Two two-out 9th inning walks?

[Texanne]

Unfuckingbelievable. Thanks, Nathan.

 

[Hook 'Em Danno]

I guess many managers do it, but I've never really understood why you bring your closer into a tie game in the ninth, especially when your offense has been so anemic. Red Sox take a 2-1 lead on a single following the two 2-out walks. The way this team has been hitting, that's probably the ballgame.

^^Yep. A Napoli walk in the ninth is surrounded by three single-pitch at bats by Cruz, Murphy, and Gentry. Dang. Except for last night, this offense is really in the ditch.

With the loss of Colby, this team is in deep doo-doo if the bats don't come around soon and they don't land a reliable starting pitcher before the trade deadline.

 

[Texanne]

You, sir, are a prophet.

A prophet of doom, to be sure, but a prophet nonetheless.

 

[Hook 'Em Danno]

I would've loved to have been wrong Texanne. I just don't have a good feeling about this team in close ball games and I've never been a big fan of Wash's bullpen moves.

 

[Texanne]

I wonder what the hell Scott Coolbaugh is doing to deserve his paycheck. He sure isn't getting much bang for Nolan's buck.

 

[Horn69]

I wonder the same thing TA.

Hook'em!!!

 

[ViperHorn]

In reply to:

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[majorwhiteapples]

How about hats off to Perez, 6 innings, 1 run, very solid against the MLB team that has scored the second most runs this year, 1 run behind the Rangers!!!!

 

[HornHuskerDad]

^I'll second that. Very nice job by Perez - and the run he gave up was questionable, as Murph should have made the catch to end the inning.

If Perez is being viewed as potential trade bait, he certainly performed well enough to interest some buyers.

HHD

 

[Crockett]

HHD -- you remember when Nolan and Daniels were putting this together the Rangers were always sellers this time of year, dumping old players with expensive contracts and getting youngsters with potential. For the last three years the process is reversed. I don't think it's sustainable long term. We need to keep guys like Perez, Olt, Ross and Profar. The Rangers haven't skimped on signing prospects since the new owners came to town, but a good team will have a nucleus of inexpensive, home-grown talent and just supplement it to create a potent major league team. A stockman who sells all his best females for show heifers is eventually going to weaken his herd. You can't keep dumping all your best prospects for one or two year rentals.

 

[HornHuskerDad]

Very good points, Crockett. I wouldn't be opposed to trading prospects for top-notch players who (a) are under contract for a while and (b) are entering their prime years. Cliff Lee would be a good trade, IMO. Cole Hamels (if he were still available) would not - going to be a free agent or sign with the Phillies.

But your points are well-taken. Harken back to the Atlanta Braves of the late 80s. They were the laughingstock of MLB. So they traded every veteran who had trade value and got prospects in return. They told the fan base that they would be learning on the job and not very good for 2-3 years while they concentrated on (a) the draft and (b) developing the prospects they acquired in trade. Once they got pretty decent, they had the farm system that (a) would restock the big club on a regular basis and (b) provide the prospects that they could trade when they found the key piece they needed to get over the top. That worked out pretty well for the Braves, and I think the Rangers have done a great job of implementing that philosophy.

We will have many discussions as JD and Nolan make the decisions that lead to trades. But the Rangers have situated themselves very well for the long term. We're getting spoiled with the winning style, but we as Ranger zealots have to realize that they can't go to the World Series every year - there will be years when injuries pile up (like this season) or some other team wins by being equally good and avoiding the injury bug. When that happens (and this season may be it), we've got to shrug it off and continue to focus (as JD and Nolan are) on the long run.

HHD