Comments on: Hot Offseason Action: Texas Rangers http://umpbump.com/press/2009/03/19/hot-offseason-action-texas-rangers-2/ In-your-face baseball commentary Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:44:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2009/03/19/hot-offseason-action-texas-rangers-2/comment-page-1/#comment-58777 Sarah Green Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:04:33 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=4428#comment-58777 I guess....but to me, I could have just as easily given the Rangers a B and been happy with it. Or a B-, or a B , or an A-. It just felt a little arbitrary. In short, I think they had an above-average offseason and have a well-above average farm system, a farm system, moreover, that is stocked with exactly what they need: nascent pitching acery. I guess….but to me, I could have just as easily given the Rangers a B and been happy with it. Or a B-, or a B , or an A-. It just felt a little arbitrary.

In short, I think they had an above-average offseason and have a well-above average farm system, a farm system, moreover, that is stocked with exactly what they need: nascent pitching acery.

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]]> By: Nick Kapur http://umpbump.com/press/2009/03/19/hot-offseason-action-texas-rangers-2/comment-page-1/#comment-58776 Nick Kapur Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:49:14 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=4428#comment-58776 In my view the grades serve their purpose perfectly, which is to encourage discussion and debate. If we had a clearly understood, objective, and well-defined grading rubric, then there would be no discussion and this blog would be boring. In my view the grades serve their purpose perfectly, which is to encourage discussion and debate. If we had a clearly understood, objective, and well-defined grading rubric, then there would be no discussion and this blog would be boring.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2009/03/19/hot-offseason-action-texas-rangers-2/comment-page-1/#comment-58772 Sarah Green Tue, 31 Mar 2009 01:52:05 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=4428#comment-58772 Oops, I went on vacay right after I posted this and only now am seeing these comments. Nick, I give myself a pat on the back for eliciting the "and it wasn't even all that close" from you. Bradley and Byrd both had limited playing time last year, so I certainly would not say Bradley was the best hitter in the entire American League. Yes, he had the highest OPS - but he also had over 200 fewer ABs than teammate Josh Hamilton. Bradley has had such a checkered history - since his debut in 2000, he's had only three seasons with 100 games or more - it would be premature for any Rangers fan to mourn his loss at this point. I think if you read the full paragraph again you'll see that I was saying Bradley's loss will be softened by Byrd, plus Davis and Salty - not Byrd alone. Re: the grade, yeah, I wished they had gotten some reliable veteran hurler guy, but their farm system is SO good, and is SO close to being ready, I find it hard to mark them down too much. I wasn't about to sit here for another 6 hours worrying over whether it should be a B or an A- or whatever - frankly, giving these grades just reminds me of how ridiculous our grading system is. But that's a different rant. Oops, I went on vacay right after I posted this and only now am seeing these comments.

Nick, I give myself a pat on the back for eliciting the “and it wasn’t even all that close” from you. Bradley and Byrd both had limited playing time last year, so I certainly would not say Bradley was the best hitter in the entire American League. Yes, he had the highest OPS – but he also had over 200 fewer ABs than teammate Josh Hamilton. Bradley has had such a checkered history – since his debut in 2000, he’s had only three seasons with 100 games or more – it would be premature for any Rangers fan to mourn his loss at this point.

I think if you read the full paragraph again you’ll see that I was saying Bradley’s loss will be softened by Byrd, plus Davis and Salty – not Byrd alone.

Re: the grade, yeah, I wished they had gotten some reliable veteran hurler guy, but their farm system is SO good, and is SO close to being ready, I find it hard to mark them down too much. I wasn’t about to sit here for another 6 hours worrying over whether it should be a B or an A- or whatever – frankly, giving these grades just reminds me of how ridiculous our grading system is. But that’s a different rant.

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]]> By: Coley Ward http://umpbump.com/press/2009/03/19/hot-offseason-action-texas-rangers-2/comment-page-1/#comment-58703 Coley Ward Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:14:51 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=4428#comment-58703 Nick, I don't think Sarah was saying Marlon Byrd alone will replace Bradley. But a full season of Davis along with a full season of Nelson Cruz (who has absolutely crushed minor league pitching at every level) could be enough to keep Texas's offense among the league's best. Also, there's no reason to suspect we've seen Hamilton's best. And Murphy should continue to improve. And Blalock might actually stay healthy as a DH. Nick, I don’t think Sarah was saying Marlon Byrd alone will replace Bradley. But a full season of Davis along with a full season of Nelson Cruz (who has absolutely crushed minor league pitching at every level) could be enough to keep Texas’s offense among the league’s best.

Also, there’s no reason to suspect we’ve seen Hamilton’s best. And Murphy should continue to improve. And Blalock might actually stay healthy as a DH.

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]]> By: Nick Kapur http://umpbump.com/press/2009/03/19/hot-offseason-action-texas-rangers-2/comment-page-1/#comment-58701 Nick Kapur Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:42:28 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=4428#comment-58701 Sarah, I don't see how you can give the Rangers anywhere near an A-, even with the question mark. They didn't even add a single player of any measurable worth! I understand that they may be waiting on their prospects, but with an offense as good as they have, all they would have had to do is sign a few pitchers and they could have been right in the thick of it this year. I mean if the Rangers are going to try to be the new Devil Rays, well at least the Devil Rays know how to sign the occasional veteran to support the youth. Also, I simply cannot allow your assertion that Marlon Byrd can replace Milton Bradley to go uncontested. Milton Bradley was the best hitter in the entire American League last year, and it wasn't even all that close. Sure, he has his problems, but just saying oh it's okay because we have Marlon Byrd doesn't really fly. Sarah, I don’t see how you can give the Rangers anywhere near an A-, even with the question mark. They didn’t even add a single player of any measurable worth! I understand that they may be waiting on their prospects, but with an offense as good as they have, all they would have had to do is sign a few pitchers and they could have been right in the thick of it this year. I mean if the Rangers are going to try to be the new Devil Rays, well at least the Devil Rays know how to sign the occasional veteran to support the youth.

Also, I simply cannot allow your assertion that Marlon Byrd can replace Milton Bradley to go uncontested. Milton Bradley was the best hitter in the entire American League last year, and it wasn’t even all that close. Sure, he has his problems, but just saying oh it’s okay because we have Marlon Byrd doesn’t really fly.

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