Yankee Daze: Rangers Outduel Bronx Bombers, 2-1
C.J. Wilson (pictured above) notched a perfect 13-pitch save on Monday evening. - Samara Pearlstein/MVN.com
“Got him, got him, got him!”
Say what you will about Josh Lewin’s occasional detours down the path of annoyance in the Texas Rangers’ television booth, but the man knows how to call a great finish. Wow.
Two games over .500 for the first time since September 22nd, 2006, and the first time since the beginning of Ron Washington’s managerial tenure in Texas. Just 6½ games back of the first-place Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, who have quietly dropped four of their last five games.
If you’re general manager Jon Daniels, do you (a) start thinking about entering buy-now mode, seeking in particular another reliever to help shore up a surprisingly resurgent bullpen, (b) begin to entertain serious offers for both superfluous players (such as Frank Catalanotto) and instrumental players (such as Vicente Padilla and Milton Bradley), (c) remain in a holding pattern like the one suggested by Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News last Wednesday, or (d) employ some hybrid of the three?
Only option B seems entirely unrealistic right now, because good luck trying to convince the seething masses (a.k.a. those who actually contributing to the organization’s bottom line by purchasing tickets) that dealing some of your best Major League talent for even more prospects is a wise course of action when you’re, technically speaking, a winning ballclub.
That, of course, is subject to change, and may well change in the coming weeks that lead up to the July 31st trade deadline. A treacherous nine-game road trip against an intimidating triumvirate of winning teams (the Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox and Oakland Athletics) awaits the Rangers on the other side of the All-Star break, while an only marginally more comforting seven-game homestand against the Angels and White Sox precedes the four-day mid-season sabbatical.
It’s time for this Rangers squad to sink or swim. And Monday evening’s stunning performance at Yankee Stadium was a spectacular step in the right direction.
Scott Feldman, Frank Francisco, Jamey Wright and C.J. Wilson teamed up to four-hit baseball’s most storied franchise, limiting their former playoff nemesis to just a single run that was produced, ironically enough, by ex-Ranger Alex Rodriguez when he smashed a hanging 73 MPH curve from Feldman over Monument Park and into the left-center field bleachers in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Over the previous two innings, the Texas offense had managed to strike starter Mike Mussina twice - once with a two-out RBI bloop single from right fielder Josh Hamilton, and once with a well-struck RBI double to the right-center field gap by first baseman Chris Davis. Despite being a lifetime .441/.484/.678 hitter in 64 plate appearances versus Mussina, Frank Catalanotto did not appear against the pitcher he had tormented for so long. Make of that what you will.
Beating the Yankees? Great. Beating the Yankees by one run? Impressive. Beating the Yankees by one run in their house after relentlessly protecting said one-run lead for five excruciating innings?
Priceless.
Quick Hits: Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus notes that Low-A Spokane right-hander Neil Ramirez flashed a “90-94 MPH fastball, an outstanding hammer curve, and a developing change-up” last Friday evening en route to posting six shutout innings of one-run baseball…T.R. Sullivan emphatically states in his latest MLB.com mailbag that 2008 first-round pick Justin Smoak “will sign” before the August 15th deadline…southpaw Eddie Guardado has been diagnosed as day-to-day with mild left shoulder inflammation after being unable to get loose before the bottom of the eighth inning on Monday evening; Jamey Wright replaced him…ailing starter Kason Gabbard (left elbow inflammation) received a cortisone injection on Monday, but is not believed to have any structural damage; he’ll continue his rehabilitation in Arizona.
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7 Responses to “Yankee Daze: Rangers Outduel Bronx Bombers, 2-1”
July 1st, 2008 at 7:26 am
Given the choices for JD that you laid out, Joey, I would contend that option b (entertaining offers for Cat, Padilla, and MB) is the one that makes the most sense, though the hybrid option could hold some merit. I suppose few folks, if any, are likely surprised by me saying this.
Padilla and MB are currently peaking, and JD is all about maximizing value in trades. This fact, plus seeing all the love that Tampa Bay is getting lately makes me think that JD will eventually convince Hicks to trade these two (plus Cat and a catcher - which one?) I think the memory of MB’s failed trip to the booth in KC still lingers in JD’s mind, too. It just takes one bad episode by him or Padilla to greatly reduce their value.
Also wanted to tell you that I think you and Jason are really doing a great job on the site. Keep up the hard work, we appreciate it.
brian
July 1st, 2008 at 7:45 am
The main issue is whether Bradley will walk and test free agency in the winter. To me, the matter is cut and dry. Daniels sits down with Bradley & his agent and says, point blank - “do you want to play here long term?” If he says yes, make him prove it. Give him a competitive 3 year extension. If he says he can’t do that, then you kindly remind him of the position you’re in (that we’re losing MB and have no guarantee he’ll resign here as a FA, and that it would thus be stupid not to get something for him now, rather than nothing for him later). I think MB is smart enough to understand those dynamics.
I’m not a GM, so I can only pretend, but if I were JD, I’d press for a deal for a young pitcher using trade pieces from the current club. In other words, I wouldn’t touch any - not one- of the young studs in the minors (and that includes Davis & Max). The kind of trade I’d love to see them make is something like this: Padilla + Salty + Byrd for Phil Hughes. I know that’s an unlikely deal (mainly because if the Yanks have to give up Hughes they are going to want CC or Bedard or Sheets in exchange), but that’s the ONLY kind of trade I’d make if I were JD.
Otherwise, hold your cards and keep bringing those kids up.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:29 am
So I guess the Rangers aren’t rebuilding anymore. I get the feeling that some people in the organization think they are the Rockies of 2008. I hate to agree with Evan Grant but I think the Rangers should stand pack. Last year Daniels was a seller how will he do as a buyer. Oh and your article on Michel Inoa makes you sound like a bitter girlfriend you could say the same thing about any prospect there is always risk involved I would have loved to have him on the Rangers, but I knew Hicks wouldn’t spend the money.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Josh Lewin’s self described ADD is a gift for the rest of America. How he pulls poignant references at gun slinger speed to the mic never stops entertaining-informing-and amzing me..
Anyway, how many teams have one legit catcher or potentially legit catcher let alone two or in teh Rangers case..three….There has to be teams drooling out there. This is the Rangers chance to trade for some pitching..but young pitching and develop this team. BUT NO PANIC!!! If they have to wait until the off season, then wait. I don’t see anyone catching the Angels..
But, at the same time, don’t wait too long because I”m afraid that even Slaty’s value has dropped some..and Padill’s is living on shaky ground.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:05 pm
I think they are smart enough to see that next year they will be the 2007 Rockies. And by 2010 they should be the 2008 Diamondbacks.
I agree with Steve - no panic moves, no huge gambles. Just deal from your strengths, trade where you have surplus, refuse to touch the young talent, and let things grow organically.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Brian - Thanks for the kind words. We really do take them to heart.
Aaron - Sorry to hear you were not a fan of the Inoa report. The only point I was trying to convey was that it was not nearly as devastating a blow as some are perceiving it to be.
Would it make you feel better to know that the cash-flush Yankees dropped out of the bidding after the price surged past $2.7 million?
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:08 am
An addendum to that:
“Inoa and his parents turned down more lucrative offers from the Cincinnati Reds and the Texas Rangers due to Oakland’s positive results developing young pitchers. The Reds offered a $5 million signing bonus and a major league contract, while the Rangers offered $5.2 million, according to Inoa.
“After careful thought, my parents and I decided that Oakland has a better pitcher development program, and that will be more important for my career in the long haul,” said Inoa, who became eligible to sign with any major league ballclub on Tuesday at the strike of midnight.”
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