So what are our expectations, Rangers fans?
I personally think the playoffs are impossible, but 80 or more wins would be a very successful season, IMO.
I'm still a believer in Ron Washington & Jon Daniels, but this team is still 2-3 years away from being a contender. Hopefully Tom Hicks doesn't things up by firing either of them.
Really the only thing holding this team back from being successful is their owner. If he just writes the checks and leaves this thing alone, they'll be in good shape.
Also, WTF is this talk of Saltalamacchia starting the season at AAA?
We traded away Mark ing Teixeira for this guy.....he better be in the goddamn lineup from opening day on. And making him a catcher is just foolish. He can platoon with Broussard at first, catch on Laird's rest days, and I guess play some time at DH as well. But this guy needs as many at bats as possible on a major league level. If they send him to AAA i'm going to be royally pissed.
I'm guessing 72 wins with a ceiling max of about 85 if the starting rotation stays healthy enough to actually win some games. I have serious doubts about Padilla or Millwood doing anything worth a . That's the obvious weakness for this team, their ace and #2 wouldn't even make the rotation of some teams in the league.
I don't have a problem with Salty starting in AAA if it means playing everyday. His defense is not up to snuff yet to be the everyday catcher. Plus, this gives Laird time to up his numbers to make him trade bait.
I think 80-85 wins are possible if the team stays relatively healthy. Unlike Whiskey Dog I think Millwood and Padilla will have decent years. Not great, mind you but decent.
I am most excited to see Josh Hamilton. He could be awesome this year and really boost the lineup.
82-83 games and a shot at wild card.
The Rangers will be lucky to win 70 games. They will be last in the AL West.
I thought this was a funny read, from today's Dallas Morning News
Rangers say rash of practical jokes reflects unity
SURPRISE, Ariz. – The real measure of team chemistry isn't necessarily how much guys pat each other on the back. It's how devious they can be to one another.
The Rangers are setting franchise records in the latter.
A prank war, unlike anything seen at Rangers camp since the team moved to Arizona, has broken out in full force. Ever since Hank Blalock woke up a week ago to find his rental home covered in toilet paper and his car encased in saran wrap, it's become an all-out slapstick assault.
Beneath all the underlying comedy, though, there seems to be a message. A team that can laugh at itself and laugh together can overcome a lot of adversity.
"I think it's a good thing," said catcher Gerald Laird, the victim of three pranks in a week. "We've got some new guys in here and we've got a loose at ude. It makes the team looser, and it makes guys laugh. But make no mistake: I will be the one who has the last laugh."
First, a disclaimer: No Ranger interviewed would admit to being behind any pranks. But, when asked if they would cop to any pranks they may have already pulled, the answer was "no," also. So everybody is a suspect. And everybody is a potential victim.
"I am concerned," Frank Catalanotto said Wednesday afternoon. "I've heard a rumor that I will be next. I've been taking precautions. I've been waking up periodically at night and checking outside the windows. I've been parking my car in the garage. I've set a couple of traps."
Paranoid much, Frank?
"Absolutely not," he said. "I just want to be prepared. With all that's gone on and the info I've received, I just don't want to get caught with my pants down."
Or with his feet in jelly. Or his head in a liniment-lined helmet. Both have happened to Laird.
He went to put on his catching helmet earlier this week and felt something slimy. Closer examination revealed it had been generously lathered with warming liniment. He managed to dodge that prank, but he wasn't so lucky Tuesday morning when he undressed and slipped his feet into his shower shoes. The insoles had been coated with jelly.
This spring's activities have been quite sop ric. Perhaps the first shot, the one pulled on Blalock, had the most intricate planning. Not only were the house and car covered, but there was a box with a birthday cake left outside the front door.
The inscription on the icing read: "Happy Birthday, Tiffany." The message: Was it teammates or just neighborhood kids with the wrong address?
What's happened in the last week has left no doubt about the perps. They are teammates.
Michael Young had his house egged, yes, egged by teammates. Blalock once went to sprinkle on some tal powder and instead covered himself in protein powder. Brandon McCarthy also got the saran wrap treatment while the team was working out.
The difference is how widespread the jokes have become. It may be a sign of a team whose core players are relaxed and able to laugh at themselves. Something of this magnitude never broke out during the Alex Rodriguez or Mark Teixeira years.
"I think everyone in here has had a good time with it," said Catalanotto, who with 10 years of service time is one of the most experienced players on the roster. "Anything that gets guys laughing and talking in the clubhouse is a positive thing."
Said McCarthy: "It seems like you can pull something on just about anyone here, and they will take it the right way."
Young, like everybody else who has been pranked, would not confirm if he had retaliated.
"Trying to pin something on me is like trying to pin a silk hat on a pig," he said. "It just doesn't work."
He laughed maniacally. Ian Kinsler, yet to be victimized, started laughing, too.
It's a different sound than has been heard in the Rangers' clubhouse in recent springs. Oh, the Rangers are still pulling for one another. It's just that these days when they slap each other on the back, it's to affix a "Kick Me" sign.
At least they can laugh now...
I'll sig bet you that the Rangers finish the season with a better record than the Mariners.
You are ON! You will have one nasty sig!
Wow that would be a leap of faith there.
The Mariner's pitching staff is pretty decent and I think they take the west.
Yeah, Seattle is hardcore in the driver's seat.
What part of Nolan Ryan is the team President don't you guys get?
Nolan = pitching
Rangers will have the best picthing staff they have had in 10 years just because of Nolan going and talking to them. He's that good.
Add in the fact that he's going to be calling the big shots and the Rangers finished fairly strong last season(I know they always finish pretty strong), and got some nice trade pick ups...
Rangers will either win the division or take the wildcard this year, riding the back of their surprising pitching staf consisting of a bunch of heretofore mediocre pitchers all having career years, journeymen salvaged off the scrap heap, and a nice but small group of young arms developing much more quickly than anyone expected.
They'll probably start out slow while Nolan figures out who sucks, and then he'll start making moves the moves to fix the team.
Yes...he's that good. Just ask Randy Johnson...or the Astros.
Last edited by whottt; 03-20-2008 at 07:51 PM.
The Rangers seem like a loose, fun, bonded team. i think we will have a good year, probably not playoffs but pitching is better so i see a big improvement.
According to DMN...
Here's the Rangers' planned opening day lineup:
Pos. Player '07 avg.
2B Ian Kinsler .263
SS Michael Young .315
CF Josh Hamilton .292
3B Hank Blalock .293
DH Milton Bradley .306
LF David Murphy .340
RF Marlon Byrd .307
C Gerald Laird .224
1B Ben Broussard .275
Kind of sad we don't have a lot of power at first base.
It really pisses me off that Salty is starting the year at AAA, but I think that's just a move to showcase Laird for a trade.
I don't know. I think Daniels loves Laird.
The Salty bit is very dissapointing. I have a weird feeling we could see Salty traded back to Atl since Tex is about to leave them high and dry for the bronx.
Last edited by G-Nob; 03-28-2008 at 10:33 AM.
Rangers are the worst franchise in sports.
I expect them to do what hey always do. Lose, be unable to develop talent or trade away people who other clubs will develop and get garbage in return. Then at their worst Tom Hicks will sign everyone to extensions again.
This team will always be be using the rally cry of being "2 to 3 years away from doing something"…that will always be the excuse for not winning now.
Fans will always have apathy. This is a loser franchise.
I have been a fan of this team for a long time but the reality of this being the worst franchise in sports is here. This pathetic franchise has won only a single playoff game.
I feel good about where they're going. We still have one of the best minor leagues in baseball and because they almost made the splash for Santana, who knows what big fish they could reel in the future. I'll give this mgmt a couple more years before I ask for Hicks/JD's/ Nolan's head.
I wish they would just trade hank, young and millwood. If you're going to be garbage just be complete garbage and you better get some legit prospects in return.
They should have done with with juan, pudge and ing when they had the chance.
I have zero problem with a team sucking, just prove you're going to fix it right
Then why dont you go jump on the Astoros bandwagon. bag. Don't be so negative, The season hasnt even started yet. If we can get 150-200 innings from Millwood, Padilla and Mccarthy we just might make the wildcard. But like always we negelcted pitching once again in the offseason. I predict that will be the last offseason we do that, with Nolan and all. Yeah the lineup looks sick as always. As for the Tex trade we wont really know how good that trade was until like 2010. GO RANGERS
Been a fan of this team for a loooong time. Since I was a little kid.
I have yet to ever see this franchise being capable of making a proper trades, handling their farm system, makeing solid FA moves, handle the fans properly (after all they did raise prices this year) hire good front officel people, draft and win.
After a few decades you tend to see a pattern.
I would like nothing more than this franchise get on the right path but they haven't shown any sign of being capable.
By May15th this thing is over.
http://mlb.mlb.com/schedule/index.js...tex&m=5&y=2008
The Rangers' biggest problem is that launching pad they call a stadium. Pitching is what gets you to the postseason and they won't have it as long as they play there.
Supposedly....
it is the fault of the "Gold Club" and the way it affects the jet stream.
I just wish the entire franchise would hit reset.
What part of Nolan Ryan is now the team President don't you get?
What part of Nolan Ryan is now the team President don't you get?
I expect them to do what hey always do. Lose, be unable to develop talent or trade away people who other clubs will develop and get garbage in return. Then at their worst Tom Hicks will sign everyone to extensions again.
This team will always be be using the rally cry of being "2 to 3 years away from doing something"…that will always be the excuse for not winning now.
Fans will always have apathy. This is a loser franchise.
I have been a fan of this team for a long time but the reality of this being the worst franchise in sports is here. This pathetic franchise has won only a single playoff game.
What part of Nolan Ryan is now the team President don't you get?
You don't think it matters? It matters.
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