Does the 2nd game theory exist? Some believe that the second game back from a roadtrip a team will suffer from fatigue and display lackluster performance. Here is a quick look at the Rangers' Runs/RA for the 2nd game back for the last 3 years.

 
2011   4-7                                 
Rk    Gm#            Date    Opp R RA
17     17  Tuesday Apr 19 LAA  L 4 15
34     34  Saturday May 7 NYY  W 7  5
49     49  Tuesday May 24 CHW  L 6  8
62     62   Tuesday Jun 7 DET  L 1  8
75     75  Tuesday Jun 21 HOU  W 5  4
84     84  Saturday Jul 2 FLA  L 5  9
101   101 Saturday Jul 23 TOR  W 5  4
114   114  Saturday Aug 6 CLE  L 5  7
130   130  Tuesday Aug 23 BOS  L 5 11
146   146 Saturday Sep 10 OAK  L 7  8
158   158 Saturday Sep 24 SEA  W 7  3
totals                           57   82                                 
runs/game                        5.2  7.5  
2011 season @ home               6.1  4.9

 
2010    8-3                                  
Rk    Gm#             Date    Opp  R RA
17     17  Saturday Apr 24 DET  L  4  8
30     30     Friday May 7 KCR  W  4  1
40     40   Tuesday May 18 LAA  W  8  7
55     55   Saturday Jun 5 TBR  W  6  1
71     71 Wednesday Jun 23 PIT  W 13  3
80     80   Saturday Jul 3 CHW  W  3  1
97     97    Friday Jul 23 LAA  W  1  0
113   113 Wednesday Aug 11 NYY  L  6  7
125   125   Tuesday Aug 24 MIN  W  4  3
142   142  Saturday Sep 11 NYY  W  7  6
157   157   Tuesday Sep 28 SEA  L  1  3
totals                            57  40                                 
runs/game                        5.2  3.6  
2010 season @ home               5.3  4.2

  
2009    7-5                                 
Rk    Gm#             Date    Opp  R RA
8       8   Tuesday Apr 14 BAL  L  5  7
21     21  Thursday Apr 30 OAK  L  2  4
33     33 Wednesday May 13 SEA  W  6  5
45     45   Tuesday May 26 NYY  W  7  3
58     58    Tuesday Jun 9 TOR  L  0  9
73     73  Saturday Jun 27 SDP  L  3  7
89     89  Saturday Jul 18 MIN  L  1  4
98     98   Tuesday Jul 28 DET  W  7  3
115   115  Saturday Aug 15 BOS  W  7  2
131   131    Tuesday Sep 1 TOR  W  5  2
141   141    Sunday Sep 13 SEA  W  7  2
154   154  Saturday Sep 26 TBR  W 15  3
totals                            50  51                                 
runs/game                        4.2  4.3  
2009 season @ home               5.3  4.5

I am not ready to confirm or call this theory busted based on these results. Runs/game was down almost 1 run/gm in two of the three years. Pitching had three different outcomes in three years. Certainly needs a deeper study.

Glad to see everyone playing on July 4.

SPO-8:30- S Perez 
HIC-6:00- Tepesch 
MYR-6:00- Grimm 
FRS-6:00- Erlin 
RRE-8:00- Tomko 
AZRL-pm- Mavare? 

SPO-9:15- Payano 
HIC-6:00- McBride 
MYR-5:00- Boscan 
FRS-6:00- M Perez 
RRE-7:00- Jackson 
AZRL-pm- ADLS?

Very nice group of pitchers tonight

7/2

SPO-9:15- D Perez 
HIC-6:00- Mendez 
MYR-5:00- MDLS 
FRS-7:00- Wieland 
RRE-6:00- Hurley 
AZRL-pm- Blackwell? 
Frisco on TV Tonight 

J2 Signings

Renato Nunez, a 3B for Oakland is the biggest name so far. He signed with Oakland for 2.2 million dollars. His biggest asset is his bat. He will need some time to grow into his power, but he has a nice swing and doubles should come easy to him.

Yoel Araujo is an athletic CF who signed with the Rays for 800k. He has a big body structure and will probably end up as a corner OF'er. He has a good bat and that is his best tool.

Some other players have signed Danry Vazquez, OF,DET(1 millionish) and Jose Tovar, LHP, COL for 350K.

Kinda slow to start but that is the way the international signings go. 

 

http://milbprospects.blogspot.com/2010/07/j2-signings.html

7/1

SPO-9:15- Kukuruda 
HIC-6:00- Buckel 
MYR-6:00- Ross 
FRS-7:00- Pimentel 
RRE-7:00- Webb 
AZRL- Off 

http://www.my.calendars.net/farmprobs/

 

Round Rock Express
Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Ramirez, N (W, 1-0)	6.0	3	0	0	0	5	0	0.00

Monday 4/11

HIC-6:00- Melo
MYR- Off
FRS-7:00- Pimentel
RRE-7:00- Hankins

Jason Cole's 4/11 recap

http://rangers.scout.com/2/1063539.html

Who the heck is Odubel Herrera?

Tuesday 4/12

HIC-6:00- Mendez
MYR-6:00- Ross
FRS-11am- Boscan
RRE-7:00- Kirkman

Wednesday 4/13

HIC-10am- Rojas
MYR-6:00- Wieland
FRS- Off
RRE-7:00- Ramirez
Hurley to DL- infection

Thursday 4/14

HIC-6:00- Tepesch
MYR-6:00- Bell
FRS-7:00- Perez
RRE-7:00- Jackson

http://www.my.calendars.net/farmprobs/

Since nobody else would like to do it.

Remeber there is no crying in baseball. Basketball yes, baseball no.

@benandskin will have an exclusive interview with Josh Hamilton tomorrow! Tune to 103.3 FM from 9-12am tomorrow for the best show on radio! about 2 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone from East Dallas, Dallas   Retweeted by benandskin

Jon Daniels expresses "regrets" on way Michael Young situation was handled. More to come on blog. #anotherquietdayinRangerscamp

The Rangers want him to a Ranger for life and become the next Mariano Rivera. That's how I read it.

For now, the Texas Rangers view him in the mold of Rivera, widely revered as the game's greatest closer. General manager Jon Daniels said Monday that Feliz will remain in his role as closer next season.

...

"Probably the two questions were: Can he close, and can he start?" Daniels said. "You knew that somewhere that arm is going to play. I think we've definitively answered one of them. There's no doubt in anybody's mind he can close. We don't know whether he can start and I don't know if we're going to find out. We've talked about it at some point that we might. We're not going to close that door, but we're also not going to speculate on it any more than is necessary. He's our closer. I would expect he'll be our closer."

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/texas-rangers

Today's starters per Scott Lucas.

AAA: Omar Beltre
AA: Travis Chick
High-A: Robbie Ross
Low-A: Jake Brigham
Short-A: Tim Stanford
Rookie: off


Sunday Boxes

Hickory

 Frisco

OKC

Bakersfield

Spokane

 

Sunday's starters per Scott Lucas

Today’s Starters
AAA: Doug Mathis
AA: Martin Perez
High-A: Wilfredo Boscan
Low-A: Braden Tullis
Short-A: Ben Henry
Rookie: Richard Alvarez

 I am not too concerned with Martin's numbers the rest of the year just as long as he stays healthy.

75 word filler from Scott:

Chuck Norris Wishes He Was Nolan Ryan

Chris Jaffe at The Hardball Times sent me an interesting "20 years ago" piece about Nolan Ryan's outing for Texas on August 17, 1990. Too bad I'm blind and didn't see it until today. It's still worth your time. Ryan produced the best Game Score since 1976, but the back story was even more interesting. http://rangers.scottlucas.com/     

A quick look at Cliff Lee's projected starts. This assumes he starts on Saturday and the Rangers don't skip anyone to give Lee any extra starts. Included is Lee's career OPS against each opponent in their ballpark. Btw, his career OPS in RBiA is .814.

 

7/17.........@BOS..........886

7/22.........LAA

7/28.........OAK

8/3...........@SEA..........636

8/8...........@OAK..........709

8/15..........BOS

8/20..........@BAL..........791

8/25..........MIN

8/30..........@KC............685

9/5............@MIN...........712 (in Metrodome)

9/10..........NYY

9/17..........@SEA..........636

9/22..........@LAA..........617

9/27..........SEA

10/2...........LAA

Some slash lines of interest...

Home .263/.311/.405

Road .259/.309/.408

Baseball Prospectus' view on the Rangers organization. Well, actually thier bullpen.

The Rangers, potentially destined for the playoffs, could have a really deep bullpen come October—although they're making decisions towards a different end.
...

These guys could have the nastiest bullpen in baseball right now—but they don't, due to some decisions down on the farm that seem to be more aimed at the future (if one tries to rationalize them at all) rather than at taking advantage of a golden opportunity in the present.
...

"He could dominate in the big leagues right now as a seventh/eighth inning guy," said one pro scout who has seen Scheppers on multiple occasions this year. "I'm not really sure I understand what Texas is doing with him. They're going to be in the playoffs and they have upgrades over guys like Chris Ray and Dustin Nippert ready to go, but instead, they're trying to turn these guys into something they aren't."

Goldstein and this scout seem to have a shortterm view. Beltre is starting tonight simply due to injuries. Unless Ogando implodes, he will be with the team for the remainder of the season.

Scheppers seems to be thier biggest contention. Longterm the Rangers view him as a starter. They also have two SPs on the DL and another relegated to the bullpen. They need some SP depth and Tanner needs minor league experience. Let him start in AAA. . And as Durrett points out, the Rangers can simply bring up Scheppers at any time and put him in the pen.

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/texas-rangers

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=11351

The link goes on to discuss the A's and Angels before hiding behind a firewall.

It is about time.

Tom Grieve was selected to join the Texas Rangers' Hall of Fame on Wednesday afternoon. Grieve has spent 43 of his 44 years of professional baseball with the Washington Senators/Rangers franchise.

He will be inducted during pre-game ceremonies on Saturday, July 24 before the Rangers game with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. That game's starting time will be moved to 7:35 p.m. to accommodate the on-field ceremony.

Grieve was the Rangers' general manager for 10 years before moving to the broadcast booth in 1995, where his 16-year run is the longest tenure ever for a Rangers' TV announcer. He is being inducted for his contributions to the franchise in a "non-playing capacity," joining fellow Hall of Famers Johnny Oates (2003), Tom Vandergriff (2004) and Mark Holtz (2005) in that category.

 

No snarky comments like last weekend. I seemed to have jinxed a few pitchers.　

Per Jamey, Martin Perez has been placed on the Frisco DL with TOS a cracked fingernail. Strop has been sent back to OKC, BMac and Madrigal both activated off thier DLs and in the OKC bullpen. So the Rangers make a trade. Jailen Peguero goes to Houson for future considerations. Doug Mathis continues in the OKC rotation. Are my 75 words up yet?　

 

HIC-6:00- Wieland
BAK-9:30- Pimentel
FRS-6:00- Tatusko
OKC-7:00- Moscoso

 

HIC-4:00- Ross
BAK-3:15- Font
FRS-2:00- Beavan
OKC-1:30- Mathis

 

Shroom's calendar.

 

Beyond the Boxscore has started thier "50 Best Players of the Next 5 Years"

list. Will a Ranger be in the top 20?

 

 From BtB...

No. 42: RHP Neftali Feliz, Texas (Total WAR: 19.16; Years 1-5: 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.5)

I'd like to make one thing clear: Feliz doesn't make this list as a reliever, he makes it as a STARTER.

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2010/6/1/1494938/btbs-50-best-of-the-next-5-years

 

No. 26: SS Elvis Andrus, Texas (Age 21; Total projected WAR: 21.76; WAR Years 1-5: 3.4, 3.9, 4.6, 4.9, 5.1)

For those who might have missed it, 

I'm a big Elvis fan. Projected as the best shortstop in the AL and the third-best shortstop in the majors over the next five years, Andrus combines a top-notch glove at shortstop with a progressing bat that our projections see taking some major strides.

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2010/6/3/1499538/btbs-50-best-of-the-next-5-years#storyjump

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/

 

Saturday:

HIC-6:00- Thompson - Hittable (9.9 H/9) but also misses bats (10.9 K/9).
BAK-9:00- Main  - Has given up 10 HRs in 51.1 IP

 

FRS-7:00- Tatusko  - Who is he holding a rotation spot for?

OKC-6:00- Kirkman - Having a very nice AAA season. Holding LHB to a .125 avg.

Sunday:

HIC-1:00- Ramirez - Similar hits and K numbers as Thompson but gives up too many FBs.
BAK-9:30- Pimentel - Managing the Cal league well with numbers similar to what he posted in the SAL.
FRS-2:00- Perez - Still only 19yo.
OKC-2:00- Ballard - Don't look for him to be a LOOGY, at least based on his 2010 numbers (.388 vs LHB).

 

Memorial Day:

 

HIC-6:00- Wieland - Can he keep up his current hot streak over his last 5 games? (33.2 IP, 3BB, 27K)
BAK-9:15- Font - Needs to build on his May 26 performance (7IP 0R 1BB 6K)
FRS-4:00- Beavan - It's time  for him to move up to AAA.
OKC-1:00- Hunter - Case of beer to whomever knows his first name. No cheating!

 

Shroom's calendar

 

From Fraley...

+ For the eighth time this season, Rangers' manager Ron Washington used the bullpen for five-plus innings. That is the most five-plus-innings games for a bullpen in the American League. Kansas City, last in the AL Central, has done it seven times. The Los Angeles Angels, whose manager MIke Scioscia fiercely protects his bullpen, and the New York Yankees have done it only once.

The Rangers lead the American League in bullpen innings with 120, which translates into a 540-innings pace for a full season. Bullpens get into the burned-out zone once they go past about 475 innings.

I am sure some of those games mentioned by Fraley were of the extra innings variety. But, his point stands:  the bullpen is overworked. Harden, Feldman and to some degree Ron's small ball desires are taxing the pen. Harrrison got alot of grief around LSB but at least he was near lg avg in IP/GS.

 

...............................IP.........GS...... IP/GS..... Pit/GS

*C.J. Wilson........... 48.2...... 7........... 7.0......... 108

Colby Lewis............ 45.2...... 7............ 6.5........ 108

League Average ....................................6.0......... 99

*Derek Holland...........6.0.......1.............6.0.........103

*Matt Harrison.......... 34.0..... 6........... 5.7......... 104

Scott Feldman............ 37.0..... 7........... 5.3.......... 99

Rich Harden............... 38.1..... 8............ 4.8.......... 95

Tommy Hunter('09).....112.......19...........5.9..........91

 

http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/05/two-ominous-items-from-the-ran.html