The Officially Official Off Season Thread (2016)

[donaldson79]

Hamilton/Ruggiano/Rua are my guesses to log 75% of the ABs in LF this year anyway

And I'll be OK with this really.

In fact, I'd really love to see Rua have a nice bounce-back season.

 

[saddles]

And I'll be OK with this really.

In fact, I'd really love to see Rua have a nice bounce-back season.

Definitely. With the top 3 prospects only a few months away Rua only has a fairly small window to show much. I hope he gets that opportunity.

 

[saddles]

not ready to bench DDJ until we see if what he did last year continues. he was a catalyst leading off for us.

I am fine with him in CF for the time being.

 

[donaldson79]

I am fine with him in CF for the time being.

Me too!

I think some need to remember what a catalyst he was in the LO position, and how much he meant to our overall offensive production. He scored 49% of the time while reaching base.

This may be wishful thinking, but I am reserving my evaluation on how good he'll be in CF after getting his first real opportunity in 2015 after moving from INF, until we see him in ST.

 

[Kelleyman]

Mazara is no slouch on D.

My thought is Brinson is a much better CF than DDJ who is probably better than JOSHY

 

[Kelleyman]

But he doesn't play CF, which is the distinction between the 2, if they're reasonably close offensively, and the OF defense sucks, then it makes sense to bring up Brinson and move Deshields to LF, where he's a much better fit defensively

And there's a big difference between being average in LF/RF (which is what Mazara is seen at right now) and being above average in CF (which is where Brinson is)

Nobody was saying Mazara is bad on defense, Brinson is just that much better

Agree CF is a premium defensive position

 

[Kelleyman]

DDJ hS been scouted and teams are running on him. That is why he is benched with a lead. My guess is we go with a back up like Stubbs and roll the same way until Josh hits DL. Rely like DDJ in lineup but his arm hurts us

 

[scotsman1948]

DDJ hS been scouted and teams are running on him. That is why he is benched with a lead. My guess is we go with a back up like Stubbs and roll the same way until Josh hits DL. Rely like DDJ in lineup but his arm hurts us

this makes sense to me.

 

[Duane1952]

Diekman agrees to one year deal. Moreland only unsigned Ranger.

 

[saddles]

 

[donaldson79]

I hope he gets that opportunity.

It's up to him to make his opportunity. It looks like ST is shaping up to be quite competitive and if he doesn't force himself into the conversation for time in LF, that'll all be on him.

 

[DT LUNA]

It's up to him to make his opportunity. It looks like ST is shaping up to be quite competitive and if he doesn't force himself into the conversation for time in LF, that'll all be on him.

You're pretty sharp this morning and I agree with you.

 

[donaldson79]

You're pretty sharp this morning and I agree with you.

Well thank you sir.

Big fan of Rua's and hope he shows playing his best. But the ball is in his court now, and this could be a make-it-or-break-it season for him. It would be terrific for him and us too if this happened, obviously. For one thing it would help put a little bit of a buffer/comfort zone between our 3 youngsters and a rush to Arlington.

 

[saddles]

It's up to him to make his opportunity. It looks like ST is shaping up to be quite competitive and if he doesn't force himself into the conversation for time in LF, that'll all be on him.

I am thinking with the acquisition of Ruggiano that it will take more than a great ST from Rua for him to get an opportunity. I think it would actually take an injury and/or a longterm struggle on Ruggiano's part for Rua to get an opportunity.

 

[donaldson79]

I am thinking with the acquisition of Ruggiano that it will take more than a great ST from Rua for him to get an opportunity. I think it would actually take an injury and/or a longterm struggle on Ruggiano's part for Rua to get an opportunity.

You may be 100% correct on this too.

I wonder if they may try and convert Rua to a super-utility player.

 

[saddles]

You may be 100% correct on this too.

I wonder if they may try and convert Rua to a super-utility player.

It is just a shame that he got hurt right at the beginning of the year last year. That might have been his only opportunity he gets here to play on an everyday basis.

Between him and Cordell we may have a couple of future super-utility players here in the future. The Kivlehan kid we got from Seattle can play all 4 corner positions and he is close to being ready. Then there is the talk of turning Josh Morgan into a catcher who can also play both 3B and SS as well.

 

[jta4437]

It is just a shame that he got hurt right at the beginning of the year last year. That might have been his only opportunity he gets here to play on an everyday basis.

Between him and Cordell we may have a couple of future super-utility players here in the future. The Kivlehan kid we got from Seattle can play all 4 corner positions and he is close to being ready. Then there is the talk of turning Josh Morgan into a catcher who can also play both 3B and SS as well.

Josh Morgan is suddenly a lot more intriguing to me haha

 

[DT LUNA]

I am thinking with the acquisition of Ruggiano that it will take more than a great ST from Rua for him to get an opportunity. I think it would actually take an injury and/or a longterm struggle on Ruggiano's part for Rua to get an opportunity.

Josh will see to it that Rua gets a chance if he produces at ST.

 

[Kelleyman]

I would like to think the Mgr is creating an environment in which the best players get the most playing time. And regardless of who Josh is and what he was with or without an injury, I do not think he is a slam dunk for LF. We never thought Prince would relent for 1B dude to "political correctness" but we were wrong about that. If Rua is the best player he should play LF. He has never played up to potential in the bigs YET. Yes it is on him 100%.

 

[saddles]

Josh will see to it that Rua gets a chance if he produces at ST.

Doesn't he have to get past both Josh and Ruggiano though? If Rua batted as a lefty he could platoon with Ruggiano, but he isn't. That is why I think it would take both an injury to Josh and a long slump by Ruggiano for Rua to get any kind of opportunity and even then it would have to be very early or they might bring up one of our top 3 prospects instead.