Texas Rangers 2019 Thread

ViperHorn said:
Not ragging on JD, but what has he done positive player-wise since he forced Nolan out?
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Cole Hamels is the one move that JD has made that really paid off in getting two AL West flags that now fly in Arlington. We forget that the Rangers had the best record in the AL in 2016 and while they collapsed in the playoffs that is on the players not management. Management set them up for a big run that year particularly with the Hamels move the year before. However, other than the Hamels trade and being all in on 2016, I am hard pressed to point to any other move that really stands out player wise.
 
You are right as usual FW. JD should be a case study in sports management circles. He lets people under him improve themselves which is a good thing, and he seems to know what is expected of him. However he doesn't seem to have a feel for player talent levels and player development. To be fair some of this is probably the lack of clear direction from ownership, but 10 year contracts; lack of medical review before signing players to extended contracts; and lack of true MLB level pitching talent are issues that never should have surfaced.
 
ViperHorn said:
this is probably the lack of clear direction from ownership
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i think it's hard to blame the board when a CEO isn't good. if the board is required to be good, the ceo probably isn't good.

JD had a few good moves. i don't think he's good on buy low/sell high.
 
I know we live in a "what have you done for me lately" world, but compared to previous Rangers GMs, JD is wildly successful. He mortgaged the future to extend the Rangers championship window. Since we don't attract top free agent pitchers, Texas was always set up to be boom and bust. Maybe with an air conditioned home park, sustainable success will be possible.
 
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Another 2-4 week for the Rangers. JD has 2 days left to make a trade that will make the Rangers better starting next season (if they are to be believed all of the talent in the minors is a year or two away). Minor, Pence and LeClerc should bring at least one MLB ready youngster.

The only stat that counts - winning. The league standings are starting to show some clarity (teams with .500 records):

AL
East: NYY .638; TB .556; Boston .551
Central: Twins .610; Cleveland .590
West: Astros .636; A's .561; Angels .514; Rangers .500 (Angles making a run)
Division still looks to be shaping up as a NYY-Houston fight. Houston needs to gain the upper hand as I don't see NYY losing if they have home field advantage and Houston only having 3 pitchers that can be counted on.
Wild Card (in order): Clev, A's, TB, Bos, Angels, Rangers

NL
East: Atlanta .585; Wash .533; Phillies .524
Central: Cubs .533;
Cards .533, Bre​
wers .523; (Cards making a move)
West: LAD .645 (and +16.0 games); SF .509; D'Backs .500; (SF continuing on the uptick)
LAD should have the home-field advantage sewn-up. Who they will play is a toss-up.
Wild Card (in order): Wash, St. Louis, Mil, SF, Ari

Rangers host Seattle Tue. and Wed. and Det Fri-Sun. 3-2 should be attainable [especially if Minor stays (schedule to pitch Wed)]
 
FWHORN said:
Trade deadline day should make for a lot of new out of Arlington, in theory.

Starts with Chris Martin to Atlanta for pitching prospect. LSB likes the return on this trade.

Texas Rangers rumors: Chris Martin being moved as MLB trade deadline approaches
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On paper, it looks like Texas got one of the pieces they need - young starting pitcher ready for the big league in 2020.

Also, did you notice the subtle change in Woodward's playing time matrix - giving the younger guys playing time now until the end of the season to gauge where they are in their playing growth.
 
ViperHorn said:
the subtle change in Woodward's playing time matrix - giving the younger guys playing time now until the end of the season to gauge where they are in their playing growth.
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Viper, that's a pretty good move. It's clear that the Rangers cannot get the Wild Card when the rotation consists of Minor, Lynn, and hope to win. Let's find out which of the youngsters can figure into the plans for next season.

Also - watching the news carefully to see what happens this afternoon (trading deadline in less than two hours). I'm really hoping they will hold on to Minor and Lynn - those two give you a decent core of a rotation for next season.
 
Rangers basically held firm after the Martin trade. Hopefully, the $1 million international bonus money will be spent on the right guy. A young SP for Martin earns at least a B for JD.
 
^Nice trade. Rangers get a potential starting pitcher with a lot of years of club control in exchange for a reliever who will become a Free Agent at the end of the season. Braves get much-needed bullpen help.

And if the Rangers want to do so, they could sign Martin as Free Agent after the season.

Good job, JD.
 
Rangers complete a sweep of Detroit. Too little, too late to get into the race for the Wild Card, but nonetheless playing good baseball. Good to see the team bringing up folks from the minors to get a look - see who may have a chance to help next year.
 
Agree with HHD on playing the youngsters. A good rebound from 2-4 the prior week to 5-1 last week.

Winning - the only stat that counts. The league standings are starting to show some clarity (teams with .500 records):

AL
East: NYY .649; TB .575; Boston .518
Central: Twins .622; Cleveland .595
West: Astros .646; A's .571; Rangers .514 (Angles hit a brick wall)
League still looks to be shaping up as a NYY-Houston fight. NYY trying to keep ahead, but injuries are starting to build-up. At the trade deadline, Houston did what championship teams do - hopefully, fixing a hole (pitching). If NYY can get well, the race for the best record is going to come down to the last week of the season. Houston plays intra-division for the last two weeks (which is what the schedule makers would like for all teams). However, as a nod to the closing of Globe Life Park, the schedule makers are bringing in Boston at the first of the week and then NYY for the closing 3 games. So the Rangers could have the biggest say in who gets the home field.
Wild Card (in order): Clev, TB, A's; Bos, Rangers

NL
East: Atlanta .584; Wash .523; Phillies .523
Central: Cubs .541; Cards .527, Brewers .504; (Cubs stablizing)
West: LAD .649 (and +17.0 games); SF .500; D'Backs .500; (Dodgers pick-up another game over second place)
LAD should have the home-field advantage sewn-up. Who they will play is a toss-up.
Wild Card (in order): St. Louis, Wash, Phil; Mil, SF, Ari

Rangers start a tough two-week stretch this week with 3 at Clev followed by 3 at Mil.
 
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Last night's W in Cleveland was my kind of game - a real pitchers' duel with some very good defense. Kudos to Andrus for his hustle on the bases to score the only run of the game. And kudos to Minor for seven shutout innings against a good-hitting club.
 
Rained out tonight in Cleveland. DH tomorrow. First game at 12:10 CDT, second game to follow. A DH sweep would be terrific, but realistically winning one of the two would be a nice start to the road trip.
 
Well, phooey! Swept in the DH - managed to score one run in two games. Wasted a couple of nice starting performances. Hope they can score some runs in Milwaukee this weekend after the off day Thursday.
 
Too bad the Rangers aren't contending this season - if they were, Minor would merit some serious consideration for the AL Cy Young.
 
Another 2-4 week for the Rangers, but this one was different as the pitching effort was good enough to will all 6 games. Recently added Allard looked good until he ran out of gas. As HHD said above, Minor, who won both Texas games, is deserving of postseason individual recognition.

Winning - the only stat that counts. The league standings are starting to show some clarity (teams with .500 records):

AL
East: NYY .653; TB .580; Boston .517
Central: Twins .602; Cleveland .602
West: Astros .653 (and +10 games); A's .568; Rangers .504
NYY-Houston are dead even in their fight for home field.
Wild Card (in order): Clev, TB, A's; Bos, Rangers

NL
East: Atlanta .583; Wash .530; Phillies .508
Central: Cubs .542; Cards .526, Brewers .521
West: LAD .658 (and +19.0 games); D'Backs .500; (Dodgers pick-up another game over second-place; SF hits a wall)
LAD should have the home-field advantage sewn-up. Who they will play is a toss-up.
Wild Card (in order): Wash; St. Louis, Mil; Phil; Mil, Ari

Rangers enter the second week of a tough two-week schedule with 3 at TOR followed by 4 at home against the Twins.
 
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HornHuskerDad said:
Too bad the Rangers aren't contending this season - if they were, Minor would merit some serious consideration for the AL Cy Young.
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The Yankees and a couple of other teams are going to regret they didnt make a run at Minor before the trade deadline. His last two starts have been lights out and It is encouraging to know that the Rangers have their ace for next season along with Lynn and Allard. There is still the back end of the rotation to fill out but the 2020 pitching situation is already looking better and better.
 
Lynn actually pitched well last night. Just those 3 gopher balls and no offense with RSP doomed the Rangers.

Minor, Lynn, Allard should be a good start on a representative pitching staff for 2020.
 
Rangers continue to be just awful on the road. If they could just play all their games in Arlington they would be strongly in contention for a playoff spot. How do we petition for the rest of their games to be played at the Ballpark this year?
 
Another good performance by Allard. Another outing or two like today and I will have to up my JD trade deadline grade.
 
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