Series Thread: Tigers in town 6/24-26

[Al Falfa]

I think you may be right. I ragged on Cruz more for his complete choke job on a catchable ball if he played it off the bat like a professional outfielder. His overall skills as an outfielder are average and shockingly for me, better than Coo for sure.

It's always struck me as odd how Cruz's career on this board was defined by one play. Not to mention the ridiculous claim of empty AB's. After watching what has been out there this year one might be careful what one wishes for in the future.
Rios, Choice and Choo will be lucky if they don't get somebody killed with their Keystone cops play in the OF.

 

[donaldson79]

It's always struck me as odd how Cruz's career on this board was defined by one play. Not to mention the ridiculous claim of empty AB's. After watching what has been out there this year one might be careful what one wishes for in the future.
Rios, Choice and Choo will be lucky if they don't get somebody killed with their Keystone cops play in the OF.

That's what I said on the previous page (557 I think).....so you and I are on the same page with Mr Cruz. Haha

IMO MC plays a decent CF and Rios does fine in RF. Think Choice would be fine in RF as well. But I hear some of the criticism of Rios in right and most is based on his "perceived" lack of effort, when it's really more of his style than hustle.

MC would greatly benefit from being at a lower level now. Not sure that's possible at this point, or at least until Adduci gets well. I see him losing/lost confidence and he looks clueless in most AB now. Kind of sad and unfair to the young man. He's just over matched.

 

[DT LUNA]

That's what I said on the previous page (557 I think).....so you and I are on the same page with Mr Cruz. Haha

IMO MC plays a decent CF and Rios does fine in RF. Think Choice would be fine in RF as well. But I hear some of the criticism of Rios in right and most is based on his "perceived" lack of effort, when it's really more of his style than hustle.

MC would greatly benefit from being at a lower level now. Not sure that's possible at this point, or at least until Adduci gets well. I see him losing/lost confidence and he looks clueless in most AB now. Kind of sad and unfair to the young man. He's just over matched.

Nicely stated.

 

[donaldson79]

Nicely stated.

Thank you sir.....and I sent you a note of reminder a couple of nights ago re: 11 July being Baylor night just for your info. I believe it's the 11th.

 

[DT LUNA]

Thank you sir.....and I sent you a note of reminder a couple of nights ago re: 11 July being Baylor night just for your info. I believe it's the 11th.

Thanks. Will check it out.

 

[DT LUNA]

We had 6 guys who saw 14 or fewer pitches last night; lead my Choo with only 8.

What has happened to this guy and his working the pitchers?

The three hole changes from OBP to RBI's I suppose.

 

[PDay8810]

It's always struck me as odd how Cruz's career on this board was defined by one play. Not to mention the ridiculous claim of empty AB's. After watching what has been out there this year one might be careful what one wishes for in the future.
Rios, Choice and Choo will be lucky if they don't get somebody killed with their Keystone cops play in the OF.

I understand your point. I can't speak for this board but to me, it was a choke job at the most inopportune time possible. Perhaps the most inopportune choke play of any sports play I've seen ever and I seldom use the word choke. Just seems to fit to me. I was roasted last year calling it a play a good high school outfielder makes and I still think that. Still can't believe it 2 plus years later.

 

[donaldson79]

I understand your point. I can't speak for this board but to me, it was a choke job at the most inopportune time possible. Perhaps the most inopportune choke play of any sports play I've seen ever and I seldom use the word choke. Just seems to fit to me. I was roasted last year calling it a play a good high school outfielder makes and I still think that. Still can't believe it 2 plus years later.

Geeze re: chokes....you're old enough to remember Bill Buckner......How about Chris Webber calling a time out when his team (Mich St had none) to lose a national championship opportunity? That's two which immediately come to mind.

And I still put this - Cruz's faux pau - on the Rangers coaching staff, as least somewhat, due to: (1) why was he playing defense with Gentry sitting on the bench, (2) Cruz said, he moved in 3 steps - on his own b/c he felt like it was the better positioning - and no one saw this? Why the hell is that? Who was in charge of the OF? 3 steps turns this into a more than routine play than it already was; much more so actually.

 

[donaldson79]

The three hole changes from OBP to RBI's I suppose.

I guess. And I know his ankle is probably killing him.

Since the team/organization has admitted this season is now dedicated to growth, and not wins, why not put this guy on the DL? I don't care who plays LF. Get him the proper rest/surgery to insure the team's long term success/financially interest and be thrilled with it.

 

[PDay8810]

Geeze re: chokes....you're old enough to remember Bill Buckner......How about Chris Webber calling a time out when his team (Mich St had none) to lose a national championship opportunity? That's two which immediately come to mind.

And I still put this - Cruz's faux pau - on the Rangers coaching staff, as least somewhat, due to: (1) why was he playing defense with Gentry sitting on the bench, (2) Cruz said, he moved in 3 steps - on his own b/c he felt like it was the better positioning - and no one saw this? Why the hell is that? Who was in charge of the OF? 3 steps turns this into a more than routine play than it already was; much more so actually.

Sir...I'm not a basketball fan nor a Red Sox fan, so for me it's Cruz. The Buckner play had the same results with regards to a lost championship but the Cruz play hit home more for me.

I'd also blame the coaches as you do if this wasn't professional baseball. Just seems like a bad excuse to me.

 

[DT LUNA]

I guess. And I know his ankle is probably killing him.

Since the team/organization has admitted this season is now dedicated to growth, and not wins, why not put this guy on the DL? I don't care who plays LF. Get him the proper rest/surgery to insure the team's long term success/financially interest and be thrilled with it.

in my opinion he needs to be on the DL if he has an injury. The season is lost of wins but not for next year's preparations. Find out where our best chances are for a recovery and go for it' Protect all players as much as possible with injuries and hope those on the DL recovery fully. No sudden trades. Evaluate this entire remaining year completely before trading off all our future pieces.

 

[jta4437]

in my opinion he needs to be on the DL if he has an injury. The season is lost of wins but not for next year's preparations. Find out where our best chances are for a recovery and go for it' Protect all players as much as possible with injuries and hope those on the DL recovery fully. No sudden trades. Evaluate this entire remaining year completely before trading off all our future pieces.

I'm guessing he gets placed somewhere around the all-star break to maximize his days off and not lose him for any actual games

 

[donaldson79]

I'm guessing he gets placed somewhere around the all-star break to maximize his days off and not lose him for any actual games

This is a good estimation IMO. Much like what they did with Yu last year. Except with Choo, he probably needs to back it up a week to make sure he can get the proper rest. If not, then the surgery route rears it's ugly head again.

Listened to Hitzges this morning and I think he made a lot of sense in regards to our future: What's best for the player, long term?

He mentioned going into the season Odor and Choice were thought to need about 500 more AB before determining if they are ready for big league pitching.

He also said, he'd send Martinez down to AA right now and place Baker in his spot. Wins be damned.

 

[donaldson79]

The three hole changes from OBP to RBI's I suppose.

Good point.

But when no one's on base and you're hitting 3rd, your kind-of/sort-of still leading off, in a manner of speaking.

 

[TheRangerDude]

It's always struck me as odd how Cruz's career on this board was defined by one play. Not to mention the ridiculous claim of empty AB's. After watching what has been out there this year one might be careful what one wishes for in the future.
Rios, Choice and Choo will be lucky if they don't get somebody killed with their Keystone cops play in the OF.

Yup, I think Cruz was undervalued by many because of one play. I had a very good feeling he was going to have a monster season this year and it wasn't because I know the future or anything. Before the suspension last season, when he had the spotlight on him, he was on his way to a career season before his suspension started. He has always had this potential. I'm happy for him.

 

[RevSader]

Yup, I think Cruz was undervalued by many because of one play. I had a very good feeling he was going to have a monster season this year and it wasn't because I know the future or anything. Before the suspension last season, when he had the spotlight on him, he was on his way to a career season before his suspension started. He has always had this potential. I'm happy for him.

He was always shitty in the OF, but he had a good arm and that made up for a lot his misplays. I've never held the 2011 WS against him. Texas had another shot to win the thing and still choked it away. If Napoli and Feliz had a brain they would have thrown an offspeed pitch to Freese and history would be different, but there is a saying about ifs and buts...

 

[TheRangerDude]

He was always shitty in the OF, but he had a good arm and that made up for a lot his misplays. I've never held the 2011 WS against him. Texas had another shot to win the thing and still choked it away. If Napoli and Feliz had a brain they would have thrown an offspeed pitch to Freese and history would be different, but there is a saying about ifs and buts...

I think you and I have always agreed on this... even way back when on ESPN. I have never claimed he was any sort of defensive wizard or anything like that but I also think he is a little better than he gets credit for mostly due to that one play. That said his defense is below average but that is fairly common for a power hitting corner OF. Or maybe it would be better said as a more common sacrifice.

 

[lainey12]

He was always shitty in the OF, but he had a good arm and that made up for a lot his misplays. I've never held the 2011 WS against him. Texas had another shot to win the thing and still choked it away. If Napoli and Feliz had a brain they would have thrown an offspeed pitch to Freese and history would be different, but there is a saying about ifs and buts...

pretty much this, I never blamed Cruz either. I was upset with a lot of the pitching.
and back to Cruz, who in the H didn't have him playing deeper where he should of been. I've said that many times.
Too many moving parts in the game to blame one player