I so want Hernandez to put it together and not be a jag…..A good Hernandez, Yates,Robertson,Sborz and I hope a good Urena and Winn, then add in Heaney as lefty to the pen. Is it too much for me to want the starters making 20mil+ (when everyone comes back) to make it 6 innings on the regular?

I'd rather throw Leclerc than Pruitt. Keep using Leclerc in like a 6th or 7th inning role right now at times. Not as high leverage.

Round Rock Express Update

The team is struggling overall; being 2-8 in their last 10 games. Overall, the pitching has not been good outside of a few guys. Overall the team has given up 115 runs in 178.1 IP. The only real interesting news is that Marc Church is hurt, as he was put on the IL and has only pitched 4.2 innings this year.

Guys to continue to watch (for me): 1) Leiter, 2) Hernandez, 3) Tinoco and 4) Sandro Fabian. Fabian in particular is batting .383/.422/.567.989 in 60 ABs. The only real issue with him is that he has 11 SOs to only 4 BBs, which isn't dreadful, but you would like for that % to creep towards 50/50 a bit more. He's probably the next guy to get a chance if need be. The only reason I don't list Huff is because I think we all know what he is at this point in his career.

Tksymm7 said:

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The only reason I don't list Huff is because I think we all know what he is at this point in his career.

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Do we though?

Coppell97 said:

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I'd rather throw Leclerc than Pruitt. Keep using Leclerc in like a 6th or 7th inning role right now at times. Not as high leverage.

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Agree. Seems like we've kicked the tires on Pruitt enough to know what we have.

Not sure what the holdup is on Hernandez. He was on an injury rehab assignment, does he have to stay for X number of days and hasn't yet fulfilled those? Otherwise, his outings seems to be good in AAA so far, so you would think he would get the nod over Pruitt.

gigem1223 said:

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Tksymm7 said:

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The only reason I don't list Huff is because I think we all know what he is at this point in his career.

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Do we though?

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Although it worked out with Knizner getting two hits last night (including a HR), I thought it was odd that Huff didn't a start for one of the games in the Atlanta series. I assume Heim will rejoin the team for the Tuesday game, so that would likely put Huff back in Round Rock.

gigem1223 said:

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Tksymm7 said:

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The only reason I don't list Huff is because I think we all know what he is at this point in his career.

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Do we though?

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It appears that the Rangers seem to think they do.

They aren't going to keep a guy on the bench or in the minors just tot prove a point, not when they're trying to repeat. Huff has had a lot of chances, including this spring, to secure a place on the roster and hasn't done it. I have no idea what the Rangers see (or don't see) in Huff, maybe they're concerned about how much he strikes out or his defense or both. Bottom line is, they don't seem to think he's a better option than Knizner as a backup to Heim at this point. I do know that a while back I read a lot of "right handed Joey Gallo" reports - and not in a complimentary way. Maybe he's figured some things out and just needs a chance to play to prove it - problem is, I don't think he's going to get enough playing time as Heim's backup to get in a groove at the plate and show it.

I do think that if Heim were to get injured (please no) that they would put Huff in as starting catcher and let him play. That's his best pathway to staying on the roster at this point IMO, unfortunately for him.

That or maybe another injury that would vacate the DH spot where he could come in and get pretty consistent DH reps

I really think we do. He's got 200 MLB at-bats across four seasons, batting .262/.314/.462/.776. I do understand that isn't an overwhelming amount of run, but he's got over 2000 at-bats at all levels of professional baseball with almost an identical slash line over those at-bats. Now, THOSE ARE NOT BAD NUMBERS, and quite frankly that might be his biggest issue. He could probably be a starting catcher (offensively speaking) for a few MLB teams, but he's just not going to get that kind of run with Texas as a C or even at DH.

I (like you) would kinda like to see him get some consistent at-bats at DH and then backing up Heim at Catcher, because I think he has some experience and power that we are lacking consistently at the moment, but I just don't think it's going to happen.

alvtimes said:

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I so want Hernandez to put it together and not be a jag…..A good Hernandez, Yates,Robertson,Sborz and I hope a good Urena and Winn, then add in Heaney as lefty to the pen. Is it too much for me to want the starters making 20mil+ (when everyone comes back) to make it 6 innings on the regular?

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So, which $20M P?


Scherzer: $12.5M ($43.3, but $30.8 paid by NYM)
deGrom: $40.0M
Eovaldi: $17.0M
JonGray: $13.0M
A_Heaney: $13.0M
Ty Mahle: $5.5M
Lorenzen: $4.5M
Dunning: $3.3M
Bradford: $0.748M


Overall, I believe IP/GS is down this year and has been dropping. Used to be a SP would go 150PC+. Then, during the Roid Era of the '90s up until probably 10 years ago, you were looking at 125-130 PC.

Today, if a SP gets over 100PC, Managers get in a tizzy. I think you have some of the older SPs going long, but not that many. Last year, in 2023, there were only 44 SPs in ALL of MLB that were "Qualifed" which meant they pitched 1IP/G, requiring 162 IP. Usually 32-33GP/SP and you are looking right at 5.0IP.

So, only 44 MLB SPs avg 5.0+ IP/GS.

6.0 IP would put you with 32GS, at 192IP. There were 13 SPs to do that. Sure injuries impact that and most SPs might miss a GS here or there, but I think the point stands.

It is usually the case at AAA that P has cycles of trash.

We've kinda gutted their rotation of anyone that was performing and even some that were not.

As a result of the holes and in order to not disrupt AA, they traded for a guy (Jimmy Robbins) for cash and then signed a couple guys from Indy, I believe:

Collin Wiles (30) was a former Rangers prospect and Shaun Anderson (29)

I had Wiles on my radar a decade or so go... but like many fizzled.

I wonder what the likelihood of Dunning moving back to the Pen is. He gives you good length and showed last year to be pretty effective in short stints. By the time we get Scherz, Mahle, and DeGrom back I think it's going to be 3 guys in the rotation that move to the Pen or get traded, baring more injuries.

Tksymm7 said:

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I really think we do. He's got 200 MLB at-bats across four seasons, batting .262/.314/.462/.776. I do understand that isn't an overwhelming amount of run, but he's got over 2000 at-bats at all levels of professional baseball with almost an identical slash line over those at-bats. Now, THOSE ARE NOT BAD NUMBERS, and quite frankly that might be his biggest issue. He could probably be a starting catcher (offensively speaking) for a few MLB teams, but he's just not going to get that kind of run with Texas as a C or even at DH.

I (like you) would kinda like to see him get some consistent at-bats at DH and then backing up Heim at Catcher, because I think he has some experience and power that we are lacking consistently at the moment, but I just don't think it's going to happen.

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Agree with you. His offensive numbers thus far in his career are better than Heim's career average and way better than where Heim was at 26. Not sure, what else he has to do to prove to the org that he can provide value to this team at DH/ backup catcher.

I agree there will likely be some moves made and likely at least 3 to the BP and/or traded. I've cycled through scenarios and have no idea how it will or should play out.

Dunning is a hard sell, IMO, to consider putting into the BP. He has 2 more years of Arb after 2024, so he will be needed in the rotation.

His GS have gone 6.1, 6.2, 5.0, 5.0

His 3rd game was against the Astros and went 80PC. I think any other team, and he goes back out there.
His 4th game he went out for the 6th for 1batter and got pulled.

So, he is giving us some depth. He has given up 10 ER and 5 HRs. In those 5HRs, there were 3 guys on base who were BBs, so 8 of the 10 ERs he has given up have been BBs+HRs. That's where Walks kill you. You walk a guy and then get behind the next hitter and give into him.

Heaney is a wildcard. His next projected outing (25th) will be right before Bradford is available (26th). I'd really like to see him get 6.0 IP. He is cheap and a FA at the end of the season. I think he has some real value if he can get over 5.1-5.2 IP/GS. He is 3.0 IP short of avg 5.0. I call him "The Nibbler." I don't think his stuff is good enough to challenge hitters, so he works the edges. Umpires have not been favorable for him.

As mentioned Lorenzen (32), Heaney (33), and Scherzer (39) are all FAs after the 2024 season.

2025 we have:
Eovaldi (opt-34), Mahle (29), Gray (32) who are FAs after 2025
deGrom (36), Dunning (29), and Bradford (26) controlled through 2026+

If Lorenzen continues what he is doing, would you sign him to 2yr/$22M? I'd bet he'd grab that in a heartbeat to be in one place for 3 yrs.

Scherzer has made $351M. Seems there would be zero chance he signs cheap to stay.

We have to get something out of deGrom. That contract is just so big.

If deGrom returns and projects in the Top3 of the Rangers playoff rotation, along with Eovaldi... Would you have the balls to trade Scherzer if any of Gray/Dunning/Bradford/Lorenzen are shoving?!

If Eovaldi, deGrom, Scherzer are your Top3... Heaney and Lorenzen are likely traded.

If Eovaldi, DeGrom and Scherzer are your top three in August, then that is where I have said before that I could see for the first time I can remember a contending team trading MLB players for prospects.

Anyone that would want a rental won't have high leverage bullpen pieces available. They're keeping those. Might find a DH out there for one of the pitchers. Otherwise, it's prospects and which type you get depends on how Heaney or Lorenzen are performing. I agree it would be one or both of those two. Gray, Dunning and Bradford aren't going anywhere.

DallasAg 94 said:

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Scherzer has made $351M. Seems there would be zero chance he signs cheap to stay.

We have to get something out of deGrom. That contract is just so big.

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First, I was listening to a pod about similar topics like career earnings the other day; Kershaw has made $299M, Scherzer $351M, Verlander a WHOPPING $400M. Absolutely insane what these guys have raked in.

Two, deGroms contract is huge. Scares me to death.

And that's how guys like Mahomes, Jeter, and Magic become part owners.

The other thing to consider and why it is important to cycle Leiter, Winn, and White is to see if they are 2025 options. Add Rocker Kumar to that. If you feel good that one of those guys will emerge... you may have even more roster options.
Cart > Horse.

I think the SP FA class after the 2024 season is pretty deep. Add in a couple Japanese guys and the money given out for FA could be low.

It makes me wonder if CY wanted to be aggressive, he could lock in some guys.

Quote:

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Starting pitcher: Gerrit Cole (opt-out), Blake Snell (opt-out), Justin Verlander (vesting option), Max Scherzer, Corbin Burnes, Clayton Kershaw (player option), Max Fried, Shane Bieber, Jordan Montgomery (vesting option), Walker Buehler, Nathan Eovaldi (vesting option), Robbie Ray (opt-out), Alex Cobb, Kyle Hendricks, Charlie Morton, Freddy Peralta (club option), Merrill Kelly (club option), Lucas Giolito (player option), Sean Manaea (opt-out), Michael Wacha (player option), Wade Miley (mutual option), Michael Lorenzen, Lance Lynn (club option), Kyle Gibson (club option), Luis Severino, Frankie Montas (mutual option), James Paxton, Jack Flaherty, Yusei Kikuchi, Patrick Corbin, Anthony DeSclafani, Nick Pivetta, Martn Prez, Domingo Germn, Marco Gonzales (club option), Andrew Heaney, Eric Lauer, John Means, Zach Plesac, Jos Quintana, Michael Soroka, Ross Stripling, Spencer Turnbull, Luke Weaver, Alex Wood

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Bolded are Qualified and in the T25 ERA in MLB, right now. I might have missed one.

Now, those also represent slots opening up on teams, but it makes me wonder if SPs might be more interested in extending before FA, based on this past off-season.

DallasAg 94 said:

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alvtimes said:

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I so want Hernandez to put it together and not be a jag…..A good Hernandez, Yates,Robertson,Sborz and I hope a good Urena and Winn, then add in Heaney as lefty to the pen. Is it too much for me to want the starters making 20mil+ (when everyone comes back) to make it 6 innings on the regular?

---

So, which $20M P?


Scherzer: $12.5M ($43.3, but $30.8 paid by NYM)
deGrom: $40.0M
Eovaldi: $17.0M
JonGray: $13.0M
A_Heaney: $13.0M
Ty Mahle: $5.5M
Lorenzen: $4.5M
Dunning: $3.3M
Bradford: $0.748M


Overall, I believe IP/GS is down this year and has been dropping. Used to be a SP would go 150PC+. Then, during the Roid Era of the '90s up until probably 10 years ago, you were looking at 125-130 PC.

Today, if a SP gets over 100PC, Managers get in a tizzy. I think you have some of the older SPs going long, but not that many. Last year, in 2023, there were only 44 SPs in ALL of MLB that were "Qualifed" which meant they pitched 1IP/G, requiring 162 IP. Usually 32-33GP/SP and you are looking right at 5.0IP.

So, only 44 MLB SPs avg 5.0+ IP/GS.

6.0 IP would put you with 32GS, at 192IP. There were 13 SPs to do that. Sure injuries impact that and most SPs might miss a GS here or there, but I think the point stands.

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well Max is still making 43 mill I didnt qualify Rangers had to be paying. Degrom is 40 Eovaldi is 17. Gray is 13 and Mahle is 5….. Ijust averaged cause I dont write novels…. its pretty close to 20 per starter

Two thoughts on Scherz.. with as much money as he's made and hearing he moved his family to DFW, I would be willing to bet he'd be interested in staying even in a team friendly deal.

And given his age, as long as the FPTR are staying competitive, he doesn't have many years left. So I bet he'd want to stay with a contender helping the team in anyway he can.

Frisco Rough Riders Update

9-6 on the year and 5-5 in their last 10. Overall I would say that the pitching has been solid, not spectacular, and the hitting has really come down to earth over the last handful of games. They only have a +8 run differential. They played six straight games against Arkansas and scored 4 or less in four of the games, and in three of those they only scored 1.

On the pitching side Dane Acker has been really tremendous so far, with an ERA of 0.68, an 0.75 WHIP, and 18 SOs to only 5 BBs in 13.1 IPs. Ben Anderson, Tyler Owens and Robby Ahlstrom also a deserve a shout here, as they all have ERAs at 3.00 or less, with really solid SO/BB ratios. Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetea has also been tremendous, having an ERA of 0.00, a WHIP of 0.50 and 9 SOs to 1BB. He looks like a guy who could be a real back end of the bullpen piece in future years.

On the hitting side, not a lot to report on quite honestly. Most everyone has averages below 0.275, OPSs below .750, and not a single guy has more than one homerun. The one guy with numbers that stand out is Josh Hatcher, who's slashing .382/.432/.471/.903, but in only 34 at-bats, which is almost half than most of the normal starters. Guys to watch are still Ortiz, Acosta, and Zavala, and that's probably about it on that front.

That's my thought, as well.

Do not put this in my head.

We need way more metal music overlaying our sports highlights.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6E3XeKyFPL/?igsh=M3I0cHh5MDk2NHZ0

Once again, I nominate to trade for Mason Miller from OAK, by any means necessary.

Struck out Volpe, Soto, and Judge

Yeah, that's no lie lol