IL update: Dodgers SP Gonsolin (20GS, 4.98 ERA) adds to their long list of P problems.

His ERA was 4.24 before his 10ER last appearance that he was injured.

Dodgers have 10 P on the 60IL and 3 on the 10-15IL

Yet somehow they seem to always have an ace waiting in the wings

M's cruising early against the A's. It'll be nice to see them actually start facing some competent teams again.

nothing ever comes easy right now…. even against the Mets…. this is a good W. It very easily could been another L.

Some of this may not appeal to some of you, but I'll post for anyone interested.

For those interested... 406.1 PAs to Qualify

After tonight:
Jung: 461 PA - .274
--
Seager: 402 PA - .346 (usually gets 5PA in Road games)
Duran: 396 PA - .286 (would insert at #7)
Heim: 395 PA - .269 (would insert after #20 and be 2nd C)

AL Batting Average Leaders: Qualified
1. .326 BA: Yandy Diaz (TB-1B)

7. .287 BA: Merrifield (Tor-2B)
8. .283 BA: Julio Rodriguez (Sea-OF)
9. .282 BA: Nathaniel Lowe (Tex-1B) <- 2nd 1B

12. .277 BA: Semien (Tex-2B) <- 2nd for 2B

19. .274 BA: Josh Jung (Tex-3B) <- 2nd for 3B
20. .270 BA: Adley Rutchman (Bal-C) <- Best BA for a C
21 .269 BA: Devers (Bos-3B)

Jung will need 41.2 PAs to remain qualified. That's about 10G.


Time to get hot again. The more Runs we score... the more PAs we get.

alvtimes said:

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nothing ever comes easy right now…. even against the Mets…. this is a good W. It very easily could been another L.

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You aren't kidding. The next few days we aren't going to gain much ground because everyone else is playing patsies. We need to be like the boxer who strategically wraps up the other fighters so they can't get any punches off on us. In other words just tread water.

Really need to beat the Mets.

We always seem to get the toughest part of the other teams pitching staff.

We faced McGill, senga, and Quintana.

Mariners come to New York right after us and face :

Carrasco: 3-8 6.80 ERA

Peterson : 3-7 5.23 ERA

McGill : we just saw him

We should be due for some better luck in September because it seems like we've faced non-stop aces and #2's / #3's in august.

The Astros have a 12 game stretch coming up with NINE against Oakland or Kansas City

Bizarro Jerry said:

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The Astros have a 12 game stretch coming up with NINE against Oakland or Kansas City

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Critical to win that series in Arlington

Leody is definitely not the answer. I almost wish they would bench him. I'm glad Carter and Langford are on the way.

What's the issue with Leody in CF? He is 24, Serf3 next year (4 more yrs of team control). At 6'2"/195, still has the potential to add power. I think he still has some upside and will continue to improve offensively.

We need a LF.

JP Martinez is the leading candidate to be added to the OF starting 3, for 2024. At 5'8"/174 you have to be concerned about power.

Evan Carter is probably your guy, but likely a mid-season 2024 call-up.

Zero chance Langford plays CF. 6'1/225 and will likely put on more weight. Quick to the ball, but questionable CF coverage. Destined for LF.

FWIW, Pre ASB:
Julio Rodriguez: .249, 13HRs, 22 SB, .310 OBP, .721 OPS, 87G
Leody Taveras: .295, 10 HRs, 9 SB, .339 OBP, .812 OPS, 76G

Since the ASB, Julio is .365, 11HR, 13 SB, 1.057 OPS in 39 Games.

Corey Seager has used this same bat for months; if not the whole season. It finally split at Citi Field. #StraightUpTX pic.twitter.com/ULa8nQd6Wz

— Abby Jones (@_abigaiiiil) August 29, 2023

Nothing like the man that closed the game last night saying he wasn’t ready for the moment pic.twitter.com/fGyS9idLMV

— Texas Rangers Insider (@RangersInsiders) August 29, 2023

GreasenUSA said:

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They actually got a post-game interview with Leclerc. He mentioned he was totally not ready to pitch the 9th inning and was very nervous. He's a scared little dude. Glad to see him have success the month of August.

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I was wondering about your comments. The video was posted above.

It sounded more like he wasn't expecting it more than being unprepared.

He did sound "scared" which is probably why they didn't tell him. He'd have likely gotten into his head. I wonder if it is more humility... I think he doesn't really see himself as a true Closer.

Chapman has over 300 Saves and Smith has over 100. He has been the 7/8 inning guy and sounds like that is a role he is comfortable with and one he has accepted.

It will be interesting to see how he goes forward.

Josh Jung update straight from the source, Josh Jung:

Josh Jung says that he is focusing on mostly range of motion during PT and shares an update on his recovery: pic.twitter.com/QDDzcCsEqN

— Abby Jones (@_abigaiiiil) August 28, 2023

DallasAg 94 said:

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GreasenUSA said:

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They actually got a post-game interview with Leclerc. He mentioned he was totally not ready to pitch the 9th inning and was very nervous. He's a scared little dude. Glad to see him have success the month of August.

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I was wondering about your comments. The video was posted above.

It sounded more like he wasn't expecting it more than being unprepared.

He did sound "scared" which is probably why they didn't tell him. He'd have likely gotten into his head. I wonder if it is more humility... I think he doesn't really see himself as a true Closer.

Chapman has over 300 Saves and Smith has over 100. He has been the 7/8 inning guy and sounds like that is a role he is comfortable with and one he has accepted.

It will be interesting to see how he goes forward.

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Well, the caption from Rangers Insider seems to agree with my perception. So I am happy for him that he was able to overcome it.

DallasAg 94 said:

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What's the issue with Leody in CF? He is 24, Serf3 next year (4 more yrs of team control). At 6'2"/195, still has the potential to add power. I think he still has some upside and will continue to improve offensively.

We need a LF.

JP Martinez is the leading candidate to be added to the OF starting 3, for 2024. At 5'8"/174 you have to be concerned about power.

Evan Carter is probably your guy, but likely a mid-season 2024 call-up.

Zero chance Langford plays CF. 6'1/225 and will likely put on more weight. Quick to the ball, but questionable CF coverage. Destined for LF.

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1. I agree that Carter is your CF of the future. He's got all the tools to play plus defense, and could even get better as he continues to mature and get stronger.

2. Also agree that Langford plays LF, but mostly because we have Carter and guys that are likely better suited to play the position. I think Langford can play CF, but he would just be average out there. I am beyond pumped for Langford though. He's got every hit tool you could possibly want wrapped into a body that is ready to go.

3. My thing about Leody and the reason I don't love him is because I think what we have seen from him the last two months and in years prior, is who Leody will be. A guy who has an absurd SO to BB ratio (100:24), with not a lot of pop and a struggle to get on base, making him a below average hitter (94 OPS+). If you are going to do or be those things in the MLB, you need to be able to do at least one thing exceptionally well like slug, get on base, steal bases or play out of this world defense. We thought he played gold glove defense in CF, but even that has been shaky at times. Overall I just think he's a below average player who we know what he's going to be at this point.

One thing that is concerning about Carter are his splits. He mashes righties but he's going to have to improve vs lefties if he doesn't want to become a platoon type player.

DeangeloVickers said:

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Nothing like the man that closed the game last night saying he wasn’t ready for the moment pic.twitter.com/fGyS9idLMV

— Texas Rangers Insider (@RangersInsiders) August 29, 2023

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I hope Smith and Chapman set our boy up with a Fredo last night after the game.

His splits are drastic to say the least. He's going to have to figure out how to put the ball in play against lefties, and I would assume that's going to be his single biggest area of focus and improvement this offseason. That and just getting stronger. I like Evan Carter just as much as anyone, but this year has been extremely up and down at times for him and it has definitely exposed areas of his game that still need significant improvement. We should just hope he can end the year on a high note with RR and go into the offseason looking to improve more.

Tksymm7 said:

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His splits are drastic to say the least. He's going to have to figure out how to put the ball in play against lefties, and I would assume that's going to be his single biggest area of focus and improvement this offseason. That and just getting stronger. I like Evan Carter just as much as anyone, but this year has been extremely up and down at times for him and it has definitely exposed areas of his game that still need significant improvement. We should just hope he can end the year on a high note with RR and go into the offseason looking to improve more.

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Agreed. I wonder if they'd consider bringing him up to platoon with Grossman for the final stretch. They complement each other extremely well in that regard. Currently our LF options vs RH pitching are extremely weak.

And Bochy did say, he'd be coming back as a SP. Not sure what that entirely means, but he'll be starting.

Could be 1, 2, or more IP.

The Rangers currently have more blown saves than converted saves this season. 😬 pic.twitter.com/mMT8sRx1oo

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 28, 2023

Fun with Stats. Overrated v Underrated v About Right

Maddux Tenure:
Milw: '03-08
Texas: '09-15
Washington: '16-'17
St Louis: '18-22
Texas: '23-present

Montgomery (30)
'22*, '23*: 16GS, 95.0 IP, 30 ER, 2.84 ERA
Rest of Career: 118GS, 623.2 IP, 266 ER, 3.84 ERA
Difference: -1.00

Scherzer (39)
'16, '17, '23*: 70GS, 459.2IP, 140 ER, 2.74 ERA
Rest of Career: 375GS, 2361IP, 844 ER, 3.22 ERA
Difference: -0.48

Eovaldi (33)
'23: 19GS, 2.69 ERA
Other: 221GS, 4.16 ERA (240G)
Difference: -1.47

Gray (31)
'23: 24GS, 3.79 ERA
Other: 175GS, 4.51 ERA
Difference: -0.72

Heaney (32)
'23: 25GS, 4.34 ERA
Other: 126GS, 4.56 ERA
Difference: -0.22

Perez (32)
'12-'15, 23: 68GS, 412.0 IP, 203 ER, 4.43 ERA
Rest of Career: 1006.2 IP, 503 ER, 4.49 ERA
Difference: -0.06

Dunning (28)
'23: 20GS, 3.36 ERA
Other: 61GS, 4.43 ERA
Difference: -1.07

Maddux? Overrated?

For Overrated: There is something to be said for expectations. Montgomery (twice) and Scherzer were moved from Losers to contenders. That alone changes the team attitude, improved defense, and improved BP (presumably). You are also a contender facing teams who are tanking. Probably plenty of SPs that had swings the other way.

Look at Team ERA during 1st Rangers tenure and it is a mixed bag.

For Underrated: Not sure that is possible. See stats above if you don't rate him highly.

About right: Guys like Perez shows there is really only so much a Pitching Coach can do. As a previous Rangers PC once told Perez, "Just throw better pitches." It is about execution. Instruction only gets you so far. Most fans don't know who the PC is

Add in losing a couple to the A's and Angel's and this race should be over. So frustrating but I will say this, CY will fix this **** in the off season.

rbtexan said:

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gigem1223 said:

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Tksymm7 said:

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His splits are drastic to say the least. He's going to have to figure out how to put the ball in play against lefties, and I would assume that's going to be his single biggest area of focus and improvement this offseason. That and just getting stronger. I like Evan Carter just as much as anyone, but this year has been extremely up and down at times for him and it has definitely exposed areas of his game that still need significant improvement. We should just hope he can end the year on a high note with RR and go into the offseason looking to improve more.

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Agreed. I wonder if they'd consider bringing him up to platoon with Grossman for the final stretch. They complement each other extremely well in that regard. Currently our LF options vs RH pitching are extremely weak.

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Absolutely not. He's not ready for the jump. For the love of god can we please not rush the kid? We very well may have ruined Leody by doing exactly what you're suggesting.

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So he's not ready because you say so? Carter has had nearly 900 ABs at the minor league level. For comparison Josh Jung had less than 700, Leody had nearly 2500, Duran nearly 1300. I'm not saying Carter is ready, only the rangers front office knows that. My question was if they're considering it, like they did Jung last season.