Great 9th Claudio!
A rare occurrence for this bunch .

MSFC Aggie said:

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Time to start the countdown

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times that by 5 and you have our magic number

That was a nice 9th. Great start to the second half!

What is this weird S statistic next to Claudio's name in the box score?

Gained a game in the WC and Minnesota is about to lose to the Stros. Great start indeed.

After the shakiness early, Perez got the win.

After throwing well early and a 3-0 lead, Hammel with no decision.

AP, I think it's time to hook Shonda up with season tickets behind home plate.... for the betterment of the team.

The bats should feast for the next week. Very favorable pitching match ups coming. Let's hope the starting pitching can stay hot.

gigem1223 said:

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AP, I think it's time to hook Shonda up with season tickets behind home plate.... for the betterment of the team.

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Consider it a done deal. I have 2 seats available

So what, in yalls opinion, would it take to stand pat or make a move or two after this road trip? 6-4 ? 7-3 or better?

JD said on the radio yesterday that it's probably not going to based on their record but more or less how they played during the trip.

I don't recall having seen any on here handicap the teams in the AL.

This site goes through what each team needs. They are alphabetical, so not sorted by GB.

Teams I think are mostly eliminated and ready to be sellers, with current GB from WC:
Baltimore: 4.0 GB
Toronto: 4.0 GB
Detroit: 6.5 GB
Oakland: 6.5 GB
CWS: 7.5 GB

That leaves 10 teams and 5 spots.

Division Leaders:
AL West - Houston (16.5 game lead): Looks to be poised to coast into the playoffs.
AL Central - Cleveland (2.5 game lead): Apparently little to improve
AL East - Boston (3.5 game lead): Minor pieces parts needed

WC:
SP: Rank (ERA) in AL for SP
Tampa (+1): #2 (4.02) - SORs: Same Ole Rays
NYY (-): #5 (4.28) - Just lost Pineda (17GS/4.39) to TJ. Relying on youth (Severino, 23, 3.54); (Montgomery, 24, 3.78). Neither have really gone more than 152 IP in a season.With CC hampered with hamstring issues, I think the Yanks will fall apart in the 2nd half. Their #1 prospect went TJ in June.
Minn (1 GB): #14 (4.97) - Hard to read this team that is almost devoid of SP.
KC (1.5 GB): #7 (4.34) - They could make a splash. I think they are the ones to make the most moves at the deadline and could get one WC spot.
Tex (2 GB): #4 (4.24). Easy fixes. They just have to learn "how to win."
LAAA (3 GB): #8 (4.40). Biggest trade deadline deal, thus far, could be getting Trout back.
Settle (3 GB): #11 (4.74): It is Settle. The place SPs and 1B go to end their careers.

I think Tampa and KC are the Rangers targets for the WC. NYY, MInn and Seattle will all fade. We could see some selling from them, IMO. The only thing that can save NYY is if the umps continue to call a strikezone favorable for them.

Last post this morning...

News from the farm:

Last night
AJGriffin made a rehab in Az: 3.0IP, 0H, 0BB, 2 SO, 0 ER
Also
Matuella (A-23): 5.0 IP, 3H, 0BB, 0 ER

Thurs
Hans Crouse (AZL) went 2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 K, 0 BB

Wed
Jurado (AA-21): 6.0 IP, 11 H, 5 R <- Continues to struggle.
Sadzeck (AA-25): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R <- Starting to settle in RP role?
Brett Martin (A+-22): 5.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R <- Disappointing outing.

On phone, so can't post pics, but Shonda made the Newberg Report email today

So what happened when AJ gets back? Do we try a 6 man rotation?

Also, what happened to ABD? I would hope he's in the bp as a long reliever.

gigem1223 said:

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So what happened when AJ gets back? Do we try a 6 man rotation?

Also, what happened to ABD? I would hope he's in the bp as a long reliever.

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Great questions. ABD is still on the big boy roster. I think ABD will be the long-reliever. I'm guessing the Rangers signed him to a 1 year minor league deal, and he could walk if they wanted to try and send him down.

AJG could still be optioned to AAA, no? I think he has 2 options and has 4years of service time. Don't you need 5 to reject being sent down?

I know they said Nick Martinez was sent down to continue to get regular GS. I didn't realize he pitched last night, as well. He went: 6.0 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 0 ER, 1 SO. He had another outing on July 9th (4.2 IP, 7H, 4ER) which I did know about. I believe this was his last option year.

That leaves:
ABD (32-RHP): 5 GS, 10 G, 42.1 IP, 4.04 ERA, 1.06 WHIP
Martinez (26-RHP): 11 GS, 14 G, 71.0 IP, 4.56 ERRA, 1.31 WHIP
AJG (29-RHP): 8 GS, 39.0 IP, 5.77, 1.28

The rotation coming out of the break has:
Perez (L): Fri
Hamels (L): Sat
Darvish (R): Sun
Cashner (R): Mon Balt
Ross (R): Tues Balt

Weird they went Lefty-Lefty. KC is .250/.247 L v R. Balt is .253 v .255

I wonder if someone like Minnesota might be interested in a cheap ($2M) and controllable (Arb3 in 2018) arm, like AJG?! Assuming he can put together some good outings coming back.

Just got an international slot from CWS. One step closer to Ohtani??

AccidentProne said:

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Just got an international slot from CWS. One step closer to Ohtani??

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Still need $$$. The Rangers have already spent some and have the lower trade cap due to last year's record, so it's going to be uphill for them.

AccidentProne said:

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Just got an international slot from CWS. One step closer to Ohtani??

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Interesting.

The CWS are ones expected to have slot money available. They got $4.75M, but have been put in the penalty box (Cap at $300K for any single player for this and next year). AFAIK, they've signed 2 players...1 for $300K.

I don't have the desire to look up how much the Rangers have left. I think they got $4.75M and can add up to 75% more ($3.325M). I believe it is 50% more. One article said 75%, but I don't think that is correct.

Yanks had spent quite a bit, but also have acquired some. Seattle, IMO, is the other team to watch.

Anyone have a link to valid and current International signings\slots?!

Compiling information:

New York Yankees: Pool $4.75M, acquired additional from Baltimore
Everson Pereira, of, Venezuela (No. 4 prospect), $1,500,000
Roberto Chirinos, ss, Venezuela (No. 20 prospect), $900,000
Anthony Garcia, of, Dominican Republic (No. 28 prospect), $500,000.
Stanley Rosario, of, Dominican Republic, $300,000.
Miguel Marte, ss, Dominican Republic, $200,000.
Enyerberth Ascanio, c, Venezuela, $190,000
Albert Vega, rhp, Dominican Republic, $100,000.
Nelson Medina, cf, Dominican Republic, $60,000
Ezequiel Duran, ss, Dominican Republic, $10,000
Jose Martinez, 3b, Dominican Republic, $10,000
Yordy Nunez, rhp, Dominican Republic, $10,000

That's $3.78M

>> Projected to also sign Ronny Rojas in August for $1M?


Texas Rangers: Pool $4.75M, acquired additional from CWS
Wilderd Patino, of, Venezuela (No. 27 prospect), $1,300,000
Keyber Rodriguez, ss, Venezuela (No. 24 prospect), $1,000,000
Damian Mendoza, rhp, Mexico, $1,000,000
Orcelis Gomez, rhp, Venezuela
Randy Florentino, c, Dominican Republic
Diosbel Arias, ss, Cuba
Derwin Barreto, ss, Venezuela
Anyelo George, ss, Dominican Republic
Freddy Puerta, c, Venezuela
Jonneyder Izarra, lhp, Venezuela
Ronier Lascarro, of, Venezuela

According to LSB, the Rangers may have signed upto $3.285M

Both teams will have the same financial constraints. Same Pool, same upside in acquiring additional pool. So, Max $7.125M (assuming upto 50%). If the Rangers acquire Max and spent what is listed... they have $3.84M left. Yankees would be down to $2.345M if they add Rojas.

Seattle would be the only other player, I would think.

Those are runs you have to bring in!

I drove bus said:

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I miss Shonda

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I miss having announcers talk about the Rangers' players.

I feel like I'm listening to the opposing announcers talking about their players. When they do say something about the Rangers it is usually in the negative.

Not true at all. Especially with CJ

I drove bus said:

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Not true at all. Especially with CJ

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Raymond most certainly.

Just listened all about the Corn-people during some Rangers' SS AB and then how great Escobar, Gordon and Brett were, while some nobody 3B for the Rangers batted.

Maybe I just missed their round of Rangers talk.

And yes, I know Raymond isn't calling this game.

Bats are missing a lot of meatballs

Topics during bottom of 7th
Cubs \ Cardinals and the NL Central
Royals Game 7 and postseason with the Giants
Yankees and Giants WS.
Hamels putting down players.
Back to games next week: Rangers and Rays.
Talk of Rays

Now AL East and the All-Star Game.
Hamels against LH hitters and Moustakas
Moustakas
Moustakas
Moustakas
Odor gets Moustakas
More Moustakas talk and hitters sitting on pitches.
Escobar
short mention of Hamels
Lots of quiet time.
Hamels stats for the game.
More quiet.
Andrus ends Royals.
Hamels mention.

What was that a 10 min half inning? Mentioned something about Hamels 4 times, but probably no more than 45 secs. I don't think they ever mentioned what pitch he threw or it's speed. Nothing about being ahead or behind.

Let's see the Top of 8

Topics during top of 8th
Duffy facing middle of the lineup.
Duffy has been good and efficient.
Lots of Duffy talk. Back-to-back breaking pitches. Getting ahead.

Duffy Pitch Count by inning.
Play called.
Duffy Duffy Duffy. His evolution.
Not sure who is batting. Oh, screen says Gomez.
More Duffy's evolution.
Now KC Pitching coach and the BP.
You wouldn't realize that Gomez has 1 of the 2 hits against Duffy. Oh... look Gomez gets a hit. 2 for 3.

Odor batting... DP.

Definitively not going to be reveiwed, per announcers.

Fkn a....what a frustrating game to watch

gigem1223 said:

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Fkn a....what a frustrating game to watch

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I love a pitching duel.

Yankees - Sox are in the 15th, with a double header tomorrow. You talk about brutalized bullpens.

And tonight's game is being played under protest by the Red Sox.

They're talking about the rangers right now. A lot.

I drove bus said:

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They're talking about the rangers right now. A lot.

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I stepped away. I was parenting...