Texas Rangers 2017 Thread

^^^
This; and JD cannot get it wrong. If Gallo is competent at 3B (he has shown he is) leave him there. Most big guys can be taught 1st.
 
I'm losing hope quickly for this season. If they don't turn it around soon (and the upcoming schedule isn't favorable), the only remaining highlights will be the retirement of Pudge's number and Adrian's 3,000th hit.

And JD has a big decision ahead - what to do as the trade deadline approaches. Maybe it's time to admit that the window for the current roster is closing and trade some of the veterans for some interesting prospects. I don't foresee another Texeira-type blockbuster available, but there have got to be some teams out there that will trade a good prospect or two for a key piece to help them in the run for the pennant. And what does JD do with Lucroy? He came here with the thought that the Rangers would sign him to a long-term contract to be the starting catcher for the future. Is that still justified? Add to that the issue of Yu - and that issue would require several armored trucks loaded with money. Yu would probably bring a nice haul of prospects in a trade.

JD will have a busy June and July.
 
Lucroy has been a bit of a disappointment this year (both in the WBC and with the Rangers). I am bracing now for the "the budget has to be cut due to lower attendance" excuse.
 
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Napoli is on DL so for now Gallo at first and Adrian at third seems to be plan. Beltre has come back with an immediate 8 game hitting streak but he tweaked his ankle last night so lets see if he has to go back to DL for short stint.
 
Rangers complete a sweep in DC and have won 4 of last 5 as they head to Houston just two games under .500 though still 13 back in the standings. 62 games down 100 to go.

Beltre was back in lineup and today was first day since he came back that he didnt get a hit. Austin Bibens-Dirkx threw 7 outstanding innings today to get his second win and you cant help but root for this 32 year old rookie. I keep getting sucked in to the Rangers with these little win streaks but it beats the alternative.:texasflag:
 
I will take a win any day, but I hope these winning streaks do not divert JD from the decisions he will have to make over the next 30 or so days. Even with everyone back the team is to old and needs to find 3 starting pitchers who will be around for several years, and 2 longer term bats.
 
Because he just likes to toy with us and show us what he is capable of, Darvish rolls out seven innings of one hit ball against Houston and the Rangers win their fourth in a row on this road trip as they take opener from the Astros. Beltre with two more hits is just 45 from 3000 now and that should come some time in mid to late July. Texas sits one game below .500 and 12 back in the standings.
 
FWHORN said:
Because he just likes to toy with us and show us what he is capable of, Darvish rolls out seven innings of one hit ball against Houston and the Rangers win their fourth in a row on this road trip as they take opener from the Astros. Beltre with two more hits is just 45 from 3000 now and that should come some time in mid to late July. Texas sits one game below .500 and 12 back in the standings.
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And only 1.5 games out of the second wild card spot.
 
Rangers win their fifth straight as they take game two in Houston and claw their way back to .500. Odor with two home runs on the night. Chance today for a sweep not just of Houston but to close out an unbeaten road trip to the two best teams in MLB this year thus far.:texasflag:
 
5-1 for a road trip against the two top teams in their respective leagues - I'll take it. Now the Rangers need to keep it rolling. Not sure there is a real chance to overtake Houston for the West, but there is a real chance to become a Wild Card.
 
Gomez and Napoli came off DL last night, Tyson Ross got his first start and pitched into the sixth inning as Rangers won 10-4 at home against Seattle and got back to .500. Just as importantly, Hamels pitched three scoreless innings in a rehab start in Frisco. All in all a very good Friday night for the Rangers.:texasflag:
 
Excellent job by Ross last night. Was it my aging eyes and/or TV, but does Ross' delivery seem odd? Somehow he is vertical on his plant leg and seemingly pivots around on that leg.
 
^Viper, I'll have to watch next time Ross is on the hill. If there was anything quirky, I didn't notice it. I was impressed with his mound presence - he kept his focus and tossed a very nice game.

Yu is on the mound for the game this afternoon, so there should be a decent chance to complete the sweep of Seattle. Toronto comes to Arlington next - need to continue winning every series in order to (a) keep Houston in sight, just in case the Astros back up a bit, and (b) move into a slot for a Wild Card in case the Astros continue winning.
 
HornHuskerDad said:
Yu is on the mound for the game this afternoon, so there should be a decent chance to complete the sweep of Seattle.
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You would have thought, but Darvish gonna Darvish and expecting two good starts in a row from him is pushing it. Rangers do take the series and sit at .500 with the hated Bluejays and hairclub for men endorser Bautista coming to town.
 
Yu has not proven to be a consistent top tier pitcher, but someone will give him a boat load of money. JD just needs to get rid of him before the trading deadline.

Of more concern now is the third Ranger pitcher going down with an oblique issue. One going down in a season is just the odds of the game; two is a coincidence; but three points to an issue with the organization - trainers; pitching coach; or something else.
 
ViperHorn said:
Of more concern now is the third Ranger pitcher going down with an oblique issue. One going down in a season is just the odds of the game; two is a coincidence; but three points to an issue with the organization - trainers; pitching coach; or something else.
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Viper, excellent observation. Maybe it's time to make massive changes at the Big League level and in the Rangers' minor league teams - new pitching coaches and a new approach. What they're doing now doesn't appear to be working very well.
 
Well, apparently, the .500 line is a bit too hard to cross. This team needs to find another winning streak if they're going to contend for a WC slot.
 
Rangers win today 11-4 and 72 games into season they sit at 36-36. With 90 games left you have to think that it will take 88 wins to be second wild card and that means going 52-38 over these last 90. That is a pace of just under 5 games over .500 for each of the months of July, August and September. With Hamels and Cashner back next week the Rangers will actually have their starting rotation once again complete.

Here is the stat though that will make you puke, the Rangers have 13 blown saves so far this year, THIRTEEN! If they win just six of those games they would sitting pretty right now safely in the first wild card position with a shot at running down Astros with just a few breaks. Instead they are two games back of second wild card in battle with five other teams. If Texas is going to make a run at the WC its not the starters or the hitting its the back end of the freaking bullpen that has to pull its weight for rest of season.
 
Bibens-Dirkx continues his dream rookie year with a 7 inning gem as Rangers win 8-1 on Saturday in Yankee stadium. Have to think he sticks on roster even with Hamels and Cashner back this week and he may even become the regular fifth starter with Griffin moving to the long relief/spot starter role. Hard to believe he was playing Independent ball just a year ago.

Meanwhile Perez goes to DL (should be quick trip for precautionary reasons as result of breaking tip of thumb) meaning every regular starter but Yu will now have spent some time on the DL this year. The biggest issue facing club now is at closer. Bush hasnt been Dyson bad but he has certainly not stepped up and taken the role by the throat either. Jeffress just isnt an option and that maybe leaves Kela.

8 games left on this 10 game road trip with finale in NY then 4 in Cleveland and 3 with White Sox.
 
Rangers build a big lead, then hold off the Yankee comeback for a 7-6 win. Encouraging note - Matt Bush got the save, bearing down in the bottom on the ninth; hope this is a good confidence booster for him.
 
FWHORN said:
Hard to believe he was playing Independent ball just a year ago.
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Most of the independent leagues are at the A of AA level. For players in those leagues, making the majors the next season is unusual.

Not so in the Atlantic League. The level of play is much higher, generally regarded as being at or near AAA. The League has a standing agreement to assign players' contracts to MLB franchises. The players control the process, so they see it as an extended tryout for all 30 MLB franchises while maintaining free-agent-ish status.

Austin had been stuck in the minors for over a decade, most of it at the AAA level -- exactly the type of player the Atlantic League is looking for. It is not at all surprising that he played half a year at Lancaster, got picked up by the Rangers at the AAA level mid-season, and made it to the majors this year.
 
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