November 15, 2008
Saturday Morning Rangers Notes: Back To Reality
● During a Friday team press conference staged at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington with the intent of formally introducing new pitching coach Mike Maddux to the local media, team president Nolan Ryan emphasized that the Rangers would not be expanding their 2009 payroll past the $75 million mark, which would ostensibly all but rule out the possibility of Texas pursuing the likes of Milton Bradley, Casey Blake, Brian Fuentes, Jon Garland, Brad Penny, Ben Sheets, Kerry Wood or any other free agent seeking more than roughly $7-8 million annually over the span of a multi-year contract:
"We're just not going to commit to the high-priced free agent -- starter or closer -- that requires a long-term commitment and large sums of money," Ryan said. "I'm certainly not saying we won't at least look into the free-agent market. We'll look at any opportunity that helps the ballclub, but it has to stay with our overall plan of committing to our young players.On the one hand, I think most of us can openly admit that this is the sort of utterly deflating affirmation of organizational frugality we should have seen coming all along. The rampant speculation from the press in recent weeks that Texas would be looking to sign [insert name of your favorite high-priced free agent] always was a bit sensational, and in some cases more or less completely implausible (at least SI.com's Jon Heyman rescinded his prediction that the Rangers would ink Francisco Rodriguez, because that was perhaps the silliest thing I'd read from a mainstream columnist this off-season), but it was fun to read, and in certain cases there appeared to be a confluence of variables working in favor of Texas making a big free-agent splash.
"Do I think we'll deviate from that? I don't think so."
This sort of emphatic statement on the part of Ryan leaves me feeling a bit like a kid in a candy shop stocked with every imaginable chocolate treat, but only having enough money to afford a single stick of stale bubble gum haphazardly tossed in the bargain bin near the register. And while it's certainly a great and wonderful thing that the Rangers are committing so eagerly to their young players (though perhaps in part out of financial necessity), you can't help but feel just a little disheartened that the organization would adopt this stance less than 24 hours after the onset of the free-agent signing period.
Most of the players I listed above evoke little in the way of interest in me, but I also see a few players that could definitely help this club in 2009 and beyond at the right price, and to outright dismiss the idea of going after one of them at this stage is admittedly disheartening to me as a fan.
If anything, this proclamation almost seemed designed to temper our expectations early on in the game -- which, given my above comments, is probably a good thing in the long run.
● News from the trade market wasn't much more optimistic on Friday, as MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan indicated the Red Sox, whom are known to covet the Rangers' stockpile of catching, are reluctant to part ways with promising young right-hander Clay Buchholz (although Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe still believes a Jarrod Saltalamacchia-for-Buchholz swap remains within the realm of possibility, while MVN.com's Evan Brunell thinks a Saltalamacchia-for-Michael Bowden and Coco Crisp deal is possible), and will likely wait to see if they can re-sign Jason Varitek before embarking on another course of action.
It increasingly appears that the two sides have reached an impasse, and it's possible we won't see any further movement on this front until Rangers general manager Jon Daniels and Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein converse face to face at next month's winter meetings.
● By the way, the Marlins are reportedly "adamantly opposed" to relinquishing any of their young starters in a trade, a group which comprises Josh Johnson, Andrew Miller, Ricky Nolasco, Anibal Sanchez and Chris Volstad. Not exactly the most encouraging update.
On a brighter note, that Mike Maddux has really got something. Just as remarkable as the overwhelming degree of praise that has been lavished upon the 47-year-old pitching oracle from all corners has been the universal lack of criticism -- in other words, ain't nobody got a bad word to say about him.
And with insightful nuggets of wisdom like these (thanks to Mike Hindman of the Dallas Morning News for nabbing these quotes today), it's not hard to see why:
Maddux is undeterred by the reputation of the Ballpark or the pitching history of this organization and believes that he can make the Ballpark a "home field advantage." He wants his staff to "stay on attack. Pitch to contact and believe in ourselves. Show 'em who's boss. I'm not biting on this 'Arlington is a grinder' business. The other guys, they don't want to pitch here, and that's something we can use to our advantage."Hindman, by the way, suggests that Kevin Millwood -- who made an appearance at the Ballpark on Friday, along with Kameron Loe, Jason Jennings, Brandon McCarthy, Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, Taylor Teagarden and Chris Davis -- appeared "svelte." That is probably the first and last time we will ever see that adjective associated with Millwood anywhere.
According to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas will kick the tires on Chad Cordero -- whose medical records they've asked to check out -- and Freddy Garcia, and could re-sign Jennings, presumably to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league spring training.
2009 single-game ticket prices have not yet been set, and likely won't be set until the team obtains a better sense of where the economy is headed. Smart plan.
The New York Mets hired Luis Alicea as their first base coach on Friday.
Good morning, and in case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night.
Discussion
6 Comments on "Saturday Morning Rangers Notes: Back To Reality"
#1
Posted by michael gleason, November 15, 2008 9:48 AM
Good day!
The only way a guy like Garcia or Cordero or Sheets helps is if we take the (bigger) risk of signing him long enough (eg 2 - 5 years via incentives and options) that he takes us into the "salad days." Anyone here for one year only takes away a roster spot for development just long enough to prove to the Yankees that he's healthy and ready to leave us.
The 1-yr deals (to trade at the ASB) have served us well, but that phase of rebuilding is over. It's time for the guys we got (and the even more valuable guys we can get with our remaining vets) to take their hard knocks for a year.
#2
Posted by texaslifter, November 15, 2008 10:53 AM
It would be interesting to see the effect on the free agent market if the supermajority of MLB teams took the same austerity approach as the Rangers. Might we see the beginning of a "Walmart" era of falling prices?
#3
Posted by JDolla$, November 15, 2008 10:28 PM
The only problem I foresee is what Hicks is going to do when there is a combination of pitching injuries and poor performance, resulting in a big losing streak at the start of the season. That would surely result in a major exodus at the box office, as fans will perceive Hicks' decision to not pursue talented pitchers in FA who might be amendable to coming to Texas for once, as his desire to just make a buck off the fans without trying his best to put together a winning team. In this economy, a Rangers losing streak in April/May could wind up with 8,000 a game attendance rates for the summer. What happens then?
It got ugly last summer when Bradley, Kinsler and Murphy went down, and the pitching was just horrible. There is a very real chance that occurs again this year, since we are probably going to be going with the same core group. Actually, it's likely the offense will be worse, since Bradley will be gone.
Don't want to be a wet blanket, but 2009 could easily, easily be a LOT worse than last year. I guess I'll wait to see what JD can do in the trade market before I pronounce doom and gloom, but right now you can damn sure bet I am not going to fork over the bucks for a ticket package!
#4
Posted by michael gleason, November 16, 2008 1:00 AM
Yeah,
Building from within does require some creativity on the part of the Promotions group and the players, to make it an experience that the fans all buy into. It's easy for me to say the Rangers should just take their hard knocks for the sake of development, when it's not my entertainment dollar being lost.
What we (GM-wanna-be's) buy into as a very sensible plan, the average fan, attending for pure entertainment, sees as our being simply "worse than the other team" (despite the fact that the other team may also fail to make the playoffs, AND may have sold off their farm to put out a better known bunch of players aspiring to a slightly less mediocre record.)
I hope that, to buy some time in the eyes of that paying fan, the Rangers don't get another Sammy Sosa type, that creates interest, but at the expense of another player's development. I hope they don't use signings just to create interest. That's what promos are for! I hope they instead just get a little zany with some old-timey promotions (like when they'd give away a used car to 20 lucky fans on the last day of the season), maybe awarding 1 child per homestand a chance to sit in the dugout on the homestand's last game (drawn from all the tickets of kids from earlier games in the homestand).., or a chance for one fan per game to hit off Nolan Ryan after warm-ups.) Or...
No more bobble-heads where the player isn't even in uniform...
My mom was once chosen to try and shoot a hockey puck through a little hole in a board blocking the goal at a Pittsburgh Penguins game. The fans need to see each other and the players being playful (as they were when sliding on the tarp in New York last year!) Even if only one fan per game were in some funny, nerve-racking position, every other fan would have fun imagining himself in those shoes. It would go a long way in getting us through the growing pains, grinning and bearing it WITH THEM until "the salad days." The only thing that can stop us now is a lost year, caused by quick-fix, attendance-oriented signings that block development.
Let's stay the course, and have fun in the meantime.
#5
Posted by michael gleason, November 16, 2008 1:24 AM
By the way, JD$,
I'm with you in signing someone w/ ace or closer potential as long as the contract's got options to make that player's resurrection pay off in 2011.
But first we have to make room via trades. I'm back on Kouzmanoff's bandwagon. He's had a high OPS almost his entire Minor League career. Last year's .299 on-base %in SD was his area lacking development in an otherwise very successful campaign (in a pitcher's park, in a an offensively unsupportive line-up). How about Murphy, Mathis and Littleton for him?
#6
Posted by JDolla$, November 16, 2008 8:52 AM
Very reasonable. I'm all for the rebuilding plan, which is why I don't want them to trade any of their top pitching prospects this soon. But I do think they have to improve their pitching, and they have to add at least 1 guy who can step in when the inevitable happens - McCarthy, Padilla or Millwood (or all three) go down with a long-term injury. I also like your idea about Kouz, although I feel that if someone like Sonnanstine could be had for the likes of Murphy, I'd rather they use that chip to procure some pitching. To me, here are the weak links in the staff:
Millwood - big injury risk, also has been ineffective after 4-5 innings for many of his starts over the past 2 seasons. That's not a good sign, and anyone who thinks this guy is an "ace" is seriously deluded.
Padilla - mild injury risk, also inconsistent, tends to go great until he gets guys on base, and then he's maddening to watch. Seems afraid to go after guys at times (meaning he'll just walk the bases loaded).
McCarthy - do I even need to say anything?
Feldman - pitched great at times last season, but looked pretty mortal most nights. He probably wouldn't even make most ML pitching rotations.
Hurley - great promise, but absolutely no experience against big league hitters.
Harrison - great promise, and had some strong games, but again, very green.
Benoit - big injury risk, proved to be very hittable last season. Is he done?
CJ - is he over his arm troubles? Can he get it together, mentally?
Franky - pretty good at times, pretty horrible at others. Walks way too many guys for a late inning reliever.
Hunter - good minor league numbers, looked overmatched in the bigs last season.
Nippert - tantalized with 2 or 3 really great games, but all the others were absolutely horrifying.
What does all that say to me? First, they have to add at least 2 arms in the bullpen, and they are going to have to count on an almost perfect mix of ideal conditions if they are going to compete with this group - and that means (1) avoiding major injuries, and (2) all these question marks have to make major steps forward in effectiveness. Can that happen? Sure, I guess. Will that happen, very very unlikely. Mike Maddux probably has the hardest job in all the major leagues trying to turn this ragtag group into a contending staff.
This stuff is the basis for my belief that the Rangers really need to add at least 2 new starters (or potential starters) and 2 new relievers into the mix, and that also means clearing away some of the dross. At some point, the team has to just get rid of guys like LIttleton, Loe, etc. etc. and bring in pitchers who can not walk batters and who can get guys out. Period.
I guess the bottom line is that I don't see how this management sees a different outcome with the same group of dudes. And, like I said, when you subtract Bradley from the mix, that makes the offense a whole lot less potent, as well. Don't know who they think is going to buy into this product, but I guess more power to them.
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