You are going to lose some games. Ogando left that up and paid for it.

Still the FPTRs with the best record in the AL.

Damn. A couple of missed opportunities this weekend, but at least they got to Felix and Harrison is back and looked good.

This team really needs Tanner Scheppers back in the 8th inning role. He was fantastic last year in that role and I'm sure he would do well again when healthy. I never liked the idea of trying to make him a starter, even with the rotation injuries. Almost all of his appearances in the minor leagues and with Texas were relief roles, and it seemed to be going against the grain to make him a starter. Note that this is in contrast with Robbie Ross, who made 68 starts in 69 games as a minor leaguer.

Agree.

I'm afraid Scheppers won't be the same when be goes back to the pen like Ogando hasn't been the same.

txagman

When Scheppers was drafted, he was a health risk. It is why he was still available at the 44th pick.

The Rangers took a gamble by drafting him. His role as a reliver in the minors was mainly to develop his arm strength while minimizing their risk. IIRC, the belief was any chance of him pitching in MLB was later... not earlier.

I don't know of any pitcher drafted in the 1st round... with the intention of him being a setup man.

Last year Scheppers repeated that he didn't want to be a setup guy. He either wanted to be a Closer or SP. I don't know that he'd just accept the role as a setup guy, and JD has seemed to indicate he will remain a SP. He was not considered for the Closer role because it was believed he would be 4th - Soria, Ogando, Feliz.

In an ironic diapolic oppositte twist... Robbie Ross was never really expected to be a MLB SP. IIRC, when he was drafted it was believed he didn't have the frame (5'11") to be durable enough to pitch a full season. Many believed if he was 4-5" taller, he'd have easily been a Top 10 pick. Seems like I recall hearing his father was telling teams to be open minded about him being a SP and get to know him before drawing conclusions and putting him in the BP. It seemed like I recall his dad was instrumental in him getting a shot through the minors as a SP. I know Ross expressed his desire to transition to the rotation. Up until his success, I think many fans\observers believed (and still believe) he would not make it through the season and likely be relegated back to the BP.

McPizza
I don't think he would be happy in the BP. I think he was willing to do it, in order to make the club... but has expressed his lack of desire to stay there. Looking at Cotts, and as mentioned above... RP can be a crap shoot every year.

YOu know, Scheppers had a good season last year, but he's in no position to dictate what he will or will not do.

If the team needs him in the 8th, he needs to be told he will be that guy. If he pouts, he's replaced.

Tanner has been awful as a starter so far. I can't imagine him getting many more chances there. With Colby and Matt back, he isn't needed as a starter anymore.

While these things tend to work themselves out (with someone under-performing or getting injured), the bigger question is what will happen when Holland returns.

I don't see Colby going to the bullpen... So are you going to send Ross (5 starts, 2.45 ERA thus far) back to the pen?

Nice problem to have I guess.

[This message has been edited by free_mhayden (edited 4/28/2014 2:11p).]

I think Ross absolutely gets moved back. he(seems) selfless enough to embrace the role...and also know that he's the next man up behind a couple of guys who are always injured.

Norm said today that the Rangers have now blown FOUR 8th inning leads this year.

imagine sitting at 19-6 right now....

To be fair, Rangers have won 3 games that they were losing going to the 9th.

quote:

---

YOu know, Scheppers had a good season last year, but he's in no position to dictate what he will or will not do.

If the team needs him in the 8th, he needs to be told he will be that guy. If he pouts, he's replaced.

---

Absolutely. Scheppers is in no position to dictate his terms. If they need him to pitch middle relief, he'll pitch middle relief or he won't be here.

When Holland returns, I think Ross is a natural one to send back to the pen partly because it limits his innings. Even though he's been a starter in the minors, it's probably not the wisest move to run him out there all season anyway. If you wanted to be somewhat careful with him, I think you're looking at getting around 150 innings out of him if he kept starting - both minor league seasons were around this amount and it's been a few years since he saw that level of workload. So I think you happily take a great first half from him as a starter where hopefully he pitches 100-120 innings depending on Holland's timing. And then you have him shore up your bullpen for the second half. That's assuming the staff stays healthy otherwise, which is far from certain.

[This message has been edited by DannyDuberstein (edited 4/28/2014 3:30p).]

Speaking of Holland, has anyone heard an update on his progress? The last I saw was at least a month ago, which still had him on a path to be back with the big club in the late June, early July timeframe.

[This message has been edited by DannyDuberstein (edited 4/28/2014 3:35p).]

He was at the Stars game last night, not sure how much that set him back in terms of morale.

Well, at least he wasn't on the ice tearing up his other knee like he did with the first one. Oh wait, he tripped on his dog and fell, right?

Mac

quote:

---

YOu know, Scheppers had a good season last year, but he's in no position to dictate what he will or will not do.

If the team needs him in the 8th, he needs to be told he will be that guy. If he pouts, he's replaced.

---

Yeah... that's how it works. Everyone would MUCH rather have a setup guy than a SP or Closer... and would absolutely trash a player who wouldn't want to spend his life in a setup roll.

/rolls eyes.

otni

quote:

---

Tanner has been awful as a starter so far. I can't imagine him getting many more chances there.

---

I would like to see him go to Round Rock and work through it. He seems to lose focus or plan during the game. I'm not sure if it is the game plan, his confidence... he gets the 2nd time through the order and sucks. 3rd time through and 1st time through appears to be fine.

quote:

---

With Colby and Matt back, he isn't needed as a starter anymore.

---

Pitchers aren't yo-yos... you don't just move them back and forth.

mhayden

I'm not sure how that will all work out, but agree... nice problem to have. Ross has 29.1 IP and I can't imagine he'll see more than 150. That leaves 120, at about 6IP/GS. He has maybe 20 more games. If Holland returns in July... Ross could be shut down by then. I could see him on the expanded roster as a limited participant.


Last I heard about Holland was, IIRC, that he was throwing long toss... but nothing substantial.

What will be interesting is... if Ross continues to perform... what is his fate... Lots of "ifs"

IF Holland returns solid
IF Harrison is not sore this morning and can return to what he was...
IF Perez remains Johan Santana Jr.
IF Darvish remains Cy Young caliber.

THEN - Saunders never throws for the Rangers again.
THEN - Scheppers goes to Round Rock.

The Question becomes who do you bet your money on (thinking trade deadline and 2015):
Robbie Ross - Best option
Nick Martinez - Interesting option
Luke Jackson - Likely 2016
Alex Gonzalez - Likely 2016
Nick Tepesch - Squeezed out... likely traded.

quote:

---

Yeah... that's how it works. Everyone would MUCH rather have a setup guy than a SP or Closer... and would absolutely trash a player who wouldn't want to spend his life in a setup roll.

/rolls eyes.

---

No one would be asking him to spend his life there. In fact, with Soria going to UFA after this season, a successful move back to being an 8th inning setup guy would put him in prime position to be next year's closer. Either way, if Ogando and Cotts don't start getting a grip on the 8th, you don't keep rolling them out there while someone that had recent success in that role toils in the minors trying to be a starter that you don't even have room for right now.

/rolls eyes


[This message has been edited by DannyDuberstein (edited 4/28/2014 4:29p).]

I get the feeling that Tanner would prefer to spend this season as a big league reliever rather than as a minor league starter. These seem to be his likely options as of now.

Not to mention it's not exactly up to Scheppers. The Rangers are trying to win the division and could use some bullpen help to get there.

And while it's not as much as you can get as a top-level starter, I doubt he'd turn his nose at the contract he could get as a good late reliever. Joe Nathan just got $20 million. Fernando Rodney got $14 million. Darren Oliver made $3 million in 2013.

TTT.

Fielder was in the lineup... then scratched after BP. No pain, just discomfort.

Leonys Martin scratched, as well... neck...

So, AFAIK, we don't have a bench, other than backup C.

Lots of changes:

http://espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/story/_/id/10961017/texas-rangers-option-jp-arencibia-triple-a?ex_cid=espnapi_public

Arencibia... Ross... Scheppers...

Add another minor leaguer to the team.

Lineup:

Robertson (CF): .182
Andrus (SS): .247
Choo (LF): .311
Beltre (3B): .252
Rios (RF): .298
Moreland (1B): .283
Choice (DH): .209
Chirinos (C): .212
Odor (2B): .200

I was going to bench Iwa... however, with that lineup... it is heard to see where the production will come.

Utter crap

I like the moves on the pitching staff. You have a short string as a starting pitcher if you've already been proven as a pretty effective reliever. That's the case for Ross and Scheppers.

Was JPA DFA'd? Seems like that happened pretty quick if he's already been passed up by everyone. Kind of an odd circumstance, but you don't carry options over to a new contract, do you?

Meanwhile, great play there by Beltre. I've been worried about his defense.

For the love of all that is holy and sacred...just walk Seager

quote:

---

Was JPA DFA'd?

---

Sent to the minors... they still have 2 more Arb years of him.

I don't disagree with the moves, either.

I think Scheppers was worth a shot... he may have solidified himself in the BP.

Ross I think will get another shot next season. Wash went out to see him on the mound... reminded me of Holland. Guy just lost focus late in the innings.

Now that Nick Martinez has eased in... might as well give him a shot.

Nick Tepesch should have made the rotation out of ST. Pre-game I heard indicated all he needed to do was pitch mediocre and he was in the rotation. He pitched himself off the team and out of the rotation. They continued that it could have been the dry air in Az just doesn't work for him. Seems like that was what was voiced at the time, as well. So... he may be the real deal.

Holland hasn't started throwing yet.

Baker appears to be #5... and likely will be trotted out there with hopes to keep the team in the game.

Darvish
Colby
Tepesch
Martinez
Baker

One guy from the opening day roster is still in the rotation. 46 Games into the season. Baker will be the 10th SP used.

quote:

---

Darvish
Colby
Tepesch
Martinez
Baker

---

quote:

---

quote:

---

Was JPA DFA'd?

---

Sent to the minors... they still have 2 more Arb years of him.

---

so do you carry minor league options over to a new team on a FA contract?

Martin and Fielder out again

Lineup may actually be worse today.

Thought it wasn't possible.

Chris Giminez???

quote:

---

Robertson (CF): .182
Andrus (SS): .247
Choo (LF): .311
Beltre (3B): .252
Rios (RF): .298
Moreland (1B): .283
Choice (DH): .209
Chirinos (C): .212
Odor (2B): .200

---

Still better than our lineups

Elvis?....wow

Whose phone keeps ringing?