SB Nation User Blog: Excel Hearts Choi

Andruw Jones and Stanford Ponzi Scheme

Excel Hearts Choi — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:18:31 -0000

Andruw Jones and Stanford Ponzi Scheme

It seems that Andruw Jones is part of a handful of MLB players who are losing money in the Stanford ponzi scheme.

Vizquel talks about playing for the BoSox

Excel Hearts Choi — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 15:04:35 -0000

In a Boston Herald story from this morning, Omar Vizquel talks about the possibility of playing for the Red Sox:

It seems every time the Red Sox need a shortstop, my name gets brought up. Now, I don’t think I’m in a good position to leave. We’re winning here, we have a good thing going. I don’t know if Texas would really let me go. We’ll see. Maybe later in the season? Who knows. I don’t want to close any doors.

Vizquel said that he wished that the Red Sox had contacted him over the offseason, stating:

It would have been great. The Red Sox are a veteran team. All I’d have to do here is make the plays at short. I don’t think they’d worry about me hitting too much.

However, the author states that the Red Sox have indeed contacted the Rangers about a possible trade, but the Rangers were not interested. Also, the author also stated that Vizquel had nothing bad to say about the Rangers.

T.R. on XM

Excel Hearts Choi — Fri, 22 May 2009 22:30:50 -0000

T.R. Sullivan was just on XM radio and had the following to say:

Andruw Jones will get the start tonight at 1B.
The Rangers had always planned on getting Holland into the starting rotation by 1 June. He will get no more than three starts before the team rethinks the rotation. Sullivan mentioned that McCarthy is looking like the one to lose his spot.
Sullivan sees the Rangers adding bullpen help if they are going to make any moves (I thought there would at least be the obligatory mention of Ben Sheets).
The Rangers will reevaluate Smoak after the minor league All Star Game (I was listening on the bus, and it was really noisy so I did not catch any other details; I assume this means a promotion of some sort).
Asked if all three catchers would still be with the Rangers by the trade deadline, Sullivan said that Salty and Teagarden would certainly still be with the team. Ramirez would probably be dealt because the team would be looking to add a bullpen arm. He also mentioned that the play of Manny Pina has started to make Ramirez expendible (better defensive catcher).

Blalock & BABIP

Excel Hearts Choi — Tue, 19 May 2009 01:36:33 -0000

Blalock & BABIP

Circling The Bases has a write up on the players with low BABIP. Blalock has the 7th worst BABIP in the majors, but has a LD% over 16 (which is good but not great). According to the author, you could expect Blalock to raise his BABIP due to LD%.

R.A. Dickey Sighting

Excel Hearts Choi — Tue, 19 May 2009 01:21:21 -0000

R.A. Dickey Sighting

Dickey came into the game after a horrendous first inning by the starter. Dickey went 4 1/3 innings with 0 runs, 3 hits, 1 BB, 1K, and 60 pitches (41 for strikes).

UZR Tidbits Through 4/26

Excel Hearts Choi — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:17:59 -0000

UZR Tidbits Through 4/26

Over at Fan Graphs, they claim that the Rangers are the fifth best defensive team by UZR (though there is quite a difference between them and the MLB best Rays). Some more information on Cruz (good) and Andrus (not so good) as well.

FOTF's 9th Inning Heroics

Excel Hearts Choi — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:11:26 -0000

I was listening to MLB on XM today, and a show had David Vincent on as a guest. Vincent is a member of SABR, works with Retrosheet, and is considered to be the preeminent authority on HR's. In fact, he coauthored this book (along with several others), which catalogs every HR ever hit since 1876. Vincent mentioned that MY is the only player ever to hit three 9th inning HR's over a 5 game span in which they either tied the game or gave his team the lead.

Speaking of improved defenses, let’s hear it for the Texas Rangers and Jon Daniels. Nelson Cruz, C...

Excel Hearts Choi — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:31:43 -0000

Speaking of improved defenses, let’s hear it for the Texas Rangers and Jon Daniels. Nelson Cruz, Chris Davis, Ian Kinsler, Josh Hamilton, Omar Vizquel, and Hank Blalock are all rated as average or slightly above, with Cruz tying Gutierrez for the overall UZR lead. The Rangers worst defender has been Michael Young, who isn’t taking to third base as quickly as the Rangers would’ve hoped.

UZR Tidbits from Fan Graphs, 20 April

Five Questions: Texas Rangers

Excel Hearts Choi — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:48:16 -0000

Five Questions: Texas Rangers

The Hardball Times has this year's Five Questions for the Texas Rangers published (written by Scott Lucas).

MLB Home Plate and the Rangers

Excel Hearts Choi — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 15:37:46 -0000

MLB Home Plate and the Rangers

Starting on 15 March, MLB Home Plate will have its afternoon broadcast (1 to 4 Eastern) in Arizona covering the Cactus League. On 17 March, the Rangers and Indians will be the topics of conversation.

I listened briefly to the Phillies broadcast, and they devote a block of time to talk nothing but that particular team. The guests lineup interviews with players, the manager, coaches, and the GM. Typically, the calls are also about the team. From what little I have heard, it was really good. So make some time if you have a satellite radio subscription.