fc2112 said:

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You guys complaining about the broadcast team.

It could be a lot worse

Jenny Cavnar has been hired as the A’s primary play-by-play announcer, per @NBCSAthletics

She will be the first female primary play-by-play voice in MLB history 🙌 pic.twitter.com/HUpBR8ih12

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) February 13, 2024

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The bar is pretty low. Beth mowins and Jessica Mendoza are both terrible.

I don't mind female broadcasters for men's sports unless they try to talk strategy like they are experts or question decisions made by players/coaches (Mendoza does this).

On the bright side, the A's just dramatically improved their clubhouse sammich game.

Idk if anyone here has seen this, but Josh Hader went on a podcast since he signed with Houston and said that the single biggest reason he didn't sign with the rangers and talks broke down between was the TV deal and not knowing where money was coming from. Tough look.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C3Lcka7peea/?igsh=MWRiYmZ4ZjFham92dQ==

Tksymm7 said:

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Idk if anyone here has seen this, but Josh Hader went on a podcast since he signed with Houston and said that the single biggest reason he didn't sign with the rangers and talks broke down between was the TV deal and not knowing where money was coming from. Tough look.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C3Lcka7peea/?igsh=MWRiYmZ4ZjFham92dQ==

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Meh on Hader. The Dodgers signed anyone and everyone and could have signed him too if they wanted. He's just a really expensive Jake Diekman.

https://www.outkick.com/sports/josh-hader-wouldnt-get-four-outs-because-of-padres-postseason-odds

I mostly remember him for the massive blown save vs. the Nationals in 2019. The Nats went on to win the world series.

Hader's contract is not what I would've called "team friendly." He did blow that game vs the Nats but, was aided by some awful D in right field.

It's not the fact that we didn't sign Hader, although it would've been nice to have him, but it's the fact that we can't afford to pay a free agent because of a TV deal. It's just a bad look imo.

60IL becomes available, as well.

deGrom, Scherzer, and/or Mahle are eligible. We'll see what moves if any are made. If they move someone to the 60IL "a corresponding move" takes place to fill the spot.

From McaVoy on SI: "Montgomery's first choice is believed to be a return to the (Texas Rangers), but the club and his agent, Scott Boras, have been far apart in negotiations," Bowden said. "Montgomery's value skyrocketed after he was dealt to Texas at the trade deadline and showed, particularly in the postseason, that he can perform when it matters most."

I've seen many reports teams are waiting to see if Monty's cost comes down.

Several teams and fans have been reported to be ready to jump in if he can be had at 1-3 yrs.

I don't think there is much range projected... $25M +/-.

DallasAg 94 said:

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I've seen many reports teams are waiting to see if Monty's cost comes down.

Several teams and fans have been reported to be ready to jump in if he can be had at 1-3 yrs.

I don't think there is much range projected... $25M +/-.

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Scrolling through twitter I just saw this, which basically seems to say team friendly deal or not happening. Boras doesn't do team friendly deals... lol.

We talked to #Rangers GM Chris Young.
He doesn’t expect many more roster additions. Said club will remain open on Jordan Montgomery but also said TV uncertainty beyond this season is a factor.

— Jeff Wilson (@JeffWilsonTXR) February 14, 2024

Then there is this... long ways to go, but it's a start:

Jacob deGrom says he started to throw Monday and will be throwing again today. #Rangers

— Jeff Wilson (@JeffWilsonTXR) February 14, 2024

Potential return timelines (from article:
Scherzer: June
Mahle: July
DeGrom: August

Obviously, all are subject to change

Jacob deGrom has begun throwing & other pitching rehab news https://t.co/IoJfBOTi1q

— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) February 14, 2024

KT 90 said:

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Potential return timelines (from article:
Scherzer: June
Mahle: July
DeGrom: August

Obviously, all are subject to change

Jacob deGrom has begun throwing & other pitching rehab news https://t.co/IoJfBOTi1q

— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) February 14, 2024

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Just knowing how he's wired, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw Scherzer sometime in May. DeGrom not coming back until August blows, though.

I know, but just seeing it on paper really makes it sink in. Bummed.

Mr Gigem said:

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FYI, TEXAGS24 is the coupon code this year and it is currently active

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Thanks for this! I normally use it at least 5-6 times throughout the season!

I'll have to hop in and snag a game or two.

What's everyone's favorite "value seat" for single game tickets? I liked section 213 for the price but am open to branching out.

Probably time to revisit life without Monty. Still hope he joins the Rangers, but now that P&C have reported, it is time look at SP and see what happens in Spring Training. This will help with whom to follow and compare if 2023 was just everyone having a career year, or if 2023 is more indicative of what to expect.

Much of the Rangers success in 2023 was about keeping the SP healthy, filling in sufficiently when injuries happened, and then adding Scherzer and Monty after the trade-deadline. For me, it is that simple.

Current projected rotation for 2024 with 2023 #s
Gray (31): 29GS, 4.12 ERA, 157.1 IP, 142 SO, 1.29 WHIP
- Career: 204GS 4.45 ERA. Spent 7yrs in Colorado: 151GS, 4.59 ERA.
- '22 Tex: 24GS, 3.96 ERA, 127.1 IP, 134 SO, 1.131 WHIP
- Career at Coors: 74GS, 4.54 ERA
You could argue Gray had a down year in '23, based on his '22 numbers.

Heaney (32): 28GS, 4.15 ERA, 147.1 IP, 151 SO, 1.38 WHIP, 34G
- Career: 154 GS, 4.49 ERA

Dunning (28): 26GS, 3.70 ERA, 172.2 IP, 140 SO, 1.26 WHIP, 35G
- Career: 87GS, 4.16 ERA
- Rookie: 7GS, 3.97 ERA (CWS)

Eovaldi (33): 25GS, 3.63 ERA, 144.0 IP, 132 SO, 1.14 WHIP
- Career: 246GS, 4.10 ERA
- '20-22: 61GS, 3.79 ERA

Bradford (25): 8GS, 5.30 ERA, 56.0 IP, 51 SO, 1.21 WHIP, 20G

Barring any stunning developments, I think that is where we are.
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Players from 2023 that will be available
Scherzer (38): 8GS, 3.20 ERA, 45.0 IP, 53 SO, 0.96 WHIP
deGrom (35): 6GS, 2.67 ERA, 30.1 IP, 45 SO, 0.76 WHIP
Yerry (25): 1GS, 7.90 ERA, 13.2 IP, 15 SO, 1.90 WHIP
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Lost from 2023
Perez: 20GS, 4.45 ERA, 141.2 IP, 93 SO, 1.40 WHIP, 35G
Monty: 11GS, 2.79 ERA, 67.2 IP, 58 SO, 1.09 WHIP

Let's say the 2024 projected rotation repeats in 2024 what they did in 2023.
Will Scherzer and deGrom return to combine for 14 GS in the 2H?

Monty is the only real puzzle piece we need to account for, IMO.

So what?!
If much of the Rangers success in 2023 was about keeping the SP healthy, filling in sufficiently when injuries happen, and then adding pieces after the trade-deadline... will that be a working formula for '24?!

We don't need to be perfectly healthy. Losing deGrom to a season-ender could have been catastrophic. Where would we have been with him?

Having said that, we have to have Bradford step up. There is concern and uncertainty, for sure. Reality is, we only need enough SP to get to the Playoffs. We need him to be a full-season MLB-caliber SP. Eat innings at a minimum. Keep us in games.

We have Mahle, Scherzer, and deGrom slated to return this summer presumably as trade-deadline additions. We need them healthy. Adding 3 SPs like that mid-season would be huge. Someone in the Opening Day roster will miss game, loving the idea of adding 3.

A playoff rotation that features:
deGrom: 215GS, 2.53 Career ERA in 10 years.
Scherzer: 448GS, 3.15 Career ERA in 16 years.
Eovaldi: 246GS, 4.10 Career ERA in 16 years.

Will match up with anyone. Would Monty be lovely?! Sure.

Rookies to consider? This was from a post where I projected MiLB SPs:

Quote:

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I could see our AAA rotation:
White (24-MLB) #8: 24GS, 4.22 ERA (AA/AAA)
Winn (24-MLB) #28 : 13GS, 7.22 (AAA)
Leiter (23-AAA-2024) #5: 20GS, 5.19 ERA (AA/AAA)
Acker (24-AA) : 18GS, 2.54 ERA (A+/AA)

We need one from above to land for 2025. I'd like to see each get some GS in 2024 like Bradford got and see what we get. Bradford plus one of these are your 2. even if two #5s would be fine by me.

Our possible AA rotation:
Stephan (22-AA-2025) #15: 12GS, 2.30 ERA (A+/AA)
Teodo (22-A+-2025) #22: 14GS, 4.52 (A+)
Bratt (20-A+-2025) #17: 16GS, 3.54 (A+)
Corniell (20-MLB-2026) #23: 17GS, 2.75 (A/A+)

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As we say on the farm... "It's nut cuttin' time."

I need to see all the SPs that were invited to ST. If you have it, I'd love to see it. I think there are 2-3 retreads/hopefuls that will likely get plugged in on the Farm if necessary. You'll notice I only have 4 on each AAA/AA team.

The Bullpen is where I think the most improvement will come and why people projecting us to lose more games in 2024 will be wrong.

Blown Saves in '23:
5: Smith, Leclerc
4: Anderson, Hernandez, Sborz
3: Chapman
2: Burke
1: Heaney, Kennedy, King, Yerry, Speas, Straton
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30 Saves out of 63 Chances
33 Blown Saves

Just got an update from Jeff Wilson saying to not count out Danny Duffy for the rotation or bullpen Pitched in winter ball and apparently looks good. Just one more name to toss in the pile.

Teodo is the guy I'm excited about. He was lights out in winter ball.

I'm eager to see if Dunning can continue his success from last year