentile
Josh Smith is 74th
Duran would probably be a better OF imo

I don't think they are catering to Duran. Now sign him to a long term extension and that might change, especially if there are horses involved.

 

[DTC]

I don't think they are catering to Duran. Now sign him to a long term extension and that might change, especially if there are horses involved.

Damn Roogie lol

 

[DTC]

If the Rangers couldn't sign any free agents, how would you want the lineup to look in 2024.

There are a lot of ways to go with this but here is one.

C Huff
1B Foscue
2B Semien
3B Jung
SS Seager
LF Harris
RF Duran
CF Smith
DH Crim

Maybe in 2025 move Seager to 1B and Semien to DH with Smith and Foscue moving back to SS and 2B. Carter takes over in CF. Duran goes to DH with Zavala replacing him in RF. Or Acuna at SS in 2025.

Like I said, there are many ways it could work out. And, we will certainly sign at least one more position player FA, I would think.

2024

C-Heim
1B-Jung
2B-Semien
3B-Seager
SS-Acuna
LF-Smith/Duran platoon
CF-Taveras
RF-Adolis
DH-Foscue

Bench- Smith/Duran, Viloria, Thompson, Ornelas

I would trade Sam Huff, Dustin Harris, Vanasco, Roby and Lowe for the best pitcher I could get this off-season.

If those prospects go on the be elite I wouldn’t sweat it because they probably wouldn’t have enough room here to ever get the chance to shine anyway

 

[saddles]

 

[Kelleyman]

Any word on Woody stepping down? Because that's not a Woody lineup.

Listening to s tRs get podcast with Bass Tepid and Lucas. They think his job is on the line. But what does anybody know. They thought Miller might be released which I think not but he is not in the lineup

 

[DTC]

Listening to s tRs get podcast with Bass Tepid and Lucas. They think his job is on the line. But what does anybody know. They thought Miller might be released which I think not but he is not in the lineup

One thing I’ll say about Woody, he doesn’t really have a competent team to be considered doing better than they are.
One could look at the 1 run games in a different light as well.. man, look how close woody is to helping his team win those games..
When Kole and Miller were brought in on multi million $ contracts he almost has to play them??
I’d wait till next off-season before doing anything with woody..
That is unless there’s is general discontent in the clubhouse we are not currently aware of

 

[Kelleyman]

One thing I’ll say about Woody, he doesn’t really have a competent team to be considered doing better than they are.
One could look at the 1 run games in a different light as well.. man, look how close woody is to helping his team win those games..
When Kole and Miller were brought in on multi million $ contracts he almost has to play them??
I’d wait till next off-season before doing anything with woody..
That is unless there’s is general discontent in the clubhouse we are not currently aware of

Yeah I don’t think anything will happen during the season and will not happen.

Re Playing the vets. Ok before break but do not JD/CY say something about looking at the rookies they second half which looks like they are doing today. I am not as lenient on the one run games and his general tenor of coddling on losses runs me the wrong way
On his behalf, he has a sorry pen but Hernandez O am excited about

 

[saddles]

Yeah I don’t think anything will happen during the season and will not happen.

Re Playing the vets. Ok before break but do not JD/CY say something about looking at the rookies they second half which looks like they are doing today. I am not as lenient on the one run games and his general tenor of coddling on losses runs me the wrong way
On his behalf, he has a sorry pen but Hernandez O am excited about

You just have to look at the decisions he makes and not the record.