Ag2012 said:

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free_mhayden said:

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Daniels isn't even in close to the hot seat.

This team has to been to the playoffs more times in the last 7 years than in the history of the franchise.

He's made some bad moves, but I don't think some of you really remember how bad it was in Texas. Lots of seasons that began with absolutely zero hope of competing.

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This. We have one of the best records over his tenure of any major league franchise. We were literally about a step short of a World Series win with a team that he built.

He pushed all in a few years ago to try to get us back to that level and some unlucky injuries (Darvish TJ, Fielder neck, etc) derailed that. Lucroy's underperformance wasn't JD's fault, you can probably pin that one on the coaching staff given how he turned things right back around in Colorado. Hell this year probably looks drastically different if Sam Dyson doesn't have a total meltdown on the mound.

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Still too soon

JD has been trying to strike gold for years now (Dempster, Garza, Gallardo, etc).

He's made trades that look good on paper. Ones where you get a player like Lucroy or Fielder, and for whatever reason they don't do for us what they did for their previous team, or even really come close.

It's hard to understand. I'm not down for a complete rebuild, but like someone else said above, we need a Tex type deal or two to go down soon and put some good players in the system or we're about to hit another 5-10 year lull

We definitely need to restock the farm system. In my opinion, the farm system is purely a numbers game, some prospects work out, most don't. A good example is going back and looking at the Teixeira trade. At the time, the big prospect in the deal was Saltalamacchia, who turned out to be the least productive at the major league level. I have a lot of faith in JD and even in looking at the current free agent market, a lot of names are still on the board and prices will most likely be coming down as we approach Spring Training.

It also wouldn't surprise me if JD is purely signing some of the guys with hopes that they produce in the first half of the season so he can trade them away for younger guys at the deadline (ie Lofton, Gagne)

I'm not as dramatic.

The Rangers had a chance to do something at the trade deadline and didn't capitalize, for sure.

It still goes back to developing talent. Almost everyone on here was moaning the Andrus contract when Elvis had a bad year, and I had felt we'd be fine.

I see the same with Gallo, Odor and Mazara. You have 3 highly regarded prospects who project real high. All 3 took a step back in expectations during the 2017 season and all 3 need to step up.

We need one of our SP prospects to turn the corner.

YoMen is 23. He needs to spend time in Arlington.
Ariel Jurado is 22.
Kyle Cody is 23.
Connor Sadzeck is 26. <- Converted to RP

These are guys we need to step up. IMO, we need 1 SP to join the rotation from within every 2 years.

JD know he might hit at 25% of signing these former quality guys.

Matt Moore - we have for 2 years.
Mike Minor - we have 3 years
Fister - 2 years
Chris Martin - 2 years
Jon Niese - minor league deal

If JD were to sign Darvish, Arrieta, or someone else... it quickly makes the rotation palatable.

Hamels
Darvish
Perez
< FA retread> Someone of 5 retreads above makes roster
<Minor League hopeful> Someone of the 3 minors taking the 5th spot.

Not ideal, but salvageable.

With someone like Darvish... if Hamels has a hiccup and only gives you 25-27 GS... or Perez is slow to return... you at least feel you have some assurance someone in the rotation.
Without someone like Darvish... the aging of Hamels is more concerning and that doesn't even consider that Perez may be slow to recover.

I like that we have 9 potential guys to fill 2 open spots... but don't like that it is likely they will fill 3 spots. Or 4.

Gallo took a step back in 2017?

Disco Stu said:

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Gallo took a step back in 2017?

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I think so.

.209 Batting Average.

Yes, he had 41 HRs. I don't think there was ever a question he could hit for power.

196 SOs. I don't know that the Rangers see that as positive.
75 BBs... I think that was encouraging, which led to the .333 OBP.

IMO, something like .240-.250 / 35+ HRs and less than 1K/G was kind of the entry expectation. At least for me. SO, the fact he hit for such a low average and Ks were so high... he performed below expectations/hope.

DallasAg 94 said:

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Disco Stu said:

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Gallo took a step back in 2017?

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I think so.

.209 Batting Average.

Yes, he had 41 HRs. I don't think there was ever a question he could hit for power.

196 SOs. I don't know that the Rangers see that as positive.
75 BBs... I think that was encouraging, which led to the .333 OBP.

IMO, something like .240-.250 / 35+ HRs and less than 1K/G was kind of the entry expectation. At least for me. SO, the fact he hit for such a low average and Ks were so high... he performed below expectations/hope.

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He was a 1.5K per game and .240 hitter at RR in 2016. Not sure where one would derive a .250 and <1k/game expectation for the major league ball club in 2017. He did reduce his K rate in spite of the promotion, and that is a solid OBP. He needs to continue to develop, but I don't get how this was a step back. He was better than 2016 in every way.

I think .240-250, 40+ HR's, 1k/gm, and a high OBP is where you hope he gets to eventually, not where he starts.

No way in hell Gallo "took a step back" last year. If you're evaluating players on batting average and strikeout rate you're completely missing the bigger picture. Gallo posted a wRC+ of 123 last year, meaning on a run-creation basis he was 23 percent better than league average. That was as a 23 year old in his first full major league season.

In 2016 he posted an 86 wRC+, so he went from below average to well above average. His K rate dropped from 46%(!!!) to 36% and his walk rate improved slightly from 12% to 14%. From an eyeball test standpoint he looked much improved in terms of pitch selection and plate approach (remember him working the count full from being down 0-2 and then smacking giant first walkoff home run?).

From a pure power perspective he led all qualified hitters in average home run distance (422', or nearly 4' better than Giancarlo Stanton, #2 on that list). He did all this while being shuffled around in the order and shuffled around the field. He has serious star potential and he showed it in 2017.

Alright.

I'm so confused.

Gallo is good. Bout where we should have expected him.

Mazara (22): .253, 20 HR, .323 OBP
Odor (23): .204, 30 HR, 15 SB, .252 OBP
Gallo (24): .209, 41 HR, 7 SB, .333 OBP

So... are we disappointed in any of those guys? No step back?

What should we realistically expect for 2018, from these guys?

Odor took a huge step back, Mazara kind of stayed the same, and Gallo took a big step forward.

Mazara:
2016 - wRC+ 94, wOBA .318, WAR 1.2
2017 - wRC+ 92, wOBA .317, WAR 0.4
2018 (Fangraphs projection) - wRC+ 109, wOBA .342, WAR 2.1

Nomar regressed ever so slightly in 2017 but he's been a slightly below average player since being called up. That said, he's younger than most of our AA players and would be one of our younger high-A players. He's going to continue to grow as a player and the projections have him emerging as an above average hitter this season.

Odor:

2016 - wRC+ 106, wOBA .336, WAR 1.9
2017 - wRC+ 61, wOBA .272, WAR -1.0
2018 (FG) - wRC+ 99, wOBA .328, WAR 1.9

Odor had two really good seasons in '15 and '16 and then took a HUGE step back in 2017. Part of this was dumb luck (his BABIP dropped from .297 to .224) but more concerning is that his plate approach has gotten worse as his K% has climbed from 16.8% to 21.4% to 24.9%. He simply doesn't have the power to compensate for this like Gallo does and he has to really work on being more patient at the plate if he's going to contribute positively. He projects as almost exactly average this year.

Gallo:

2015 - wRC+ 87, wOBA 305, WAR 0.6
2016 - only had 30 MLB PAs, spent the year in AAA
2017 - wRC+ 123, wOBA .364, WAR 2.9
2018 (FG) - wRC+ 119, wOBA .358, WAR 2.6

Gallo had an awful 2016 after a below average first year. In 2017 he emerged as one of the best hitters on the team and a well above average hitter compared to the rest of the league. He's projected to take a small step back next year but still be well above average. If he works this offseason the way he did last offseason he could really start to look like a star.

I just come here for the analysis.

Thanks. Good info.

Lots of letters... lots of numbers.

This agent appears to be getting pressure.

An earlier article indicated the number of players Boras has unsigned. I'm guessing owners\GMs are just unwilling to meet their demands. Time is running out the 1st one to blink will lose.

The suggestion of collusion is rich (pardon the pun). So, if Owners stand united, it is collusion. If players stand united it is a good thing?

Quote:

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Their voices are getting louder and they are uniting in a way not seen since 1994.

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Boras threatened collective bargaining and the distribution of wealth... indicating the PA could bring up issue with how the small teams are spending.

Now, this agent appears ready to threaten the Owners\GMs if they don't spend at the levels the agents and players demand.


If the Rangers go into ST with the current roster, I'm not going to be thrilled. If the players boycott... well, piss on the players.

Off topic but I kinda wish I could buy the shirt Elvis is wearing in the pic below

https://instagr.am/p/BYRNtv4BojB

You guys

I've heard we've got momentum on a deal with Steve Dalkowski too.

Eddie Guardado gonna close

All we need now is Vicente Padilla.

What's Hank Blalock doing these days? Any interest on signing him for some DH depth. Or what about Brian Wilson, I still fear his beard.

DallasAg 94 said:

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All we need now is Vicente Padilla.

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Padilla always had those crazy eyes. And you never knew when he was going to go rouge and start throwing at other players

bigcat22 said:

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DallasAg 94 said:

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All we need now is Vicente Padilla.

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Padilla always had those crazy eyes. And you never knew when he was going to go rouge and start throwing at other players

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I loved Padilla. He kept it real. I was always convinced he came to the ballpark ready to bean people. I'm guessing he either would have a hangover or had a fight with his spouse.

Sometimes I think he did it in order to get pulled from games he didn't want to pitch, or wasn't doing well.

Teixiera hated him so much.

Well said

I heard Tom Goodwin is available to play CF. We could use his speed.

Id never want to see Padilla in a Rangers uniform again because he always chose to wear those stupid sleeveless softball uniforms. I hated those things.

ChipFTAC01 said:

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Id never want to see Padilla in a Rangers uniform again because he always chose to wear those stupid sleeveless softball uniforms. I hated those things.

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Those unis were so swag:



I loved them.

And the crazy eye?

Dude had 'em.

But seriously, wtf are we doing?

AggieDPT said:

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You guys

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Savvy move by Daniels. Now he can't throw a CG SO against us!

Read the following on CBSSPORTS this morning - got excited for about 30 seconds then reality set in:

Jon Paul Morosi writes that the Rangers aren't considered to be one of the favorites to sign Yu Darvish, but could be one of the favorites to sign Clayton Kershaw after 2018.

Kershaw available. Strasburg will be available. The free agent class will be massive and it will come at a time that Houston will have to start making some financial decisions that their draft-pick-heavy roster kept them from having to make the last few years.

We all want to see a WS contender every single year, but it just makes sense to keep the powder dry until the all-star-break.

And it's not like we're walking into the season staring at 100-losses. We're definitely not a division contender at this point, but even in this "wait till next year" season, there's still a lot of reason to believe that come late August we'll see till be striking distance of a wildcard spot (ie. meaningful baseball).

Most of my issue is the Rangers fought and leveraged this concept of a new stadium for $500M. And now they aren't spending.

Hicks was all "Well, we need the fans to come out so we can get players."

So... for me... I know I'm just complaining to complain.

I'd rather not sign Colon because I think it is dumb to sign a known PED user... and sign him at 44.

Now, if this is just a case of let's get him to RR or Frisco to sign autographs and let fans see him pitching, fine... However, I'm ready for guys like YoMen, Jurado, et al.

The new stadium payoff comes with a sustained, quality team, not blowing their wad on another Shin Soo Choo or Kevin Millwood deal that hamstrings you when you move in in a few years. This class is underwhelming. I'm actually relieved to see them keep their powder dry.

If they had some young arms close to ready, then I'd look at signing cheap veteran arms differently. But at this point, someone has to eat some innings and I don't want to see young guys rushed along too soon to do it. I'm fine with signing a quantity of cheap arms that might at least offer something, then using the spring and early season to see what to ride with and what to dump.

DannyDuberstein said:

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The new stadium payoff comes with a sustained, quality team, not blowing their wad on another Shin Soo Choo or Kevin Millwood deal. This class is underwhelming. I'm actually relieved to see them keep their powder dry.

If they had some young arms close to ready, then I'd look at signing cheap veteran arms differently. But at this point, someone has to eat some innings and I don't want to see young guys rushed along to do it. I'm fine with signing a quantity cheap arms that might at least offer something, then using the spring and early season to see what to rude with and what to dump.

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It is only underwhelming if the Players get what the Agents are holding out for.

Darvish for something like 5yr/$25Mper... makes him underwhelming.

Darvish for something like 3-4/$16-17M per, IMO makes him reasonably priced.

JD is doing several things. First, he can say to Boras, "Look for $15M, I can sign 10 SPs for 2018 and not have a 5 yr commit."

Teams signing players like Colon extends the life of some players, which gives the appearance of more players... diminishing the demand. "Look, we already have 40 players on every MLB roster. To sign Darvish, Arrieta, et al, will require us to cut a player."