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Calling a Fielder HR

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And we get a Kinsler popup.

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Calling a Fielder HR

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And we get a Kinsler popup.

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Should be standing on first. Strike 2 was a terrible call.

Some of you still convinced we should be trading for bullpen help instead of a starter?

Did Ortiz hit Chirinos in the head? Giving the concussion test haha

Of course TAG talked through it without noticing...

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Some of you still convinced we should be trading for bullpen help instead of a starter?

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I'm still convinced the Rangers could use both...if that's what your asking?

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This

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Some of you still convinced we should be trading for bullpen help instead of a starter?

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I'm still convinced the Rangers could use both...if that's what your asking?

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The Rangers could also use a 40-homerun hitter. Doesn't mean that's their greatest need.

If you're trading top prospects, it's for a starter. Shoring up a bullpen while you're rolling with Hamels, Perez and 3 AAAA guys is fixing a secondary issue.

Doesn't matter if you have a lock-down bullpen -- if you're rolling Chi Chi, Nick Martinez and AJ Griffin out there every 3rd, 4th and 5th day then you're going to suddenly find yourself in a division race.

Gonna be down to 7.5. Hopefully it stays above 5 by the ASB

The league rules do not bar a team from making more than one trade.

I've never advocated, and I haven't seen anyone advocate, trading a top prospect for a bullpen arm.

It won't take a top prospect to improve the bullpen, anyways.

Otherwise I'm personally not having this argument again. You can keep beating that drum if you feel like it but that horse has no more life in it than the Rangers pitching staff, which isn't much.

Have a happy 4th of July guys and gals. I hope you find and some enjoy some good fireworks tonight.

See what I can pull off. I have extra Yu K counter, Nolan in duster, and pudge golf glove bobbleheads if interested.

ALSO:

The 25 man roster fix is you start carrying 8 relievers instead of 7. Make a choice at catcher.

Especially if you're fixing the rotation, Roth and Ramos don't need to be here over a good bullpen arm. Kela goes there.

The only injured position players are Hamilton and Stubbs. Hamilton is out for the year. Is Stubbs anywhere close to coming back? Do the Rangers need him more than pitching?

Drop a catcher, add to the pitching.

My hope is that with the start we've had and the way this team is playing, that JD and ownership will go big for another quality SP.

The next 2 years are looking like a real good window to get it done. I really am not worried about paying a high price to get a top level arm that we have control over for another couple years

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How many games do the relief pitchers on the Rangers have to lose for them to become "consequential"?

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As soon as you believe the quality of Barnette, Tolleson, Diekman, Dyson, Bush or Kela is surpassed by a middle of the road arm.

I don't think anyone is doubting the relief crew has struggled, but Texas isn't going to trade for a plus arm so they can roll with a 9-man bullpen. The return on the # of appearances that arm would make wouldn't be worth what they gave up for it.

They may add a bullpen arm, but it won't be one of any significance. It will be an innings eater type guy that comes in when Texas trails.

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You don't read well, do you?

9 man bullpen?

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Dyson
Diekman
Bush
Tolleson
Barnette
Kela
Trade acquisition
Long-man
Mop-up


The guy you trade for? You have to actually let him pitch... and if he's taking the spot of one of your current "playing with a lead" relief corp, then one of them then has to be moved to either long-man or mop-up role.

You bring up making the trade for Dyson last year. Last year we had 3 bonafide bullpen arms before Dyson came over (Tolleson, Kela, Freeman). We added Dyson and Diekman for a total of 5.

This year we already have 5 bonafide bullpen arms and we're about to get a 6th back in Kela.

Trading prospects to give yourself 7 'plus' bullpen arms when you're rolling out Nick Martinez, Chi Chi Gonzalez and AJ Griffin in your rotation is terrible use of trade chip resources.

If Texas adds a 'plus' bullpen arm, it's because one of their current ones hits the DL. Otherwise you're only going to see a middle of the road type addition.

The Rangers were in discussions to trade for Fernando Rodney. They're on the market for a reliever so don't fret.

But Miami beat them to it this weekend.

San Diego got a starter from A- ball with great stats.

That ought to give everyone a better idea for the market for relievers.

Miami also already had 5 healthy "bonafide" relievers with a 6th on the DL but expected back in September.

That should give folks a better idea of the bullpens playoff contenders try to build, too.

And they're on the hunt for starters.

Lots of similarity to the Rangers with Miami.

Yep, find a guy that can get into the Dyson-Diekman-Bush mix. The number of appearances those guys are on pace for is ridiculous. I don't see why it's mind-blowing to seek one more guy you'd feel very comfortable taking the ball late with a narrow lead to share that load. No one has to move when you are running them into the ground as it is. Not to mention, this isn't exactly a super battle tested group. Their innings have increased dramstically the last few years, so it's faulty to just assume they'll be healthy and effective in August, September, and October. Also have to be cautious with Kela.

I think the message about trading for Dyson last year (and Diekman) is that you can do both improve your rotation and your bullpen, perhaps even in the same trade.

There Are these words being used, "biggest need" and "priority"; and the claim earlier that we are saying "bullpen and not rotation".

I think the idea is that it's not either/or.

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The Rangers were in discussions to trade for Fernando Rodney. They're on the market for a reliever so don't fret.

But Miami beat them to it this weekend.

San Diego got a starter from A- ball with great stats.

That ought to give everyone a better idea for the market for relievers.

Miami also already had 5 healthy "bonafide" relievers with a 6th on the DL but expected back in September.

That should give folks a better idea of the bullpens playoff contenders try to build, too.

And they're on the hunt for starters.

Lots of similarity to the Rangers with Miami.

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The way I thought I heard it was the Rangers passed. A Left handed arm in the BP is a greater need and the Rangers passed on the RHP. Truth? I don't know.

Their situations are similar in some way, but there is plenty of difference.

Marlins:
Conley: 17 GS / 93.2 IP / 3.65 ERA / 1.32 WHIP => 5 1/3 GS
Koehler: 17 GS / 92.0 IP / 4.40 ERA / 1.54 WHIP => 5 1/3 GS
Fernandez: 16 GS / 100.1 IP / 2.69 ERA / 1.03 WHIP => 6 1/3 GS
Chen: 16 GS / 91.2 IP / 5.11 ERA / 1.32 WHIP => 5 2/3 GS
Nicolino - 11 GS / 60.2 IP / 5.34 ERA / 1.55 WHIP => 5 1/3 GS
---------------
Cosart - 3 GS / Clemens - 2 GS / Flores 1 GS

Rangers:
Hamels: 17 GS / 107.2 IP / 2.93 ERA / 1.28 WHIP => 6 1/3 GS
Perez: 17 GS / 103.2 IP / 3.39 ERA / 1.37 WHIP => 6.0 GS
Lewis: 15 GS / 98.0 IP / 3.21 ERA / 1.02 WHIP => 6 2/3 GS
Holland: 14 GS / 72.2 IP / 5.20 ERA / 1.42 WHIP => 5.0 GS
-----------------
Griffin: 8 GS / 43.0 IP / 2.93 ERA / 1.09 WHIP = 5 1/3
Ramos - 4 GS / Martinez - 4 GS: 5.0 IP/GS / Darvish - 3 GS / Chi Chi - 2 GS: 3 IP/GS


The Player the Marlins gave up is:
Chris Paddack (20-RHP-A) drafted last year in the 8th Rd. Ranked as the 11th player for SD. Not sure where he was for Miami.
6 GS / 28.1 IP / 0.95 ERA / 0.388 WHIP / 2 BB / 48 SO.

If I were to find a guy in the Rangers org, it'd be
Pedro Payano (21-RHP-A). Ranked 27th in the Rangers' Org. Potential 2018 timeframe.
12 GS / 72.0 IP / 2.13 ERA / 1.19 WHIP / 29 BB / 79 SO.
or
Ariel Jurado (20-RHP-A+). Ranked 12th in the Rangers Org. Potential 2018 timeframe.
13 GS / 65.1 IP / 3.31 ERA / 1.255 WHIP / 16 BB / 60 SO.

Some comments.

Nobody is saying a RP isn't a need.

In the case of Miami... they have a pretty consistent core of 5 SPs, but only one of them is getting to the 6th inning. So, you have 3+ IP of RP every game. If they add another BP arm they can shorten games, like we've done.

In the case of the Rangers... we have 2 SPs, both getting us through 6 IP. The other 3 spots are trouble, barely getting us 5 IP. We can't shorten games short enough for the holes we have in the rotation.

Yes, they can do both... fix the rotation and bullpen... even in the same trade.

The point is... you can't roster enough guys to get you 7 IP for Chi Chi, 4 IP for Griffin and 4 IP for Martinez, every time through the rotation. Even if Perez and Darvish get you 6 full IP, that is another 3 IP/GS for each of them. For 5 day rotation, you are filling in 21 IP. If you have 7 guys in your Bullpen, that's 3 IP per cycle. If they pitch 1 IP/App, they are pitching in 60% of the games. That's 97 Games for all 7 of them.

The reason I say wait... is because if we are going to labor a BP, let's used Faulkner, Jackson, etc and burn them up, rather than getting Rodney, burning him up and still needing BP help. The problem with Koji when we got him was that Baltimore wore him out before we got him and his arm was tired.

Rodney would have been a good pickup.

Picking up Odorizzi (I still think it would be fun to have an Odor and Odorizzi), change Chi Chi from needing 7 IP by the BP to having Odorizzi (5 1/3 IP/ GS) needing 3 2/3 IP. That's like 3 IP of RP consumed.

Darvish comes back, and now you in the mindset to shorten games.

However, for the Rangers, you have too many unknowns in the rotation - Will Griffin be ok, Will Colby, Darvish or Holland be viable?! Right now, you think you need to get to Darvish, then add 1 more SP. You may find at the ASB that Darvish isn't coming back, and who knows what else. Now, you realize you need 2-3 SPs.

I think it is too early to spend assets/prospects on RP, when we need better awareness of the Rotation and what that will cost to fix.

Rangers Pitching of the future:
Luis Ortiz (20-AA) - 2018 <- Rule V
Dillon Tate (22-A) - 2017
Brett Martin (21-A) - 2018
Ariel Jurado (20-A+) - 2018 <- Rule V
Yohander Mendez (21-AA) - 2018 <- On 40
Sam Wolff (25-AA) - 2017 <- Rule V
Connor Sadzeck (24-AA) - 2017 <- Rule V
Pedro Payano (21-A) - 2018 <- Rule V
Victor Payano (23-AA) - 2018 <- Rule V

If you start shedding guys like Luis Ortiz or Jurado... you have fewer options to attract the SP you want and you also don't know what you still have for the future, if you go big on a SP.

I think the idea is that when you're in a 7-game series, you're looking at throwing 7, maybe 8 guys and if the series goes long, you're throwing those guys multiple times and you don't want to **** around. A bullpen issue snowballs, real quick.


And lets not lose sight of the fact that the Rangers have 3 left handed relievers that have pitched all season. Two of them are:

Andrew Faulkner, with a 7.94 ERA and 2.118 WHIP.
Cesar Ramos, with a 5.61 ERA and 1.638 WHIP.

Jake Diekman is the only one of the three you really want on your roster.

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The way I thought I heard it was the Rangers passed. A Left handed arm in the BP is a greater need and the Rangers passed on the RHP. Truth? I don't know.

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We're on a roll, man.

See the above post.

But I think there was sincere interest and the "passing" perhaps only happened when the Padres told the Rangers they had a better offer.

I'm not sure how it happened. I think the preference is certainly to find a left-hander, but guys like Rodney are still good enough to take a look at.

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The point is... you can't roster enough guys to get you 7 IP for Chi Chi, 4 IP for Griffin and 4 IP for Martinez, every time through the rotation.

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You can't have a guy fresh for every one of those innings, no, you can't, and that's part of why they should be looking for starting pitching, too.

But as it was said earlier, the Rangers are currently working with a 7 man bullpen and can move to 8 quite easily by not carrying 3 catchers.

They don't need Cesar Ramos and Michael Roth on the roster at the same time. They don't. They can filter Ramos, Roth, Jackson, et. al. through the minor leagues to get them through August before the active roster expansion makes it a non-issue.

Drop one of those three guys, and you have room for Kela. Drop a catcher and you have room for another bullpen arm.

And then come the playoffs, they'll move to a 4-man rotation and will have the roster space.

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The way I thought I heard it was the Rangers passed. A Left handed arm in the BP is a greater need and the Rangers passed on the RHP. Truth? I don't know.

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We're on a roll, man.

See the above post.

But I think there was sincere interest and the "passing" perhaps only happened when the Padres told the Rangers they had a better offer.

I'm not sure how it happened. I think the preference is certainly to find a left-hander, but guys like Rodney are still good enough to take a look at.

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I don't disagree.

The other point I was going to make... well 2 points.

If you find that Darvish is healthy and he pitches in 2-3 games before the trade-deadline and you know you have Hamels-Darvish-Perez for sure and Griffin is good, you might go after Moore or Gray, and take a flyer, so that with Colby and Holland, you have what you need. You don't blow through a bunch of prospects.

Where as, if Darvish faulters... or Griffin, or Colby\Holland don't look viable, maybe you pony up the bank and go for someone like Sale (who isn't fully on the market) or Teheran.

The 2nd point was... during the play-offs, you do extend your bullpen. You have really 4 SPs, moving the 5th to the BP, and you have day-off bullpen sessions than can be game innings

You have Darvish and Hamels come in to pitch an IP through the rotation of the playoffs and now you have a much deeper bullpen and tons of flexibility. You add Sale and again... another BP inning.

If Darvish and Hamels get you 6.0 IP in a playoff game, you have 3 IP to shorten the game. At the Rangers' best, they had 3 RHP and 3 LHP in the bullpen and you had the 7th, 8th & 9th covered with one of each. You had SPs also available.

I just wonder where the Sale option is on the whiteboard. Is it Plan A or just a pipe dream

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I just wonder where the Sale option is on the whiteboard. Is it Plan A or just a pipe dream

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It's not even a pipe dream. Sale has a very team friendly contract for 3 years and the white sox aren't moving him.

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I just wonder where the Sale option is on the whiteboard. Is it Plan A or just a pipe dream

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Both?

My guess is it is on the side, under the title "Wait and See," or "Keep on eye out."

The White Sox are only 2 GB the WC.

James Shields was terrible in his 1st 3 GS for them, since being acquired from SD, but his last 3 GS he is 17.2 IP / 6 ER. A 3.05 ERA.

I think Shields can maintain that, and if he does, the White Sox are back in business. When watching SD play the Rangers, last year, Tom House had indicated Shields' stride was short and if he lengthened it, it would put less stress on his arm, allow him to finish his pitches and he'd have better results.

So, I can't see the White Sox fading, when every other teams seems to be losing SPs, and they acquired one that could be pretty good.

Trade Rumors

The Texas Rangers currently find themselves with the best record in the American League and on pace to win 102 games. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays sit in last place in the American League East.
So it would stand to reason that one of these teams might end up being a buyer while the other team looks to sell off assets in order to acquire young talent.
According to ESPN's Jim Bowden, this appears to be the case. The MLB insider is reporting that the Rays and Rangers are in discussions regarding a deal that would send Jake Odorizzi to Texas.

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"Rays and Rangers have had trade talks regarding a deal that would send Jake Odorizzi to the Rangers in exchange for a bat," the report read. "Rays are known to have interest in Jurickson Profar, Joey Gallo and Lewis Brinson. The teams are not close to a deal but dialogue continues according to sources familiar with the talks."

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This would be a huge get for a Rangers team that already boasts two top-end pitchers in Cole Hamels and Martin Perez.
Though, injuries to Colby Lewis (60-day DL) and Derek Holland (15-day DL) has put the Rangers rotation depth into question.
For his part, the 26-year-old Odorizzi is having himself another decent season in Tampa. While he's only won three games in 17 starts, the youngster is striking out nearly a hitter per inning while posting a solid 3.91 ERA and 1.22 WHIP.
It remains to be seen who Tampa Bay might ask for in exchange for the starter, but Joey Gallo would seem to be an expensive asking price. Considered one of the top power-hitting prospects in the game, the 22-year-old Gallo has hit 14 homers in 53 games in Triple-A this season.
He was ranked as Baseball America's 10th-best prospect heading into the 2016 season.

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The Rangers were in discussions to trade for Fernando Rodney. They're on the market for a reliever so don't fret.

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If you've followed the Rangers, Texas is "in discussions" on just about everyone that is available.

Yet the Marlins landed him with one upper-tier prospect that wouldn't even have cracked the Rangers Top 10.

Sure seems to me that if the Rangers were serious about adding a plus reliever that they could have easily outbid Miami.

But, as mentioned before, if they are looking to add a reliever it is not going to be a guy that requires top prospect(s), which is why you're not going to see any significant (read: guy slotted to take the ball with a 3 run lead or less late in the game) bullpen arm added unless one of Diekman/Dyson/Tolleson/Bush/Kela/Barnette go to the DL.

But I bet you'll be able to find more quotes where the Rangers were "in discussions".

But hey, we're 3.5 weeks away from the deadline and we obviously have the prospect firepower. Let's see what plus bullpen arm we add...

I post quite a bit about the Rangers' minors, specifically pitching.

After mentioning Ariel Jurado a few times, I found this article on him:
[url=http://www.todaysknuckleball.com/al/texas-rangers/ariel-jurado-cole-wiper-rangers/][/url]
http://www.todaysknuckleball.com/al/texas-rangers/ariel-jurado-cole-wiper-rangers/

Definitely worth a read.

Then, ESPN posted this article:
http://espn.go.com/blog/mlb/rumors/post/_/id/25178/mlb-rumor-central-rangers-prospect-ariel-jurado-in-high-demand

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Infielders Jurickson Profar and Joey Gallo and outfielder Lewis Brinson are names that have popped up, but teams also are very interested in high-A right-hander Ariel Jurado, reports Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com.

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Rosenthal lists Double-A outfielder Ryan Cordell, first baseman Ronald Guzman and right-hander Connor Sadzeck as other prospects who could be in play.

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All names we've mentioned and you'd expect. Guzman is one that I think may not have been mentioned. He hade more visibility last year, but seems to have been buried, this year, behind so many names.

It wouldn't surprise me if we lost several of the following:
Holaday (C), Delino DeShields (OF), Joey Gallo (1B), Ryan Cordell (OF), Pedro Payano (SP), Connor Sadzeck (SP) and Ariel Jurado (SP)