Alvarado Times said:

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Im not saying Gallo to RF completes the team..... just a small piece.... but if Im throwing 100's of millions at players to move forward ..... its not outfielders. Its the Gerrit Coles of the world.

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I'm not sure mysteriously increased FB spin rate is something we want in the organization.

Rossko said:

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Alvarado Times said:

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Im not saying Gallo to RF completes the team..... just a small piece.... but if Im throwing 100's of millions at players to move forward ..... its not outfielders. Its the Gerrit Coles of the world.

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I'm not sure mysteriously increased FB spin rate is something we want in the organization.

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If this "mysteriously increased FB spin rate" equates to 8-1 w/ an ERA of 2.59 and a 0.894 WHIP, then absolutely we want that in the organization. If you can get that for less than $7 mil, then that's just icing.

So you're saying you were ok with guys on steroids too?

Rossko said:

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So you're saying you were ok with guys on steroids too?

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Do you have actual evidence that Cole is using PED's? Or is this just the speculation we see in rivalries? I've seen Astros fans make the same implications about Beltre because of his late-career productivity.

As for steroids, I don't really care about them and would have put Bonds/Clemens in the Hall long ago.

cmiller00 said:

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So can we get Arlington to pay for Trout too?

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You never know if you don't ask!

RetiredAg said:

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Rossko said:

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So you're saying you were ok with guys on steroids too?

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Do you have actual evidence that Cole is using PED's? Or is this just the speculation we see in rivalries? I've seen Astros fans make the same implications about Beltre because of his late-career productivity.

As for steroids, I don't really care about them and would have put Bonds/Clemens in the Hall long ago.

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It's not PEDs, it's foreign substances. Trevor Bauer has done extensive research on spin rates and gives some detail in this interview.

http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/news/indians-trevor-bauer-cheating-allegations-pine-tar-astros-twitter-explanation-spin-rate/18eue4z3a39jj1g1chagmpbraz

Quote:

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If you want to high-grade your repertoire, if you want to have an elite fastball, that's what you have to do. I've been after it for five years. Not a single thing that I've tested in five years not just me, people at Driveline, my dad, other research facilities around the country that I talk to not a single thing. Not one thing have we found that increases fastball spin rate besides a sticky substance.

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https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/gerrit-cole-543037?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb

I too do not care about steroids with regards to evaluating performance against a field where everyone else was using them also. I do care about people using them as a competitive advantage

Whether they are cheating or not, is yet to be determined. But the numbers indicate they've figured something out.

If you look at Verlander (35), Morton (34) and Cole (27), the Astros have certainly figured something out with them. All three came to the Astros broken and are now having career, ACE level performances. For Verlander and Morton, they are both on the traditional downside of their careers.

McCullers (24) at 21 went 22 GS, 3.22 ERA and 9.2 SO9. He was the 41st pick in 2012.

Keuchel... a 7th Rounder in 2009 has the following:
A-: 11 GS, 2.63 ERA, 7.2 SO9
AA: 30 GS, 3.95 ERA, 5.6 SO9
AAA: 24 GS, 4.69 ERA, 4.7 SO9
MLB: 164 GS, 3.69 ERA, 7.2 SO9

His 1st 2 years in MLB sucked.
5.27 ERA in 38 GS to begin career
2014
3.26 ERA in 126 GS since.

If there's evidence of use of a foreign substance, then that's different. If I'm not mistaken, Bauer and Cole have a hatred of each other going back to their UCLA days, so there also may be some personal issues involved in his analysis. Cole had already put up ace-calibur numbers in Pittsburgh, so I'm not too surprised by what he's done. I didn't expect it because his #'s trended negatively the past 2 seasons, but he just seems like a change of scenery guy.

Could be foreign substances or could be the Astros pitching coaches are on to something, given how everyone in that rotation is pitching. But until there's actual evidence of something nefarious, I'll stand by the statement. I'd love to have him. They've got 4 guys with legit ace stuff. Hate them, but that's impressive.

Wow. Odor with HR #2. 2-2 with a walk tonight.

I drove bus said:

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Wow. Odor with HR #2. 2-2 with a walk tonight.

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Maybe he should stay out late drinking more often?

Diekman gonna blow this

Profar's innacuracy is annoying. Makes me wonder how he was ever considered a plus defender as a prospect.

IKF!

He just about took Diekman's head off with that throw.

gigem1223 said:

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Profar's innacuracy is annoying. Makes me wonder how he was ever considered a plus defender as a prospect.

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I believe he came up predominately as a SS.

Andrus solidified himself at SS and they decided Profar would transition to 2B and Kinsler was expendable, for which we got the 1B (Fielder) we needed, only he had a career ending health issue and I'm getting away from the point.

So, Profar was transitioned to 2B. He blew out his shoulder lifting weights and was 2 years in recovery. Then, they dickered with him in LF, 3B, some 1B... made him a Utility guy.

Defense hasn't really been something he has had enough consistency to maintain. I wasn't watching the game, but saw he was at 3B.

He has way more Errors than you'd like, but considering the different positions he plays and the shuffling... I can't say it surprises me.

Worth noting playing middle infield in 2012 for the Rangers affiliates:
At SS and 2B:
MLB: Andrus and Kinsler
AAA: Nobody and Solarte (Now with Toronto)
AA: Leury Garcia (Now with CWS) and Profar
A+ (Myrtle Beach): Hanser Alberto, Villanueva (SDP) and Odubel Herrerra (CF for Phi)
A (Hickory): Sardina (Balt), Odor, Drew Robinson
Spokane: Ryan Rua

Ahh... those were the days.

Odor had a good game. First home run in what 2 months?

30 days

AccidentProne said:

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I actually saw that at the end of the game last night. Diekman has to be paying attention there (especially if you are a tall lanky dude), he didn't even realize that the runner was stealing.

He also wanted nothing to do with Izzy for a few minutes after the game.

Would have been the most Ranger thing ever if the ball popped him in the face, the runner advances to third... and then the next pitcher comes in a gives up a game winning dong.

I wish we still had Herrera...

Yeah... but we got DD.

Odubel was being converted to CF and the Rangers gambled they'd be able to get him through Rule V unprotected.

They lost.

For about 2-3 years, the Rangers had trouble with protecting all the talent. Changes in International rules and trades have taken it's toll. I'm hoping the past 3 drafts see a resurgence in the next few years.

That was a fun game to watch last night. Love seeing the young guys getting it done.

Diekman needs to have his head in the game because it almost got taken off.

Only 15 GB.

If we are as close as 10GB by the ASB, we're as good as in the playoffs!

Odor appears to be getting his power back, after a left hamstring injury.

We have Andrus back.

And now ABD!

Bring it on!

IF Beltre wants a trade, would he want a trade to a playoff contender or a legit title contender?

And if Houston is willing to give us the best value for 2.5 months of Beltre, I'm fine with that.

Grapesoda2525 said:

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I can stomach Beltre going anywhere but Houston

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With Bregman at 3B, Gattis at DH, and their bouts with timidity of trading younger players, I'd be a little surprised if Houston would be the best offer, anyways.

free_mhayden said:

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IF Beltre wants a trade, would he want a trade to a playoff contender or a legit title contender?

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Good question. He desperately wants a title, but the Phillies aren't there yet. Maybe Milwaukee.