Still happening. Just haven't settled on a date yet

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No University days this year? They sent the email out and A&M isn't listed

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The email stated this: "Texas A&M fans check back for your 2016 University Day."

They haven't picked the game yet. I have a pic of what the hats will look like this year. Maroon beak with the rest being grey. I was told to purchase tickets before March 15th and you will be guaranteed a hat.

Is Hamilton even worth the trouble anymore?
I think it's about time to cut the sentimental ties

His price is so low you might as well get what you can out of him. It is the last year of his deal anyway isn't it?

He's basically free. If he can hit .250 and 20 HRs then leave him out there.

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He's basically free. If he can hit .250 and 20 HRs then leave him out there.

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i don't know if he can stay healthy long enough to hit 20HR

Hamilton with stim cell injection and out till the end of April. He might be done unfortunately.

Yeah, you may as well hang onto him until you find a better use for the roster spot because it's not like there is much of any salary to dump. But the end is getting close, if not already here.

I think it's gonna come down to the Rangers and Astros again. Don't know if Seattle can muster up enough offense, Angels have serious depth issues and Pujols is going to miss the first part of the season, Oakland is still pretty "meh".

Who's gonna be first to bump the Odor thread?

Had my kids' birthday party in the kidszone last weekend, made me even more ready for the season than I already was.

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Checking back in. Posted on here for the first time last year and things went well so might as well keep the good vibes going

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Welcome back

Seattle really needs to focus on small ball and pressure offense. Their park is not conducive to home run ball. That and if they get halfway decent pitching and they would be in the thick of things.

I read an interesting article, but can't remember where I read it. It talked about a principle stating that teams that come from nowhere and exceed expectations one year, tend to regress back toward the middle of the pack the next year. I think the Rangers and Houston last year could both be described as "coming out of nowhere", so this should be interesting to keep an eye on. I'm not sure much regression will take place though, because I think Houstons young talent is for real, and the Rangers aren't losing any key parts, plus we're getting Darvish and Holland for (almost) a full season each. Knock on wood.

Houston is legit. I'm more concerned about the Rangers. Who knows which D Holland will be around.

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I read an interesting article, but can't remember where I read it. It talked about a principle stating that teams that come from nowhere and exceed expectations one year, tend to regress back toward the middle of the pack the next year. I think the Rangers and Houston last year could both be described as "coming out of nowhere", so this should be interesting to keep an eye on. I'm not sure much regression will take place though, because I think Houstons young talent is for real, and the Rangers aren't losing any key parts, plus we're getting Darvish and Holland for (almost) a full season each. Knock on wood.

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You see that with teams like Oakland, where a few guys step up and have career seasons, or they hit SPs just right.

I don't think that will be the case with the Rangers. If you looked at why they struggled early and why they seemed to finish strong, it is very predictable.

They had a terrible time with injuries and RPs in the 1st half of the season.

4.38 ERA by RP in 1st Half.
3.79 ERA by RP in 2nd Half.

That was very much part of the mid-season trades.

We had Gallardo who averaged just about 5 1/3 IP putting a huge burden on the BP. He is gone.
We have Hamels who averaged 6 2/3 IP. He is a legit Ace.

We had Wandy in his 15 GS and 4.90 ERA to start the season.
We didn't have Martin Perez to start the season. He replaced Wandy and had a 4.46 ERA in 14 GS. Assuming he is healthy, he is a legit 1/2, and should improve on his 4.46 ERA.

We'll add Darvish in the season, and presumably he'll give us more than anyone else he project in the 1st half.

We'll have Holland.

Summary:
We started 2015 with Darvish, Perez and Holland on the DL and we've added Hamels. Our SP and RP will be far better than 2015, even if you base it on 2014 numbers.

Gallardo to Orioles.

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I read an interesting article, but can't remember where I read it. It talked about a principle stating that teams that come from nowhere and exceed expectations one year, tend to regress back toward the middle of the pack the next year. I think the Rangers and Houston last year could both be described as "coming out of nowhere", so this should be interesting to keep an eye on. I'm not sure much regression will take place though, because I think Houstons young talent is for real, and the Rangers aren't losing any key parts, plus we're getting Darvish and Holland for (almost) a full season each. Knock on wood.

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Except that we were missing some key pitchers during our run last year, who WILL be back this year. Not really the same.

You'll find most of those studies have very small sample sizes so not really anything worth paying attention to -- just something to write about.

I remember there'd always be articles about how 1-run wins/losses were a great predictor of a team's future (if the team had a lot of 1-run wins, they were likely to do a little worse the next season, and vice versa). The Cleveland Indians were always about to "breakthrough".

Except they didn't.

While the logic is sound and it does play a factor, there's so many different aspects that make up a major league roster (and offseason) that trying to key in on one thing like that is a waste of time.

Your rotation and lineup is naturally always going to be a much bigger predictor of success/regression than anything else.

It is HILARIOUS how much Odor rustles opposing fans.

Let's Go Rangers!

Rangers give up a 1st round draft pick for.... 1 year of Ian Desmond.

But they got a pick 5 spots ahead of that one from the O's for signing Gallardo. Apparently they didn't have the money to sign two first rounders anyways. Or at least that's the speculation in what I've read this morning.

They don't have the money to sign 2 first-rounders, but they have $8m to give a guy who was replacement level at the plate?

The Desmond deal seems like a placeholder deal. Sounds like Hamilton may be close to done. How the Rangers got this guy for only $8 million is kinda crazy. Besides a poor first half to last season, he's basically a career .265/20-25 HR/75 RBI guy in his career. Plus, he's just 30 and has missed only a handful of games in the last five years. Not quite sure how Daniels does this year in and year out.

Interesting Desmond deal.

Gives the Rangers an option at LF.

If Mazara\Brinson need a few months, Desmond gives you some time. You could then trade him mid-season.

Gives you a chance to float Andrus, and if Profar regresses, you aren't in trouble.

Worst case... he has a great year and you get a pick.

No downside... other than the $8M.

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Interesting Desmond deal.

Gives the Rangers an option at LF.

If Mazara\Brinson need a few months, Desmond gives you some time. You could then trade him mid-season.

Gives you a chance to float Andrus, and if Profar regresses, you aren't in trouble.

Worst case... he has a great year and you get a pick.

No downside... other than the $8M.

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From what we've heard coming out of camp, the Rangers would like to give Mazzaro and 400 MiLB at-bats before pulling him up. This, like you said, gives him that buffer.

Wouldn't worst case be that he has a shitty year, you paid him $8 million, lost a draft pick, and can't offer him a QO next offseason?

Don't disagree with the possible downside.

But this is a contender with a significant hole in LF. Sure, it's not necessarily ideal, but IMO the position needed to be addressed. There is also some interesting flexibility with his ability to play SS - especially not knowing exactly where Andrus' head is at after how last year ended. And there is at least a line of sight to getting that pick back. I'm good with this one.

I think it's a great signing. I just think what Dallas is saying is worst case scenario is actually probably best case scenario for the Rangers. It's widely reported that they don't have the financial flexibility to add lots of payroll, so him blowing up with a great year, and the Rangers getting a pick after he turns down the QO next offseason is about the best to hope for out of the signing IMO under the circumstances.

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The Desmond deal seems like a placeholder deal. Sounds like Hamilton may be close to done. How the Rangers got this guy for only $8 million is kinda crazy. Besides a poor first half to last season, he's basically a career .265/20-25 HR/75 RBI guy in his career. Plus, he's just 30 and has missed only a handful of games in the last five years. Not quite sure how Daniels does this year in and year out.

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If you think Elvis Andrus has mental issues and is a sloppy defender, you haven't met Ian Desmond. That's how you get Ian Desmond for "only 8 million."

There's a long, multi-year backstory to how Ian Desmond ended up as the Rangers $8-million left fielder. Just do a search for 'Ian Desmond' and 50 articles will pop up about it...

The Ian Desmond story includes turning down a 7-year contract, turning down a substantial qualifying offer this off-season, the yips, 4 years of offensive decline, and a long list of other head-scratchers.

I don't often feel bad for millionaires and I don't feel bad for Ian Desmond, but its been quite the downward spiral for him.

He can certainly earn his salary, or even out-perform it, but this isn't a major coup on Jon Daniels' part in the sense that he out-negotiated other teams or anything like that. Daniels is very much simply taking a chance on a player that many teams quite consciously decided not to take a chance on.

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The Desmond deal seems like a placeholder deal. Sounds like Hamilton may be close to done. How the Rangers got this guy for only $8 million is kinda crazy. Besides a poor first half to last season, he's basically a career .265/20-25 HR/75 RBI guy in his career. Plus, he's just 30 and has missed only a handful of games in the last five years. Not quite sure how Daniels does this year in and year out.

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If you think Elvis Andrus has mental issues and is a sloppy defender, you haven't met Ian Desmond. That's how you get Ian Desmond for "only 8 million."

There's a long, multi-year backstory to how Ian Desmond ended up as the Rangers $8-million left fielder. Just do a search for 'Ian Desmond' and 50 articles will pop up about it...

The Ian Desmond story includes turning down a 7-year contract, turning down a substantial qualifying offer this off-season, the yips, 4 years of offensive decline, and a long list of other head-scratchers.

I don't often feel bad for millionaires and I don't feel bad for Ian Desmond, but its been quite the downward spiral for him.

He can certainly earn his salary, or even out-perform it, but this isn't a major coup on Jon Daniels' part in the sense that he out-negotiated other teams or anything like that. Daniels is very much simply taking a chance on a player that many teams quite consciously decided not to take a chance on.

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Agreed...and it's still a great signing, especially considering that we are looking at Rua/Hamilton alternative.

If it's good enough for The Hardline, it's good enough for me.

Notification from MLB at bat app

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Rangers GM Jon Daniels on Ian Desmond:
"He's our left fielder, and he will be all year"

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