Comments on: Rosenthal on the Rangers: Sign ALL THE FREE AGENTS

By: heystastny

heystastny — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:45:43 +0000

Young doesn’t want out.

By: heystastny

heystastny — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:38:23 +0000

You guys are right on. Any fool who blames Nelson Cruz for the Rangers not winning the world series should lose his press credentials. There is plenty of blame to go around on the Rangers side of it and a lot of credit to the Cards for getting the job done.

By: coachbrew

coachbrew — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 22:32:36 +0000

Glad I’m not the only one who caught that. Sign ALL the free agents??

By: Ari Collins

Ari Collins — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:19:43 +0000

Nice Hyperbole and a Half reference.

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/06/this-is-why-ill-never-be-adult.html

By: miketreedy

miketreedy — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:26:27 +0000

It helps having a young talented team and not being tied to any really bad contracts like the Yankees and Red Sox. They need to avoid making any real bad mistakes (see Lackey, Crawford, A-Rod, etc) and they should be good for years to come.

By: miketreedy

miketreedy — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:23:38 +0000

I read an interview with him once and he mentioned not liking to pitch in real hot temperatures. So doubt he would like 110. He said he just focused on throwing strikes to get off the mound and get the game over. I am sure lots of money might change his attitude but I don’t see him as a real fit.

By: miketreedy

miketreedy — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:20:46 +0000

I think the big equation that people are missing is that Josh Hamilton will be a free agent next year. What will it cost to sign him (I am sure a lot if he has a good 2012)? Do they want to spend that much money on Josh considering his constant health issues. If not why not sign Puljos or Fielder to be the big bat over the next 7-10 years.

By: cintiphil

cintiphil — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:11:41 +0000

I agree that the Rangers need a guy like Fielder and will improve if they get him. They need an everyday 1st baseman. However, you have to assume that the current players are going to repeat last ear’s performances. I think you can count on Young, Hamilton and Kinsler, will give you a good year, but remember the guy who won the ALCS for them is Napoli, who had a career year and especially the playoffs. Will he repeat? They also have other good bats, but remember the Tigers may have beaten them without Napoli.

By: cintiphil

cintiphil — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:04:55 +0000

I think you are right on with that comment about the ball hit too far. I don’t think that the Rangers were aware how much power Freese had to right field. Additionally, if anyone thinks that the ball should have been caught, they are dreaming. I don’t think Jay Bruce could have reached that ball, as it was hit on line like a rocket. Maybe playing deeper or especially further toward the line would have helped him make the catch, but that is just second guessing. Then if he hits it in the gap, same outcome.

By: artisan3m

artisan3m — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:18:21 +0000

On paper, Fielder would be a good choice based on prior performance. But anyone who follows much baseball knows that success does not always follow a trade or free agent purchase. There is no doubt that the Rangers need a solid starter at 1st. How Fielder would mesh into one of the best team chemistrys in MLB is a guess. Wilson isn’t going anywhere after his playoff performances ~ besides he says he wants to stay a Ranger. Young won’t be a desirable trade as about all he has left is a fairly dependable stick. The rotation has considerable promise ~ they carried the Rangers into the WS two years ago with Lee and this year without him. They are young, they are strong, and they have posted some impressive numbers. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. A couple of poor management calls, an outfield catch, and two 1st base errors stood between the Rangers and a ring. A batting coach might be worthy of consideration. No team in MLB allows more heart-of-the-plate strikes to go by than Texas ~ and every opposing manager knows that.

By: hardjudge

hardjudge — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:12:45 +0000

About a year ago.

By: PanchoHerreraFanClub

PanchoHerreraFanClub — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:38:42 +0000

Craig, the screw up on Cruz missing the ball in the 9th was in the dugout. Cruz wasn’t playing deep enough. The book in that situation is to play deep enough so any ball that gets over your head is a home run.

By: 1943mrmojorisin1971

1943mrmojorisin1971 — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:18:33 +0000

If they sign one of those guys they will dump Moreland or Young in a heartbeat. Given Young wants out anyway I’m sure it wouldn’t be too hard

By: cur68

cur68 — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:55:29 +0000

I’m for getting a 1st baseman. Shoring up 1st base would be a good idea. Young as the full time DH is ideal but get Fielder (unless the Blue Jays get him. Which I’d way prefer, but that’s another thread). In no way shape or form are either of Napoli, Moreland, or Young an answer at 1st. I know I’m going against the established doctrine of a long term MLB manager here, but Mike Napoli is the everyday starting catcher because he plays very good defence, calls a great game and swings a thunder stick mighty fine too. Morleand, while his D was adequate, looked like he couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat during the post season and is only marginally better in the regular season. Do not get me started on Young’s deficiencies at first. What I will note though, is that Mr. Classy clanked a few sure outs that would have ended innings or sat down a runner in key spots. He and Cruz can hold hands and skip along the ‘woulda, shoulda, coulda’ path together.

Spend the dough and get Fielder for 1st. Make Cruz work like the devil was chasing him around in right field to get his fielding up (and maybe have him spit out that 10lbs of chaw he stuffs in his mouth every at bat) and the Rangers have legit chances of “3rd Time Lucky-WS Champs, 2012″. If they shore up 1st base and get a shade better fielding out of Cruz then I’ll call them again for the WS. They don’t need Mark Alan Buehrle, IMO.

By: dparker713

dparker713 — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:27:00 +0000

Neither Moreland nor Young should be considered an impediment to signing a player like Pujols or Fielder.

By: ultimatecardinalwarrior

ultimatecardinalwarrior — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:06:35 +0000

What does “a candidate a tone-change” mean?

By: bkarbour

bkarbour — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:51:41 +0000

What a very journalist-centric perspective. The key focus here is on what type of questions the players are going to have to answer in Spring Training, and the analysis presumes that the tone of questioning will be an important element of the mindset of the players going forward. “Oh noes, the questions will give the players a sad. Let’s sign a bunch of free agents.”

It’s frustrating analysis that I don’t buy at all.

By: hk62

hk62 — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:39:19 +0000

Am I mis-remembering that Buehrle’s numbers at Rangers Ballpark are pretty awful? He is the kind og guy that Nolan likes (works fast, comes at hitters) but the top mph on his FB would be the lowest in the Org, not just the ML roster…

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:03:41 +0000

Absolutely Kyle. “Swagger” is also what allowed Nyjer to do a face plant into the CF Wall during the NLCS.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:51:07 +0000

Obviously, it was lack of swagger that caused Nelson Cruz to miss that baseball and the team to lose game 7.

By: The Common Man

The Common Man — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:33:09 +0000

When did the Rangers become the Yankees?

By: yankeesfanlen

yankeesfanlen — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:30:17 +0000

Wait, What? Thought signing all the big free agents was the job of the Universe.

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:28:18 +0000

Good article Craig. For what it’s worth…I couldn’t agree more.
The Rangers are stacked and will be next year as well.
In my opinion the most glaring need is Ogando and Feliz developing another “go to” pitch.
Those young guys can really bring it.
The problem is (as evidenced in the WS)…when you force feed opposing teams fastball after fastball the good hitting teams simply sit on it.
More problematic…when your one and only true “out pitch” is not being trown for strikes those same good hitting teams will force you to find the strike zone.
If and/or when you do find the zone they hit frozen ropes as a result of sitting on the only pitch in your arsenal.
Ogando and Feliz developing another pitch would help them tremendously.

By: bravojawja

bravojawja — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:18:46 +0000

While they’re adding payroll, maybe they should outbid the Royals and get Zambrano from the Cubs.