Wtf is Odor swinging at. He is absolutely killing this team right now.

I think the reason we can't seem to get significantly away from the 0.500ish hump is that we are a decidedly mediocre club.

This series is just another reminder on why moving Darvish was the thing to do.

Yup. If we sneak into the wildcard -- great... Free baseball. And if Calhoun can become any kind of regular roster contributor for the next several years then no one can fault Texas.

_lefraud_ said:

---

This series is just another reminder on why moving Darvish was the thing to do.

---

watching him pitch today for the Dodgers is a reminder to me why we shouldn't have paid him $25MM/season.

Labored, walks, trying to get cute. Lasted 5 innings gave up 3 runs.

free_mhayden said:

---

Yup. If we sneak into the wildcard -- great... Free baseball. And if Calhoun can become any kind of regular roster contributor for the next several years then no one can fault Texas.

---

Especially when we sign Darvish and Otani.

Swept by ****ing Oakland. That'll about do us in

Why is Nap always the one up with the bases loaded? I'll be so glad when he's no longer a Ranger.

****ing brutal right there. We will get swept by the freaking A's.

Of course.... the Oakland series could not have gone any worse

gigem1223 said:

---

Why is Nap always the one up with the bases loaded? I'll be so glad when he's no longer a Ranger.

---

It will be nice when Guzman is up with the club. Napoli tattooed that though, just right to the damn 3rd baseman

This series is a freaking abortion

Just got swept and torn a new one by a bunch of triple A ballers playing for the Oakland A's. Couldn't even get one game. Totally ridiculous.

That wasn't Nap, that was a great play by the 3rd baseman.

grapespda2525 said:

---

This series is a freaking abortion

Just got swept and torn a new one by a bunch of triple A ballers playing for the Oakland A's. Couldn't even get one game. Totally ridiculous.

---

I thought I was watching live. It's the bottom of the 8th here. The game isnt over yet.

I understood/understand it from a long-term franchise look and not wanting to get locked into an aging player for a multi-year deal, but I said that passing on Encarnacion at 3/$60 for Napoli at 1/$8.5 would be the difference between us making the playoffs.

how do you **** that up Odor

MooreTrucker said:

---

That wasn't Nap, that was a great play by the 3rd baseman.

---

Idgaf. Make that 0-7 for Nap with the bases loaded this season.

Very likely nail in the coffin sealing the sweep right there from Odor. Damnit.

free_mhayden said:

---

I understood/understand it from a long-term franchise look and not wanting to get locked into an aging player for a multi-year deal, but I said that passing on Encarnacion at 3/$60 for Napoli at 1/$8.5 would be the difference between us making the playoffs.

---

I'm not convinced Encarnacion is\was a good option:

.247, .372 OBP, 30 HR, .859 OPS: $18.7M (2018), $21.7M (2019), then $20M/$5M buyout in 2020
.199, .280 OBP, 27 HR, .722 OPS: $6M (+2.5M buyout)

Yeah... Napoli has been a bust, but they could have dumped him for another player and paid $10M for that other player.

None of these games are "nail in the coffin" games. Texas will be 3 games back with a month to play. Texas is still very much in the hunt if they can start playing like an above 0.500 team.

But reality is they are what they are -- they've got a shoddy rotation, a batting lineup that relies on the long-ball and they are not fundamentally sound on defense or the base paths.

They are in the hunt if they can play like an above 0.500 team - but they aren't one.

free_mhayden said:

---

None of these games are "nail in the coffin" games. Texas will be 3 games back with a month to play. Texas is still very much in the hunt if they can start playing like an above 0.500 team.

But reality is they are what they are -- they've got a shoddy rotation, a batting lineup that relies on the long-ball and they are not fundamentally sound on defense or the base paths.

They are in the hunt if they can play like an above 0.500 team - but they aren't one.

---

The good news is, all the other teams in the wild card hunt are mediocre teams as well.

DallasAg 94 said:

---

free_mhayden said:

---

I understood/understand it from a long-term franchise look and not wanting to get locked into an aging player for a multi-year deal, but I said that passing on Encarnacion at 3/$60 for Napoli at 1/$8.5 would be the difference between us making the playoffs.

---

I'm not convinced Encarnacion is\was a good option:

.247, .372 OBP, 30 HR, .859 OPS: $18.7M (2018), $21.7M (2019), then $20M/$5M buyout in 2020
.199, .280 OBP, 27 HR, .722 OPS: $6M (+2.5M buyout)

Yeah... Napoli has been a bust, but they could have dumped him for another player and paid $10M for that other player.

---

Financially EE wasn't a great option if you think the team was potentially going to need a rebuild/retool.

But what we're seeing from Napoli isn't a surprise to anyone. This exact topic was discussed 2-3 months ago as well. Look at what he did at the tail end of last year. The guy has lost a step and is guessing at the plate. That's why Texas was able to wait him out until February and sign him to a bargain basement deal.

So I don't fault the front office as they have to look long-term, I'm just saying that when it came to this year, not ponying up for EE and going bargain shopping with Napoli will wind up being the difference in October baseball.

Yup. Royals look like dog***** I'll believe the Mariners are a playoff team when they don't fold. Angels just lost 3 of 4 at home to us.

And I just don't see Minnesota truly pulling away from the pack.

But it's just really hard to start stringing together wins when your offense is completely feast or famine and your rotation is a declining Cole Hamels and a bunch of #5's/AAAA arms.

I'm not sure of the roster expansion decisions as of yet, but at this point I'd just like to see Gallo at 1B the rest of the year and Calhoun taking all of Napoli's DH at-bats. Maybe that will give us some spark.

I liked EE because that solidified 1st base for the next few years. What's the plan for that position? Is it Gallo? Mazara? Guzman? I doubt they even plan to look at Hosmer this winter, so what's the plan? Like catcher, 1B had been such a strength for the Rangers for so long, but it's been pretty bleak over there for quite sometime now.

I imagine the plan is Gallo at 1B and Beltre at 3B for as long as Beltre is capable/wants to play 3rd. Then shift Gallo over to 3rd when Beltre moves to DH (or retires).

Kind of a waste to have Gallo's arm at 1st, but it fits.

My wishful thinking is that the Rangers money whip either Machado (2019) or Arenado (2020) to replace Beltre.

Odor is terrible

I've always felt like assuming that Guzman comes up they'd go with him at 1st and then put Gallo in LF. Gallo's offensive profile skews closer to 1B than it does LF, but his athleticism is probably better utilized in LF obviously.

There are so many lefties on this team, and there certainly will be next season. Odor, Guzman, Gallo, Choo on every day guys, and Calhoun and Robinson as probable bench guys/replacement players.

It's too bad that trading a young, controllable, high upside position player for a young, controllable high upside pitcher isn't a thing. I'd be in favor of moving Mazara if it was.

Seven Costanza said:

---

It's too bad that trading a young, controllable, high upside position player for a young, controllable high upside pitcher isn't a thing. I'd be in favor of moving Mazara if it was.

---

I agree, but there is too much risk.

As I've said... JD will be very busy this offseason.

We have a huge number of Rule V guys. Managing that will be priority #1.

Priority #2 will be Darvish. Signing him (or not) will dictate everything else.
Priority #3 will be Ohtani. It will be either us, Seattle or NYY.
Backup - I think if we miss on Darvish and Ohtani, we consider Cashner.

After that, JD has to figure out the field, with most options being guys who play better as a role, than top talent.

DD - great defense, but his terrible arm is a liability.
Choo (L) - terrible D. Should DH
Mazara (22-L) - clunky in the OF. Should DH.
Gallo (23-L) - Could play LF, 3B, 1B or DH. He is a defensive liability in the field, but a great arm.
Calhoun (22-L)
Guzman (22-L)

Rua (27-R), Robinson (25-L), Hoying, Profar (24-S) are all running out of time to become legit.

If we sign Darvish, Guzman will be our 1B and Gallo is in LF.

We could run out there:

1B- Guzman (22-L)
2B- Odor (23-L)
3B- Beltre (38-R)
SS- Andrus (29-R)
LF- Gallo (23-L)
CF- DD (25-R)
RF- Mazara (22-L)
DH- Calhoun (22-L)
C- Chirinos (33-R)

5 Players under 25.

I believe we will trade Profar and Choo.

If we miss on Darvish and Ohtani, we'll end up with Cashner and Gomez. We'll have to go out and find a 1B.

Beltre will be our 3B even if he takes a walker out to the field.

If we roll Cashner out as our #2 pitcher then we should probably start looking for a trade partner for Beltre because that team will stink.

I don't think Gallo is a defensive liability. He's got good speed for his size. If he got constant reps in LF I think he could be a decent defensive outfielder

jtstanley4621 said:

---

I don't think Gallo is a defensive liability. He's got good speed for his size. If he got constant reps in LF I think he could be a decent defensive outfielder

---

For 2017, he has the following splits:
1B: 36 Games
3B: 61 Games
LF: 15 Games

This is my opinion, and I'm open to hearing other opinions.

I don't think he has the durability to go a full season in LF.
I don't think he has the range or quickness for 3B.
I don't think he has the instincts for 1B.

what is your expected return on Beltre?