Rudy gone!

[Horn69]

according to Bob Sturm quoting Evan Grant.

He turned down a one year contract and will part ways with the Rangers.

Happy Days are here again! (I realize he is a Horn and a great DISD legend, a nice hitting instructor track record, a prostate cancer survivor...but still...)

Hook'em!!!

 

[HornHuskerDad]

I'm not quite sure how to read this just yet. Rudy is universally acknowledged as one of the best hitting instructors by the baseball community. However, Rudy prefers an aggressive hitting mindframe - and that may not be suited to the current team philosophy (pitching, defense, and manufacture a few runs). Manufacturing runs requires a much more disciplined approach than bashing - taking more pitches, taking walks, advancing runners.

It will be very interesting to see where the Rangers go to look for Rudy's replacement.

HHD

 

[Crockett]

I heard Jon Daniels interviewed on the Ticket and he said that this was Rudy's decisiion. The Rangers offered a raise and a one-year contract and were generally in philisophical accord on what should be done next year.

Maybe Rudy is ready to ply his trade elsewhere. There's likely something to be gained by Rangers getting a fresh voice on hitting. I think they do need a more disciplined approach at the plate and a team approach to offense. They don't have to be the Oakland A's but the Rangers need to make opponents throw more pitches.

 

[Horns11]

The Rangers sucked at producing baserunners. You can have 7 guys hit double-digit home runs, but if none of them can pick up more than 40 walks in an ENTIRE SEASON, then you're not going to win more than 80-89 games.

 

[orangecat]

wow! that's good, now we just need to hire someone who can coach line drives and walks. Kinsler doesn't have to have his crazy home run swing anymore.

This could be as big as the pitching coach hiring of last year.

Should add 6-7 wins, if it's someone who can coach walks and line drives.

 

[Dead Horse]

Agreed. If Nolan and Daniels can hire someone in the caliber of Maddux they are going to hit a home run with another hire (pun intended).

I think it was time.

 

[cochamps]

It would help if the Rangers weren't broke.

 

[bullzak]

Rumors abound of Rudy going to the Cubs. They are even less disciplined than the Rangers and full of overpaid veterans. Got two hitting coaches fired this year.

Have at it Rudy. Your first project is Alfonso Soriano. A year of that **** would make you want to put a bullet in your head.

Look at where the Rangers ranked this year in offensive categories. If they did **** they would still be playing. Rangers were 4th in Slugging, 24th in OBP.

When you start going against good pitching, they will shove that up your *** every time. Cant win big with solo homers as your main source of offense.

Contrast with the Yankees. Highest scoring team. Most HR, Most BB. Very few strikeouts. They wear your *** out and then pounce.