alvtimes said:

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Im gonna throw this out there and see if anyone else remembers reading the same, Bochy makes zero pitching decisions, purely analytics driven. He is told when to pull and who is pitching next. Hopefully I just dreamed up that craziness, but in todays baseball it could be believable.

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Pretty sure I've heard him mention a lot of times that he looks at both analytics and (I guess) old baseball intuition. I know I've heard him say a few times that he asks his BP pitcher between each inning how they're feeling and if they can go another inning.

alvtimes said:

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Im gonna throw this out there and see if anyone else remembers reading the same, Bochy makes zero pitching decisions, purely analytics driven. He is told when to pull and who is pitching next. Hopefully I just dreamed up that craziness, but in todays baseball it could be believable.

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That is the complete opposite of what I remember being said by and about Bochy around the time he was hired. In fact, one of the concerns was that he was so old school that he wouldn't use the analytics. I remember listening to an interview where he was diplomatic and said there was room for both (paraphrased).

I don't know if he makes the call on pitchers alone or in consultation with Maddox (I assume the latter) but I'm almost positive he goes more by feel than by what analytics tells him.

Yeah, I think its old school gut but "open to analytics".

As I've said numerous times, I like the guy as coach and I don't think he's bad by any stretch but he's now a career sub-0.500 manager.

If you give him the horses he can win a title, but he's not necessarily going to pull all the right strings.

I believe CYoung on the 4:20p radio segment indicated he is all-in on Analytics. That he has every possible statistic and is reliant on them.

I don't subscribe to the DMN, but this is one reference I found:

https://flipboard.com/topic/dallastexas/chris-young-when-it-comes-to-analytics-rangers-bruce-bochy-is-teaching-the-c/a-oAKJjBNiSAmxG-rwctDChQ%3Aa%3A221841707-1f3c366d2f%2Fdallasnews.com

The Heaney PC is an area that I can't tell if it is analytics or gut.

Not sure how much his decisions are made by analytics, but he embraces the information.

I also commented on here about a month ago that Will Smith and Chapman have bought into Winning over roles. I think it was rebuffed here as "I'll believe it when I see it." The Bullpen is just a mess, so who knows.

Basick addressed the idea of Maddux and the rotation v bullpen. He said with the BP, you can only make adjustments on the fly unless you put the player on the IL. They have limited throwing between appearances, so only the bullpen coach is monitoring warm ups.

I've heard CY say that as well. But haven't heard Bochy say it. I don't have time to go back and find the interview/podcast, but I specifically heard a discussion about Bochy riding the fence on analytics. As a matter of fact, I think that's part of what was discussed in that 8 hour or so meeting CY had with Bochy before hiring him - to make sure he would be ok with applying analytics.

CY saying that means nothing, that's GM speak for "we want him to do this and so he's doing it".

* BTW the reason I remember that is because after having Chris "Mr. Analytics" Woodward, I was thinking to myself "thank God we don't have another one of those guys"

Found this in an article from around the time Bochy was hired. This is more or less what I remember.

Quote:

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In San Francisco, Bochy had a reputation for managing by his gut, but he was an early adopter of analytics, embracing platoons and late-innings mixing-and-matching long before most others. On Monday, Bochy admitted the game has changed, even in his three years away.

He said he wants all the information from his staff that he can get and hopes to get a long look at younger players in spring training. But he also plans to focus on some areas that might be considered more "old school."

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Tksymm7 said:

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I think Bochy doesn't trust anyone on the pitching staff outside of maybe 3 dudes.

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I don't think he really trusts anyone and he's been trying to balance making sure we win games but also trying to get these guys in a good confidence groove going into the playoffs.

IMO no other explanation for some of the short leashes the starters have had.

Gray was at 89 pitches through 6IP/3ER, and had just finished an inning of ground out, strike out, strike out. He absolutely could have gone out for another inning but we rolled with Perez and Leclerc (and it worked out).

Heaney was at 81 pitches through 5.1IP/0ER, and had started inning with infield single, strikeout, single. He absolutely could have gone out for another inning (or two) but we leaned on 4 different guys to finish the game.

Dunning was at 74 pitches through 4IP/3ER. Certainly a candidate for an early hook if you have a decent bullpen. Finished the game strikeout, groundout, single (caught stealing). Previous inning he went strikeout, lineout (to pitcher), walk, strikeout... So really just one bad inning (the 2nd). But we went the bullpen route and leaned on 4 different guys (and 2 of them blew it).


Now in all of those scenarios whether the SP went another inning probably didn't impact our bullpen guys blowing the game, but it just doesn't make sense to me to have a quick hook on your starters when your bullpen has proven wholly unreliable.

How much of the early hook do you think is trying to manage innings for the post-season? Whether it is Maddux or Bochy?! With 29 games remaining, they likely get up to 6 more GS.

Current IP (Add 6GS at 6 IP)
140.2 Dunning => 176 projected
137.2 Gray -> 173
127.2 Heaney -> 163

123.2 Eovaldi
122.2 Perez

The whole point of the 150IP vesting for Heaney was in part because he has only surpassed that once in 10 seasons.

152.1 Montgomery -> 188
138.1 Scherzer -> 174

Montgomery is a long-time veteran. Scherzer has hit 200+ six times. He has been over 170 twelve times. I'm not concerned about those 2.

There were 22 AL pitchers who Qualified... meaning they got 162 IP. We could have 5, alone.

Jon Gray sits at 21st in IP in the AL and 4th for the Rangers. That number does not include SPs that changed leagues (Monty & Scherzer, among others).

Maddux has been known to skip starters late in the season for the Rangers during their playoff runs.

That kind of supplements my point though... Is Bochy trying to get bullpen guys appearances to bounce back and get in a groove/comfortable before postseason as well as keeping the starters arms fresh when we've ultimately hit the break point of whether or not we're going to actually have a postseason.

Sure, I wouldn't feel all that great rolling into October playoff series with a bunch of tired arms and bullpen guys that have all been snakebit on a weekly basis.

But at this point I'd prefer that over having some rested arms and confident bullpen for games that those pitchers will be watching on TV from home.

And the vesting exists in the contract not because "we know we're unlikely to have to pay this", it exists because at that IP mark it means he's been healthy and successful enough to warrant getting that many IP.

Proposition Joe said:

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And the vesting exists in the contract not because "we know we're unlikely to have to pay this", it exists because at that IP mark it means he's been healthy and successful enough to warrant getting that many IP.

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I don't disagree.

Not sure how many of you follow the Rangers account on social media, but they just posted a video. I know we've sucked something awful the past few weeks, but I'm choosing to stay positive. September baseball is here! Let's. ****ing. Go!!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cwp7i_uOMjF/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

The march continues.

With 4.4 PAs tonight, Seager becomes Qualified.

As a Home game, it could be difficult to get there unless we have an Offensive Explosion. Let's GO!

Fun time for baseball begins!

This weekend's Rangers matchups:
Fri: Scherzer (5GS, 2.64) v Ryan (23GS, 4.33)
Sat: Montgomery (5GS, 2.30) v Keuchel (3GS, 3.50)
Sun: Gray (24GS, 3.79) v Maeda (16GS, 4.69)

Others:
Seattle @ NYMets
NYY @ Houston
Toronto @ Colorado

Then
Rangers v Houston (3) and v Oakland (3)
Seattle @ Cincy (3) and @ Tampa (4)
Houston @ Texas (3) and v San Diego (3)

Toronto @ Oakland (3) and v KC (3)

Rangers now in 3rd place, 1 game back.

If we fall out of contention (knock on wood), and Carter continues to hit at AAA like he has in his first couple of games, I could see him getting a cup of coffee late. I'm still predicting they let him finish out the year in RR and let him compete for a job in the spring.

I see zero chance he gets called up. Which means he will.

He isn't on the 40.

There are too many Rule V guys to consider that giving him a spot on the 40 would mean exposing someone else.

Unless he is seen as a contributor over the next month to help us get to the playoffs knowing that he is ineligible for the postseason, he won't be here.

Having said that... they could have made a move last night to put him on the 40. I highly doubt it. Rosters expand today from 26 to 28 and where we knowingly need help is RP.

ETA: Toronto is 2.5 GB from us for WC3

I'm going to keep banging drum for Blaine Crim until it happens.

DallasAg 94 said:

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I see zero chance he gets called up. Which means he will.

He isn't on the 40.

There are too many Rule V guys to consider that giving him a spot on the 40 would mean exposing someone else.

Unless he is seen as a contributor over the next month to help us get to the playoffs knowing that he is ineligible for the postseason, he won't be here.

Having said that... they could have made a move last night to put him on the 40. I highly doubt it. Rosters expand today from 26 to 28 and where we knowingly need help is RP.

ETA: Toronto is 2.5 GB from us for WC3

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Just with how inconsistent the offense has been, that's the only road to Arlington he has. If we were to continue spiraling, I wouldn't be against him getting MLB ABs for a couple of weeks. I think I remember Jung saying that was pretty invaluable, that when he opened the season with us, the butterflies were mostly gone and had already gotten his feet a little wet in the bigs.

I think he has 21 G with Round Rock and assuming they make the playoffs, he'll have meaningful baseball for the next few weeks.

It used to be that Minor League Baseball was wrapping up now, but that has changed.

I'd rather see what JPMartinez can do for us in the OF, before splitting his ABs with Carter.

Ideally, we see enough from JPM that we can pencil him in LF for 2024, or we feel confident we can move Leody and have JPM in CF.

I don't see Carter as a guy ready full time in MLB for 2024. Mid-Season? Sure.

Tksymm7 said:

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I'm going to keep banging drum for Blaine Crim until it happens.

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He is Rule V after this season?

Personally, I don't give a damn about who is Rule V eligible. You either earn a spot on the big league team or you don't. I have zero interest in giving a marginal player a spot on the MLB roster just to see if maybe he can do something or not. That same player has had years of opportunity in the minors to show their potential. Jung hit .311 as a minor leaguer - he earned it.

I give pitchers more of a hall pass on this, but not position players. If you want a spot, earn the damn spot.

* I may be misrepresenting what you were saying, but it grinds my gears when the Rule V stuff gets brought up. You rarely if ever hear about a Rule V player going on to be a star somewhere else.

I would think so. He's 26 years old. His slash line across 496 PAs is: .290/.389/.501/.890.

Sandro Fabian is another guy who I think should really get a look. His slash line across 411 PA's is: .298/.346./.551./896.

Both guys have solid pop as well. If Evan Carter continues to impress at RR and they want to call him up for a cup of coffee, then so be it, but I think both guys above have also earned a chance as well. None of the three I've mentioned above are on the 40-man though.

Btw, Cody Bradford and Huff have been recalled from RR. So now we have FOUR catchers on the roster. Love that.

We're going to the game on Sunday and sitting in a suite. I've only been to two games and only sat in suites. One of these days I'll go down to the field level.

Cry all you want about Rule V. It is there for a reason. Most players, especially players drafted from HS take time to develop. You have a 40man roster to protect players that are otherwise Rule V eligible.

The point of Rule V is to prevent teams from stacking talent in their minors when they could make most rosters.

Take a guy like Sam Huff who was just moved to the Active.

You want to promote Evan Carter over these guys:

Huff (25): .302, 16 HR, 0 SB, in 65 G all at AAA
Crim (26): .290, 17 HR, 1 SB in 114 G all at AAA
Foscue (24): .261, 13 HR, 14 SB in 102 G all at AAA.
Fabian (25): .298, 21 HR, 6 SB in 101 G all at AAA.

Carter (20): .284, 12 HR, 22 SB in 97 G in AA
Carter (20): .290, 13 HR, 25 SB in 103 G among Rk, AA, and AAA.

I get the excitement about the guy, but let's not make him Mike Trout before he gets a week at AAA. If he deserved to be on the MLB roster, he'd be there. My guess is, he'll be a mid-season 2024 callup, if not at the end.

Tksymm7 said:

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Btw, Cody Bradford and Huff have been recalled from RR. So now we have FOUR catchers on the roster. Love that.

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You only had 3 players to chose from in Huff, Ornelas, and Dustin Harris.

I think we all expected Bradford's return as the P. Could have been Speas, but I think there is some mental stuff they wanted to avoid in bouncing him up and down. Bradford has earned it, IMO.

Fabian will likely be protected at the end of the season, along with others I mentioned.

WTH are you talking about....I've been saying they SHOULDN'T call up Carter all season long.

As for the rest of the players mentioned, I wouldn't call up any of them because not a damn one of them would likely help much at all.

Which brings me back to my point...other than pitchers, I don't give a damn about their Rule 5 status.

Thanks for coming by. But while you're here - could you please explain why the AgTagged poster on the other thread is pimping the custom RTIC can cooler with a longhorn for the design?

Because you asked

https://houstorian.org/homerun-bull

Thanks. Seems kinda sippy to me, but at least there is some legit nostalgia behind it.