Texas Rangers 2016 Thread

Funny thing Viper, I have exact opposite feeling. The Rangers are the better team and they are playing like the better team, they have Hamels and Darvish at full strength, a healthy Beltre and Lucroy, Beltran, Gomez all of whom are hungry for playoff success, not to mention Elvis gets his shot at redemption. For some reason I have good feeling about this series, but dont get me started about Boston, that is team that scares me. I guess we will see.
 
FW I agree the Rangers are the better team. I am just afraid that Toronto has gotten into their heads.
 
Well, game one sucked, nothing more needs to be said, Darvish goes today in all but must win situation.
 
Darvish melting down just like Hamels giving up 4 home runs through 5 innings and Rangers in deep hole 5-1. The starting pitching has let this team down all through September and sadly it looks like nothing has changed into October on that front. Rangers staring an 0-2 hole and two road games squarely in the face.
 
FWHORN said:
Darvish melting down just like Hamels giving up 4 home runs through 5 innings and Rangers in deep hole 5-1. The starting pitching has let this team down all through September and sadly it looks like nothing has changed into October on that front. Rangers staring an 0-2 hole and two road games squarely in the face.
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Yeah; instead of just getting ready for the playoffs, it appears that September turned out to be a harbinger of the future. Unless a miracle occurs there will be a lot of head scratching in Arlington over the winter. Beyond me where they start.
 
They start by buying out the option on Holland. Then they do whatever it takes to sign Lucroy long-term. Follow that with Desmond. Then a bunch more head-scratching on the pitching staff. They need to find another starter, whether from the minors, a trade, or a free agent - someone at the back of the rotation who can eat a bunch of innings.

As for this year, it's not over yet - backs against the wall, no doubt, but they might be able to find a way to win three in a row after losing the first two at home (after all, Toronto did that last season). I'm a zealot - I won't wave the white flag until they have officially dropped out of the playoffs.
 
Agree Lucroy and Desmond staying and Holland moving on are must do deals. Young SP who can grow into a 1 or a 2 is needed if for no other reason to replace Yu when he moves on in 2019. Also an inning eater is needed as a 4 or 5 as much as I like Colby - I am afraid he on the downhill slide.

The head scratcher is what to do to bring some sort of normalcy to the hitting - this all on or all off is getting old. I used to fly with an Indonesian helicopter pilot who either was sitting on the ground or flying full throttle - worked where we were (as long as there was money to fix the only helicopter they would let him fly). Having one less helicopter half of the time just meant more work for everyone. The Ranger batting is the same - when they are not hitting the fielding and pitching have to work harder.

Texas will always have a chance if the bats wake up.
 
Agree, Viper. I really think they need to have one of the minor-league pitchers step up to the majors from within. Trading for pitchers continually will gut the farm system, and buying high-dollar free agents will gut the budget. The position players coming up through the farm have done nicely (Profar, Odor, Mazara, for example) - would help a lot for a pitcher to step up. Perhaps Chi-Chi or Martinez - they have both shown potential; sooner or later they need to translate "potential" into "production."
 
Sucks, but it is what it is. The only good thing to come out of this meltdown is any "false hope/assumptions" on the strengths/weaknesses of both the players and the team have been laid open. Now it is up to JD & Company to clean it up.
 
A bitter ending to a good, fun-filled season. I caught nearly every game on tv all year and saw so many unbelievable comeback wins and plays that I felt the baseball gods had decided it was the Rangers' time. "Wait til....."

Big thanks to FW, Viper, and HHD for their insightful and enjoyable posts throughout this season.

:texasflag:
 
I forgot to add that another good thing to come out of this abortion is that it will not be the Rangers who again deny the Cubs a World Series win. Whoever that is will immediately be labeled as criminals. ;)
 
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ViperHorn said:
The only good thing to come out of this meltdown is any "false hope/assumptions" on the strengths/weaknesses of both the players and the team have been laid open. Now it is up to JD & Company to clean it up.
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Excellent post, Viper - agree totally. Here's my take on that:
  • Holland is gone. Buy him out and let him go - unless JD can pull off a magic trade for something of value (which I doubt).
  • Long-term signing - (1) Lucroy - top priority, (2) Desmond - if not too expensive; if he is, I suppose Gomez can move to CF, but I'd really like to keep Ian.
  • Rotation needs at least one more reliable innings-eating starter for the back end. Darvish, Hamels, and Perez are set. Can Colby come back and give them one more year? Is there a Free Agent who won't break the bank? Can one of the minor-leaguers step up (I'm thinking Martinez or Gonzales off the top of my head)?
  • Mitch Moreland has had his run at 1B and as a FA, he would be too expensive for a streaky hitter. I suppose you could platoon Rua and Gallo at 1B, and both of them are inexpensive.
  • Bullpen seems pretty decent. I'm not sure I see much to change there. And I think Bush is the closer of the future - he has terrific stuff and pounds the strike zone.

Thoughts?
 
Viper, you were right about your bad feeling, but as bad as the starting pitching was I don't think the Rangers beat any of playoff teams this year, whoever they played. Desmond is definitely top priority this offseason followed by some package to get Sale from White Sox. Lewis and Holland have or at least should have pitched their last games for Rangers. Next year should see Beltre get to 3000 hits and a full season of Darvish and Hamels should have Rangers and Astros fighting all year long for AL West crown. I have trip to Arizona already planned for March to go to spring training so just four plus months until we start the 2017 Rangers thread.:texasflag:
 
HHD
  • Holland is gone. Buy him out and let him go - unless JD can pull off a magic trade for something of value (which I doubt). Agree
  • Long-term signing - (1) Lucroy - top priority, (2) Desmond - if not too expensive; if he is, I suppose Gomez can move to CF, but I'd really like to keep Ian. Agree
  • Rotation needs at least one more reliable innings-eating starter for the back end. Agree Darvish, Hamels, and Perez are set. Can Colby come back and give them one more year? Is there a Free Agent who won't break the bank? Can one of the minor-leaguers step up (I'm thinking Martinez or Gonzales off the top of my head)? If Texas' farm system is as good as they want you to believe they should be able to find someone.
  • Mitch Moreland has had his run at 1B and as a FA, he would be too expensive for a streaky hitter. I suppose you could platoon Rua and Gallo at 1B, and both of them are inexpensive. I agree on Moreland. He is a good "team" guy and has had some very important hits, but you cannot count on him.
  • Bullpen seems pretty decent. I'm not sure I see much to change there. And I think Bush is the closer of the future - he has terrific stuff and pounds the strike zone. I believe Bush's future is as the closer. Maybe a rearrangement of assignments in the bullpen, but Tolleson should be gone which will open up a spot for a 7th or 8th inning guy.
FW

I believe Texas would have handled Baltimore, but yes not Boston or Cleveland. Everything just went south at the wrong time. Texas should be the class of the AL West again next season with Seattle and Houston again scrapping out 2 and 3. However at some point LAA is going to spend enough money to produce something better than last place.

Unfortunately Texas cannot count on Darvish and Lewis (if he is still around) not to miss major time on the DL so additional pitching help is needed (see my note to HHD). Everyone enjoy Beltre as one of these seasons his play will start deteriorating and his replacement will need to be brought forward.
 
Just for the record, I went to the Rangers website and looked at the 40-man roster and the minor-league prospects, specifically for starting pitchers. Pitchers on the 40-man, but not currently on the 25-man active, and could project as starters:

  • Chi-Chi Gonzales (RH, 24 years old)
  • Nick Martinez (RH, 26)
  • Yohander Mendez (LH, 21)
  • Connor Sadzeck RH, 25)

Minor-leaguers not currently on the 40-man roster, project as starters (but probably more than one year away):

  • Cole Ragans (LH, 18)
  • Ariel Jurado (RH, 20)
  • Brett Martin (LH, 21)
  • Alex Speas (RH, 18)
  • Michael Matuella (RH, 22)
  • Pedro Payano (RH, 22)
  • Jonathan Hernandez (RH, 20)
  • Tyler Phillips (RH, 18)
  • Joe Palumbo (LH, 21)
Lots of names we haven't heard yet - Rangers website projects all of them 2018 or later, so not a lot of chance one of them will emerge next year. For next year, looks like Gonzales, Martinez, or Mendez will have the best chance to grab some attention during Spring training.

Also keep in mind that Yu will be in his last contract year next season, and I've got to believe the Dodgers (or someone like that with very deep pockets) will throw a lot of money at him.

As for the Angels, they are likely more than a year or two away - they are burdened with bad contracts (but will get rid of C.J. next season, but stuck with five more years of DH Pujols at $24/year) and their farm system is a disaster. They might be well-advised to trade Trout - they could certainly get three or four instant MLB prospects for him, and they won't be solid contenders before he gets to free agency, anyway.
 
HornHuskerDad said:
Also keep in mind that Yu will be in his last contract year next season, and I've got to believe the Dodgers (or someone like that with very deep pockets) will throw a lot of money at him.
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Is it next year or the next for Yu? The MLB website I looked at said he would be a FA in 2019. The difference could be Restricted FA in 2018 and Unrestricted FA in 2019. Anyway I would say there is a better than 50% chance he goes to the Astros because of Nolan (the same reason he came to Texas).

Looks like SP help isn't going to come from the farm for 2017. None of those on the 40 man do anything for me.
 
Viper, as far as I could determine, he is on contract through 2017 and becomes a Free Agent after the season. Do you have a link that shows something else?

At any rate, whenever he becomes a FA, I think he will command more than the Rangers will want to pay. The Rangers have got to develop some pitchers from within!
 
Hi, Viper, thanks for the follow-up on Yu. I would be very surprised if the Rangers can work an extension with him - his agent will certainly want him to test the FA market to see how high the numbers will go.

Let us know what the Dallas Morning News site had to say. I was a long-time subscriber, but I cancelled my subscription when they backed Hillary - and the website won't let me in.
 
News reports are saying that Thad Levine will become the new GM of the Twins. Good to see him get his chance to run a show, but JD and the Rangers will miss him.
 
ViperHorn said:
Tolleson off the 40 man roster.
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Not a surprise. Next question - will he become a FA or accept an assignment to Round Rock? Don't think he would be a hot commodity as a FA - it may be that his best shot to make a roster is to go to Round Rock, work on his craft, and hope the Rangers call him back up at some point.
 
Rangers are in five day window to talk to their free agents and apparently have extended 17 million dollar qualifying offer to Desmond. Interesting to see what they do with Gomez, Beltran and Moreland. I suspect that Gomez is back up plan for Desmond, and Beltran and Moreland are gone.

Holland is gone either by trade or just released and Lewis looks like he is gone absent a very team friendly one year deal for next year. Rangers are looking to add a couple of starters so expect some interesting moves as hot stove league gets going.
 
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