"Open at your own risk" - 2010 Rangers season 3

[Goodson]

Couldn't complete the sweep tonight.



Heading to the yard tomorrow night to watch Lee open an important set against he Halos. Let's hope the Ranger hitters finally give him some run support!

[TAMU1991]

I'd take a 5-2 road trip to Boston and Detroit any day!

[Goodson]

And then Mr. Lee pitches like a staff ace should -- shutting down the opposition even without his best stuff -- and the Rangers take Game One of an important set against the Halos last night. I didn't check the radar gun after every pitch, but I bet you could count on both hands the number of piches he threw that were 90 or better ... and have digits left over.



Watching him pitch is a delight. Even when he doesn't have his best stuff ... he pounds the strike zone, keeps his pitches to a minimum (pitched into the 9th inning) and keeps his defense alert and in the game.

Consequently, we also saw a number of defensive gems from Young, Kinsler, Cruz, Hamilton and Borbon.

[rockett2]

The Rangers are just incredible right now. I watch the games not only to see them win, but to be amazed by the smart, tough baseball they are playing. Stuff like Vlad punching an opposite field single on an 0-2 pitch when he looks totally overmatched on the first two pitches, then stretching it into a double when Bobby Abreu doesn't react to the ball, to eventually score the go ahead run. Incredible. Nelson Cruz stealing second to take the double play off when Benji Molena is at the plate. Defensive gems from Cruz and Hamilton in the 9th, to choke off any potential rally. Cliff Lee. Even if he doesn't win the game he takes the heat off the middle relievers and helps keep the bull pen ready for duty later in the weekend. There is just so much that the Rangers are doing right, that it's hard to believe these are the Rangers.

[TAMU1991]

[AgLaw06]

In getting set to see the game last night (Friday), I saw an interview with Feldman before the game and it seems that he and Maddux are indeed trying everything under the sun to figure out his flaw inhibiting his sink. I should have known that that was happening, so I feel the need to retract my criticism of Feldman/Maddux on pg. 8 of this thread.

On a separate note, it seems to me that Lee is really having an effect on the staff. Having seen last nights game with CJ throwing a gem...after and in much the same style as Lee's gem...I more and more impressed with this team. Rockett2 has it perfectly summed up....this team is doing so much right right now, it's hard to believe it is the Rangers. I didn't get to see tonight's game or Feldman's performance, but the loss doesn't sway my enthusiasm about this team and this year. Let's go Gig 'em Rangers...take 3 out of 4 from the Halos.
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People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
-George Orwell.

[AgLaw06]

Tommy "Big Game" Hunter strikes again!!! Oh, and Hamilton does his thing again too. Clutch hitting last night from just about everyone except Vlad, and we get 3 of 4 from the Halos to be up 7 games in the West.

Interesting that the Halos made 2(I think) pitching acquisitions during this 4 game stretch in Texas. Here's hoping we continue lighting up the scoreboard and getting quality starts from the rotation!
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People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
-George Orwell.

[TAMU1991]

[AgLaw06]

Fair enough TAMU1991, I stand corrected. Callaspo is a good pick up for them. Decent to good hitter and pretty steady at 3b. I don't know anything about Haren, but I suspect I will get to know him through his appearances for the Halos against our Rangers over the 18(?) remaining games.
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People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
-George Orwell.

[TAMU1991]

Wonder how much it'll take to sign Lee to a deal? I actually got to watch the game on TV last night and was just impressed with his pitching. Just about every pitch is around the plate, works fast and throws strikes.

[tc]

Lee has already said that he's looking to win and wants a no-trade clause.

The Yankees have stated that he is their #1 target for the off-season. (not sure why this wouldn't be tampering if they actually said that publicly.)

I think Lee will want something in the neighborhood of Sabathia money. 7/140 would probably be a starting point, or at least 5/100+. Will the Rangers, assuming new ownership, be willing to pay that much? Will they have the wherewithal to get into a bidding war with the Yankees? They could offer a little bit less with the selling point that Texas doesn't have state income tax, but either way we're probably looking at something in the $20 mil/year range.

Remember, the Rangers are also going to have to pay Hamilton in the same timeframe and he's going to get Texeira/Jeter type money, also around $20 mil/year. Plus he's still only 29 so he will be looking for 7-8 years.
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Let us always endeavor to eschew superfluous sesquipedalian obfuscation and circumlocution.

[tc]

That would have been a travesty if Lee had lost that game last night due to Kinsler and Andrus suffering brain vapor lock on the steal. Even Lee can't hold teams down to one unearned run forever. Hopefully he'll start getting some better run support down the road.
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Let us always endeavor to eschew superfluous sesquipedalian obfuscation and circumlocution.

[oklahomaagg]

Lee didn't get the W for last night. It was a no decision for all that wonderous work.

[Goodson]

tc:

Here is what the current roster looks like from an arbitration/free agency standpoint at the end of this season:

Frankie Francisco - free agent
Vlad Guerrero - $1M opt out (player option)
Josh Hamilton - arbitration
Nelson Cruz - arbitration
David Murphy - arbitration
C.J. Wilson - arbitration
Dustin Nippert - arbitration
Brandon McCarthy - administration
Darren O'Day - arbitration
Derek Holland - arbitration
Jarrod Saltalamachia - arbitration
Ryan Garko - arbitration

If this team is "only" re-signs Vlad, Francisco and its arbitration-eliglble players, the payroll could well jump $20-25M this off season.



Good news on the opposite side: $7M will be coming off the books via deferred comp for Millwood, Vinnie P and Frankie the Cat.



Let's get that sale finalized pronto, mister bankruptcy judge!

[tc]

One of the talking heads brought up a good point the other night. What if Mark Cuban outbids everyone else by about $100 million, and then Selig and the good old boy owner's network rejects his ownership bid.

Selig has never made any secret of not wanting Cuban as an owner, but turning down an offer like that would be way too obvious. That would invite a lawsuit for baseball's exemption. Let's hope it doesn't come to that and cause the ownership change to drag on even longer.
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Let us always endeavor to eschew superfluous sesquipedalian obfuscation and circumlocution.

[Ruffstuff]

[Goodson]

Moreland made a nice debut tonight ... two hits and a long, loud out to center that just missed winding up on the hill.

[JoeAggie8888]

I hope Mark Cuban doesn't buy the Rangers. He's the biggest reason I hate the Mavs...
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Class of 2009
CAUTION: My posts may portray a positive outlook on Aggie Athletics.

[Goodson]

And yet another trade today ... with the Rangers picking up 2B Christian Guzman from the Washington Nationals. I haven't heard what's headed back to them in the deal ... how much Guzman makes or what his contract status is at the end of this year.

I guess this gives more insurance in case Kinsler cannot make a quick recovery. The odd man out will be either Blanco or Arias.

[Ruffstuff]

[tc]

Arias goes on the 15 day DL with some unnamed ailment to make room for Guzman.
_________________
Let us always endeavor to eschew superfluous sesquipedalian obfuscation and circumlocution.

[Goodson]

Salty's deal opens a place on the 40 man roster that most likely was needed due to the recent acquisitions.

And the inevitable "financial considerations" continues to be a key component of any Ranger deal these days.

Hicks can't crawl back beneath his rock soon enough to suit me.



I've got a sponsorship suggestion for the Rangers to generate some additional, needed funds.

Stadium signage for the Renuzit brand -- "it can take the stench out of anything ... even a place 'marked' by Tom Hicks."

[Goodson]

It's gonna be a good day, Tater! (with apologies to those unfamiliar the Ron White comedic routine that spawned the line).

Losing skid stopped at two games? Check

Greenberg-Ryan confirmed as high bidder for the team? Check

Hamilton's leg responding well to this week's cortisone shot? Check

Bats finally wake up, scoring 11 in the skid-snapping win against Seattle? Check

[TAMU1991]

Thank goodness. Now back to baseball.

[Goodson]

Hunter was back to his winning ways and the Rangers take the series 2-1. 8.5 games up over Oakland. Whodathunkit?

[TAMU1991]