SB Nation User Blog: SanDiegoKev

OT: Ranger Bullpen Spotted in Austin

SanDiegoKev — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:35:45 -0000

Actually, just people that look like the Rangers Bullpen. Really, somebody's joke:

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin drivers making their morning commute were in for a surprise when two road signs on a busy stretch of road were taken over by hackers.

"Even though this may seem amusing to a lot of people, this is really serious, and it is a crime," said Austin Public Works spokesperson Sara Hartley. "And you can be indicted for it, and we want to make sure our traffic on the roadways stays safe."

Perry on Sheets

SanDiegoKev — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:42:07 -0000

Rangers

If the latest rumors are any guide, Texas is Sheets' most serious suitor. With a rotation that last season ranked 13th in the AL in starters' ERA, the Rangers certainly need the help. Right now, the Texas rotation comprises Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla, and they'll likely dig up three more starters from an uninspiring group that includes Dustin Nippert, Kason Gabbard, Matt Harrison, Scott Feldman and Brandon McCarthy. Sheets would immediately become their best starting pitcher.

He thinks Sheets is a better fit any place but Texas:

Mets, Cardinals, Indians or even the Brewers.

MLB Viewer Ratings

SanDiegoKev — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:55:14 -0000

RSN Ratings (ranked by percentage gain)
RSN	Team	2008 avg. rating (% change)	Households avg. (% change)
CSN Chicago	Cubs	4.87 (51.2%)	169,000 (52.3%)
FSN Florida	Rays	2.77 (31.3%)	49,000 (32.4%)
FSN South	Braves	3.31 (23.0%)	76,000 (28.8%)
FSN Rocky Mountain	Rockies	3.56 (16.0%)	53,000 (20.5%)
FSN Ohio	Reds	5.78 (14.9%)	52,000 (15.6%)
CSN Chicago	White Sox	1.82 (13.8%)	63,000 (14.5%)
SunSports	Marlins	3.49 (11.9%)	54,000 (12.5%)
FSN Midwest	Cardinals	8.04 (5.9%)	100,000 (7.5%)
CSN Bay Area	A?s	2.09 (5.6%)	51,000 (8.5%)
FSN Florida	Marlins	3.41 (5.2%)	52,000 (4.0%)
FSN Southwest	Rangers	1.49 (4.2%)	36,000 (5.9%)
CSN Philadelphia	Phillies	5.02 (3.9%)	148,000 (4.2%)
MASN/MASN2	Orioles	3.05 (1.7%)	33,000 (0.0%)
YES	Yankees	4.40 (0.0%)	325,000 (0.3%)
FSN Wisconsin	Brewers	6.73 (-0.9%)	60,000 (0.0%)
FSN North	Twins	6.92 (-6.9%)	118,000 (-5.6%)
CSN Bay Area	Giants	2.51 (-7.4%)	61,000 (-6.2%)
SportSouth	Braves	3.24 (-8.2%)	75,000 (-3.8%)
FSN Detroit	Tigers	6.16 (-9.5%)	119,000 (-9.8%)
SportsNet New York	Mets	2.76 (-10.4%)	204,000 (-10.1%)
SportsTime Ohio	Indians	4.45 (-12.4%)	68,000 (-12.8%)
FSN Arizona	Diamondbacks	3.92 (-16.9%)	71,000 (-12.3%)
FSN West	Angels	1.24 (-17.9%)	70,000 (-17.6%)
NESN	Red Sox	9.75 (-19.4%)	233,000 (-18.8%)
FSN Pittsburgh	Pirates	2.96 (-21.9%)	34,000 (-22.7%)
FSN Prime Ticket	Dodgers	1.57 (-22.7%)	89,000 (-21.9%)
FSN Southwest	Astros	3.36 (-25.7%)	69,000 (-28.1%)
Cox/SD4	Padres	5.08 (-30.6%)	53,000 (-29.3%)
MASN/MASN2	Nationals	0.39 (-43.5%)	9,000 (-43.8%)
FSN Northwest	Mariners	4.67 (-47.2%)	83,000 (-45.4%)
FSN Kansas City*	Royals	3.01 (NA)	28,000 (NA)
* Royals games aired locally on KC Metro Sports last year, making comparisons not applicable. Note: Comparable data for the Blue Jays was unavailable. Source: SportsBusiness Journal analysis of Nielsen Media Research data.

Here is an interesting look at the MLB viewing market. Looking at the interest the Washington Nationals are drawing, I think baseball will fail there a third time, it seems. Rangers show a modest gain.

MLB Viewing Market

SanDiegoKev — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:48:47 -0000

RSN Ratings (ranked by percentage gain)
RSN	Team	2008 avg. rating (% change)	Households avg. (% change)
CSN Chicago	Cubs	4.87 (51.2%)	169,000 (52.3%)
FSN Florida	Rays	2.77 (31.3%)	49,000 (32.4%)
FSN South	Braves	3.31 (23.0%)	76,000 (28.8%)
FSN Rocky Mountain	Rockies	3.56 (16.0%)	53,000 (20.5%)
FSN Ohio	Reds	5.78 (14.9%)	52,000 (15.6%)
CSN Chicago	White Sox	1.82 (13.8%)	63,000 (14.5%)
SunSports	Marlins	3.49 (11.9%)	54,000 (12.5%)
FSN Midwest	Cardinals	8.04 (5.9%)	100,000 (7.5%)
CSN Bay Area	A?s	2.09 (5.6%)	51,000 (8.5%)
FSN Florida	Marlins	3.41 (5.2%)	52,000 (4.0%)
FSN Southwest	Rangers	1.49 (4.2%)	36,000 (5.9%)
CSN Philadelphia	Phillies	5.02 (3.9%)	148,000 (4.2%)
MASN/MASN2	Orioles	3.05 (1.7%)	33,000 (0.0%)
YES	Yankees	4.40 (0.0%)	325,000 (0.3%)
FSN Wisconsin	Brewers	6.73 (-0.9%)	60,000 (0.0%)
FSN North	Twins	6.92 (-6.9%)	118,000 (-5.6%)
CSN Bay Area	Giants	2.51 (-7.4%)	61,000 (-6.2%)
SportSouth	Braves	3.24 (-8.2%)	75,000 (-3.8%)
FSN Detroit	Tigers	6.16 (-9.5%)	119,000 (-9.8%)
SportsNet New York	Mets	2.76 (-10.4%)	204,000 (-10.1%)
SportsTime Ohio	Indians	4.45 (-12.4%)	68,000 (-12.8%)
FSN Arizona	Diamondbacks	3.92 (-16.9%)	71,000 (-12.3%)
FSN West	Angels	1.24 (-17.9%)	70,000 (-17.6%)
NESN	Red Sox	9.75 (-19.4%)	233,000 (-18.8%)
FSN Pittsburgh	Pirates	2.96 (-21.9%)	34,000 (-22.7%)
FSN Prime Ticket	Dodgers	1.57 (-22.7%)	89,000 (-21.9%)
FSN Southwest	Astros	3.36 (-25.7%)	69,000 (-28.1%)
Cox/SD4	Padres	5.08 (-30.6%)	53,000 (-29.3%)
MASN/MASN2	Nationals	0.39 (-43.5%)	9,000 (-43.8%)
FSN Northwest	Mariners	4.67 (-47.2%)	83,000 (-45.4%)
FSN Kansas City*	Royals	3.01 (NA)	28,000 (NA)
* Royals games aired locally on KC Metro Sports last year, making comparisons not applicable. Note: Comparable data for the Blue Jays was unavailable. Source: SportsBusiness Journal analysis of Nielsen Media Research data.

Red Ruff Ass--aulted

SanDiegoKev — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:44:56 -0000

I'd never really paid them any attention before, because I tend to ignore things that I hate and think the world would be better off without, but in the bottom of the fourth I was forced into an encounter with Red Ruff from which there was no passive escape.

The Padres have a couple mascots. They of course have the one Big Gay Friar, who tries way too hard to make friends (possibly for big gay reasons), but they also have Red Ruff and Blue Mews, the anthropomorphic Petco mascots pictured below:

I found this on Lookout Landing, seemed of interest to you all.

Hart is to Blame

SanDiegoKev — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:05:30 -0000

According to Fraley:

Though current Rangers GM Jon Daniels traded Danks, Volquez, Galaragga and Young, Hart was involved in those decisions in his current role as senior advisor to the general manager. Hart also takes the blame for dubious free-agent pitching signings such as Chan Ho Park, Jay Powell and Todd Van Poppel that figured in the Rangers losing their second- through fifth-round picks in the 2002 draft. That created a yawning talent gap in the system.

Bob Short Still Stinks

SanDiegoKev — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:14:07 -0000

Tonight, the former Washington Senators team now known as the Texas Rangers will make its first appearance back in the nation's capital since leaving for Arlington after the 1971 season.

A trip down memory lane, first time the Rats came back to the ship. Bob Short seemed like a used car salesman, and Tom Vandergriff still is a used car salesman. That's a funny story how Vandergriff was hiding in Bob Short's closet. Anybody know where Short is buried? They seem to want to keep that a secret.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/baseball/rangers/stories/062008dnsposenators.3774df7.html

Purge in Toronto?

SanDiegoKev — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:00:11 -0000

If management stays with Ricciardi-Gibbons, the Jays are done for this season and beyond. If management recognizes the obvious, do not be surprised if Buck Showalter again leaves television to get what he always has craved -- complete control of an organization.

Mr. Fraley is advocating for a Buck take-over. He is suggesting that a Showalter is what is needed in Toronto. Look at all the Ranger spares they picked up: Wilkerson, Barajas, and Mench. I wonder who they might be selling soon?

the rangers should include cash with Millwood

SanDiegoKev — Fri, 02 May 2008 21:03:17 -0000

Kevin Millwood/Vicente Padilla: The Rangers can only dream of moving Padilla, who is erratic and earning $23 million in 2008 and '09. Millwood, too, is expensive, but he could be perfect for a team such as the Yankees, who would value his stable presence in their rotation.

The Yankees remain deep in young pitching, and they've got two promising outfielders, Austin Jackson and Jose Tabata, at Class AA. As crazy as it might sound, the Rangers should include significant cash in a Millwood deal with the Yankees or another high-revenue team, enabling them to effectively buy prospects.

Millwood is earning $8.5 million this season, $11 million next season and $12 million in 2010, but his deal could be voided before '10 if he fails to meet certain innings thresholds.

Some pitchers agree to take less in order to enjoy perks of Padres, Petco

SanDiegoKev — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 00:16:59 -0000

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/padres/20080307-9999-1s7padres.html

Why do Japanese Players want to come to San Diego? Maybe, cause it's heaven on earth? Or cause they can get any kind of seafood? The nice sea breeze vs. the crappy smell of Fort Worth?

Why would any Californian root for a team like the Rangers when you can choose between winning teams like the Padres, Angels and Dodgers within a stones throw of each other?