Darvish's first real comments about his contract situation.. Can't say it's surprising, but certainly doesn't trend positively for Texas:

Quote:

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Quote:

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Do not look for Darvish to give the Rangers a hometown discount if he hits the open market, as expected.
"Liking Texas and signing a deal are two different things," said Darvish, speaking through an interpreter. "It's all business."

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Quote:

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Darvish also told reporters that he understands there is a possibility the Rangers could trade him if they fall out of playoff contention.
"There's always that possibility," Darvish said. "I'm fine either way."

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I don't think it says much of anything. His agent would lose it if he got out in the press and promptly professed he's undying love for the Rangers. He may be gone, he may not but I don't think there's much to be taken from that comment at all.

"It's all business" regarding his free agency and "I'm fine either way" regarding possibly being dealt at the deadline certainly point to what most have assumed -- he is going to go to the highest bidder in free agency (or close to it).

I don't see that being Texas.

It also more or less confirms what many also assumed that an extension this late in the contract is/was just a pipe dream. The idea that Daniels was waiting to get a little more data on Darvish before making his extension push was never very realistic.

I don't either but what else is he going to say? He may want to take the best deal and he may just be doing his best to not give Texas some notion that they can go for a discount. It's also of note that this is coming through an interpreter. I thought he was trying to learn English at one point. What happened to that?

Lucky #007 said:

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I don't either but what else is he going to say? He may want to take the best deal and he may just be doing his best to not give Texas some notion that they can go for a discount. It's also of note that this is coming through an interpreter. I thought he was trying to learn English at one point. What happened to that?

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I'm not saying the quote means he's not coming back to Texas because he wants to leave... but if Texas is going to keep Darvish they need him to take somewhat of a discount because it's highly unlikely they offer him the type of contract the team from the Bronx will.

free_mhayden said:

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Lucky #007 said:

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I don't either but what else is he going to say? He may want to take the best deal and he may just be doing his best to not give Texas some notion that they can go for a discount. It's also of note that this is coming through an interpreter. I thought he was trying to learn English at one point. What happened to that?

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I'm not saying the quote means he's not coming back to Texas because he wants to leave... but if Texas is going to keep Darvish they need him to take somewhat of a discount because it's highly unlikely they offer him the type of contract the team from the Bronx will.

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I think ownership wants Darvish on the team for the new stadium. The international flare is needed to help pay the higher prices that are around the corner. Darvish helps attract a fan that wouldn't necessarily show up very often it he wasn't on the team. Plus he's pretty good, if he can stay healthy.

KT 90 said:

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free_mhayden said:

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Lucky #007 said:

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I don't either but what else is he going to say? He may want to take the best deal and he may just be doing his best to not give Texas some notion that they can go for a discount. It's also of note that this is coming through an interpreter. I thought he was trying to learn English at one point. What happened to that?

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I'm not saying the quote means he's not coming back to Texas because he wants to leave... but if Texas is going to keep Darvish they need him to take somewhat of a discount because it's highly unlikely they offer him the type of contract the team from the Bronx will.

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I think ownership wants Darvish on the team for the new stadium. The international flare is needed to help pay the higher prices that are around the corner. Darvish helps attract a fan that wouldn't necessarily show up very often it he wasn't on the team. Plus he's pretty good, if he can stay healthy.

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I don't think there's any doubt Texas wants him. There's also a boatload of data that tells us when Texas wants a free agent pitcher that the Yankees want, they tend to lose out.

Is Texas comfortable giving Yu $30m/year? I'm not so sure... but I guarantee you New York is.

New stadium will be exciting for about half a season. How it goes everywhere.

They want to fill it up year-to-year, they need to win year-to-year.

If that means sign Darvish, fine. If that means Darvish is too expensive and will hurt multi-year efforts to win, fine. I don't think they need to focus on a particular player. Fans will quickly adopt new players on a winning team.

Isn't there also something about that Japanese guy on the Yankees making WAY more than Yu and him being pissed about it? And therefore, no discount I would think.

Winning long-term is obviously the main goal -- but there's no guarantee that losing one of your most popular assets (whether it be for prospects or money to be spent elsewhere) will in turn produce a long-term winner.

No one wants to be mired in mediocrity, but I think many assume that a year or two rebuilding and the team will be back to division winner after division winner and maybe a WS run or two.

There's a whole lot of teams that have decided to go the rebuild route that haven't returned to being a playoff mainstay since.

You lose some of your more marketable assets and field a sub 0.500 team... Good luck with attendance.

I feel like this is how most of these pitcher free agency things go for Texas.. Everyone pretty resigned that they will lose the player to a bigger name club in free agency... then as the end of the season approaches hints of hail-mary optimism ("he's comfortable in Texas", "no state income tax", etc...)... Then reality sets back in that the player is most likely gone.

Didn't that have way more to do with the posting system changing and less to do with Texas being "cheap"?

Put up or shut up boys. Predict final record, 2nd half MVP, playoffs? I'll go first.

88-74
Cole Hamels
2nd wild card spot

95-67
Odor
Win the division

81-81
Hamels
outside looking in

hope I'm wrong.

79-83

Beltre plays like Beltre

Try to be nice when you see random Rangers on the D/FW golf courses come early October.

[edit: revised my w/l total to be correct...I'm reetarded]

79-83
Beltre
No playoffs

Knock on wood, but I envision Hamels or Darvish missing extended time which prevents us from ever putting together a long string of wins to climb back into the race.

93-69
1st wildcard, but only 2 games behind the Astros
Gomez
Lose in the ALCS

4-5 games out of the wildcard
MVP Beltre

86-76 record. Play better ball but come up short of the 2nd WC.

MVP Elvis.

88-74
Beltre
2nd wild card spot (hopefully?)

87-75
Andrus
2nd WC

82-80
Beltre
No post-season for this gang

I'm banking on the bullpen not blowing 17 games like in the first half. Our run differential, starter era, runs scored says we're a better team than what our record indicates. If our bullpen can be decent then I believe this team is more than capable of making a wildcard.

117-45
Win Division
Win World Series
Android
Book It!

76-86
Elvis
no postseason

Anybody ever been up to Baltimore before? I'm thinking about going for the series next week

AccidentProne said:

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Anybody ever been up to Baltimore before? I'm thinking about going for the series next week

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Yep. A few times I've gone up there from D.C. to catch a game. Lovely ballpark, in a nice little pocket of town along its Inner Harbor, weather usually nice compared to what you get in Arlington.

What's potentially bringing you to Baltimore?

It's basically The Wire. Good luck - bring a gun.

/thread from last year.

This 10 game road trip to start the 2nd half is huge and should tell us if the Rangers are gonna buy/ sell. All 3 series against WC contenders.

AccidentProne said:

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Anybody ever been up to Baltimore before? I'm thinking about going for the series next week

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Camden Yard is nice and holds up well for an early 90s park. The Babe Ruth Museum (I believe it was a few blocks from the park) leaves a little to be desired. It is cool seeing the bats he used to use though. It is quite different than today. I wasn't in Baltimore long, just enough to catch the game so I can't speak for the city.

Huell Babineaux said:

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Looking at the WC standings for the AL.....Texas is 3 out. The worst (Oakland and Chicago) are 7.5 out. So you literally have every team within striking distance of the postseason. Just to give some perspective, in the NL, you have Arizona and Colorado currently holding the 2 WC spots, with Cubs and Cardinals 7.5 back. Crazy. It's going to be a fun final half in the AL.