The Officially Official Off Season Thread (2016)

[saddles]

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%.

He played up to his potential the first time he came up in 2014 and injuries prevented him from being able to show that he could do it again in 2015. If Rua hits .400 in ST I don't see him starting in LF if Josh is healthy or if Ruggiano hasn't completely lost it in ST. If Ruggiano struggles mightily and Josh is hurt then Rua probably gets his chance if he does well in ST. I think all three of those would have to happen though. At least that is what makes sense to me.

 

[romeo212000]

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.

That depends largely on Ruggiano's performance. Rua will have his chance to beat him out.

 

[saddles]

That depends largely on Ruggiano's performance. Rua will have his chance to beat him out.

Do you think he has a chance to beat Hamilton out without Hamilton being injured?

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

Grant: Chi Chi Gonzalez learned good lesson for 2016 with painful last outing of 2015 | SportsDay

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

This will make you wonder what could have been.

 

[saddles]

Texas Rangers bring on former Baltimore pitcher for depth | SportsDay

 

[jta4437]

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.

Ruggiano is a career .256 hitter, .248 last year, its not like we're talking about a great player here

Based on who we know Ruggiano is it shouldn't be a issue, he's serviceable that's about it, he's a 4th OFer, we need Rua to step up and be the LFer... it's up to Rua at this point

I'm not talking about Hamilton here, bc if he's healthy he'll play, at least against RHPs

I'm talking about the inevitable time in which he gets hurt

 

[donaldson79]

That depends largely on Ruggiano's performance. Rua will have his chance to beat him out.

Do you think he has a chance to beat Hamilton out without Hamilton being injured?

I agree Rua has a chance to beat out Ruggy. But Hamilton, if healthy is going to play.

 

[romeo212000]

Do you think he has a chance to beat Hamilton out without Hamilton being injured?

No.

 

[donaldson79]

• Diamondbacks GM Dave Stewart did not dispute the idea that the D’Backs could parlay their infield depth into a trade to bolster another area, as Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic writes. Stewart also indicated that another GM has already approached him about that idea. “It does give us flexibility and also the dollars saved give us some flexibility as well,” Stewart said. “You guys know we’ve been looking at middle relievers. We’ve been looking at closers. We’ve been looking in those areas to try to get better. If there is a deal out there to be made we have to look at it.”

 

[saddles]

• Matt Garza plans to “pitch selfishly” in 2016, the righty told reporters (including MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy), meaning that he will “stop trying to be someone [else], stop trying to please people and just go out there and be me. I’ve been trying to please people to stay places, and it’s just the point in my career where I’m over it.” Garza said he’s revamped his offseason training procedures to rebound after a tough 2015 season that saw him leave the team after he was removed from the rotation in September. That departure coincided with a tough situation in Garza’s personal life, as his wife was bedridden while pregnant with twins (thankfully, the delivery went smoothly in October). With the difficulties of 2015 behind him, Garza also said that he wants to remain in Milwaukee. “I want to see [the rebuilding] through. I want to be here when all the fruits come bearing. I’m going to do what I’ve got to do to stay here,” Garza said.

So Garza says he is "going to do what I've got to do to stay here" right after he is quoted as saying "I've been trying to please people to stay places, and it’s just the point in my career where I’m over it.” So which is it Matt? lol

 

[saddles]

Happy Birthday today to Nolan Ryan.

 

[DT LUNA]

Happy Birthday today to Nolan Ryan.

Bennie you may have a foundation problem.....lol

 

[saddles]

Momentum Building For DH In NL - BaseballAmerica.com

 

[saddles]

Interesting stuff from Jamey Newberg this morning.

Following Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus’s announcements, MLB.com revealed its own Top 100 Prospects list this weekend, and its wake offered a relatively objective assessment of whose farm systems are strongest, as well as one subjective evaluation.


On the subjective side, MLB.com senior writer Jim Callis, former executive editor of Baseball America, tweeted that he would rank the best systems in baseball in this order: Dodgers, Braves, Rockies, Rangers, and Red Sox.


But based on formula — assigning 100 points to the player MLB.com judges to be the number one prospect in the game, 99 points to the number two player, and on down to one point to the prospect ranked number 100 — Texas finished first by a healthy margin, amassing 353 points, followed by the same four other teams (Rockies 325, Dodgers 319, Red Sox 316, Braves 302).


That’s not why I wanted to write about this today.


If the players Texas sent Philadelphia for Cole Hamels and Jake Diekman were still Rangers property, including the three who land on MLB.com’s list (Nick Williams at 25th overall, Jake Thompson at number 34, Jorge Alfaro at number 70), the Rangers would have 527 points under the formula.


Again, the number two through number five teams earned 325, 319, 316, and 302 points. If the Rangers hadn’t made the Hamels/Diekman trade, they’d be at 527.


Instead, they’re at 353 — still best in baseball by MLB.com’s estimation and math — and by virtue of that trade have absurdly affordable control over Hamels for the next four seasons and absurdly affordable control over Diekman for the next three.


Not to mention the 2015 playoff berth (and an ALCS date that was within painfully short reach), which we can probably all agree wouldn’t have happened without those two lefties arriving at the end of July.

 

[saddles]

Sunday Notes: Christin, Chi Chi, Collins’ Decision, Reliever Value, more | FanGraphs Baseball


“Chi Chi got to the big leagues quickly because he was equipped with multiple pitches in his mix, he throws strikes, and he’s a smart pitcher with aptitude.” said Boyd. “In a perfect world — I think (GM Jon Daniels) said it at the time — his development process likely would have continued in Round Rock, but he came up and gave us some quality starts we needed.

“Delivery-wise, some of the minor adjustments our pitching coaches are emphasizing with him will allow his sinker-slider combo to play up more than it did in his minor league ascent. Chi Chi has the movement on his fastball to pitch to contact, but his slider and continued focus on his changeup and curveball development will lead to increased swing-and-miss as well. I don’t see Chi Chi as a four strikeouts per nine innings guy.”

 

[saddles]

Fowler, Gallardo top list of available players

 

[Kelleyman]

He played up to his potential the first time he came up in 2014 and injuries prevented him from being able to show that he could do it again in 2015. If Rua hits .400 in ST I don't see him starting in LF if Josh is healthy or if Ruggiano hasn't completely lost it in ST. If Ruggiano struggles mightily and Josh is hurt then Rua probably gets his chance if he does well in ST. I think all three of those would have to happen though. At least that is what makes sense to me.

Not too excited about his potential if based upon 2014. AAA numbers do not always translate. Rethinking Mazara vs Brinson. Since Maz is on roster, it does make more sense for him to come up ahead of Brinson all things equal. Now this is more exciting. No disrespect to Rua