- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: Rangers offense
Posted on 7/21/09 at 11:36 am to Baloo
Posted on 7/21/09 at 11:36 am to Baloo
quote:
I posted their June slash stat numbers, which were awful. They have since rebounded in July, so I think it's just the drag of a truly terrible June, and not a continuing trend.
Fair enough. I read that after I posted.
I think the only problem since July (if you consider it a problem) is that their % of runs scored off of Home Runs is very high...58% (and yes, I heard that from the master of obscure stats on local radio...Hitzges).
I've never been a fan of the big inning strategy (RIP Earl Weaver). I'm frustrated that in 22 years of living here in DFW, the Rangers have never had high team OBPs and little discipline at the plate. As you can tell, I'm not a Jaramillo fan.
0
Posted on 7/21/09 at 11:38 am to supatigah
quote:
in only 52AB
damn, this is a tough crowd
52 ABs is not a lot admittedly, but it's enough to show that we shouldn't see him make the jump to the majors until at least September if not next April.
Posted on 7/21/09 at 11:49 am to MStreetTiger
i wasn't being serious about Smoak being called up now. he shouldn't see the big club until 40man
but he might be exactly what that lineup needs in the future if he is a wally joyner/mark grace type. Good hit/good field/good OBP as a 6 or 7 hole hitter
but he might be exactly what that lineup needs in the future if he is a wally joyner/mark grace type. Good hit/good field/good OBP as a 6 or 7 hole hitter
Posted on 7/21/09 at 11:52 am to supatigah
quote:
but he might be exactly what that lineup needs in the future if he is a wally joyner/mark grace type. Good hit/good field/good OBP as a 6 or 7 hole hitter
We definitely agree then. Sorry about the mix up.
Posted on 7/21/09 at 11:58 am to MStreetTiger
what do you think about dealing blalock? in favor or against?
Posted on 7/21/09 at 12:02 pm to supatigah
quote:
what do you think about dealing blalock? in favor or against?
With Davis still down and Jones going through a dry spell, I'm nervous about pulling the trigger, but I still lean towards doing it.
Posted on 7/21/09 at 12:12 pm to BigBoyTiger
Posted on 7/21/09 at 12:30 pm to MStreetTiger
I grew up on Earl Weaver baseball, and I love it. But the Rangers are missing a key part of the three-run homer: the guys on base. Also, Weaver would have fashioned a platoon of this outfield. He turned Roenicke/Lowenstein into All-Star production by carefully managing at bats.
I don’t care HOW you score runs, really. As long as you actually score them. When Norm started listing the top teams in runs by homer, it was a list of great offenses. So it actually defeated his point. Home runs aren’t luck, really.
And why one earth should the Rangers trade Blalock right now? That would be horrible. He’s their starting first baseman, he gives them solid production in the middle of the lineup, he’s one of their few “established” hitters who is hitting at his career levels, and they are in a pennant race. What is the possible upside of trading Blalock right now, unless someone is giving away a stud prospect (which is extremely unlikely?)
I don’t care HOW you score runs, really. As long as you actually score them. When Norm started listing the top teams in runs by homer, it was a list of great offenses. So it actually defeated his point. Home runs aren’t luck, really.
And why one earth should the Rangers trade Blalock right now? That would be horrible. He’s their starting first baseman, he gives them solid production in the middle of the lineup, he’s one of their few “established” hitters who is hitting at his career levels, and they are in a pennant race. What is the possible upside of trading Blalock right now, unless someone is giving away a stud prospect (which is extremely unlikely?)
Posted on 7/21/09 at 12:43 pm to Baloo
quote:
But the Rangers are missing a key part of the three-run homer: the guys on base.
Bingo...that's my biggest frustration. They just simply do not get on base.
Posted on 7/21/09 at 12:44 pm to Baloo
quote:
I grew up on Earl Weaver baseball, and I love it. But the Rangers are missing a key part of the three-run homer: the guys on base. Also, Weaver would have fashioned a platoon of this outfield. He turned Roenicke/Lowenstein into All-Star production by carefully managing at bats.
I don’t care HOW you score runs, really. As long as you actually score them. When Norm started listing the top teams in runs by homer, it was a list of great offenses. So it actually defeated his point. Home runs aren’t luck, really.
And why one earth should the Rangers trade Blalock right now? That would be horrible. He’s their starting first baseman, he gives them solid production in the middle of the lineup, he’s one of their few “established” hitters who is hitting at his career levels, and they are in a pennant race. What is the possible upside of trading Blalock right now, unless someone is giving away a stud prospect (which is extremely unlikely?)
All fair comments. Let me take them one by one.
As for the offensive philosophy, it is what it is currently. My frustration is over a long-term philosophy not necessarily THIS year's squad.
My problem with the big inning philosophy coupled with free-swinging at the plate, it seems to be to be more prone to streakiness where they go through more 3-5 game droughts (a la the Seattle series before the All-Star Game).
I've always had a feeling that ownership treats the offense like an attraction at Six Flags more than a component of a winning strategy. Could be my bias though.
And, you've convinced me on Blalock. His last 3-4 weeks have been good, and with no backup right now, it would be giving up on the season.
Posted on 7/21/09 at 12:57 pm to Baloo
blalock has played 1B 20 games and DH for 47 games
there is some speculation that he is injury prone (he has a bad throwing shoulder and he had to have a rib removed for some weird condition he had)
two of their best IF prospects are both 1B and Blalock can't play 3B regularly any more. So his future with the team is probably as a DH or a trade prospect.
there is some speculation that he is injury prone (he has a bad throwing shoulder and he had to have a rib removed for some weird condition he had)
two of their best IF prospects are both 1B and Blalock can't play 3B regularly any more. So his future with the team is probably as a DH or a trade prospect.
Posted on 7/21/09 at 1:02 pm to MStreetTiger
Let me say that I agree on the free-swinging. It is NOT part of the Earl Weaver big inning strategy to be a team of free swingers. In fact, he stressed the most important stat is OBP, ie – not getting out.
A long-term philosophy of not getting out and hitting with power is a blueprint to score a ton of runs. Obviously. I’m completely against this idea to turn this into a hit-and-run, small ball team. That’s a blueprint to not score runs. So, striking out as a cost for hitting for tons of power: good. Swinging at the first pitch and not drawing walks or seeing many pitches: bad.
The team with the biggest inning will often win the game. The team that fights and claws for one run an inning is likely going to lose. Crooked numbers.
BTW - I love that we can actually discuss this without treating the other person like a moron or the enemy.
A long-term philosophy of not getting out and hitting with power is a blueprint to score a ton of runs. Obviously. I’m completely against this idea to turn this into a hit-and-run, small ball team. That’s a blueprint to not score runs. So, striking out as a cost for hitting for tons of power: good. Swinging at the first pitch and not drawing walks or seeing many pitches: bad.
The team with the biggest inning will often win the game. The team that fights and claws for one run an inning is likely going to lose. Crooked numbers.
BTW - I love that we can actually discuss this without treating the other person like a moron or the enemy.
Posted on 7/21/09 at 1:06 pm to Baloo
quote:
BTW - I love that we can actually discuss this without treating the other person like a moron or the enemy.
There are no rantards in this thread, that's for sure.
I would love to see the offense from last year reappear, but almost every hitter in the lineup looks lost at the plate. Hopefully they will pull it together.
Posted on 7/21/09 at 1:16 pm to supatigah
quote:
blalock has played 1B 20 games and DH for 47 games
Yes, and those 20 games have primarily come after sending Davis down to the minors. If they trade Blalock, who plays 1st base this year? During a pennant race? Why would a team trade its only 1B on the roster during a pennant race?
quote:
there is some speculation that he is injury prone (he has a bad throwing shoulder and he had to have a rib removed for some weird condition he had)
Which only depresses his value, meaning he won’t get you the return he is worth. He’s on a 40 HR pace and hitting 255/300/527. Think the Rangers will get top prospects for a guy who is easily the team’s best slugger this season? I don’t. So why get ripped off?
quote:
two of their best IF prospects are both 1B and Blalock can't play 3B regularly any more. So his future with the team is probably as a DH or a trade prospect.
I agree. In the future. Either Davis or Smoak will be traded, in all likelihood. But trading Blalock right now, in the middle of a pennant race, means that either Jones is the starting 1B down the stretch or they are promoting Davis (they aren’t starting Smoak’s service time clock). That is essentially conceding the pennant. The Rangers have not had a chance to win the division in a decade or so, throwing up a white flag would be a terrible PR decision. And probably a bad baseball decision given that Blalock won’t demand full value. Why not trade him in the offseason or next year when he’s closer to the end of his contract? Trading him now is almost all downside. No top tier prospects, lose pennant, and take massive PR hit for a team struggling with attendance. Moves like that are how GM’s get fired.
Posted on 7/21/09 at 1:26 pm to supatigah
quote:
there is some speculation that he is injury prone
speculation?
no, he def is
they better do something because their pitching is pitching over their heads, and bound to come back to earth. The offense needs to come to life.
they have a whole team full of the same type of players. Mashers who only want to hit HR's, save Michael Young. Even Kinsler seems to think he is Babe Ruth.
Posted on 7/21/09 at 1:27 pm to Baloo
quote:
Why not trade him in the offseason or next year when he’s closer to the end of his contract?
I think he signed a one-year deal in the offseason, and is a free agent after the year. I'm not sure, but I think that's the case.
Posted on 7/21/09 at 1:33 pm to Baloo
well the issue at hand is needing pitching to stay in the pennant race during the dog days of august when the rangers traditionally faded. The Red Sox have a need for 3B/1B/DH and they have a surplus of arms to make a move. Clearly the Rangers don't HAVE to trade him, so it would take a deal they couldnt refuse to move him. I do know that Tom Hicks would love the payroll relief trading Blalock would give him. Hicks has had major financial difficulties and his companies defaulted on $525 million in loans in April 2009. Hicks may not even own the team this time next year.
In May the Blalock for Saito trade was discussed but the Rangers backed out when Hamilton went on the table. I think a move for Blalock could be done at the deadline if:
1) Davis continues hitting in AAA and Hamilton's return solidifies the lineup
2) the Rangers pitching starts to falter
3) someone in need of a bat makes a big offer that provides pitching help now
In May the Blalock for Saito trade was discussed but the Rangers backed out when Hamilton went on the table. I think a move for Blalock could be done at the deadline if:
1) Davis continues hitting in AAA and Hamilton's return solidifies the lineup
2) the Rangers pitching starts to falter
3) someone in need of a bat makes a big offer that provides pitching help now
Posted on 7/21/09 at 1:39 pm to supatigah
quote:
In May the Blalock for Saito trade was discussed but the Rangers backed out when Hamilton went on the table. I think a move for Blalock could be done at the deadline if:
Let me analyze each one of these:
quote:
1) Davis continues hitting in AAA and Hamilton's return solidifies the lineup
Unfortunately, AAA is not the Majors. I have no confidence in Davis' ability to hit in the Majors again this year...
quote:
2) the Rangers pitching starts to falter
It could happen with the starting rotation in the back end (or Padilla for that matter), but I have a ton of confidence in that bullpen right now. It will only get better when they call up Feliz.
quote:
3) someone in need of a bat makes a big offer that provides pitching help now
I'm not sure anyone really wants to trade pitching at this point...almost everybody wants to add to their staffs.
Posted on 7/21/09 at 1:42 pm to BigBoyTiger
he is on a team option of 1yr/$6.2mm and will be a FA
so that may factor into trading him to get something for him or waiting and potentially getting nothing
so that may factor into trading him to get something for him or waiting and potentially getting nothing
Posted on 7/21/09 at 1:43 pm to supatigah
quote:
potentially getting nothing
Probably not true. I figure, at worst, he is a Type B free agent..you could probably get a 2nd round compensatory pick.
Page 2 of 4
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News