Posts Tagged ‘Josh Hamilton’
 |
A View From The RavineAugust 26th, 2008
|
Finally the curtain has come crashing down on the Rangers 2008 season. And while it was fascinating and gruesome, like a terrible highway accident that you couldn’t take your eyes off of, everyone did just that. They were all watching the Olympics, specifically Fishboy, Michael Phelps. I don’t want to go all Cary Lowry-Big Brown here, but if you will, indulge three quick points:
First, I get that he won a lot of medals, but they were all for the same thing. He swam really fast. Shouldn’t that be the point? I mean, Carl Lewis never had the chance to win 8 medals for running fast. He didn’t get a chance to go for the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, high jump, 400-meter relay, 100-meter backwards dash, 200-meter left footed hop, 100-meter dash w/book on head, and 400-meter handstand relay.
B, for BORING! Fast in a straight line is okay, protected from the vicious French and the nasty Belgians by plastic lane dividers. But why don’t we smear him in steak sauce and let a couple of sharks loose in the pool. Now, that’s how you decide who’s fast and who’s not.
Third, I love that idea. Americans are watching “So You Think You Can Dance?” and “I’d Eat That For A Buck” in record numbers. Wouldn’t you tune in to a reality show called “Is Michael Phelps Faster Than A Shark?” I’d watch, every single week….
But back to the point, the Ranger’s bus finally teetered over the edge after driving Speed Racer style on the rail for the majority of the season. And April’s bullies, the Tigers and the Red Sox, helped finish it. So now the club is left to play spoilers, messing with the various pennant races while finding out which young prospects can play. The only problem is that Texas has been doing that all season long.
If you are keeping track, (and seriously, you shouldn’t be. Seriously.) the Rangers will be employing player number 52 sometime this weekend. That’s more than two full rosters worth of baseball. We’ve seen Red Hawks and Rough Riders and even a few LumberKings. Really, if you didn’t get called up at some point, you might want to start rethinking career options.
Still, there are a number of questions that need to be examined and addressed over the next five weeks. Among them: Is Chris Davis a 3rd baseman or a 1st baseman? And vice versa on Hank Blalock. And where do you put Ramon Vazquez to keep him in the lineup? The middle of the infield is a little easier with two All-Star, thundering bats in Young and Kinsler, but what about the defense? Is there any way to improve that without sitting someone?
The outfield looks to be settled with Byrd breaking out of his early slump, Bradley proving to be a valuable threat, Boggs and the injured David Murphy maturing nicely. The only question is the Rangers’ ability to sign MVP-Worthy Josh Hamilton to a nice, fat, long-term deal. They simply can’t let him get away.
Behind the plate? Laird is Laird, Salty is less, and Max and Taylor are waiting in the wings. But what about next year? Does anyone feel like one of those folks is the answer at catcher right now?
Luckily we’ve seen about every pitcher in the organization. Unluckily whoever the club hires to be a pitching coach won’t have. He’ll have to waste valuable time judging their strengths and weaknesses for himself. (I’ll help. Strengths: Ability to swivel head 180 degrees repeatedly. Weaknesses: Pitching.) And then he’ll have to figure out if the hurt ones are always going to be hurt. And rebuild the bullpen. And find a reliable long-term solution at closer.
It’s going to be a dangerous looking off-season for Ron Washington and company. Honestly, I’d rather be the guy forging birth certificates for Chinese gymnasts than trying to sort this mess out. Or so I hear. I can’t really say, because I was off watching baseball.
ADDED NOTE: There still may be time to vote for the greatest Rangers player of all time on Baseball Tonight’s online poll. It closes August 24th at 1 a.m. You can vote for Nolan, Ruben, Young, Pudge, Bell, Juan, Raffy, A-Rod, Frank Howard or Mr. Knuckler, Charlie Hough. I tried to write in Curtis Wilkerson and Will Clark, but it wouldn’t let me. If its not too late, go to http://sports.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/story?page=bbtnfranchisegreats and cast your vote.
|
All Star Break: Back and ForthJuly 20th, 2008
|
While Back-and-Forth would certainly be an accurate description of the Rangers to this point, a team written off for dead before April was over (at least twice…check our columns…) that has clawed its way back to the fringe of the playoff picture without sweeping an opponent yet. But this column is Back and Forth as Cary and I take turns looking at Texas topics for the second half. Cary’s answers will be in bold. Mine will be intelligent.
KEN: So, I’ll start this by tossing you a softball. (Just don’t hit it back at me….we both know I can’t field it…) Who is the Rangers’ MVP so far? The two-time player of the month, or are you going to avoid the obvious answer? Read more
|
Split? Yes. Even? Maybe not.July 17th, 2008
|
So after 4 games in Arlington with the Angels of WhereEver, each team takes 2 wins and the Halos keep the seven and a half game lead. The Rangers didn’t gain any ground, so the series was an even split, right? Maybe not. On paper, (where the games are rarely played because of the way the cleats tear it up), the Angels should have come in and crushed Texas. The 4 pitching match-ups in the series looked more like bows-and-arrows vs. F-16’s. Heck, on Wednesday night, the Rangers didn’t even have a starter, using the bullpen from the first inning.
What did we learn from the series? The Rangers aren’t afraid of the Angels. Texas can win a close game like the Tuesday night, one-run victory in a low scoring affair. They can beat K-Rod, as Josh Hamilton so eloquintly proved with his bomb on Wednesday night. The Texas offense is never done, racking up 20 hits while taking Thursday night’s game to extra innings after being down 10-4 in the 7th. Catcher Max Ramirez is not going to drop the ball at home no matter how hard you hit him. The Rangers aren’t going to go away. And maybe, just maybe the Angels know that.
Seven and a half back is still a lot to overcome, especially since Texas has to pass Oakland in the standings before they can really take sight on the Angels. And there are less than 70 games left in the season, so time is going to start playing a bigger and bigger role. The Rangers need to get their first sweep of the season sometime soon, then maybe add a few more. Because while you can reach 100 victories by winning or splitting every series, you can’t do that if you take the month of April off. But for the moment, it looks like the Rangers are going to be doing more in the second half than just trading players away. Sometimes a split isn’t just a split, and sometimes a team doesn’t walk away from it even.
|
Random RangernessJuly 5th, 2008
|
A few random thoughts as we move out of June and into July…
The Rangers finally move 2 games over .500, winning Monday night at Yankee Stadium. It’s the first time they’ve reached that lofty height this season following the Great April Wipeout, the Incredible May Recovery, and the June of Treading Water. Since May 22, Texas has bounced between 2 games under and 1 over the break even mark. That is mediocrity not seen since “According to Jim” went off the air. (It did finally, mercifully go off the air, didn’t it?) You keep hoping for that one hot streak that will vault the team back into Division contention. But that’s not the way it ever happens in Texas.
As a child, I came to learn that you could count on the Rangers hanging in there for the first half of the season, and then falling like Skylab right after the All-Star break, scattering players at the trade deadline like debris over Australia. Is this the year that it doesn’t happen? Is this the year that we chase down 2 teams and win the division, using rookies at catcher, first base, third base, the outfield, and a rotation that began the year scattered out across our minor league system? Okay, probably not, but at least we recovered to the point that the dreamers can dream.
 |
For Jay Gibbons, Forgiveness Is a Minor League Contract AwayJune 19th, 2008
|
Jay Gibbons dropped to his knees and asked for a second chance.
After being named in the Mitchell Report and being released from the Baltimore Orioles by Chief Operating Officer Andy MacPhail for reasons disclosed as performance-related, Gibbons did something he termed, “both painful and humiliating.” The designated hitter wrote a letter to all thirty Major League teams hoping that someone, anyone would give him a chance to ride the buses of the Minor Leagues.
It’s a move of passion not economics.
Because the Baltimore Orioles still owe him $11.9 million over the next two years, presumably, Gibbons could easily thrust his head into the sand, like the higher profile PED user Mark McGwire, and be comfortable in his anonymity for the rest of his life.
Gibbons even offered to donate his entire Minor League salary to his parent team’s charity. Should he make it to the Big Leagues, he writes that he would “gladly donate a significant sum to that same charity.” Read more
 |
Just Like They Drew It Up: J.D. Silencing CriticsJune 19th, 2008
|
The cost of crude oil by the barrel isn’t the lone commodity on the rise. Right fielder J.D. Drew—often ridiculed and much besieged by fans and local sports media during most of last season—is scaling new heights for the Red Sox.
Only, of late, Drew is making his hefty price tag seem fairer by the plate appearance.
While year one of his $70 million, five-year contract in Boston left even the most ardent of Drew defenders unfulfilled, the former first round pick—two times over—did end his debut season in a Sox uniform on a high note, finishing with a strong September that carried into the playoffs, which included a momentous grand slam in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series.
But a closer examination of his first go-around in the American League would reveal a season much in line with his career output. That is, if you disregard his near two-month adjustment period to a league switch, different pitching—both personnel- and approach-wise—a new hitting venue, and the highly chaotic and fishbowl environment that makes up the Boston sports scene.
|
Ponson DisownedJune 7th, 2008
|
In a move that shocked fans, the Rangers suddenly designated Sidney Ponson for assignment on Friday afternoon. While declining to cite specifics, GM Jon Daniels said he was cut “for disrespecting teammates and club personnel.” In the absence of facts and since it’s a slow night and the Rangers aren’t going to beat Scott Kazmir, here are the top 15 reasons that Ponson got shipped out… Read more
|
Rangers Statistical Month in Review - MayJune 4th, 2008
|
My 3-year old can count to 28 in Spanish……I can only count to 10. Nevertheless, it’s time to crank out the Texas Instruments Calculator and break down a superb May for the Texas Rangers.
The Record: 19-10 in May, 2nd best in Major Leagues to Toronto. As of today, overall record is 30-30, sitting 6 games out of 1st, 3rd place in the AL West. And while some may think it silly to mention so early in the season, the Rangers sit 5 1/2 out of the Wildcard leading Boston Red Sox. (It is NEVER too early to “scoreboard watch”)
The Offense: I consider the composite value for offense to be OPS (On Base Pct + Slugging Pct). The Rangers were #1 in OPS in May among the 30 major league teams. NUMBER ONE. Did it translate into Runs Scored? YES. Texas was 2nd only to the Phillies in runs scored….and #1 in the American League. In one month, the Rangers hitting with Runners in Scoring Position has improved from 26th to 4th. This ranks as the biggest turnaround since Kobe Bryant went from “Trade Me” to “MVP” in less than a year. It shouldn’t be a surprise that the Rangers offense in May was led by Josh Hamilton, with 29 RBI in 29 games. You know what they call that?…….American League Player of the Month. Honorable mention goes to Milton Bradley who actually led the team in OPS for the month. Also, keep in mind that this is a team game….and people have to be on base for Hamilton to get RBIs……Ian Kinsler fit the bill there, scoring 27 times in May, tops in the American League.
STAT OF THE MONTH: Ian Kinsler led the AL with 27 runs scored in May…..tied for 2nd in the AL in Runs Scored were Josh Hamilton and Michael Young with 22 each. That’s right, the Rangers had the Top 3 scorers in the American League for the month of May. I dare you to find that happen for another team anywhere, anytime.
The Defense: 26th of 30 teams in Defensive Efficiency this season. They were 30th through April, so small improvement. The Rangers still rank 3rd in errors, led by Kinsler with 9. Still an area that needs major improvement.
The Pitching Staff: The Rangers ranked 11th in ERA for all the Majors in May. In April, they were 30th…..so major improvement! Season to date, the Rangers Starting Rotation is 21st in ERA….problem is that the Bullpen is DEAD LAST. The Rangers pitching stars have been Padilla and Ponson….with 7 and 4 wins respectively and both with sub 4.00 ERAs on the season. Keep in mind they did NOT have Kevin Millwood, but they will for the month of June. Watch for Millwood to be your pitching MVP for next month.
Summary: Hard to complain about a 19-10 record for May and a top-ranked offense led by Triple Crown Candidate Josh Hamilton (no, not Big Brown)……but leave it to me to always find the Spam at Ruth’s Criss steakhouse. Fact is, the Offense is completely carrying the Defense and Pitching. It’s a delicate baseball balance when you do it that way…..and generally an unhealthy one. Can the Rangers stay at this blistering offensive pace? Will Millwood’s return allow Texas to rely less on the Gasoline Goofs in the bullpen? A combination of the two will have the Rangers closing in on a real pennant race…..hide and watch!
|
(The Sound of Fingers Drumming on a Table)May 30th, 2008
|
I’m bored. I hate off days. And if you add an off day to an afternoon game the day before, that means two nights without a game to watch. Sure, there are other teams on the television, but it’s not the same. It’s not our team.
For six months, baseball on the radio or on TV provides the steady background noise of our lives. The announcers are our friends, or at very worst, our annoying won’t-shut-up relatives (Big “hi” to Josh Lewin!) who finally kind of grow on us. You reflexively reach for the radio, trying to remember what time the game starts, or bounce back and forth trying to find which channel is televising the game before you remember: Off day.
The players need a break. We understand that. No one would ask them to play 162 games in a row without a day off. Heck, Seattle could use a couple of weeks off, sleep in late, try and find somewhere to get a nice cup of coffee and put their season back together. The Padres deserve some comp time for all of the 18- and 22-inning games they’ve been playing lately. And to be honest, the “Lost” finale was going to eat up two hours tonight anyway. But come Monday, June 9th, I’m going to miss the Rangers, even if they deserve the day off….
A Few Other Notes: Read more
|
So I got my mom Grand Theft Auto 4 for Mother’s Day, and…..May 22nd, 2008
|
Sounds crazy, right? Grand Theft Auto 4 for my little gray-headed Jewish mother? Well, it sounds no crazier than “The Texas Rangers have the most wins in May of any team in the American League.” And I’d bet that on April 30th, if I’d have given you a choice of which was more likely, I think you’d have voted for my mother bustin’ a cap in somebody’s virtual head on her 21-inch tube television.
Well, crazy has come to roost in Arlington and the Rangers 13 wins DO lead the way in the American League for the month of May. How did they do it? They’ve followed the 101 win blueprint very well. (see previous posting “The Easy Way to Win 101 Games”) They have not swept a single series, but they have won or split 7 straight series, and with a win Thursday afternoon, they will have done it 8 straight times.
Can’t go without a few stats……How about a team ERA of 3.44 in May (5th best in the majors), second most runs scored in baseball (behind Boston), OPS of .812, ranking 3th in the majors in May (behind Boston/Atlanta). That’s a formula for success and one that may have saved Ron Washington’s job.
The lineup and pitching staff is MacGyver’d up a little bit…..Elmer’s Glue, a Jim Sundberg stickpin, and an Oddibe McDowell game worn wristband…..but they have been successful. Ace Kevin Millwood has been out, Sidney Ponson has been resurrected, and Josh Hamilton is doing his best impression of Hack Wilson (all-time RBI record holder….190 in a single season) with Josh on pace for 180 RBI.
So as the Rangers sit still two games under .500 and 5 games out of 1st…..things are looking good! A team you can get behind for a little while lives in Arlington, Texas. Kind of a nice feeling.
Next »