The Rangers only had 39 guys on the 40 when Herrera was drafted. Could have kept him if they wanted to, but they chose the opportunity to take DD instead. Reasonable tradeoff.

TXAggie2011 said:

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If Pinto isn't hitting well, that entire A+ team isn't hitting well.

FWIW, at 22, he's younger than average for that roster.

His defense must be terrible and/or he's just not been showing progress from season to season.

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I read that Pinto is viewed as having 'no defensive value'.

jtstanley4621 said:

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Everyone go freaking vote Elvis in as an all-star.

Here's the link: https://www.mlb.com/all-star/final-vote

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Just voted 50 times. I know it won't make much of a difference, but I feel like Elvis has deserved it this year with his play.

I spent about 30 minutes last night just constantly voting for Elvis while watching TV. It is very easy to do, and Elvis deserves it. Hell, I understand why they put Darvish in (international appeal, etc.) but I think that Elvis may have been more deserving of the Rangers' slot, just in terms of what he's meant to the team this year. He's come through a bunch of times in really clutch spots.

Seven Costanza said:

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What a lame excuse. Obviously the command from Rangers' pitchers has been inconsistent this year, but that's weak from Lucroy, especially with Chirinos not having the same issues. Maybe he should talk about how his power numbers are essentially non-existent this season, and how many breaking balls he's let get away from him allowing runners to advance a base this season, and how few runners he's thrown out.

I don't think Lucroy is necessarily a bad dude or anything, but I don't think I'm going to miss him as a catcher here when he leaves. At this point I would be in favor of just get anything I could for him from a team wanting a catcher.

That cat from the Cubs just got DFAd for not much different.

Quote:

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Sawchik examines some video and shows that Lucroy is not setting up nearly as low as he was in his prime, with the result being that his glove has to move more in order to receive balls at the bottom of the zone. More glove movement is generally associated with fewer strike calls, since umps subconsciously assume that a pitch that isn't where the glove is missed its target, and is more likely to be a ball.

Sawchik broaches the possibility of an injury, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if Lucroy were dealing with a back issue that is limiting his ability to get low behind the plate. Alternatively, it could just be a matter of getting older and the body not holding up as well.

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To me this has to be it. Early on I just thought maybe a certain young pitcher or two was getting the signs crossed up and that was the reason Lucroy seemed to be consistently caught off-guard on a pitch.

But just look at Lucroy last season and then watch this season. It's significantly different. Almost every pitch that is even remotely outside the zone, Lucroy is making a significant shift (and in some cases flailing) to get. It seems to me that his balance has left him, meaning if he has to move at all in the crouch position it's going to be a significant movement -- which is going to cause an umpire to just assume that a pitch isn't in the zone.

The decline of Jonathan Lucroy

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=258126

Squirrel Master said:

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Herrera has been a nice find, but he was far from a sure thing when the Phillies took him. The Rangers could have kept him, and passed on taking Deshields from Houston. Herrera has been a better player than DD, but its not like that trade-off has been a disaster that Rangers fans or front office should be that bothered by what could have been.

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That is true. The Rangers were at 39 players for the Rule V, so they could take "someone" if they felt the opportunity. Not protecting Herrera was a gamble they lost, but were able to get DD, who was further along in the transition to OF. Once put on the 40... Herrera would have held a spot there during the season, with little expectation he'd play at the MLB level.

True... Herrera was not a sure thing and AFAIK, was not expected to be on a MLB roster for the entire season.

free_mhayden said:

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Quote:

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Sawchik examines some video and shows that Lucroy is not setting up nearly as low as he was in his prime, with the result being that his glove has to move more in order to receive balls at the bottom of the zone. More glove movement is generally associated with fewer strike calls, since umps subconsciously assume that a pitch that isn't where the glove is missed its target, and is more likely to be a ball.

Sawchik broaches the possibility of an injury, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if Lucroy were dealing with a back issue that is limiting his ability to get low behind the plate. Alternatively, it could just be a matter of getting older and the body not holding up as well.

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To me this has to be it. Early on I just thought maybe a certain young pitcher or two was getting the signs crossed up and that was the reason Lucroy seemed to be consistently caught off-guard on a pitch.

But just look at Lucroy last season and then watch this season. It's significantly different. Almost every pitch that is even remotely outside the zone, Lucroy is making a significant shift (and in some cases flailing) to get. It seems to me that his balance has left him, meaning if he has to move at all in the crouch position it's going to be a significant movement -- which is going to cause an umpire to just assume that a pitch isn't in the zone.

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I noticed the same thing, and thought it just had to do about the types of pitches thrown. A CB (AJG) or Sinker (Perez), or something Darvish throws getting more movement, than a typical 4-Seam FB might. However, I started a post comparing the 2014 Brewers roster (which had Garza, Lohse and Gallardo from Texas Lore) and I couldn't validate my hypothesis.

Reading your info is more in line with what I've seen (in the limited games I've seen). Lucroy just looks a step slow to position the glove causing the momentum to carry, as opposed to stopping movement. Not being as low would also explain the downward drop of his glove and subsequent momentum going down.

I agree, it sounds like age, injury, or both.

I agree. It would also explain why he's been so bad at blocking balls, too. And why his swing looks so anemic.

Does anyone know how to convert hard paper tickets to mobile tickets so I can send to a friend?

Log into your my Rangers tickets account, go to my ticket inventory, select forward tickets from ticket action, enter friends email, hit continue, and you're done

Perez is just always gonna have that inning where he gets his pitch count up

Perez started that inning with 18 effing pitches. If Perez had any semblance of consistent command, he'd be a pretty damn good pitcher. But he doesn't, and he just nibbles.

I'll never understand it. Every single pitch he throws is a pitch that he could get outs with if he pitched to contact.

Nice at-bat from Gallo

Come on, Rougie

Oh good lord. Here comes Barnette. This is setting up for a vintage "Rangers bullpen fails them" situation

Bad baseball. Have seen so much of it this year

First man out of the bullpen always

Love Barnette in high leverage situations. Keep up the insanity, Banny.

That's not a wild pitch. Lucroy needs to stop that

I was, unfortunately.... correct

AccidentProne said:

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That's not a wild pitch. Lucroy needs to stop that

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Not a fan of Lucroy's work, but that was a 58 foot pitch with a lot of spin. Would be nice to knock it down, but that was a textbook wild pitch.

Edit - emoticon misfire

Barnette needs to go back to Japan

Lucroy just needs to go

Seven Costanza said:

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AccidentProne said:

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Welp, I guess this one is over

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Not yet. We could easily score three runs here and then blow it in the 8th or 9th.

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I like your optimism...

Porcelain bounced two pitches to Mazara and the catcher fielded both like they were nothing. Lucroy would have missed them both

I think Grilli on my fantasy team well over a decade ago.

Strong inning from Grilli there

Dude threw strikes and seemed to actually care. Good first impression so far.

Also...Grilli either took a shower right before the 8th inning started or he's really going to hate the heat/humidity combo down here.