I like Roby too but closest comparison I could find in our system.

I figured.

But their pen is pretty good. They need another bat and SP.

Interesting

Astros are probably going to say the C they traded off, even though #5, wasn't much...

But, take him out and their Top 6 prospects are OF.

Then, their next 4 players are P.

14 of their T30 are OF
11 are Pitchers of which 10 are RHP.

Their ranked position player that are not OF are:
26 Camilo Diaz (17-SS-Rookie)
28 Miguel Palma (21-C/1B-Rookie)
29 Zach Dezenzo (23-3B/2B-AA)

Hope they trade for more RPs.

Replying to this post of mine...

Houston getting Graveman does nothing for me regarding Texas-Houston matchups.

Glad it was the Astros and not us. I was all about Graveman earlier this season but he's been less than desirable this month. Seems like they're getting a tired arm.

I just don't get a BP arm for them. Maybe they are going to release Montero.

That really does not move the needle at all.

They need another bat.

Really happy they made a move like this. Maybe we pick up Verlander or Snell and at least one more BP arm.

Actual areas of need.


Maybe they will finish depleting their farm system.

I think we end up with 1 SP and 2 RP

Nah... they just got Altuve and that other guy back.

Would have loved for Texas to make the Lynn deal. Certainly not a want (TORP), but a need (options if back end continues to struggle and front end can't stay healthy).

Nice part of that deal is it wouldn't have cost you much, and it would have at least not put you behind the 8-ball as the deadline approaches. As if we don't land a TORP -- which is not an easy thing to do with everyone vying for one -- then we're going to be in for a rocky finish.

We're a 0.500 ballclub since May, with a lot of players that played well above their career averages the first 2 months (potential downside) and not a ton that played significantly below theirs (potential upside).

We've played 15 series since May, we've won just 6 of them (with two being that first week of June):

White Sox (13GB)
Blue Jays (5.5GB)
Cardinals (11.5GB)
Seattle (7.5GB)
Cleveland
Tampa Bay


As currently constructed, we're a team that if we hold onto the division, we're going to be a coin-flip in the ALDS.

I won't say Verlander or bust, but that seems like the best move we can make right now but it's going to be an expensive one.

He's having a very weird year. When he's on he's dynamite, but when he's off he's horrendous. There's been absolutely no in between.

Mr Gigem said:

---

Doesn't Lynn have the worst ERA for a starting pitcher in the majors this year? I know ERA isn't everything, but that's bad

---

That's why he is/was cheap.

He also has a career ERA of 3.71 (including this year). If his health checks out, there's no reason to believe he suddenly just fell off a cliff. Walks are high, but strikeouts are within his career ranges.

It's not a sexy move - and I know everyone has had their pie in the sky thoughts on Ohtani and the like -- but truth is like I said in previous post, we've been playing like a 0.500 ballclub for 2 months with a roster of players that do not have a high probability of repeating what they did in April/May.

So yes we'd all like to picture what it would be like rolling an Ohtani or Snell (or to a lesser extent Verlander) out there, but you also have to understand every team is going after those players and chances are very good they don't end up on our roster. What then? Your #1 just skipped a start in the biggest series we had to date. Your #2 has a 5.5 ERA for the month of July and even he has lingering blister issues. Your #3 has a 5 ERA for the month of July. Your #4 has a 5.40 ERA for the month of July. Your #5 has a 9.50 ERA for the month of July.

And while that is above career averages for all of them, none of them are "ahh this is just a blip they'll be back to sub-4's in no time" candidates.

So while it's not sexy -- yeah, I would have loved to have a 3.71 career ERA guy that already showed he's comfortable on this team so that if this rotation ****s the bed and is more July than April then at least we've got a reinforcement that might at least help you survive TO October rather than thrive in October. And for what amounted to a hill of beans.

TLDR: If this rotation turns out to be a complete pumpkin -- which based on career #'s really isn't out of the question -- then I'd still like to at least limp to October and play a few postseason games.

Rangers starting lineup for July 28 at San Diego: pic.twitter.com/CR6h06jvho

— Texas Rangers PR (@TXRangersPR) July 28, 2023

Rangers roster moves for Friday:
-RHP Josh Sborz activated from 15-day IL
-C Jonah Heim placed on 10-day IL, retroactive to 7/27, with left wrist tendon strain
-OF Bubba Thompson recalled from Round Rock (AAA)
-RHP Owen White optioned to Round Rock (AAA)

— Texas Rangers PR (@TXRangersPR) July 28, 2023

No word yet on the prognosis for Heim, per Evan:

Heim to IL. Don't have a prognosis on recovery time yet. Heading down to clubhouse to ask questions. Here's the news story: https://t.co/tfjuPyjmWf

— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) July 28, 2023

Proposition Joe said:

---

As currently constructed, we're a team that if we hold onto the division, we're going to be a coin-flip in the ALDS.

I won't say Verlander or bust, but that seems like the best move we can make right now but it's going to be an expensive one.

---

I know what you're saying, but *alert* I don't necessarily agree with you.

6 AL teams make the playoffs.

WC round (with teams as it stands):
#1 Bye: Baltimore
#2 Bye: Rangers

3 Game Series hosted by higher seeded team on consecutive days
#3: Minnesota v #6: Toronto <- Winner faces #2
#4: Tampa v $5: Houston <- Winner faces #1

ALDS: 2-2-1 Format
The WC round team will have burned their #1 and #2 SP. Maybe #3.
Assuming things stay... we're looking at:
Minnesota: Sonny Gray, Joe Ryan, Pablo Lopez, Maeta, Ober
Toronto: Gausman, Berrios, Kikuchi, Bassitt, Manoah
Eovaldi v
Gray/Dunning v

As long as we win the Division, IMO, we have a decided advantage in the ALDS at least in 1st two games... and Eovaldi would go G5.

ALCS: 2-3-2
WS: 2-3-2

Definitely thought hamate bone at first glance

Same

gigem1223 said:

---

Lynn has given up 7,6,4,0,5 earned runs with 9 homers against in his last 5 outings. That doesn't seem like a player worth trading for at all. And he's 36. Maybe age has caught up with him.

---

Well, he may suck for his last 5 GS, but he has a 3.37 ERA from '11 to '15.

I'd put more credibility in the 4.23 over the past 3 years, than his career 3.71 that includes numbers from 10 years ago.

Well ferk. Update on Heim from Evan Grant.

Jonah Heim will attempt to rest, rehab wrist tendon, but surgery is very much an option. If he can play through pain, it's an offseason option. If he can't, it will end his year. He will give it 2-3 weeks of rest before next step


We may need a catcher now boys

I like the synergy certain guys had with Heim over the other guys. Earlier in the year when we caught Garver our pitchers tended to have issues. Hope that's all been taken care of

DallasAg 94 said:

---

gigem1223 said:

---

Lynn has given up 7,6,4,0,5 earned runs with 9 homers against in his last 5 outings. That doesn't seem like a player worth trading for at all. And he's 36. Maybe age has caught up with him.

---

Well, he may suck for his last 5 GS, but he has a 3.37 ERA from '11 to '15.

I'd put more credibility in the 4.23 over the past 3 years, than his career 3.71 that includes numbers from 10 years ago.

---

A 4.23 ERA is better than the career ERA of 4 of our 5 current rotation members (and not far from the 5th).

gigem1223 said:

---

Well ferk. Update on Heim from Evan Grant.

Jonah Heim will attempt to rest, rehab wrist tendon, but surgery is very much an option. If he can play through pain, it's an offseason option. If he can't, it will end his year. He will give it 2-3 weeks of rest before next step


We may need a catcher now boys

---

Well *****

DallasAg 94 said:

---

Proposition Joe said:

---

As currently constructed, we're a team that if we hold onto the division, we're going to be a coin-flip in the ALDS.

I won't say Verlander or bust, but that seems like the best move we can make right now but it's going to be an expensive one.

---

I know what you're saying, but *alert* I don't necessarily agree with you.

6 AL teams make the playoffs.

WC round (with teams as it stands):
#1 Bye: Baltimore
#2 Bye: Rangers

3 Game Series hosted by higher seeded team on consecutive days
#3: Minnesota v #6: Toronto <- Winner faces #2
#4: Tampa v $5: Houston <- Winner faces #1

ALDS: 2-2-1 Format
The WC round team will have burned their #1 and #2 SP. Maybe #3.
Assuming things stay... we're looking at:
Minnesota: Sonny Gray, Joe Ryan, Pablo Lopez, Maeta, Ober
Toronto: Gausman, Berrios, Kikuchi, Bassitt, Manoah
Eovaldi v
Gray/Dunning v

As long as we win the Division, IMO, we have a decided advantage in the ALDS at least in 1st two games... and Eovaldi would go G5.

---

Minnesota Top 3 Starters ERA: 2.76, 3.15, 4.06

Toronto Top 3 Starters ERA: 3.18, 3.40, 3.79

Texas Top 3 Starters ERA: 2.69, 3.18, 3.66


As it stands, that's a slight advantage in the rotation. However based on what we've seen in June and July, I wouldn't assume that same ERA advantage will exist by October. Again, your #2-#5 just finished July with an ERA of 5+, 5+, 5+ and 9+... You've been riding those April and May #'s for a month now and every week they look more and more like the outliers. Fingers-crossed you are right and this rotation bounces back and proves to be a bunch of #2's and #3's rather than a bunch of #4's and #5's... but based on historical #'s that looks as likely as your "well Martin Perez really is a #2 pitcher he just hasn't put it together" summary.

Proposition Joe said:

---

DallasAg 94 said:

---

Proposition Joe said:

---

As currently constructed, we're a team that if we hold onto the division, we're going to be a coin-flip in the ALDS.

I won't say Verlander or bust, but that seems like the best move we can make right now but it's going to be an expensive one.

---

I know what you're saying, but *alert* I don't necessarily agree with you.

6 AL teams make the playoffs.

WC round (with teams as it stands):
#1 Bye: Baltimore
#2 Bye: Rangers

3 Game Series hosted by higher seeded team on consecutive days
#3: Minnesota v #6: Toronto <- Winner faces #2
#4: Tampa v $5: Houston <- Winner faces #1

ALDS: 2-2-1 Format
The WC round team will have burned their #1 and #2 SP. Maybe #3.
Assuming things stay... we're looking at:
Minnesota: Sonny Gray, Joe Ryan, Pablo Lopez, Maeta, Ober
Toronto: Gausman, Berrios, Kikuchi, Bassitt, Manoah
Eovaldi v
Gray/Dunning v

As long as we win the Division, IMO, we have a decided advantage in the ALDS at least in 1st two games... and Eovaldi would go G5.

---

Minnesota Top 3 Starters ERA: 2.76, 3.15, 4.06
Toronto Top 3 Starters ERA: 3.18, 3.40, 3.79
Texas Top 3 Starters ERA: 2.69, 3.18, 3.66


As it stands, that's a slight advantage in the rotation. However based on what we've seen in June and July, I wouldn't assume that same ERA advantage will exist by October. Again, your #2-#5 just finished July with an ERA of 5+, 5+, 5+ and 9+... You've been riding those April and May #'s for a month now and every week they look more and more like the outliers. Fingers-crossed you are right and this rotation bounces back and proves to be a bunch of #2's and #3's rather than a bunch of #4's and #5's... but based on historical #'s that looks as likely as your "well Martin Perez really is a #2 pitcher he just hasn't put it together" summary.

---

You missed the point that assuming Minnesota or Toronto sweep... they'll start the ALDS with their #3:
Eovaldi (2.69) would face either 3.79 (Tor) or 4.06 (Minn)
Gray (3.66) or Dunning (3.18) would face their 4th guys.

4th for
Minn is either Ober (16GS, 2.76) or Maeda (10GS, 4.62)
Tor is either Bassitt (22GS, 3.91) or Manoah (16GS, 6.10)

If the WC goes 3, then, Eovaldi faces their #4 and Gray faces their #5.

ETA:

Jays for July:
Gausman: 3GS, 4.24
Berrios: 4GS, 1.93
Kikuchi: 5GS, 3.91
Bassitt: 5GS, 3.33
Manoah: 3GS, 5.02

Twins for July:
Gray: 4GS, 4.94
Ryan: 5GS, 6.39
Lopez: 4GS, 3.71
Maeta: 4GS, 2.78
Ober: 4GS, 2.16

Good lord. Ohtani just hit another home run.

gigem1223 said:

---

Good lord. Ohtani just hit another home run.

---

Best player. Ever.