ok Im over the Ohtani pipe dream….make a run at Hader and a right handed relief guy…. this bullpen aint winning a World Series

What a depressing 7th-9th. Had all the makings of being a fun game.

Feels like can only trust smith and chapman again in bullpen.

Pitching matchups favor us the next two days. Back at it tomorrow.

This game tonight blew dogs for quarters.

We just need to win 1 out of 2 and have Oakland go 1 out of 2 then we should be in ok shape going to Houston. Make it happen!

Thank God

In the 2 sweeps, limited number of walks helped so much. Last night the ump seemed more inconsistent after each starter left. Jankowski struck out after what should have been a walk, and multiple pitches in the same spot would be called a ball on one pitch and a strike the next. It seemed like the Rangers were the victims of this more but only because the Dodgers got more men to the plate.

I don't know what CY has cooking on the pitching front or when it's going to happen, but what I do know is that we need some better outings from Heaney and Perez. When your bullpen is as paper thin as ours is, with Smith and Chapman being co-closers for the 8th and 9th, and Burke being your get out of a jam guy (all three being lefties), you're leaving a lot middle innings and outs to guys who just aren't it.

gigem1223 said:

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Hader/ Bednar/ Graveman. Get 2 of the 3. A TORP could really help the bullpen as well. They get taxed on Heaney/ Perez night too often. Keller/ Bednar package would be the dream scenario for me but probably unlikely.

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So... kinda... but not really.

Here are the guys we've used as a SP and their stats as a SP
Eovaldi: 19GS, 123.2 IP, 6.2 IP/GS
Dunning: 13GS, 78.2, 6.0 IP/GS <- Let's use Dunning as the base
Gray: 18GS, 103.1, 5.2 IP/GS - He is about 18outs behind Dunning, or 6.0 IP
Perez: 18GS, 96.2, 5.1 IP/GS - You are really talking about 36outs, or 12.0 IP
Heaney: 19GS, 96.1, 5.0 IP/GS - 19.0 IP deficit
deGrom: 6GS, 30.1, 5.0 IP/GS - 19.0 IP deficit
Bradford: 5GS, 23.2, 4.2 IP/GS - I'll cede this one.

I will admit they are statistically more taxing, but over the course of 162G, 1out/game that big? And really, when you look at the past 3 weeks, that is when they have really been an issue.

Now, here is some good information and why I think SP overall is a plus for the Rangers. I've selected mostly the playoff teams to consider:

IP by SP
1. Minn: 99GS, 560.0, 5.2 IP/GS --- 3.83 ERA
2. Texas: 98GS, 552.2, 5.2 IP/GS -- 3.66 ERA
3. Houston: 98GS, 549.1, 5.2 IP/GS -- 3.79 ERA
4. Sea
5. Toronto: 98GS, 536.0, 5.1 IP/GS -- 3.88 ERA
6. Milw
7. CWS
8. SDP
9. Az: 98, 523.0, 5.1 IP/GS -- 4.70 ERA
15. Balt: 97GS, 516.1, 5.1 IP/GS -- 4.55 ERA
18. Atlanta: 96, 507.2, 5.1 IP/GS -- 3.97 ERA
24. LAD: 96, 480.2, 5.0 IP/GS -- 4.57 ERA
25. Tampa: 101, 475.2, 4.2 IP/GS -- 3.56 ERA <- Since they use a Starter on some days, their IP/GS is skewed intentionally.

Dunning has been an absolute horse and it can't be said enough.
Perez & Heaney are at or above what other teams are averaging.

The Key? Even if Heaney & Perez aren't ToTR SPs, their consistent presence has been very helpful to the team.

Seems lots of teams have used BP days at some point against us. Even using Bradford, the SP has been outstanding for the Rangers. I've said SP comes down to 2 needs. Do we have the SP to get us TO the Playoffs. Do we have a Playoff rotation.

Those numbers continue to skew in the wrong direction every time you post them.

Eovaldi and to a lesser extent Gray are the only guys in the rotation you can count on. The rest are pumpkins. You'll get a good outing every now and again (like you'd expect out of a #5), but in a playoff series you are going to see a lot of what you saw last night.

So it comes down to if you think Eovaldi and Gray are good enough to win the majority of their playoff starts when going up against another teams #1 and #2.

We need a TORP and another bullpen arm or this is a playoff team but not a World Series team.

Heaney has shown flashes of great pitching. Perez is batting practice right now unfortunately. I'd rather start Bradford in his spot or someone else from the minors.

We have a week to find out what we have and what we need.

I agree from a Lefty perspective, I think the Rangers are good with what you've characterized. Burke has really played his role, as have the other 2.

I like what Bochy did with Speas. That was basically an audition. I'd rather find out now, than in October. Let's see how Speas performs the next 2-3 outings. His response and demeanor will likely dictate his role.

I look for CYoung to pull in a RH RP version of Chapman. A veteran that was likely a closer, with playoff experience/success who wants to win and willing to play any role he is asked to play. May not be the #1 guy available, but will be someone that throws strikes and will put winning above ego.

I'd like to see him bring one in mid-week... and then decide whether Sborz or Speas can have playoff value. Then, see what is available on the market.

This was going to be my comment as well. The numbers for Gray, Perez and Heaney continue to skew in the wrong direction. Since the beginning of June Gray has given up 0/1/6/1/5/3/4/0 and his strikeout numbers have really dipped as well. I don't think I need to post Perez and Heaney's recent numbers because we know they've ballooned since June (Perez is approaching a 5.00 ERA, with Heaney sporting a 4.58). Now, Gray has the stuff and ability to be a very solid pitcher again, he just needs to find it. But I'm not counting on Perez or Heaney to find it and be consistent.

In regards to Dunning, I think he's been crucial for this team and honestly I think he could settle into a decent 3 or 4 starter type of roll with a ~3.50-3.75 ERA type of guy, but in no way do I trust him to be relied on upon in the playoffs to carry a load for this team. I'd be okay if we needed him to pitch in a funky series where we absolutely had to have a fourth starter, but if I need him to be a 2 or 3, I don't love my chances.

Previously I was only bullish on Eovaldi, but was willing to throw Gray in there due to his stuff.

Dunning has been great but his metrics all point to a small sample returning to the mean - he gets hit hard and it will eventually catch up to his numbers.

But either way, a fan is kidding themselves if they think Eovaldi/Gray or Eovaldi/Dunning is a 1-2 punch that can get us to the WS. For that to be serviceable you'd need a lights out bullpen and we don't have that.

CAN we win those games? Sure... a decent start isn't out of the question and the offense may shove. But over 3 series the odds would not be in our favor.

I thought we already concluded that neither Heaney nor Perez were reliable playoff SPs.

My point was that Heaney and Perez are not really taxing the BP as much as it seems. They are providing more cover for the BP than other teams are getting.

Right now, I consider those 2 to be Innings Eaters that get us TO the playoffs.

Are Eovaldi, Gray, and Dunning a starting 1-2-3 in the playoffs? Likely.

Like the Rangers... many teams have lost their Ace and most teams have lost one of their 1-2-3 that they'd likely have wanted, but will have to piece together a rotation.

For the Dodgers as an example. They currently have 10 P on the 60IL. Bolded is their current rotation:
Kershaw (16GS, 2.55 era) <- 15IL is hoping to return in Aug (Throwing shoulder inflammation)
Gonsolin (15GS, 3.94 era)
Urias (14GS, 5.02 era)
Syndergaard (12GS) <-15IL
Grove (9GS, 6.40 era)
Dustin May (9GS) <- 60IL
Bobby Miller: (9GS, 4.25 era) <- 1st MLB season
Sheehan: (5GS, 4.91 era) <- 1st MLB season
Stone: (3GS)
1GS: Ferguson, Gonzalez, Graterol

Buehler: 60IL

You can look at the GS to see how battered they have been.

I think at this point of the season, you ride the Innings Eaters. If Heaney and Perez can get you 5-6IP and keep you in games,

The time to experiment with Otto, White, and Bradford were months ago. I think they get a Sept call-up and probably get a spot-Start to rest a guy, but nothing more.

My issue with Bradford is over-exposure. I don't think he can make it through the lineup a 3rd time and even in his time in the Bigs... teams are figuring him out. His value has been spotting his 4SFB between 90-92 and moving it around. I think he has thrown that about 50% of the time.

When teams sit on that pitch, it has been a HR. His last 4 App have been 10.1 IP and 3 HRs.

Agree but he's also been yoked around for the past 3 months. So hasn't had a real chance to settle in a certain spot. Probably doesn't matter anyways. Odds are Perez's spot is filled by a trade piece anyways (I hope).

Agreed.

And then we can trade Perez.

Seager out of the lineup with a sprained thumb.

Keep an eye on Seattle this weekend.

They are playing the BJays. If the Mariners win the next 2 games, they'll be 2.5GB Toronto for the WC3.

The Angels have won 4 straight and things could really tighten up bringing them, Boston and NYY back into the "what does it look like if we're healthy."

I can't decide if Seager missing time makes me more bullish on Ohtani or not. This team without Seager and with current rotation/bullpen is a coin flip DS winner.

I don't think Seager will be out long. They might not even put him on the 10-day.

The team seemed to play well in his absence.

I think we all agree Duran is better playing Defense than DH.

Angels win a couple more and Ohtani may be off the table. They're hosting Pittsburgh and Pitt is going with the BP game, today. Keller on the mound for Pitt, tomorrow.

Ohtani gave up 5 ER in 6.1 IP, last night. He has given up 5, 4, and 5 ER in his last 3 GS. He came out of the game 3GS ago with a blister issue.

I'm not sure if his arm is tired, it is a blister issue, or the trade talks have distracted him.

They are using the hell out of him, imo.

Agreed.

19GS, 111.2 IP

Avg a tad (7outs) below 6.0 IP/GS.

My stats above on MLB SP avg. LAAA is 5.1 IP/GS as a team.

If we were to get Ohtani, I think I'd like to see the Rangers use him out of the BP. Maybe use him as a "Starter" where he goes 1-2 IP and then moves on to DH. Slow his IP for the season so he has something in the tank in the playoffs.