Lone Star Ball

Potential Player of Interest -- Jonny Gomes

2009-11-24T16:30:11Z

The Rangers need a reasonably priced righthanded bat with pop that can DH and maybe fill in at a COF or CIF spot.

And I stumbled last night on an item by Ken Rosenthal that discussed a guy who could be a fit -- Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jonny Gomes.

Gomes is a guy I have always found to be intriguing, but who I finally gave up on last season and ignored...and he went on to have a pretty good season for Cincy:

	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
2009 - Jonny Gomes	98	281	39	75	17	0	20	51	26	85	3	1	.267	.338	.541

Gomes is a lousy defender, and he didn't hit the previous couple of years with Tampa, but he's a righty bat with pop who will draw some walks. And he has a career .274/.369/.517 line against LHPs.

Gomes just turned 29, and he's arbitration-eligible this offseason, so he's not a long-term solution. But as a one year guy who ideally would get 250 PAs, mostly at DH against LHPs, but who you might want 400-500 PAs from if need be, he could be a good fit.

There's apparently talk that Gomes could be non-tendered, which would make him a free agent, but I wonder if it wouldn't be worth the Rangers while to offer some of the team's minor league depth to deal a fringe guy -- a Brennan Garr or Evan Reed or Tim Murphy -- to get Gomes, if they think he's looking at $1.5-2 million in arbitration. And of course, if he were to be non-tendered, I'd hope the Rangers would be interested in him on a cheap one year deal.

Gomes is the type of role player who could be a perfect fit for the Rangers' needs, and I think he's someone who is worth keeping an eye on this offseason.

Tuesday a.m. Rangers stuff

2009-11-24T16:19:07Z

Not much out there today.

Evan Grant has a poll up at the DMN Rangers blog, asking who should be the Rangers' starting centerfielder in 2010.

That's about it.

Other teams interested in Nelson Cruz

2009-11-24T01:35:59Z

More photos » by LM Otero - AP

7 months ago: Texas Ranges Nelson Cruz hits a home run in the second inning of the baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, April 14, 2009. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

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According to Ken Rosenthal, "a number of teams" have called the Rangers inquiring about Nelson Cruz, but the Rangers aren't motivated to move him.

Last offseason, I identified Cruz as a guy I would try to use as part of a package to land a top-flight starting pitcher in the 09-10 offseason, figuring that a year of productiveness would get him to the point where it made sense to convert him into something else.

But that was before Josh Hamilton and Chris Davis nose-dived, leaving Cruz as one of the few quality bats in place right now. Last year, I thought a David Murphy/Brandon Boggs platoon in left field, Julio Borbon in center field, and Josh Hamilton in right field would be good, with Justin Smoak and Chris Davis holding down the first base and DH spots. Now, every one of those guys is a question mark, meaning that if you move Cruz, you had better do it intending to bring in at least one more quality bat.

But I do think it is revealing that Cruz is drawing interest from around the league...

Everything you ever wanted to know about Hisanori Takahashi

2009-11-24T00:44:13Z

Everything you ever wanted to know about Hisanori Takahashi

There's some Gary Matthews Jr. here, in that Byrd is a good fourth outfielder who is looking to get...

2009-11-23T22:26:48Z

There's some Gary Matthews Jr. here, in that Byrd is a good fourth outfielder who is looking to get paid like the regular he was in 2009. His counting stats may fool people into thinking he's that guy, but he's mostly a good backup who is past his peak and played more in '09 because he stayed healthy and everyone else didn't. Byrd's power is a park effect: he's slugged .522 at Arlington the last three seasons, .414 elsewhere. Buyer beware. Be-very-ware.

Joe Sheehan on Marlon Byrd.

Omar Vizquel to the ChiSox

2009-11-23T20:58:12Z

More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP

3 months ago: Texas Rangers' Omar Vizquel celebrates his solo home against the Los Angeles Angels during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Friday, Aug. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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Omar Vizquel has signed a one year deal for $1.375 million with the Chicago White Sox.

Officially, Vizquel is going to be a backup infielder, but I suspect that part of the appeal of signing with Chicago is that there is a pretty decent chance he'll end up starting for them at some point.

Right now, the ChiSox are talking about Gordon Beckham at second base, Alexei Ramirez at shortstop, and Mark Teahen at third base. Teahen, though, at third base is shaky for a contender, and I imagine Vizquel probably views this situation as one where he's more likely to get regular playing time than he would if he'd come back to Texas.

Joe Mauer named A.L. MVP

2009-11-23T19:11:23Z

Joe Mauer has been named the A.L. MVP for 2009. Back in August, there seemed to be some sentiment that Mark Teixeira was the favorite and that Mauer would be on the outside looking in, but by the time the season ended that seemed to have shifted, and the question was whether Mauer would be a unanimous pick or not.

Mauer was not a unanimous pick -- he got 27 of 28 first place votes, and while Teixeira and Derek Jeter finished second and third, neither of them got the stray first place vote that didn't go to Mauer. Rather, it was Miguel Cabrera who someone put first on their ballot.

Cabrera finished fourth, and there was some talk that he wouldn't appear on some ballots because of the drama surrounding his late-season drunken episode that caused some distractions in the midst of the pennant race.

UPDATE -- Michael Young and Ian Kinsler are in the "others receiving votes" category.

The BBTiA Top 25 Prospect Rankings: Fall 2009 Edition

2009-11-23T14:58:18Z

The BBTiA Top 25 Prospect Rankings: Fall 2009 Edition

Monday morning Rangers things

2009-11-23T14:37:57Z

Largely quiet day today...

T.R. Sullivan talks about the various ownership groups bidding on the Rangers, and says at the end of the day, the winner will be whoever can pay the most money to paid down the Hicks Sports Group debt and make the banks happy.

Richard Durrett asks if folks would be interested in Mike Cameron, and suggests that Cameron isn't as good as Marlon Byrd, which is erroneous...Cameron is the better defender, and last year, anyway, was also the better hitter.

Scott McCoy runs down the list of all the other Rangers before Elvis Andrus who have received Rookie of the Year votes...I had forgotten Cecil Espy got a vote.

Putting Elvis Andrus's Rookie Season in Perspective

2009-11-22T20:00:22Z

More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP

4 months ago: Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus gets the force out at second of Los Angeles Angels' Kendry Morales after Howie Kendrick hit into a double play during the second inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, July 8, 2009. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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One of the things we've talked about is how Elvis Andrus was a particularly special player simply because of what he did this year...very few players spend a full season in the major leagues at age 20, as an every day player, and perform like he did.

In an effort to put this in perspective, I went to Baseball Reference and did a search of their database. I asked B-R to list every season since 1901 where a player, age 20 or less, got at least 400 plate appearances in the majors, and was a second baseman or shortstop.

There were only 19 season, which was less than I expected. And two of those seasons were by Robin Yount, so you have a total of 18 players who have done, in terms of playing time, what Elvis did in 2009.

Elvis had the 12th highest OPS+ out of those 19th seasons, just ahead of Gary Sheffield (and yes, for you young 'uns, Sheffield used to be a shortstop). He also finished ahead of Robin Yount's age 20 season.

The guys ahead of him are, in order:

Alex Rodriguez

Arky Vaughan

Roberto Alomar

Edgar Renteria

Travis Jackson

Whitey Witt

Bill Mazeroski

Frankie Gustine

Robin Yount

Alan Trammell

Bobby Doerr

So that is four Hall of Famers, two guys who will be in the Hall once they are eligible (although Robbie is probably not a first ballot guy), a couple of guys who probably deserve to be in the Hall but aren't (Trammell and Doerr), and three guys who went on to be decent, but not great, players.

Think about that for a moment. Think about how exceptional what Elvis Andrus did last year was, and the company it puts him in.

(Incidentally, Alex Rodriguez's age 20 season is probably the greatest age 20 season by any positional player, ever. He had a 160 OPS+ and an OPS of over 1000. No one else on the list had an OPS better than 787. Arky Vaughan, one of the three or four best shortstops of all time, had a 113 OPS+, and no one else was better than 105).

Elvis also had the most steals of anyone on that least, had the 6th highest number of walks, and was tied for the 6th highest number of homers.

Bump it up a year, and look at 21 year old shortstops, and there are only 22 who had a better OPS+ in 400+ PAs than Andrus had in 2009.

And again, you see a lot of HOFers or future HOFers (ARod, Vaughan, Rogers Hornsby, Young, Jackson, Cal Ripken, Joe Tinker, Rabbit Maranville), along with quite a few very, very good players (Trammell, Vern Stephens, Jim Fregosi, Dick Bartell) and guys who had long, solid careers (Frankie Crosetti, Alfredo Griffin, Zoilo Versalles, Donie Bush, Garry Templeton), with just a couple of clunkers (Mike Caruso, Joe Cassidy) mixed in.

Elvis had a special, special season in 2009. I mean, we as Rangers fans, I think, getting to watch him every day, I think have a good sense for how good he is, particularly with the glove...but until I went and looked at the data, I didn't realize how exceptional it was for a middle infielder to be a major league regular this young, and hit as well as he did.

ESPN affiliated blog criticizes ESPN for punishing ESPN writer for criticizing ESPN-affiliated radio station

2009-11-22T18:29:39Z

ESPN affiliated blog criticizes ESPN for punishing ESPN writer for criticizing ESPN-affiliated radio station

Whew. That's a mouthful. Anyway, Fire Brand (formerly an MVN blog, now ESPN-affiliated) takes ESPN to task for suspending Bill Simmons from tweeting for two weeks, because Simmons took "pot shots" at WEEI, which is an ESPN-affiliated radio station.

Sunday a.m. Rangers stuff

2009-11-22T15:53:45Z

Pretty quiet out there in terms of Rangers news, although the hot stove season is heating up...

Chris Bahr of the Sporting News suggests that Hank Blalock could be this year's Bobby Abreu, and argues that Blalock isn't a product of TBIA because he had a better average and OBP on the road last year than at home.

Someone might want to point out to Bahr that this is a one year aberration...for his career, Blalock's home performance was about 50 points better in average, 60 points better in OBP, and 100 points better in slugging.

Phil Rogers makes some predictions as to where various free agents will end up, and has Jim Thome going to the Rangers. Thome isn't my first choice, but I could live with that...

FWST "sports humor columnist" David Thomas offers this:

Budget-limited Rangers general manager Jon Daniels was in the MLB Free Agents store the other day and a salesperson asked if he could be of assistance. "Yeah," Daniels answered, "I’m looking for the bargain bin."

Is this guy new, or has this column been around a while, and I've just missed it?

Roy Halladay won't sign an extension with Toronto

2009-11-22T00:57:18Z

Roy Halladay won't sign an extension with Toronto

Sandy Koufax pitching on MLB Network at 7 p.m.

2009-11-22T00:37:07Z

Sandy Koufax pitching on MLB Network at 7 p.m.

MLB Network about to show Game 7 of the 1965 World Series. Sandy Koufax with a CG SO against the Twins.

Saturday a.m. Rangers things

2009-11-21T16:24:26Z

Michael Young talked yesterday about the possibility of new ownership, and of course, as the E.F. Hutton of the Rangers, it got a fair amount of attention...

Anthony Andro writes that Michael Young wants to see an owner in the mold of Arte Moreno, who will spend to make the team better.

Calvin Watkins has a blog post up at ESPN Dallas on the topic as well.

Evan Grant says he talked to a Rangers official who says the potential three-way deal involving Kevin Millwood leaving and Milton Bradley coming to Texas is "not happening," and says the only way the Rangers would consider Milton Bradley coming back is if it allowed the Rangers to shed a big contract so they could afford to add more pitching.

However...Kevin Millwood is the only significant contract the Rangers have on their books right now, other than Michael Young (who I assume isn't going anywhere). So I'm not sure how adding Bradley could accomplish anything, particularly given that you're not going to give up a significant contract without having to pick up a good chunk of Bradley's deal.

Richard Durrett has a short Q&A with Marlon Byrd, who he talks to about his pending free agency.

Friday afternoon video

2009-11-20T20:45:08Z

My favorite #stlcards email of the day so far, letter for letter: "you're an idito"

2009-11-20T20:09:02Z

My favorite #stlcards email of the day so far, letter for letter: "you're an idito"

Keith Law tweeting.

St. Louis writer has a meltdown over "Waino" and Carpenter losing to Lincecum

2009-11-20T19:09:41Z

St. Louis writer has a meltdown over "Waino" and Carpenter losing to Lincecum

But the most entertaining part is the fanboy comments, complaining about how everyone is biased against Cardinals players.

Richard Durrett with a Brandon McCarthy Q&A

2009-11-20T16:42:35Z

More photos » by Dave Einsel - AP

6 months ago: Texas Rangers' Brandon McCarthy, right, gets a hug from manager Ron Washington, left, after pitching a complete game shutout against the Houston Astros, Sunday, May 24, 2009, in Houston. McCarthy threw 121 pitches to lead the Rangers to a 5-0 win over the Astros. (AP Photo/Dave Einsel)

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Richard Durrett has a Q&A up with Brandon McCarthy over at the ESPN Dallas Rangers blog...

It includes some discussion from McCarthy about the mechanical changes and the things being done to try to avoid a repeat of the shoulder blade stress fracture that has interrupted two of his seasons with Texas...

Check it out...

Friday morning stuff

2009-11-20T15:13:19Z

More photos » by LM Otero - AP

5 days ago: FILE - Texas Ranger owner Tom Hicks looks at a television screen in his box during the baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Arlington, Texas, in this April 8, 2008 file photo. Hicks said Wednesday Nov. 18, 2009 he is putting together a group of local investors, including Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach, for a bid that would enable him to keep majority ownership of the team. Proposals to buy the Rangers are due Friday. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

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So, today, we have the story out that Michael Young has been named Rangers player of the year by the local BBWAA chapter. No surprise there.

Jayson Stark says that talk between the Marlins and Rangers in regards to Dan Uggla got pretty "hot and heavy" at the GM meetings. The only thing that is more surprising to me than the Rangers having serious interest in Uggla is the number of Ranger fans who seem to be on board with the idea of bringing Uggla here to be the DH.

Let's be realistic...if the Rangers add Uggla, who will be making $7-8 million in 2010, that's it as far as significant offseason moves go. They've got no more money of note to spend once Uggla is added. So unless you are planning on moving C.J. Wilson or Frankie Francisco or Ian Kinsler -- and really, adding Uggla only makes sense to me if you are planning on trading Kinsler -- then Uggla is your big offseason addition.

And Uggla isn't that great an option as a DH. He's a .281 career EQA guy who had a .280 EQA last season and turns 30 this offseason. He's valuable as a second baseman, but as a DH, he's just decent. And he's certainly not worth $7-8 million.

And forget about the idea that the Marlins will just give him away to you for the equivalent of Michael Hernandez or Steve Shoemaker...teams that need a second base are going to value Uggla, and will be willing to give up prospects to get him. So the price to land Uggla is going to involve names like Kasey Kiker or Robbie Ross or Engel Beltre.

Adding Uggla as a DH doesn't make sense.

Moving on...Randy Galloway has a column about Tom Hicks' efforts to retain ownership of the Rangers. Honestly, I can't imagine how any Ranger fan can feel anything but sickened about the idea that Hicks would stay on board as teh owner of the team. Galloway mentions that Roger Staubach being part of Hicks' group is obviously a p.r. coup, but I don't care if Hicks gets Staubach, or Rupert Murdoch, or if Jesus Christ himself came down from heaven and joined Hicks' group...

Tom Hicks has to go, and after the embarrassment that the last year has been, in terms of ownership, Hicks somehow figuring out a way to keep the team would be a gut punch.

Some quotes from Galloway's column:

Then came the official, yet convoluted, word from Hicks on Wednesday. He wants to remain as majority owner.

At the ballpark, you would have thought a large sewer line just erupted.

Talking to several different employees Thursday, there was heavy depression noted.

"I work for Tom, I wanted Tom to be successful at this, but, frankly, we can’t sell Tom," said one. "Our fans, for the most part, will not buy Tom. And our former season-ticket holders, and we’d lost a lot of those because of Mr. Hicks, will not come back if Tom is still the owner."

That’s not news. Anyone in the media with an e-mail address can tell you that. We’ve heard enough of it over the years.

Hicks, as far as I can tell, is certainly not a hated boss by the baseball people who work for him. He’s just considered hopeless as an owner. Fans normally respond to the product on the field, and attendance did grow last season, but ...

"No one says it publicly, but there was disappointment that we didn’t draw better, based on how well the team played into September," said an employee. "Yes, attendance was up, but it was up from one of our worst years ever at the gate. The perception of the team, unfortunately, still has a lot to do with the perception of Mr. Hicks, including, of late, all the financial difficulty."

After the embarrassment Hicks has been to MLB the past year, and after everything that has gone on during his stewardship the past decade, I can't imagine MLB is going to let Hicks keep the team if there is another viable group out there.

The very idea of him staying on, when his problems have ended up hamstringing this club during the 2009 season and in 2010, when the Rangers should be prepared to make a significant financial commitment to the major league team to get them over the hump, and instead are back to "bottom fishing," as John Hart put it after the 2004 season, nauseates me.