Not sure any manager is going to scorch earth after 5 games. Odor, Rua, Chirinos are hitting low in the order for a reason.

Also...Banny didn't build the roster and they don't have anybody in the system ready to help besides a guy who doesn't have a spot in he lineup because his defense is below replacement level.

Banny may not be Joe Madden but he's pretty far down the list of blame right now IMO.

I don't make much of Banny's public comments. He's going to have his guy's backs, and in a sport with a 162 game season, a high rate of individual built in even for great players, and so much of it played between the ears, we're going to hear "one hit away" a lot. Doesn't bug me.

I don't think anyone saying Bannister is the problem -- the roster is the problem.

But Bannister is simply not a good strategical coach. His lineups can be questionable, his bullpen management is horrendous... and if you think he's going to be the guy that is going to nudge Gallo and tell him he needs to start laying a bunt down then you're wrong. Odor played all 162 games last year at below replacement level -- Bannister wouldn't even sit the guy for a game.

So all those little things that might put a bad team in position to win a few more games here and there -- Bannister isn't gonna be the guy to do it.

For me Bannisters issues are more a function of his 25 guys...not whether or not he sits a bad Odor for a bad Profar or when he brings in someone not named Alex Claudio from the pen. We'll see if this season changes that perception at all or not.

So you think Bannisters bullpen management has been good?

You think playing a guy below replacement level every.single.game is good strategy?

What about letting Dyson figure it out for 2 months en route to a 6-loss closer in May?

Don't get me wrong -- I'm in no way calling for Bannister's job... but I just assumed most that were supportive of him at least conceded that he's really not a very good strategical manager.

Or how about when an opposing pitcher is struggling to get outs and we run into 2 outs via steal?

With one of the few guys in the lineup that can actually hit above the Mendoza line at the plate.

Wtf was that. Was that called from the dugout? If so what the literal ****.... fits right into our current discussion of bannister

WHAT THE **** WAS THAT?!

What benefit do you get from stealing 3rd with 2 outs?

I guess I don't understand the double steal attempt with 2 outs. Rua isn't exactly a burner on the bases. A's pitcher is kind of struggling and we gift him an out.

Overly-aggressive to a detriment is pretty much how Bannister coaches.

These past few seasons have gotten me closer to thinking we need just a clean sweep of the organization. A fresh start with a new GM and manager

Don't forget you have a lefty at the plate

That was a ridiculous steal attempt.

free_mhayden said:

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So you think Bannisters bullpen management has been good?

You think playing a guy below replacement level every.single.game is good strategy?

What about letting Dyson figure it out for 2 months en route to a 6-loss closer in May?

Don't get me wrong -- I'm in no way calling for Bannister's job... but I just assumed most that were supportive of him at least conceded that he's really not a very good strategical manager.

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I think the outcomes are due mainly to personnel. I don't have a good way to measure how good a managers strategic acumen is. My sense is that Bannister is about average and the personnel is average or worse. When that's the case the outcomes will often be less than ideal.

Been impressed with Gallo so far. Swinging within himself, driving the ball opposite field when it calls for it, drawing walks and deep counts, still hitting with power

Piscotty this series:
K'd 4 Times on 12 pitches
And hit into two double plays

Dogsh**

Hamels - 9 Ks through 4 innings

Much needed performance from our #1

Attendance tonight 9,107

Hamels with 11 Ks through 5... problem is, that's it for him.

Beltre is the man.

Jesus what a terrible send by Beasley

Ugh that highlight hurts to watch. Sure would be nice to have Brinson's glove in center right now.

Agreed. That trade is going to hurt for a while especially when Ortiz gets to the Majors. Ortiz may not be an ace but should be a serviceable 3-4 which the Rangers could use in the system.

Win

Ron Guzman? What am I missing? Why isnt he playing 1st for Rangers? On a team that is put together with high swing and miss, wouldn't another high average guy be welcome?? LF is a crapshoot so Gallo to LF ... Guzman to 1st?

DallasAg 94 said:

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Calling it now.

Rangers Win.
4 HRs, including Gallo who deposits one into the Oakland Zoo.

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Maybe I should have just said 4 Runs.

Alvarado Times said:

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Ron Guzman? What am I missing? Why isnt he playing 1st for Rangers? On a team that is put together with high swing and miss, wouldn't another high average guy be welcome?? LF is a crapshoot so Gallo to LF ... Guzman to 1st?

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You didn't get the memo? We are not doing high average low K rate players.

Actually... I think it is about service time. Whatever the date is that allows players to not get a full year of service in...he and Calhoun will both be brought up.

I anticipate
Callhoun at LF
Guzman at 1B
Gallo to 3B, once Beltre is traded

DallasAg 94 said:

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Alvarado Times said:

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Ron Guzman? What am I missing? Why isnt he playing 1st for Rangers? On a team that is put together with high swing and miss, wouldn't another high average guy be welcome?? LF is a crapshoot so Gallo to LF ... Guzman to 1st?

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You didn't get the memo? We are not doing high average low K rate players.

Actually... I think it is about service time. Whatever the date is that allows players to not get a full year of service in...he and Calhoun will both be brought up.

I anticipate
Callhoun at LF
Guzman at 1B
Gallo to 3B, once Beltre is traded

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And when/if all that happens (except Beltre bc I love me some beltre) this team will be fun to watch just to see how these young guys develop

Blindside05 said:

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DallasAg 94 said:

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Alvarado Times said:

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Ron Guzman? What am I missing? Why isnt he playing 1st for Rangers? On a team that is put together with high swing and miss, wouldn't another high average guy be welcome?? LF is a crapshoot so Gallo to LF ... Guzman to 1st?

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You didn't get the memo? We are not doing high average low K rate players.

Actually... I think it is about service time. Whatever the date is that allows players to not get a full year of service in...he and Calhoun will both be brought up.

I anticipate
Callhoun at LF
Guzman at 1B
Gallo to 3B, once Beltre is traded

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And when/if all that happens (except Beltre bc I love me some beltre) this team will be fun to watch just to see how these young guys develop

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In fact swap out beltre with odor..... I thought kinsler got under my skin with his pop-ups and defensive blunders but odor takes the cake

Interesting commitment to a 6 man rotation...

Are the Rangers the only franchise?

Martinez
RHP, 23 from Vz, most of his time last year was with A+ DE. 132 IP in 2017.

Arredondo -
RHP, 6'3", 20 year old from Mexico. Pitched @ A Hickory last year. 109 IP in 2017

Matuella - 22nd Ranked prospect
RHP, 6'6", 23 years old, had TJ surgery, IIRC, in 2015 when the Rangers drafted him. Was at A Hickory, as well. 75 IP in 2017

Hernandez - 14th Ranked prospect
RHP, 6'2", 21 years old. Split time between A Hickory and A+ DE. 111 IP in 2017, 116 IP in 2016.

Weickel
RHP, 24, picked up from San Diego before 2017. He spent 2017 with A Hickory. 74 IP last year, but used sparingly the past couple years. Had TJ in 2015.

Torres
LHP, 24 from Puerto Rico, looks like a converted RP to SP who was with A Hickory last year. He pitched 85 Innings in 2017, as a RP.

Looks like Hickory starts with 25 straight games, so I wonder if this is just a chance to slow the IP at the beginning of the season, or an organizational consideration. I guess we'll see how the other levels staff. I'm hoping it is an attempt to slow the IP as most of them have had limited IP.

At A+, I think they do 139 GP. What do you want... 110-120 IP?

Odor/Mazara + whoever for Sale doesn't look so bad now.

Mazara should have never been "untouchable". The guy has no position. He might be a .300 hitter over the course of his career (doubtful) but he will handicap this team (or any team) because of his athletic ability, or lack thereof.

Hickory (A) appears to be a 6-man, as well.

Tyler Phillips (20-RHP), 13GS Spokane, 4 GS in Hick
Alex Eubanks (22-RHP), 2017 Draft (14th Rd. Clemson). 16.1 IP
AJ Alexy (20-RHP) - #17 prospect pickup from Dodgers (Yu), 24 GS @A
Noah Bremer (21-RHP) - 2017 Draft (6th Rd. UofWash) 20.2 IP
Reid Anderson (22-RHP) - Back in Hickory.
Tyree Thompson (20-RHP) - 2016 Draft (26th Rd.). 75.0 total IP mostly in Spokane

Also in Hick is Alex Speas (20-RHP). He is one I'm interested in following. 2016 Draft (Rd 2).

AJ Alexy is another hopeful from this team that I am interested in.

I think with Ragans and Kyle Cody going down, it has messed up some of the rotations. I think Ragans would have been in Hickory and Cody likely at DE (A+). That would have bumped Eubanks and Bremer?!

So, again... go with the 6 man rotation to slow the number of IP. OR is it 6 man rotations now a trial?

DannyDuberstein said:

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One guy with no position is not ideal but not a major issue. Having 2-3+ guys (Mazara, Calhoun, Choo, etc) with basically no position is definitely an issue.

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We'll see if Gallo should be included...

Gallo is doing just fine at 1st, which isnt even his natural position. Not in the same category as the others at all.