He seems to be playing better with Ohtani gone

I've heard a few commentators mention the ball isn't traveling quite as much as last year.

Would not surprise me in the slightest. Home runs seems to be down. It's unbelievable that the MLB can tamper/mess with baseballs.

I've been thinking about them altering the baseballs recently, I wouldn't doubt it ever since Glasnow came out and said what did

I must have missed this:


https://www.si.com/mlb/2022/06/22/mud-man-baseballs-the-opener


There have been complaints about the balls not being rubbed correctly.

That was a good read! Every time I had heard them say "rubbed" I thought they were referring to the way the pitcher or umpire rubs the baseball during the game lol

Probably a necessary move to keep the other levels from getting an unwanted disruption.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/04/blue-jays-trade-jimmy-robbins-to-rangers.html

Is this expected to be a spot start for Leiter with the expectation he goes back down?

Well boys, we're T-minus 2:10 until we see the culmination of all the hype and drama surrounding Leiter. MLB Network will be airing the game too incase anyone is out of town and doesn't have Bally's. They're trying to pump up the debut as much as they can.

Fuzzy Dunlop said:

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Jimmy McNulty said:

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Is this expected to be a spot start for Leiter with the expectation he goes back down?

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I think it is a spot start as we were planning a 6 man rotation this week according to reports. It's a good time to evaluate his progression and let him get a taste of the big leagues.

I don't expect much from Leiter today. I hope I'm wrong but and I'll be pleasantly surprised if he does well. I think we'll see 3 to 5 innings from him unless he implodes in the 1st or 2nd.

We have our A line up starting today to hopefully give him some run support.

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I think it's 1000% a spot start unless he goes out there a completely shoves, but even then I still think he'll be sent back down.

I wouldn't expect more than one more start for him by the end of next week.

When Jack Leiter makes his debut, it'll make his dad Al and Al's brother Mark the first MLB brothers to each have a son also make it to the MLB.

https://www.mlb.com/news/jack-leiter-makes-family-history-with-mlb-debut?partnerId=it-20240418-9609421-mlb-1-A&utm_id=it-20240418-9609421-mlb-1-A&lctg=72578125

Tksymm7 said:

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Fuzzy Dunlop said:

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Jimmy McNulty said:

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Is this expected to be a spot start for Leiter with the expectation he goes back down?

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I think it is a spot start as we were planning a 6 man rotation this week according to reports. It's a good time to evaluate his progression and let him get a taste of the big leagues.

I don't expect much from Leiter today. I hope I'm wrong but and I'll be pleasantly surprised if he does well. I think we'll see 3 to 5 innings from him unless he implodes in the 1st or 2nd.

We have our A line up starting today to hopefully give him some run support.

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I think it's 1000% a spot start unless he goes out there a completely shoves, but even then I still think he'll be sent back down.

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One of the beat writers (maybe multiple) indicated that this is intended to be a spot start to add an extra day of rest for the rotation. We have an off-day next week, so don't really need an extra starter next week.

The history was...

We signed Lorenzen. Likely with a commitment he'd be inserted into the rotation. He indicated his expectation was to be inserted into the rotation.

The rotation was:
Eovaldi-Dunning-Heaney-Gray-Bradford

Most assumed Lorenzen would replace Bradford, but Bradford decided he wouldn't just go quietly.

Lorenzen was ready and we were in a 17G streak, so Lorenzen was going to be inserted and have a 6-Man rotation. Bradford gets a sore back. Assume it is true. Rangers stick with the 6-Man rotation and call up Leiter.

So, Leiter replaced Bradford in the designated 6-Man rotation. If Bradford is healthy IIRC, I posted he'd be available on the 26th (back dated his IL to the 11th).

With the off-day, we likely don't need Leiter and at most, he might get a 2nd GS, but once Bradford returned, not only would Leiter not have a spot in the rotation... we'd also have to figure out moving someone else (Heaney?!) to the Bullpen.

So, I think he gets 1... maybe 2 GS (at most unless he is stellar) and if there is enough success, he could get moved to the BP.

Heaney and Gray have shown so far they may need to have a long-reliever paired up with them. Could I live with a Heaney (4IP) and Leiter (3IP) with Gray and Urena paired?! That might not be terrible.

6-Man rotation for a month or two?!
Eovaldi
Dunning
Heaney + Leiter
Gray + Urena
Lorenzen
Bradford

Then: Leclerc, D-Rob, Latz, and Yates and Sborz

Or 5s:
Eovaldi
Dunning+ Leiter
Gray + Urena
Lorenzen+Heaney
Bradford

Did I just see something roll across the scroll at the bottom that traded cash considerations for somebody from the blue jays?

Legal Custodian said:

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Did I just see something roll across the scroll at the bottom that traded cash considerations for somebody from the blue jays?

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Yes. Posted a little earlier this morning.

DallasAg 94 said:

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Probably a necessary move to keep the other levels from getting an unwanted disruption.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/04/blue-jays-trade-jimmy-robbins-to-rangers.html

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Gotcha, missed that. My bad

I'm assuming it's just a fill in while Leiter is up? Don't know anything about this guy

Really excited about today's game. Working from home today so I can watch the whole thing.

I predict a no hitter for his first start, joining Bumpus Jones of the Cincinnati Reds (1892), Ted Breitenstein of the St. Louis Browns (1891), Bobo Holloman of the St. Louis Browns (1953) and Tyler Gilbert of the Arizona Diamondbacks (2021) with a no hitter in their first MLB start.

I just pray to everything good and holy in this world, that it's better than Taylor Hearne's first start.

Mr Gigem said:

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I'm assuming it's just a fill in while Leiter is up? Don't know anything about this guy

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I think he was a JAG. I'm envisioning this CraigList site that GMs have access to, kinda like a bulletin board at GuitarCenter.

GMs can post a "Help Wanted"

Rangers: "Looking for a LHSP available for a Gig in Round-Rock (AAA) on Friday."

Low bar: 4.0 IP, 2-3 ERs, limited BBs and to wake up on Friday without any health issues.

I think good or bad, this will be something he can build off. Give him a taste of coffee and check the box of having thrown in a MLB game.

One of my kids played his 1st gig a couple weeks ago. My message was, "just make it through."

In addition to hopes of Leiter and relief pitching well, would like to see the offense awaken from the funk they have been in recently. Yesterday was a start, need to see more of that and then some.