All That Needs To Be Said About Sunday's Meltdown

Maybe CJ shouldn't pitch without rest...

CJ Wilson's Stats When Pitching With No Rest

IP: 12
ER: 16
ERA: 12.00
W-L: 0-5
SV: 4/6

CJ Wilson's Stats With Rest

IP: 48
ER: 6
ERA: 1.12
W-L: 4-1
SV: 12/14

OH! So THAT'S What Strike 3 Looks Like.

Irresponsible. Outside of being a Texas Rangers fan, I have to say it's irresponsible for an umpire to call a batter out on that pitch in a 3-2 baseball game. Chris Davis did not strike out last night.

I always hear outsiders of a team where something like that happens say something to the effect of "Well, it they wouldn't have done 'A' then 'B' at the end wouldn't have mattered, so it's your own fault."

Wrong. Missed opportunities earlier in the game is no excuse for a Triple-A umpire up to the big leagues ending a close ball game on what is at best a borderline call and in all reality was ball four. So frustrating.

Tommy Hunter had a rough first inning. The Twins hit the ball hard off of him and scored 3 runs, but he held them to 3 hits and no runs for the next 6. Disappointing that he had to come out on the losing end. Coming in after him was prospect Pedro Strop who looked really good. Struck out Mauer, popped up Morneau and got Kubel to ground out. That's Minnesota's three best hitters right there.

Strop showed a nasty splitter when he got Mauer to strike out. Hopefully he can pitch just half as good as he did the rest of the way...it would go a long way to taking pressure off of Neftali Feliz.

I'm still frustrated with the bats right now. Outside of Young, no one has been consistent. Josh has hit the ball well this month, but he's having a major power outage. 2 home runs in the last two months.

Scotty Feldman is on the hump tonight. Texas could really use six or seven innings from Scott tonight.

Other notes: Tommy Mendonca has been promoted to High-A Bakersfield. Mendonca, a Chris Davis clone if I ever saw one, was shredding pitchers at Spokane, but also struck out at a ridiculous rate. Hopefully he can remedy the swiss cheese in his swing. Still, it's encouraging that the Rangers would think highly enough of him to promote him after only 49 professional games.

Brandon McCarthy pitched well at OKC on Thursday. 6 innings, 2 hits, 3 walks and 7 strikeouts. Nippert and McCarthy should be the two pitchers going for the Rangers in the double-header against Toronto, and it may be a significant test to see who will take hold of the fifth spot in the rotation. Nippert has struggled of late, so BMac may come in and take his rotation spot back after being out since May with a fracture in his shoulder.

Also, Justin Smoak finally homered again for OKC. His combined numbers at all minor league levels this year are .289 avg, .410 OBP, 12 HR, 21 2B, 57 RBI. Averaged out to a 162 game schedule and his numbers are .289/.410/18HR/32 2B/88 RBI. Not a bad year for Smoak. You'd certainly take that every year if he could produce it at the major league level, but the great thing about Smoak is that he projects to be even better than that.

AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!

What a terrifying victory for the Rangers on Tuesday night. An odd thing to say for sure, but it's the only thing to say. Flat out, the Texas Rangers are lucky to have won last night's game by the 10-9 final that they did.

To be perfectly honest, the game reminded me of this one we played against the Angels in May.

http://sportsbydallas.blogspot.com/2009/05/and-hits-just-keep-on-coming.html

With what seemed like a sure 10-5 lead, the Rangers came into the 9th with Jason Grilli pitching to get some work in now that he's off the DL. Grilli gave up a walk and a single and was quickly pulled in favor of Frank Francisco.

Of course, thanks to my jinx having posted yesterday that Frankie hadn't walked anyone since July 10th, he walks A-Rod to load the bases with no one out. Matsui singles, one run scores. Bases still loaded and no one out. 10-6. Next batter is Jorge Posada who in his career is 0-9 against Frankie...until tonight. Fluky little infield single scores Tex from third and loads the bases again. No one out, 10-7 the score now. Robinson Cano now up...as the game winning run. Cano, of course, hits a weak single that score two.

Texas is now faced with runners on first and second, no one out, in a 10-9 ball game. Nick Swisher comes up and is bunting. I know why Girardi made the call, but I disagree with it. With no one out, I think you have to let Swisher swing there. Swisher fails on the bunt attempt, popping it up and out. Runners stay put, but Texas is still faced with thy tying run in scoring position and Melkey Cabrera coming up. Melkey lines out to Elvis Andrus, who quickly scampers to second and steps on the bag just ahead of pinch-runner Jerry Hairston's dive. Double play to end the game.

Texas really got lucky here. I'm starting to wonder if maybe Neftali Feliz should take over closer duties for now. Bottom line, Feliz is the most dominant pitcher the Rangers have right now.

The second most dominant pitcher the Rangers have right now is Derek Holland. He'll be on the mound for Texas tonight against Andy Pettite. Texas looks to clinch a series win with a victory tonight. Texas HAS to take two out of three and could really use a sweep in this series.

Couple awesome notes from yesterday's game...Josh Hamilton had four hits...Michael Young went 2-5 with another home run and three RBI...9 of Texas' 10 runs came with two outs and each time the rally started with 2 out and no one on.

Pitching has to be a concern for Texas right now. They've been rocked around a little bit the last couple weeks. Hopefully Holland and Hunter can end that trend these next two nights.

Also, finally, random thought that has been bugging me. After seeing Kinsler getting plunked on a regular basis, I'm really starting to feel like Texas would be well served to charge next time that happens. You don't want to do it, but there comes a point where the club needs to stick up for Kinsler. The next time he gets hit, I say you either charge the mound or drill the opposing team's best player with a Feliz fastball. Either way...Texas needs to back it's All-Star second baseman.

Numbers, Numbers, Numbers...

Josh Hamilton in the month of August is hitting .345 with 9 extra base hits and 12 RBI...

Ian Kinsler is averaging a home run every 11 at-bats since coming off the DL and his OBP is .400...

Derek Holland is 4-2 with a 2.95 ERA since the All-Star Break...

More specifically, since being rocked by the Royals on July 25th, Derek Holland is 4-1 with a 1.85 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched...

Elvis Andrus while also playing superb defense is hitting .292 since the All-Star break which is 30 points higher than the league average for starting shortstops...

Frank Francisco hasn't walked a batter since July 10...

Darren O'Day hasn't allowed a home run in two months...

Josh Hamilton is hitting .320 on the road for the year...

Right handed batters are 1 for 23 with 11 strikeouts and 0 extra base hits or RBIs against Neftal Feliz...

Marlon Byrd is hitting .337 when batting clean up...

Michael Young is on pace to hit .329 with 46 doubles, 28 home runs and 83 RBI...

Batters are 0-12 against Kevin Millwood this year with the bases loaded...

Scott Feldman on the road this year is 9-1 with a 3.15 ERA...

Since joining the starting rotation for good in June, Tommy Hunter is 6-2 with a 2.65 ERA and a .214 opponents batting average...

When hitting leadoff this year, Julio Borbon is batting .468 with 9 runs scored and 6 RBI and a .514 OBP...

Ian Kinsler is hitting .309 with runners in scoring position this year...

Since July 20th, Michael Young is hitting .389 with 26 RBI and 19 extra base hits...

Texas Should (And Ultimately Will) Trade Jarrod Saltalamacchia

I know a lot of people who are afraid to even entertain the idea of letting Jarrod Saltalamacchia go. He's had such great potential and was the supposed center piece of the most lopsided trade that Texas has ever pulled off.

When rising through Atlanta's minor league ranks, he was projected by many scouts as a decent defensive catcher with a big bat. A 30 home run, 100 RBI, .290 hitter seemed to be the consensus projection for Salty. Numbers like that from a SWITCH-HITTING Catcher would make any team go ga-ga, and it's why he was the big chip in the Teixeira trade.

Before I go on with why Saltalamacchia should be traded and why I think the Rangers have already made up their mind on it, let me pass along some notes that go hand in hand with this theory.

August 14th...Jarrod Saltalamacchia is pulled from a game against the Boston Red Sox in the 4th inning with more numbness in his arm.

August 15th...Saltalamacchia is put on the disabled list, Jon Daniels is quoted as saying the Rangers would "explore possible trade options in an effort to upgrade the catching situation"

August 18th...Pudge Rodriguez, all time fan favorite and still a solid catcher, is traded to the Texas Rangers for two minor leaguers. Upon arrival, Pudge is quoted as saying "This would be a great place to finish my career. I'm very excited to be back." as well as saying "Physically and mentally, I feel great. I want to play two or three more years."

Just down the hall in the Rangers clubhouse, Taylor Teagarden tells the media "I grew up watching and he was my idol. I've got the opportunity of a lifetime"

Pudge brings out the lineup card and the crowd goes wild. Pudge appears to feel right at home and the crowd is loving him.

August 19th...Pudge returns to the Rangers lineup and goes 3-4 with two singles, an RBI double and a run scored.

Back to today. I think at this point in time it's clear that the better all-around baseball player between Texas' two young catchers is Taylor Teagarden. I'm not saying Salty can't be better, but RIGHT NOW, it's Teagarden. While Salty has improved his defense, Teagarden is still a vastly better defensive Catcher and calls a better game. Salty's appeal has always been his offense though, so it would be excusable if he had shown that he was a much better offensive player...I haven't seen it yet.

For 2009...

Walks/Plate Appearance

Salty: 22/302 (7.2%)
Tea: 13/145 (8.9%)

Strikeouts/Plate Appearance

Salty: 96/302 (31.7%)
Tea: 47/145 (32.4%)

RBIs (162 Game Average)

Salty: 66
Tea: 81

HRs (162 Game Average)

Salty: 17
Tea: 20

So at this point in time, Teagarden is showing more patience and more pop at the plate than Salty is. The only thing Saltalamacchia really had Taylor soundly beat on is batting average. Looking at the numbers above, logic would seem to say that Taylor Teagarden could use much of the off season to work on his swing and should be able to catch up to Salty by the beginning of next year (In contact that is...Tea has already caught and passed Salty in everything else)

Right now, I think the Rangers focus for the future has to be Taylor Teagarden. Now, about now, you may be saying "Fine...let Taylor be the main guy. Why do we have to trade Salty?"

A number of reasons.

Remember the quotes above from Pudge Rodriguez? He says that he wants to finish things off in Texas. He also says he wants to play two or three more years. By connecting the obvious dots, Pudge wants an extension from Texas at the end of the year.

"OK, but why does Pudge's desire to have an extension trump Salty's youth and potential?"

The focus is Taylor Teagarden. As I quoted above, Taylor is pumped to have Pudge here. Taylor can be the youth and future, with Pudge the veteran that can show him the ropes. And who better to learn the Catcher position from than Pudge? Especially when it's the player you grew up idolizing?

"But Catcher is a premium position"

Exactly why Salty has to go. He hasn't shown any signs over the last three years of being the bat everyone thought he was going to be, and the bat was the reason everyone wanted him. If the bat isn't there, you're left with a good, but not great defensive Catcher who can't hit from either side of the plate.

Look...the Rangers have brought home Pudge to finish his career like they should have, but Pudge has shown signs this year of being able to play an extra season or two and he's expressed a willingness to be a backup. With Taylor as the future, and Pudge being his tutor...the position becomes a little crowded with Salty seemingly standing around and doing nothing.

Jon Daniels is never afraid to make a big move. That's why I think you'll see Salty and Scott Feldman along with a minor leaguer packaged away for another solid starting pitcher or a power outfielder. Why Feldman? Well...while Feldman has been excellent this year, realistically people need to recognize when someone's having a career year...that's Feldman. Feldman and Salty's value are probably as high as they're going to be for the rest of their careers (With Salty, his value days are past his peak, so it's only going down from here)

I don't want to make the same mistake with Jarrod Saltalamacchia that we did with Ruben Mateo in the 90s/00s. You can't hold on to potential forever, and I'm afraid that's a wall we've run into with Saltalamacchia.

To be absolutely clear, let me state...by April of next year, Jarrod Saltalamacchia will no longer be a Texas Ranger.

Welcome Home, Pudge

Argh...what a frustrating loss that caps off a great day for Rangers fans.

He is back. My all time favorite player and the man I feel confident in saying is the single most popular Ranger in team history.

Working overnights as I do, I was sleeping at 1 o'clock this afternoon when I was shaken awake by my brother to tell me that Pudge Rodriguez had been traded to the Rangers. I didn't believe him. Not that it wasn't feasible (I spoke of the possibility on my twitter feed a couple of days ago) but you have to know my brother...he finds it funny to wake me up and tell me random untrue things like he did last week when I was woken up after two hours sleep and told "Ed Norton overdosed on cocaine and he's in the hospital"

I actually had to pull myself out of bed and go to a TV before I would allow myself to be excited. Sure enough...I was allowed to be excited.

As I said earlier, Pudge Rodriguez is my favorite player in the history of baseball. He is what got me into the sport when I was growing up. And while he's not the Pudge of old, he's still putting up better numbers then what we're currently getting out of our players at that position. He always calls good games, and so I'm thinking that aside from Teagarden, he may also help our young pitchers.

It's a good move anyway you look at it. Something that is very interesting is how Pudge commented in his press conference that he felt he could play two or three more years and wanted to retire with Texas. It's interesting because it seems like part of the reason Pudge was brought in was to mentor Tea, who idolizes him. If you have the young/veteran duo at catcher that can get along, and with Teagarden playing better overall baseball than Salty, I have to wonder if it's possible that Pudge isn't just a quarter year rental and if he's actually being brought in to give the Rangers some flexibility should they choose to move Saltalamacchia. Not saying it will happen, but just telling you to keep an eye on that.

Now as for the game...my excitement was so much that I had to buy tickets to Tuesday's game. Got a ball from CJ and had it signed by Kid Miracle (Derek Holland)...awesome.

The game itself was not awesome, however. While Borbon continued to get on and swipe bases, and Kinsler is still swinging the bat well after coming off the DL, and Hamilton had another RBI double, they still managed to blow a 5-0 lead...it's their biggest blown lead of the year. Quite depressing, especially on a night in which Boston and LAA won their ball games.

This game was lost (9-6) due to Feldman's fatigue and Jennings' inability to throw any pitch that was worth a damn. I loved what Jennings did earlier in the season, but he looks burned out right now. Rattled. We can't have that in the middle of a playoff chase. We can't have a pitcher who doesn't have any command on his fastball. Or a guy who has no break to pitches that are supposed to break. That's Jason Jennings right now.

With the loss and the Boston victory, Texas is now tied in the wild card lead and faces a brutal stretch of games. They need to perform and it starts by taking these next two against Minnesota.

Millwood will take the hill on Wednesday and will be caught by Pudge Rodriguez...I'm interested to see the ovation he receives.

Checking In!

Been away for awhile...here are some quick hits followed by some thoughts on the Rangers.

* That Neftali Feliz kid that I was pumping up and keeping track of in OKC early in the season...impressive, no?

* Glad Padilla is gone, hoping Smoltz will be added to the bullpen

* Disappointed that we couldn't bring in Roy Halladay, but I didn't want to give up Feliz, Smoak or Holland...anyone else in our minors was up for grabs in my eyes.

* Cowboys first preseason game was major yuck. Only the first team offense looked even semi-good, and they were just barely there.

* Shawn Marion and Tim Thomas get a thumbs up from me. Drew Gooden and no Rashad McCants get a thumbs down from me.

OK, now on to the Rangers who had the Twins on Monday night. Texas coming off of a big time series win over the Red Sox (Should have been a sweep were it not for Frankie Francisco pitching horrendously) had to look out for a lull, but they were pretty much on their game offensively.

Pitching? Eh...not so much. They struggled a tad, especially when compared to the dominance they've displayed at times since the All Star break.

Hunter went 5 2/3 and gave up 4 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 5. I'm not sure what Hunter's deal was tonight. He had a fairly dominant stretch for a couple of innings, but most of the night Hunter struggled with his control. Just wasn't able to locate his pitches for strikes. On the evening he threw 101 pitches and 39 of them were balls. Not the best ratio, especially considering the ridiculous level that Hunter has been pitching at for the last two months or so.

Darren O'Day, the most consistent pitcher on the club this year, came in to get the last out of the sixth inning, faced three batters and failed to get any of them out. Walked two and gave up a single to the other. That cut a lead that was once 7-2, to 7-5 with two on.

Wash made the call to the bullpen and in came Neftali Feliz. Feliz has just been dominant since getting the call to the bigs. Coming in to tonight, Feliz had faced 28 batters, retired 26 of them and struck out 16 while walking 0. It doesn't get much more dominant than that.

Oddly enough, Feliz's stuff wasn't really on tonight. His velocity was curiously low, and his breaking stuff didn't quite have the bite that it had since he had been called up.

Still, Feliz came in and stopped the bleeding by getting the final out of the 6th and then allowing no runs in the 7th. Still, Feliz failed to strike a batter out for the first time since he was called up and went to a three ball count on Joe Mauer before he finally socked a single into center field. I think the game against Minnesota should be a telling sign that Neftali Feliz is a starting pitcher and not a reliever like some seem to think he will be. Feliz seemed fatigued. I think his velocity and arm health in general would be better suited to pitching 8 innings all at once instead of pitching 8 accumulated innings over the course of 8 games.

Neftali has gotten steadily slower with his fastball in recent games, and I think it's because his young arm just can't hold up under dialing up 100 miles per hour, being off a day, and then having to do it again two days later. He's not built like that. Feliz is a starter...not a doubt in my mind.

In the meantime, the Rangers are looking great. Hamilton is smoking the ball, as is Kinsler. I can't wait for Nelson Cruz to get back to full strength to see how he'll bolster this offense that seems to be gelling for the first time all year. The team as a whole seems to be putting it together, and that should scare the rest of the AL.

Texas leads the wild card by 1 game over Boston and just started what is sure to be a brutal schedule. Three more against Minnesota in Texas, and then a 9 game road trip that features three game stops in Tampa, New York, and back to face Minnesota to close it out. If Texas wants to show the world they're for real, I think they need to go 8-4/9-3 over these next 12.

Hopefully the pitching can keep up their stellar play and the bats will continue to come around.

Tonight is game two against the Twins. Scott Feldman on the hill. With the bullpen drained due to overuse in recent games, the Rangers could really use 7 or 8 innings from Scooter.