KEVIN MCCARTHY'S DALLAS DIGEST Home
 

Search
   
Members

Calendar

Help

Home
Search by username
Not logged in - Login | Register 


Newberg Reports
 Moderated by: Kevin McCarthy  

New Topic

Reply

Printer Friendly
AuthorPost
Ric
Bayou Bum


Joined: Tue Feb 22nd, 2005
Location: In The Bleachers, Somewhere, Texas USA
Posts: 28962
Status: 
Offline
Mana: 

  back to top

 761st Post Sat Aug 16th, 2008 05:24 am 

PM

Quote

Reply
T.R. Sullivan reports on his MLB.com blog that Justin Smoak has signed with the Rangers, minutes before the 11 p.m. deadline.  Terms were undisclosed, but it's apparently NOT a major league deal.  Outstanding.

 

Also, the bonus that Texas reportedly agreed to give second-rounder Robbie Ross was $1.575 million -- approximately the same bonus that Blake Beavan got last year as the 17th pick in the even deeper 2007 draft.  Ross went

57th in this draft.   

 

Great night for the Rangers, off the field.

 

Jamey



____________________
All I ask is a chance to prove
that money can't make me happy.

"There are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary. And there are 108 stitches in a baseball. When I learned that, I gave Jesus a chance."
Ric
Bayou Bum


Joined: Tue Feb 22nd, 2005
Location: In The Bleachers, Somewhere, Texas USA
Posts: 28962
Status: 
Offline
Mana: 

  back to top

 762nd Post Sat Aug 16th, 2008 05:26 am 

PM

Quote

Reply
[A number of you let me know that you didn't receive the 10:40 a.m. distribution of this report, so I'm resending it.  For those who did receive it the first time, sorry for the extra email. -- JDN]

THE NEWBERG REPORT

 

From Sunday’s report:

 

Big week ahead, both in the short term and the long term.  All that Texas has before returning to town Friday for a nine-game homestand is a three-game series in Boston, but after that quick set with the Red Sox the Rangers will be anywhere from three games back in the Wild Card race to 10 games back.  Obviously a massive difference.  

 

Texas sits 10 games back.

 

The season as a whole is not a disappointment – except from the standpoint that every season is a disappointment for 22 teams, if not 29 – but the way things went from Wild Card contention to the dog days, both in the abruptness of the fall and in the manner in which the games in Boston were lost, there’s a demoralizing snapshot feel right now, though I keep reminding myself that there’s been serious progress in 2008:

 
  • A new identity not seen on this club in years – a tough, resilient, confident attitude, with lots of fight and lots of heart
  • A strong, young core offensively
  • A spectacular year in player development, particularly on the mound
  • An absolutely crystal-clear picture of what needs to be fixed at the big league level to take the next step
 

Texas now comes home for a series with Tampa Bay, with some really cool Alumni Legacy Weekend events as a backdrop, but as Kevin Millwood and Matt Garza tee it up for the series opener tonight, Jon Daniels will likely be otherwise occupied. 

 

There are just over 12 hours remaining before Texas and first-round pick Justin Smoak (and a few other key draftees) must bridge negotations and come to terms.  Otherwise, the Rangers lose their rights to Smoak and will be awarded pick 11A in next June’s draft.

 

While you won’t see me invoke the name of Matt LaPorta (“Wow, how could the Brewers draft that kid when they’re all set with Prince Fielder??”) quite as incessantly as I drilled you with “Glaus vs. Grilli” leading up to the Mark Teixeira draft in 2001, I am on record: I will be very disappointed if talks break down and the Rangers are unable to sign Smoak today and add him to this vertically and horizontally deep farm system. 

 

Because that’s how you add impact pitching here.

 

Stay tuned for updates as the situation develops.

 



____________________
All I ask is a chance to prove
that money can't make me happy.

"There are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary. And there are 108 stitches in a baseball. When I learned that, I gave Jesus a chance."
Ric
Bayou Bum


Joined: Tue Feb 22nd, 2005
Location: In The Bleachers, Somewhere, Texas USA
Posts: 28962
Status: 
Offline
Mana: 

  back to top

 763rd Post Sat Aug 16th, 2008 05:26 am 

PM

Quote

Reply
From Richard Durrett of the Dallas Morning News: "A club source confirmed the Rangers have agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Robbie Ross, who was the club's second-round pick in this year's draft."  No terms were disclosed. 

 

Great news.

 

Still no word on first-rounder Justin Smoak.  We're four and a half hours from the 11 p.m. deadline.

 

Jamey



____________________
All I ask is a chance to prove
that money can't make me happy.

"There are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary. And there are 108 stitches in a baseball. When I learned that, I gave Jesus a chance."
Ric
Bayou Bum


Joined: Tue Feb 22nd, 2005
Location: In The Bleachers, Somewhere, Texas USA
Posts: 28962
Status: 
Offline
Mana: 

  back to top

 764th Post Sat Aug 16th, 2008 05:27 am 

PM

Quote

Reply
out of order, but.. you get the gist...



____________________
All I ask is a chance to prove
that money can't make me happy.

"There are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary. And there are 108 stitches in a baseball. When I learned that, I gave Jesus a chance."
LEB
Member


Joined: Sun Feb 27th, 2005
Location:  
Posts: 8325
Status: 
Online
Mana: 

  back to top

 765th Post Sat Aug 16th, 2008 06:53 am 

PM

Quote

Reply
Ric wrote:
THE NEWBERG REPORT


  • A spectacular year in player development, particularly on the mound
  • An absolutely crystal-clear picture of what needs to be fixed at the big league level to take the next step
1.     We have zero idea of whether it's been a "spectacular year" in player development and won't for several years.    It's like trying to grade an NFL draft.   You can't do it for four or five years ...unless of course your rookie crop just bombs.

2.    We've known what the picture is to win:   PITCHING, PITCHING, PITCHING.    It's the same picture for virtually every franchise every year.   

Dave C
Member
 

Joined: Tue Feb 22nd, 2005
Location:  
Posts: 1267
Status: 
Offline
Mana: 

  back to top

 766th Post Sat Aug 16th, 2008 12:28 pm 

PM

Quote

Reply
Not having to sign Smoak to a major league contract is a big deal.

If I understand correctly the spot on the 40 man roster that Julio Borbon took up last year caused the necessity of freeing up a spot this spring...and that is how Gallaraga ended up having to leave.

Ric
Bayou Bum


Joined: Tue Feb 22nd, 2005
Location: In The Bleachers, Somewhere, Texas USA
Posts: 28962
Status: 
Offline
Mana: 

  back to top

 767th Post Sat Aug 16th, 2008 03:34 pm 

PM

Quote

Reply
LEB wrote: Ric wrote:
THE NEWBERG REPORT


  • A spectacular year in player development, particularly on the mound
  • An absolutely crystal-clear picture of what needs to be fixed at the big league level to take the next step
1.     We have zero idea of whether it's been a "spectacular year" in player development and won't for several years.    It's like trying to grade an NFL draft.   You can't do it for four or five years ...unless of course your rookie crop just bombs.

We certainly CAN speculate, though, Can we not? I mean, can you look at your development of young players and compare it to previous years DEVELOPMENT?

It is not at all like the NFL draft evaluation. There is not a minor league system to evaluate talent in the NFL.

I don't know why I argue with you, though it seems like this year its much worse. If there is a negative morsel to be found, you expose it. I guess that's the way they did it in StL....

This club is OBVIOUSLY going in the right direction. All signs point to the right people in place, the right decisions being made, the excitement of being competitive again not satisfying this club.

And its not as if I'm just being a homer. I am critical to a fault, myself. But it is obvious to me that I am a glass is half FULL guy when it comes to the overall picture, and you seem to be (imo) a glass half empty kind of guy.

Regardless, I'm still going to go out and watch this club (and if the attendance is any indicator, so are a lot of other folks) as it develops..



____________________
All I ask is a chance to prove
that money can't make me happy.

"There are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary. And there are 108 stitches in a baseball. When I learned that, I gave Jesus a chance."
Ric
Bayou Bum


Joined: Tue Feb 22nd, 2005
Location: In The Bleachers, Somewhere, Texas USA
Posts: 28962
Status: 
Offline
Mana: 

  back to top

 768th Post Sat Aug 16th, 2008 03:34 pm 

PM

Quote

Reply
Richard Durrett of the Dallas Morning News writes that Justin Smoak will report to Clinton or Spokane. In a conversation with Redhawks’ radio announcer Jim Byers, I suggested Spokane was most likely. Not to presume he’ll have an easy time there, but it’s a good place to re-acclimate to the daily grind after more than two months off. I also wondered if Bakersfield might be more likely than Clinton, as Texas has kept the Lumberkings’ roster remarkably stable since the departures of Derek Holland and Neftali Feliz in early July. Keeping him under wraps until fall instructionals also wouldn’t totally surprise me, though that’s a far less enjoyable option. For what it’s worth, Mark Teixeira debuted in high-A the season after being drafted, then moved to AA the same year.

In addition to Smoak and 2nd-rounder Robbie Ross, Texas signed Geno Petralli’s son Ben, the 33rd round selection. The Miami Herald reports that 19th-rounder Harold Martinez broke off negotiations and will enter classes at the University of Miami. (Martinez has the same advisor as Cincinnati pick Yonder Alonso.) No news is apparently bad news on high school pitchers Charlie Robertson (29th round), Jack Armstrong (36th), and the rest. The highest unsigned pick is RHP Kevin Castner, 10th rounder from Cal Polytechnic.

Across MLB, three 1st-round selections failed to sign: #9 RHP Aaron Crow (Washington), #20 reliever Joshua Fields (Seattle), and #28 RHP Gerrit Cole (Yankees). Fields is a college senior and can still sign, and Cole simply decided on the college experience. The Crow negotiations were a mess. Washington publicly took a “slot or bust” stance despite drafting several players known to be demanding (and potentially deserving) more, while Crow and his advisors initially called for $8-$10 million, a Major League contract and a statue on the National Mall. Per Crow advisor J.D. Smart: “It never really went anywhere.” The Nats will receive a compensatory 10th-overall selection along with what will be the #1 pick in the ’09 draft based on current standings. Crow signed with the Fort Worth Cats.

Stars of the Day:
Oklahoma (68-59, +7.0, Magic # 11): Kiko Calero / Chris Shelton, John Mayberry
Frisco (31-22, -0.5, 1st-half winner): Zach Parker, John Bannister, Beau Jones / Elvis Andrus, Adam Fox
Bakersfield (23-31, -9.0): Evan Reed, Ryan Falcon / Marcus Lemon, Ian Gac, Chris Gradoville
Clinton (27-27, -5.5, 1st-half winner): Ryan Tatusko / Tim Smith, Jonathan Greene
Spokane (39-18, +6.0, Magic # 14): Yoon-Hee Nam / Jared Bolden, Jacob Kaase, David Paisano, Mike Bianucci, Dennis Guinn
Arizona (10-6, -2.5): Joe Wieland, Geuris Grullon / Cody Podraza, Leonel de los Santos, Edward Martinez

AAA: Oklahoma 3, at Nashville 5
Loss: Kometani (4-5, 5.57)

Solo homers by John Mayberry (#14 in AAA) and Chris Shelton (#9) plus an RBI double by Craig Gentry weren’t quite enough. Steve Rowe gave up a couple of runs in four innings, then Nashville scored three off Kea Kometani in 1.2 innings. Kiko Calero stopped the Sounds over the final 2.1 frames.

AA: at Frisco 2, Tulsa 1
Win: Jones (2-0, 1.86)

In the 8th, Elvis Andrus’s double scored Jose Vallejo, who reached on a fielder’s choice after a Tim Gradoville single. In the 9th, Steve Murphy reached on an error and Adam Fox doubled him home for the win. Fox (.238/.312/.365) also singled and Andrus (.285/.340/.359) drew a walk.

Zach Parker’s mesmerizing stretch continued with seven innings of one-run ball. Parker has an 0.92 ERA in 39 innings since the All-Star break. John Bannister and Beau Jones each tossed a scoreless relief inning.

High-A: at Bakersfield 7, Modesto 1
Win: Reed (7-8, 5.86)
Save: Falcon (3, 3.98)

Despite a game-time temperature of 105, Evan Reed produced his best start since late June, working six innings with a lone run allowed (on a solo homer) plus a walk and six strikeouts. Ryan Falcon fanned four during the last three innings.

Ian Gac homered in the 1st and 5th to push his season total to 28, 11 over his previous high. Gac had batted .230/.244/.338 in his previous 18 games. Marcus Lemon doubled twice and walked, easily his best offensive showing in a difficult August (.200/.254/.309 entering the contest).

Chris Gradoville singled and hit his 4th homer. Texas’s 24th rounder from 2007 batted .229/.298/.375 in Spokane as a rookie and .253/.308/.361 through 2008’s All-Star break. Yet in his last 21 games he’s failed to get a hit only once, has 11 multiple-hit games and is hitting .432/.447/.617.

Low-A: at Clinton 4, Burlington 7
Loss: Tatusko (2-9, 4.50)

Ryan Tatusko had a solid performance, giving up three runs (two on solo homers) in seven innings, walking none and striking out seven. Tatusko has a 3.53 ERA in 13 starts. Notably, after some early control issues, he’s walked only nine in his last 50 innings. Chris Dennis had surrendered four earned runs in the last six weeks. On Friday he allowed four more.

Down 7-1 entering the 9th, Clinton scored three and had the tying run at the plate in the form of pinch-hitter Miguel Alfonzo, who popped out to end the game. Tim Smith (.304/.365/.443) went 3-4 with a 9th-inning solo homer, his 10th. Jonathan Greene (.251/.357/.466) reached on a single, double and walk.

Short-A: Spokane 15, Salem-Keizer 4
Win: Nam (2-0, 4.80)

DH Mike Bianucci (.320/.388/.471) drove in six with two doubles and a 6th-inning grand slam, his 3rd long ball of the season. Jacob Kaase and Dennis Guinn had three hits apiece. Leadoff man Jared Bolden (.271/.369/.407) scored four runs, walked twice and tripled. Bolden has drawn ten walks in his last five games. CF David Paisano had a single, walk, HBP, and his 9th stolen base.

Martin Perez permitted six hits and walked two in four innings, but only two scored and he struck out six. Yoon-Hee Nam’s scoreless 5th and 6th earned the win.

With Boise’s loss, Spokane’s magic number dropped to 14 with 19 games remaining.

Rookie: Rangers 6, Angels 13
Loss: Rheinecker (0-1, 21.00)

Joe Wieland (3 IP, 4 H, 4 SO) and Geuris Grullon (2 IP, 3 BB, 4 SO) combined for five shutout innings in relief of John Rheinecker, who the Angels touched for six runs in two innings. The Rangers committed four errors during a five-run 5th.

In his 55th professional game, Cody Podraza hit his 1st homer. He also singled and was hit by a pitch. Leonel de los Santos also homered (his 2nd) and walked. Edward Martinez stole his 14th base, singled, and doubled.

Olympics:

The US defeated Canada 5-4. Emerson Frostad finally saw some action, albeit at DH, and doubled in four at-bats. Taylor Teagarden didn’t play. Canada (1-3) almost certainly must win out against Japan, the Netherlands and Chinese Taipei to advance to the medal round. USA (2-2) plays China, Chinese Taipei and Japan.


Scott Lucas
newbergreport.com



____________________
All I ask is a chance to prove
that money can't make me happy.

"There are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary. And there are 108 stitches in a baseball. When I learned that, I gave Jesus a chance."
Ric
Bayou Bum


Joined: Tue Feb 22nd, 2005
Location: In The Bleachers, Somewhere, Texas USA
Posts: 28962
Status: 
Offline
Mana: 

  back to top

 769th Post Sat Aug 16th, 2008 03:40 pm 

PM

Quote

Reply
ccording to Jim Callis of Baseball America, Justin Smoak's deal is for $3.5 million.  According to many reports, it's not a major league deal, meaning he doesn't take up a spot on the 40-man roster until he plays his way onto the big league roster. 

 

All things equal, I'd have taken Smoak over Yonder Alonso -- whom Cincinnati took four spots earlier, and gave not only a million dollars more to sign but also a major league deal.

 

Jamey



____________________
All I ask is a chance to prove
that money can't make me happy.

"There are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary. And there are 108 stitches in a baseball. When I learned that, I gave Jesus a chance."
LEB
Member


Joined: Sun Feb 27th, 2005
Location:  
Posts: 8325
Status: 
Online
Mana: 

  back to top

 770th Post Sat Aug 16th, 2008 05:21 pm 

PM

Quote

Reply
Ric wrote: LEB wrote: Ric wrote:
THE NEWBERG REPORT


  • A spectacular year in player development, particularly on the mound
  • An absolutely crystal-clear picture of what needs to be fixed at the big league level to take the next step
1.     We have zero idea of whether it's been a "spectacular year" in player development and won't for several years.    It's like trying to grade an NFL draft.   You can't do it for four or five years ...unless of course your rookie crop just bombs.

We certainly CAN speculate, though, Can we not? I mean, can you look at your development of young players and compare it to previous years DEVELOPMENT?   You may or may not believe it, but I really hope the Rangers have turned the corner and looks like they may.  Then again, I thought they had turned the corner in the mid 80's when Grieve and Valentine took over and a lot of young talent looked promising like Sierra, Inky, Palmer, Correra, Oddibe, Witt, Guzman.    

It is not at all like the NFL draft evaluation. There is not a minor league system to evaluate talent in the NFL.
The NFL has college to evaluate young talent.   Even still, to hand out grades the day after the draft always seemed so silly.    Even more silly is grading colleges after national signing day.   I saw Blake Beaven pitch a perfect game in HS.   He was awesome that day, striking out 18 of 21.   But none of the players he faced that day are playing college baseball, much less the minors or big leagues.   Trying to project whether Blake will make it to the show let alone become a star is difficult at best.MLB needs to re-evaluate how they scout and sign players IMO.    Giving millions of dollars to 18 year old kids out of high school doesn't make a lot of sense to me.   For every Griffey or ARod, I can give you a dozen guys who were first round bonus busts.   Albert Pujols may be the best hitter in baseball yet 401 players were selected before him in the 99 draft.  

I don't know why I argue with you, though it seems like this year its much worse. If there is a negative morsel to be found, you expose it. I guess that's the way they did it in StL....
You do because this is what this fourm is designed for and baseball fans like you and me love to argue about the great game!   STL has perhaps the best baseball fans in the country and when the Cardinals stink....they say so!    

This club is OBVIOUSLY going in the right direction. All signs point to the right people in place, the right decisions being made, the excitement of being competitive again not satisfying this club.
It has been an exciting year.   I give the Rangers all the credit in the world for turning this around after a horrible first month.   But now it looks like all the injuries have caught up to them.

And its not as if I'm just being a homer. I am critical to a fault, myself. But it is obvious to me that I am a glass is half FULL guy when it comes to the overall picture, and you seem to be (imo) a glass half empty kind of guy.
And maybe I'm a guy who who simply says there's a half of glass left!

Regardless, I'm still going to go out and watch this club
(and if the attendance is any indicator, so are a lot of other folks) as it develops..

There's a lot of hard decisions this team needs to make.   Maybe you consider trading Michael Young for A-J Burnett.   Maybe you also make a big offer for Ben Sheets.    I don't see Sabathia as being realistic for the Rangers.  

Last edited on Sat Aug 16th, 2008 05:59 pm by LEB

Ric
Bayou Bum


Joined: Tue Feb 22nd, 2005
Location: In The Bleachers, Somewhere, Texas USA
Posts: 28962
Status: 
Offline
Mana: 

  back to top

 771st Post Sat Aug 16th, 2008 06:18 pm 

PM

Quote

Reply
HEH.. If you get Sheets and Burnett, I don't know if it would matter if you didn't get Sabathi. And (sigh).. I am beginning to think that trading Michael is the key to getting Pitching.. real pitching.. we DO have talent at SS.. though I'd love to see Blalock play his way into being tadeable, and seeing Young move to 3B...

Last edited on Sat Aug 16th, 2008 06:18 pm by Ric



____________________
All I ask is a chance to prove
that money can't make me happy.

"There are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary. And there are 108 stitches in a baseball. When I learned that, I gave Jesus a chance."
stemyn
Waiting for my tickets


Joined: Tue Feb 22nd, 2005
Location: First Base Upper Deck, USA
Posts: 7561
Status: 
Offline
Mana: 

  back to top

 772nd Post Sat Aug 16th, 2008 06:21 pm 

PM

Quote

Reply
Agree with ya Ric about keeping Young and trading Hank, but you won't get near the quality pitcher for Hank.

How many years does AJ Burnett have left on his contract?

I am beginning to think that if we get any of the three, it will be Sheets.



____________________
People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring. ~Rogers Hornsby
Dave C
Member
 

Joined: Tue Feb 22nd, 2005
Location:  
Posts: 1267
Status: 
Offline
Mana: 

  back to top

 773rd Post Sat Aug 16th, 2008 06:56 pm 

PM

Quote

Reply
Guys, if the Rangers are going to TRADE for anything more than a middle to end of the rotation pitcher (which I think they can fill internally assuming guys like McCarthy and Hurley get healthy), they are going to have to give up ONE of their very top prospects along with something else.  Most seem to think Chris Davis is all but untouchable, which makes me believe that Smoak could be a guy they include in a deal. 

Evan Grant says the top four prospects right now are Feliz, Davis, Andrus, and Beltre.  He would part with Andrus and something else to get a top of the line pitcher.  He thinks Davis is the first baseman here for the next decade (because he thinks this will be the time that a Boras client doesn't hit the market) and he thinks Beltre has the highest ceiling of anyone in their organization.  He sees an outfield in a few years of Beltre, Borbon, and Hamilton.

LEB
Member


Joined: Sun Feb 27th, 2005
Location:  
Posts: 8325
Status: 
Online
Mana: 

  back to top

 774th Post Sat Aug 16th, 2008 07:04 pm 

PM

Quote

Reply
Burnett has two more years remaining on his contract at 12-million per year.   But I understand he can opt out of his contract after this season.   Would he leave a guaranteed 24 million on the table?   He's having a pretty good season so far:  15-9, 4.67 and 165k's.    The ERA isn't impressive but he's averaging more than a K per inning.   He also allows a hit per inning, too which is a little high. 

Plus, does he have a no-trade contract?   I'm only guessing but I think it would take more than just Young to get him.   The Rangers would have to include one of their young catchers, I would think and maybe a young pitching prospect like Feliz.   But I think you would have to do this deal to get a horse in the rotation.

Hank Blalock has one more year to go on his contract after this season.   The Rangers have to decide whether to keep him around for $6.2 million or buy him out for $250k.     This is one of those hard choices.   I believe if I'm Tom Hicks, I gotta give Hank his walking papers.   He's had a lot of injuries the last two seasons.    Maybe give him a contract filled with incentives to stay around....maybe worth more than $6.2 if he stays healthy and produces.     

Dave C
Member
 

Joined: Tue Feb 22nd, 2005
Location:  
Posts: 1267
Status: 
Offline
Mana: 

  back to top

 775th Post Sat Aug 16th, 2008 09:05 pm 

PM

Quote

Reply
LEB, there is no way on God's earth the Rangers are including Feliz in any deal.

They may very well trade one, maybe two of their top prospects, but it won't be Feliz.

LEB
Member


Joined: Sun Feb 27th, 2005
Location:  
Posts: 8325
Status: 
Online
Mana: 

  back to top

 776th Post Sat Aug 16th, 2008 11:59 pm 

PM

Quote

Reply
Dave C wrote: LEB, there is no way on God's earth the Rangers are including Feliz in any deal.

They may very well trade one, maybe two of their top prospects, but it won't be Feliz.

And that's the hard decisions the Rangers have to make here.   Is Feliz that good?   Is he better than two years of Burnett?   If Toronto puts him on the market, there aren't a lot of 15-20 game winners out and the bidding will be steep.   

Dave C
Member
 

Joined: Tue Feb 22nd, 2005
Location:  
Posts: 1267
Status: 
Offline
Mana: 

  back to top

 777th Post Sun Aug 17th, 2008 05:39 am 

PM

Quote

Reply
Well, I'm not a baseball scout, so I don't know.  But I've heard more buzz about Feliz in a year than I heard about Diamond, Danks, and Volquez combined.

I would love to get AJ Burnette, of course.  But I would be really shocked if they offered Feliz for him.

 

gumpbowl
Member


Joined: Wed Feb 23rd, 2005
Location: Dallas, Texas USA
Posts: 14205
Status: 
Offline
Mana: 

  back to top

 778th Post Sun Aug 17th, 2008 05:58 am 

PM

Quote

Reply
THE NEWBERG REPORT

Tonight Matt Harrison:

a. Struck out more batters (eight) than he had in his other seven big league
starts combined (seven).

b. Allowed three singles -- two of which came in the first inning -- and no
walks.

c. Retired the final 18 batters he faced.

d. Threw one of the best games any Rangers pitcher has thrown this season.

e. Threw one of the best games of his pro career, at any level.

f. Earned his fifth win in eight starts, one victory less than Kevin
Millwood has in 21 starts.

g. Became just the sixth Rangers starter this season to complete at least
eight innings (and the first Rangers rookie to do so in more than two
years).

h. Needed only 109 pitches -- 72 percent of which were strikes and a greater
percentage of which looked absolutely aggressive -- to get his 24 outs.

i. Gave the bullpen a badly, badly, badly needed break.

j. Got an eighth-inning hug in the dugout from Ron Washington . . .

. . . while 20 feet away, a son of South Carolina, sitting in the Owner's
Box hours after being introduced to the press and then the crowd as the
organization's newest acquisition, got the chance to watch the North
Carolina product show that it can in fact happen: on a night on which the
offense is able to scratch out only a few runs, this team's pitching is
capable of making them stand up.  Texas 3, Tampa Bay 0.  Solid.

Speaking of Justin Smoak, an early big league scouting report:

HATES TO FACE: Ron Washington (when hitting right-handed)

LOVES TO FACE: Ron Washington (when hitting left-handed)

LOVES TO TATTOO: The façade of the upper deck in right field

After an impressive showing at 20-minute press conference, displaying the
right combination of easygoing and confident, Smoak walked out of the dugout
and onto the Rangers Ballpark field, approached first by Marlon Byrd, who
greeted him with a smile and a hug and gave him his first big league
ribbing, calling him "the next Chipper Jones."

Smoak, who will board a plane for Clinton, Iowa tomorrow to get his career
underway, stood behind the batting cage talking shop with acting hitting
coach Mike Boulanger and fellow hitting guru Johnny Narron, and then jumped
into the cage to take some cuts off the batting practice pitcher who doubles
as the big league manager.

Stepping in first from the left side (which he didn't begin to hit from
until the summer after his freshman year in high school), Smoak took a few
inconsistent cuts before he began to use all fields with some authority,
sending one shot a majestic mile before it crashed off the façade of the
upper deck in right. 

His next time up, he hit from the right side -- where he really does
resemble Chipper Jones, I thought -- and squared up a on a few balls but
also fouled several straight up or back into the netting.  Keep in mind, of
course, that Smoak's last at-bat against live pitching was two-and-a-half
months ago, and it was with an aluminum bat.

The LumberKings clinched a playoff spot in the season's first half, which
means Smoak can be force-fed at-bats over the regular season's final two
weeks, after which he'll get instant playoff experience. 

Jon Daniels said at the pregame press conference that yesterday was the
first time that Smoak's representative backed off his insistence on a major
league contract for his client, but there wasn't a hint of disappointment
today as Smoak, flanked by his family and girlfriend, fielded questions from
reporters, took batting practice off of Washington while wearing the home
whites (sporting a number 12 jersey that said "Smoak" rather than
"Vazquez"), signed autographs for fans, visited on the field with Tom Hicks
for the first time, and got the chance to hang out with a group of major
league baseball players that likely included several future teammates.

It had to be an overwhelming experience for a 21-year-old about to embark on
a journey he's probably dreamed about for nearly 20 years.

Probably not all that unlike the feeling that Matt Harrison, very much like
Smoak in size and stature and breed, had several hours later as he walked
off the mound after eight brilliant innings, heading toward the dugout and
experiencing an ovation of 30,000 in the stands and a couple dozen down the
steps, one heck of a solid way to celebrate your 23rd birthday.



____________________
May this be the best day of your life until tomorrow!!!!
gumpbowl
Member


Joined: Wed Feb 23rd, 2005
Location: Dallas, Texas USA
Posts: 14205
Status: 
Offline
Mana: 

  back to top

 779th Post Sun Aug 17th, 2008 05:59 am 

PM

Quote

Reply
So I'm told now that Matt Harrison revealed on the postgame show tonight
that the Rangers media guide (not to mention STATS, MLB.com, ESPN,
Wikipedia, and everyone else) is wrong: his birthday is September 16, not
August 16.

So forget those last few words of my last email.

Jamey



____________________
May this be the best day of your life until tomorrow!!!!
stemyn
Waiting for my tickets


Joined: Tue Feb 22nd, 2005
Location: First Base Upper Deck, USA
Posts: 7561
Status: 
Offline
Mana: 

  back to top

 780th Post Sun Aug 17th, 2008 06:47 am 

PM

Quote

Reply
'twas a great night to be out at the Ballpark. Temperature was 83 degrees at game time. 78 degrees when I left. Awesome. Very good PITCHING performance by young Mr Harrison.



____________________
People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring. ~Rogers Hornsby

 Current time is 12:26 pm
Page:  First Page Previous Page  ...  34  35  36  37  38  39  40  41  42  43  44  ...  Next Page Last Page  




WowUltra 1.15 Copyright © 2007-2008 by Jim Hale
Page processed in 0.4962 seconds (38% database + 62% PHP). 27 queries executed.