Texas Rangers

OK Zealots game 4: Holland vs. R A Dickey, 3:07 FS 1

Beltre is supposed to be back in the lineup. Dickey throws a ton of knuckleballs. Josh Hamilton owns Dickey so let's hope he can get some wood on his pitches and produce some runs today.

I do not want to lose today, series tied 2-2 and back to Toronto to win Game 5!
 
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OMG - Holland stakes 'em to a 4-0 lead. Colby in now and it's 6-0..........damn this thing is getting ugly fast and it's only the 3rd inning.
 
There was a reason Bannister held back Holland and Lewis. Yo for 5 innings probably would have been a better gamble, but hey, like i said before the Series, the Rangers are playing with house money!
 
I wrote before last Sunday's game against the Angels to clinch the AL West and it bears repeating here, what looks like a sure game five, unless the Rangers pull off some miracle comeback, will have Cole Hamels going on the mound for the Rangers and that is why the Rangers brought him in, to pitch big games like that.

Coming into this series we all would have taken game five and Cole Hamels going on four days normal rest in a heartbeat if we were offered that before game one started and that is what we have. Cole has been the losing streak stopper all September long and now its needed one more time. This series reminds me so much of 2010 against Tampa where the Rangers came home up 2-0 and dropped both home games then went back to Tampa and Cliff Lee pitched a gem. Time for Hamels to write another chapter in his growing Ranger bio.
 
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Rangers lose 8-4 and it is back to Toronto for game 5 Wednesday. Rematch of game two pitchers, Hamels versus Stroman. Ranger bats came alive a little more in game four than we saw in game three but they will need to show up big time as will Cole if Rangers hope to extend their run. Magic number is still just 1 to get to ALCS.
 
Holland is nothing more than a good mid-rotation pitcher. With Hamels coming back and some of the young arms getting a year (with a playoff run) under their belts, Texas will have a very nice rotation for next year if Darvish can get back and return to form and Texas can add another solid arm to become the No. 3 starter. For the time being though, it's Hamels and "just a bunch of guys".
 
Agree with Dano that starting pitching is 1A objective for the off season (1AA is two right hand power bats).

Until Darvish can show that he has the mental toughness to be a Major League starter and prove he can absorb 200+ innings, he should never be considered a 2 or 3 pitcher. If you go back and review Darvish's starts you wil see that he is fine until either a bad play or bad call at the plate. That eats on him to the point that his mental capacity is shot. Time with a shrink would be money well spent. Also note that recovering Tommy John pitchers really do not bounce back until the second season back.
 
I am uncomfortable the series is going back to Toronto for Game 5.

However, Hamels is pitching and we get their #2 pitcher we beat last week. Hoping the big bats fully break out of the slump - especially Josh and Moreland. Beltre is back with a bad back and bad finger and he has what 2 or 3 hits yesterday... the guy is just a freakin' baseball warrior.

Need to take this series and move on. Go Rangers!!!
 
Hi, fellow zealots - just got back from taking Mrs. HHD to Florida to visit her mom and sister, and it appears that my long-distance cheering was insufficient. Would really liked to have seen the series end in Arlington, but it was not to be - so we need Hamels to be Hamels tomorrow. Everybody cheer harder!
 
Well, in the long history of some just gut wrenching Ranger innings that seventh might well be the worst. Leading 3-2 and you roll out three straight errors on basic plays and then a failure to turn a double play and then a knuckler that just gets over Odors head followed by the Bautista moon shot. Hamels did absolutely everything that was asked of him and his defense let him down in the worst kind of way. Rangers trail 6-3 going to 8th and little evidence they have 3 more runs in them.:brickwall::brickwall::brickwall::brickwall::brickwall::brickwall::brickwall::brickwall::brickwall::brickwall::brickwall:
 
Rangers lose 6-3 and lose series 3 games to 2.

Gonna take a while to process this one. The Ranger defense flat out gave the game away in the seventh and a season that was so magical comes to a very disappointing end. Taking the long view this team way overachieved but its hard to see that right now in the disappointment of such a choke job. Game five or perhaps just "the seventh inning" joins the infamous "Game Six" as Ranger memories that will torture us for as long as it takes for this team to win a world series. Next year is very bright with Hamels and Darvish and Perez as your first three in the rotation. A lot of offseason changes likely in bullpen and in field so the hot stove will be active. Oh well see you in the spring.:texasflag:
 
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Disappointing but all of the Rangers' warts raised their ugly heads.

After the WS is over we can start an offseason thread.
 
Just for fun I Googled Texas Rangers Opening Day Roster 2015. Jon Daniels had some work to do:
TEXAS RANGERS OPENING DAY ROSTER

PITCHERS (12): Anthony Bass, Ross Detwiler, Neftali Feliz, Yovani Gallardo, Derek Holland, Keone Kela, Phil Klein, Colby Lewis, Nick Martinez, Roman Mendez, Shawn Tolleson, Logan Verrett.

CATCHERS (2): Robinson Chirinos, Carlos Corporan.

INFIELDERS (6): Elvis Andrus, Adrian Beltre, Prince Fielder, Mitch Moreland, Rougned Odor, Adam Rosales.

OUTFIELDERS (5): Shin-Soo Choo, Delino DeShields, Leonys Martin, Ryan Rua, Jake Smolinski.

15-DAY DL (4): RHP Lisalverto Bonilla, RHP Kyuji Fujikawa, LHP Matt Harrison, RHP Tanner Scheppers.

60-DAY DL (4): RHP Yu Darvish, LHP Martin Perez, INF Jurickson Profar, OF Antoan Richardson.
 
Rangers lose 6-3 and lose series 3 game to 2.

Gonna take a while to process this one. The Ranger defense flat out gave the game away in the seventh and a season that was so magical comes to a very disappointing end. Taking the long view this team way overachieved but its hard to see that right now in the disappointment of such a choke job. Game five or perhaps just "the seventh inning" joins the infamous "Game Six" as Ranger memories that will torture us for as long as it takes for this team to win a world series. Next year is very bright with Hamels and Darvish and Perez as your first three in the rotation. A lot of offseason changes likely in bullpen and in field so the hot stove will be active. Oh well see you in the spring.:texasflag:
FW, thanks for all your posts and updates this season. Much appreciated.
Maybe next year.....
 
It will indeed take a while to get over the disappointment of gift-wrapping Game 5 and handing it to the Jays. That was a very winnable game and the Rangers definitely snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Nonetheless, It was a terrific season for a team for whom little was expected. Winning the AL West was quite a feat. I like the prospects for next year, assuming Yu comes back healthy and effective. It would be nice to add a solid RH starter to the #3 slot. And the Rangers are too left-handed at the plate - a RH power bat is a must. If that means trading Choo or Fielder for the right player, so be it. I think Josh has a couple of decent seasons left in him - especially at the bargain price the Rangers are paying him (along with the payments from Anaheim). Remembering, of course, that "decent" is a relative term - he will never again be the Josh Hamilton of old. Diekman, Dyson, and Tolleson form a good starting point for the bullpen, and I'm sure JD will come up with others to fit the niches there. IMO, Giminez is a keeper to go along with Chirinos behind the plate. I do wonder what the answer is in CF - DeShields is a great leadoff hitter, but needs to improve his defense, and I'm left wondering about Leonis Martin. Odor, Andrus, and Beltre are solid in the infield, along with Moreland, and Alberto is a good spare IF player.

Only 123 days until pitchers and catchers report to spring training!
 
^Good question. Can the budget stand it? Zach will demand (and get) very big bucks. IMO, it's more likely that the Rangers go after a solid #3 that fits within the budget. They still need to get a bit more right-handed at the plate - do they (a) sign Napoli to a new contract and/or (b) trade Mitch for a solid power RH bat?
 
I think right now the big question is Gallardo or Lewis, Greinke is going to be highly sought after by Yankees who will out bid Texas so if it is about money the Rangers wont get him. Price will also be on market and if Yankees overpay for Greinke, Price might be an option too.
 
^FWHORN, I think you've nailed this one. Colby will likely want a two-year contract and can be bought for a pretty reasonable price - and it seems unlikely that he would generate a lot of interest from other clubs. And he can be effective as a #4, facing the #4 of the opponent. He will eat a lot of innings. Not as sure about Gallardo - he is young enough that he might generate interest from other teams. Not sure if he would give the Rangers a hometown discount. As for David Price - IMO, the Rangers are already left-handed enough with Hamels, Holland, and Perez, and could use another right-hander in the rotation.

Thoughts?
 
HHD cant argue with anything you just said, I lean toward Gallardo over Lewis because of the injury issues and because of age but I cant say that one over the other is a clear choice because Gallardo is about a 90 pitch a game pitcher and uses up bullpens every start. I agree that Price is a reach since you already have 3 lefties but I wouldnt turn down chance to add him to rotation especially as mentally unstable and unreliable as Holland is. In reality, I dont think the rangers are even thinking of getting into the Price sweepstakes and if the Dodgers overpay to keep Greinke, the Yankees will overpay to get Price so it may not be a real question though it is fun to think about. Imagine going with Hamels, Darvish and Price on back to back nights.
 
Gallardo, at minimum, will be given a free agent offer of $15.8 million so the Rangers will be compensated with a first round choice if he bolts to another team. They would probably have to pay a little premium to that to sign for 2-3 years. Lewis, I think, would be a lot better bargain given his age. If he can be had for $4-5 million for a couple of years, I'd think it money well spent, though if the youngsters come through, Lewis would probably be 5-6th starter or long relief guy by the end of the contract.
 
if the youngsters come through, Lewis would probably be 5-6th starter or long relief guy by the end of the contract.
Good point, Crockett. And having Colby as a spot starter and/or long man wouldn't be a horrible thing - especially at the reasonable price he is likely to be given.

I still want to see what JD will do to sign a RH power bat. Mitch Moreland may have some trade value - if JD thinks Napoli can be the everyday 1B. The Rangers are definitely too left-handed at the plate and need some RH power to balance things out.
 
Yo is as good as gone, but I would string it out with a minimum bid to get the draft choice. Holland will get until Yu comes back as long as he shows so improvement over serving up the gopher balls. I agree Colby should be brought back as a 4 assuming he agrees to 4 pay.

The unspoken issue is what to do at 3rd. AB's injuries are becoming closer together and are more serious. Texas needs to lighten his load and identify the replacement. Gallo was supposed to have been the answer, but he has yet to show he can cut down on the K's.

They have got to find 2 RH power bats, but if JD does an thing to mess with the BP, his career with the Rangers should come to an end.
 
Here is the Rangers 40 Man Roster that we can refer to over the offseason:

# Pitchers B/T
63 Anthony Bass R-R
59 Lisalverto Bonilla
icon_dl.gif
60-day DL ** S-R
58 Alex Claudio
icon_dl.gif
60-day DL ** L-L
11 Yu Darvish
icon_dl.gif
60-day DL ** R-R
41 Jake Diekman L-L
47 Sam Dyson R-R
56 Andrew Faulkner R-L
71 Sam Freeman R-L
49 Yovani Gallardo R-R
21 Chi Chi Gonzalez R-R
35 Cole Hamels L-L
45 Derek Holland S-L
53 Luke Jackson R-R
50 Keone Kela R-R
43 Phil Klein R-R
48 Colby Lewis R-R
22 Nick Martinez L-R
51 Ross Ohlendorf R-R
44 Spencer Patton R-R
33 Martin Perez L-L
46 Anthony Ranaudo R-R
52 Tanner Scheppers R-R
23 Nick Tepesch
icon_dl.gif
60-day DL ** R-R
37 Shawn Tolleson R-R



#
Catchers B/T
61 Robinson Chirinos R-R
3 Carlos Corporan S-R
38 Chris Gimenez R-R
8 Bobby Wilson R-R



#
Infielders B/T
68 Hanser Alberto R-R
1 Elvis Andrus R-R
29 Adrian Beltre R-R
88 Kyle Blanks
icon_dl.gif
60-day DL ** R-R
84 Prince Fielder L-R
13 Joey Gallo L-R
18 Mitch Moreland L-L
25 Mike Napoli R-R
12 Rougned Odor L-R
Jurickson Profar
icon_dl.gif
60-day DL ** S-R



#
Outfielders B/T
17 Shin-Soo Choo L-L
7 Delino DeShields R-R
32 Josh Hamilton L-L
2 Leonys Martin L-R
64 Antoan Richardson
icon_dl.gif
60-day DL ** S-R
16 Ryan Rua R-R
20 Ryan Strausborger R-R
15 Drew Stubbs R-R
30 Will Venable L-L
 
Is it wrong that I took intense pleasure at today's 14-2 beat down of Toronto? I really wanted somebody to flip their bat just to punctuate it.
 
can I be ok with the beat down and still want Gordon to fail?:smile1: He is having his best playoffs of his career, I believe.
 

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