The Officially Official Off Season Thread (2016)

[saddles]

beginning to feel like we are back with Hicks owning the team

I know what you mean. We do seem stuck at a certain level. It is a higher level than we were stuck at with Hicks though. Of course, with him being bankrupt the situations are very different.

I often read some who try to explain away our budget situation by comparing how much more we spend now than with Hicks. That doesn't make me feel a whole lot better when you realize Hicks was bankrupt and we have had 2 major improvements in the revenue streams since Hicks left. When I read articles by our local media they usually fail to mention those things.

 

[romeo212000]

beginning to feel like we are back with Hicks owning the team

What a dumb fuck thing to say.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

I know what you mean. We do seem stuck at a certain level.

Everything I can find has the Rangers in the Top 10 in payroll. I'm OK with that.

 

[saddles]

Everything I can find has the Rangers in the Top 10 in payroll. I'm OK with that.

I wonder how we will stack up after free agency shakes out. There is still a lot of money to be spent in free agency around the league.

A few weeks back JD said he thought we would wind up somewhere in the top half of the middle third in payroll. That sounds like he expects us to be in the 11-15 range when it is all said and done.

How much lower would we have to go before you would be concerned?

 

[True Rangers Fan]

How much lower would we have to go before you would be concerned?

third place

 

[saddles]

third place

Haha. That wasn't what I meant.

So, I guess you are trying to say that it doesn't matter how we compare to other team's spending? If so, then why even mention that we will be in the Top 10?

There are definitely ways to not be anywhere close to the top in spending and win it all, but it requires rebuilding and we didn't go in that direction when it was an option.

By the way, I am not satisfied with even a 1st place finish. I want to win it all. I want us to build a team that is the best in baseball and doesn't require the mentality of "just make the postseason and anything can happen." I want that mentality to be in the opposing dugout like it was in 2011.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Haha. That wasn't what I meant.

So, I guess you are trying to say that it doesn't matter how we compare to other team's spending? If so, then why even mention that we will be in the Top 10?

There are definitely ways to not be anywhere close to the top in spending and win it all, but it requires rebuilding and we didn't go in that direction when it was an option.

By the way, I am not satisfied with even a 1st place finish. I want to win it all. I want us to build a team that is the best in baseball and doesn't require the mentality of "just make the postseason and anything can happen." I want that mentality to be in the opposing dugout like it was in 2011.

Well, yes and no. I don't think we absolutely have to be Top 5, but there's really no reason for us to not be Top 15. either. I'm of the mentality that you don't have to spend the most to be the best. You have to put together a cohesive team to do that (and things have to fall into place). The Dodgers led the world in payroll and they didn't get out of the NLDS.

I guess my point here is that it's better to spend a good deal of money smarter than it is a great deal of money willy nilly.

 

[Duane1952]

Anybody surprised that Cespedes, Upton and Gordon haven't been signed yet.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Anybody surprised that Cespedes, Upton and Gordon haven't been signed yet.

Kinda. I think the Chris Davis/Orioles situation affected the market a bit. I'm more surprised that Gallardo hasn't landed anywhere, or that Kazmir took so long.

 

[saddles]

Well, yes and no. I don't think we absolutely have to be Top 5, but there's really no reason for us to not be Top 15. either. I'm of the mentality that you don't have to spend the most to be the best. You have to put together a cohesive team to do that (and things have to fall into place). The Dodgers led the world in payroll and they didn't get out of the NLDS.

I guess my point here is that it's better to spend a good deal of money smarter than it is a great deal of money willy nilly.

I never even consider the spending of the Dodgers or the Yankees as something to aspire to. I don't even think we have to be in the top 5, but I do think we should be within striking distance of those clubs in the 4 and 5 spots. Last year we spent $30 million less than the club ranked 5th in spending. If that club doesn't go bankrupt soon then we should have been a lot closer to them than that in my opinion. If that is the best we can do then there is something major wrong with either our other expenditures or with our revenue streams.

 

[saddles]

Anybody surprised that Cespedes, Upton and Gordon haven't been signed yet.

Not yet.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

I don't even think we have to be in the top 5, but I do think we should be within striking distance of those clubs in the 4 and 5 spots..

Why?

 

[donaldson79]

Let's not anyone forget the Mets won the NL with the 21st highest payroll and the Royals won it all with the 16th.

Just sayin..............

 

[saddles]

Let's not anyone forget the Mets won the NL with the 21st highest payroll and the Royals won it all with the 16th.

Just sayin..............

I am more than fine with that approach. However, we went in a different direction a few years back. Had we rebuilt instead of going after Prince and Choo and hanging on to Beltre then we very well might be poised to go on a Royals type run right now.

 

[Duane1952]

Wow, the Cubs have spent 276 million this off season. They're trying to outspend the Dodgers.

 

[saddles]

Why?

Because there have been players available the last few years that could have made us better and we didn't spend to go and get them. A team of our market size should be able to be close to if not in the top 5 unless you have a boatload of good young and cheap major league ready talent to play.

 

[donaldson79]

Wow, the Cubs have spent 276 million this off season

That's pretty astounding isn't it?

Remember when Koufax and Drysdale were vilified for holding out for a combined one million total, per season? ha ha That would be comical in today's world of professional baseball.

 

[Duane1952]

That's pretty astounding isn't it?

Remember when Koufax and Drysdale were vilified for holding out for a combined one million total, per season? ha ha That would be comical in today's world of professional baseball.

Yea. I wouldn't want to saddled with that budget.

 

[donaldson79]

Yea. I wouldn't want to saddled with that budget.

Deal breaker for me too. ha ha

The money available in baseball, sports in general really, is beyond my comprehension level.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Deal breaker for me too. ha ha

The money available in baseball, sports in general really, is beyond my comprehension level.

My boss's father played for the Cowboys from '62 to '72. The (lack of) money those guys got back then is almost incomprehensible.