Texas Rangers 2018 Thread

HornHuskerDad said:
It would help attendance if the owners would field a team that can compete.
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It's remarkable to me how some owners think the fans should show up before they invest in the team. Back in the '90s, I remember Tom Hicks saying in an interview that he might increase the payroll if attendance picked up. My dad turned to me and said, "that's interesting. It's the reverse of the Field of Dreams mentality. 'If they come, I might build it.'. How inspiring."
 
Rangers win first series of year getting two in Houston both in extra innings and both wins for Keone Kela. Bartolo Colon continues to defy Father Time going 7 and 2/3 tonight and Joey Gallo makes every at bat exciting but Rangers are on pace to lose 100 and Colon and Gallo are about it for things to talk about.
 
Yes I know saying Colon went 7 and 2/3 kind of buries the lead, but I still am not quite accepting that Colon took a perfect game into the 8th, until I restudy the actual film to make sure that it actually happened and we werent all collectively hallucinating last night.
 
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FWHORN said:
Yes I know saying Colon went 7 and 2/3 kind of buries the lead, but I still am not quite accepting that Colon took a perfect game into the 8th, until I restudy the actual film to make sure that it actually happened and we werent all collectively hallucinating last night.
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Yeah, same here. I didn't get to see the game, because I'm 7 hours ahead, so I really only get to watch day games. However, I watched some of the video. It reminded me of that country song. "I ain't as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I ever was."

His two-seamer was one of the nastiest I've seen in 35 years of watching baseball. I was also surprised at his velocity. He was reaching 93 with his fastball. I didn't expect that. There's clearly still some gas in that tank. He can't do it consistently. (If he could, he'd be a Cy Young award competitor again.) But if he can do it from time to time, it would be a big help to our shabby rotation.

I'd take him over Martin Perez. I'm so sick of that guy. I've never seen someone get less from their stuff than he does.
 
I don't regret not pursuing either one. With how much is going wrong with this team, I don't think either would be able to put us into contention. I used to be very high on Yu, but in recent years, I've wondered if he might a "good pitcher from the neck down." He has never been very good at working his way out of jams, especially in big games. I also question whether or not he has truly regained confidence in his elbow after Tommy John surgery. It seems like he challenges hitters less and tries to get cute more than he used to. I know his velocity is still solid, but does it really feel the same? I honestly don't know the answer to that.

Arrieta is off to a great start, and he has been pretty good in big games. Furthermore, he's a bit of a bad-*** - the type I'd want in my rotation. However, we're a good 2 - 3 years away from contention, and I think he has an opt-out after 2019. Not much reason to sign him now. If we're on the cusp of contention for 2020 and he opts out, might it make sense to go after him if he's still putting up good numbers? Absolutely.
 
Made it out to Globe Life today for my first home game of year really because I wanted to see two future Hall of Famers in Ichiro and Beltre on the field at the same time. Both had two hits and Gallo hit a bomb so all in all a good day of baseball. To top it off, the Rangers actually got a win though not for lack of giving Seattle tons of opportunities that the Mariners squandered. Nothing I saw today gave any indication this team is capable of more than about 70 wins and that may be a stretch.
 
Beltre almost made it a month before the expected leg injury. He would be missed both on the field and in the clubhouse, but it is time for him to hang them up. Rangers are in the toilet for at least this season and next so why chance permanent injury (see Earl Campbell).
 
I make myself feel better by remembering, at least we aren’t White Sox fans, that is what true dumpster fire looks like.
 
I wonder how many times Matt Moore has to get bombed before they pull him from the rotation. I think he has had one decent outing this year.
 
Texas allows 4 unearned runs with two outs in the bottom of the 8th because the pitcher could not throw the ball to the first baseman. Lose 4-2. This is getting uglier by the game.
 
ViperHorn said:
Beltre almost made it a month before the expected leg injury. He would be missed both on the field and in the clubhouse, but it is time for him to hang them up.
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Viper, it's a sad thing, but I have to agree. His body simply can't take the everyday routine any more. I sincerely hope he retires and waits for the call from Cooperstown. I still have the memory of Willie Mays hanging on too long - his sad performance at the end of his career took a bit of shine off his stellar career, and I don't want to see Beltre go down the same path.
 
Rangers have been peetering along winning a few series but mostly just losing more than they win which means the draft is really only news to follow on this team until we get closer to trade deadline.

Rangers take two HS pitchers with their first two picks.

https://www.lonestarball.com/2018/6...as-rangers-first-round-pick-cole-winn-pitcher

https://www.lonestarball.com/2018/6...ft-texas-rangers-second-round-pick-owen-white

Update to add full Rangers draftees

https://www.lonestarball.com/2018/6/6/17435840/texas-rangers-2018-mlb-draft-results-owen-sharts
 
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June
ViperHorn said:
Opening Day 32 teams full of hope. Let's get this out of the way - over/under Ranger losses. Bar set at 100. I say over at this point. You can change before first pitch of the Rangers game against LAA on 01 June.
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I was buried under on 01 June, so let's move this to before the first pitch on 01 July. A lot of bad teams out there, but we haven't reached the dog days yet. I will stick on the over, but probably under the 110 I set in my mind.
 
Rangers have a nice little six game winning streak going after losing seven straight. Cole Hamels is showing quality that may make him more sellable as we approach trade deadline, not sure rangers have much else that they can look to sell that anyone will want/need.
 
FWHORN said:
Rangers have a nice little six game winning streak going after losing seven straight. Cole Hamels is showing quality that may make him more sellable as we approach trade deadline, not sure rangers have much else that they can look to sell that anyone will want/need.
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Agree. If Choo had a decent contract he would be in strong demand.
 
Rangers win again today to run win streak to seven. Choo would be great trade bait but that contract really is a trade killler unless Rangers are willing to eat a big part of it.
 
^The Rangers will most likely have to eat a significant portion of Choo's contract in order to move him. As for Beltre, if he waives the no-trade provision to go to a contender, it would probably be as a DH. The guys that should draw a lot of interest are Diekman and Kela - every contender could use a bit more help in the bullpen. Diekman can declare for free agency, so he would be viewed as a summer rental. Kela, OTOH, is under club control for a while, so he should command a couple of decent prospects. As for Hamels, who knows - he is definitely over the hump toward the end of his career, but he could be plugged into a contender's rotation for this season, and I'm not sure waht the market would pay for that. Guess we'll see toward the end of July.
 
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Kela now has 20 saves in 20 opportunities and along with Hamels is great trade bait as we head into July.
 
FWHORN said:
Kela now has 20 saves in 20 opportunities and along with Hamels is great trade bait as we head into July.
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Agree. While an SP usually will provide a greater return; Kela might actually bring in better prospects.

Beltre and Choo are playing well enough to bring in a net better prospect, but Beltre's age and Choo's contract are obstacles.
 
Colon gets career win 245 last night to tie Dennis Martinez for most wins ever by Latin American pitcher. Big Sexy is by far best story of this season for Rangers.
 
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