Aren't you guys glad that the Rangers have been patient with their young talent, or do you still believe throwing $$$ toward a mercenary starting pitcher is the way to build a team?

I'm glad they didn't make a move, have best young talent in baseball, only going to get better.

I think the front office realized they were holding their own in the pennant race and didn't find it necessary to flush good money and prospects down the toilet for one man that probably wouldn't help the team as much as some liked to think he would.

I'm very happy with the path the Rangers front office chose to take.....

That mercenary pitcher is overrated anyways.

^ I wasn't necessarily referring to the trade deadline ... more the entire transaction philosophy since the end of last season

Jon Daniels has finally learned that sometimes the best deal is no deal at all.

They still have to get over their biggest fear. The Click to view attachment .

..........the Rangers do not fear the Yankees

julio borbon stealing bases. feliz throwing heat. holland throwing 2 hitters every 5th day. this is a fun team to watch. you have those guys or halladay and you would still take hallday? c'mon now.

I am just hoping and praying that they pretty much keep this team intact over the off season this year. If they do that--just think how they will play next year too! They are a 'TEAM' maybe more than any other in baseball right now. They like each other and have fun--even when they are down. I have a feeling that is a Washington trait--to have a team that gels like that, cuz even he gets out there with them during batting practice and does alot of the defensive teaching. I say leave it alone--it ain't broke, don't fix it!

i think washington could be the second coming of johnny oates. his guys will play for him. he'll play his young guys. if the farm keeps producing these rangers will be the '96-'01 yankees.

I would definitely wait until the season ENDS and the Rangers make the playoffs before started asking Carrie and Randy to warm up their vocals.

how about a redneck tenor- " i told you so oh i told you so"

The Rangers proverbial “window of opportunity” does not close after this season

How do you think they approach the catcher situation?...(only if Salty is out longterm)! I was reading that they thought he might have the same thing that shelved Hank not to long ago...Thorastic ?? syndrome....

That decade long song of "wait 'til next season" has been a long one. That "window of opportunity" opens back up for every team at the start of a new season. The talent looks good, but I want to see it produce playoff wins before I say I told you anything.

Teagarden is a solid ball player and a great catcher. This is exactly why they have two young catchers on the roster. I don't think they should or will go outside of the organization to find help. This is a good chance to show off his talents for more than once a week.

I wish the Rangers well, but there's still a month and a half of baseball to be played. This is baseball, and many things can change. I hope to see the Rangers in the playoffs. It's still a little early to be saying I told you so when they are only a .5 game up on the Botox. I don't think the hated Botox will stay in their slump for very long.

We'll trade you Pudge for a ham sandwich.

We love our Pudge but a ham sandwich? was thinking more along the lines of bologna, no mayo or cheese......

Dang.....I was just kidding.

At least you got a little more than a ham sandwich.
Btw, thanks for saying that cause you made it happen.

I was wondering what happened to this thread. I can't believe you let it die and didn't keep it updated. They said Randy Travis was to sing the national anthem at the last home game of the season and for the seventh inning stretch he'd do God Bless America and a special song for Cheapy!!!

A good starting pitcher would've been nice at the trade deadline, seeing as they weren't happy with Padilla.

I will type this once again:

I wasn't referring EXCLUSIVELY to trade deadline transactions & the Rangers’ “window of opportunity” with their young talent does not close at the end of the 2009 season.

What exactly needs to be “updated” in this thread ???

I will type this once again:

I was referring to developing the young talent and MAKING THE PLAYOFFS. It wasn't the young players, it was the pitching down the stretch that cost them. Had it not been for Feldman, the Rangers would've been out of the race a long time ago. One more pitcher, especially since they let Padilla go, would've given them a better chance. the Rangers do a nice job at developing young talent. For instance : Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, Scott Feldman (which one good season doesn't constitute greatness yet), Hank Blalock, David murphy, and a few more. Yet every year it is the same piece of the puzzle missing that keeps them from completing the puzzle, getting over the hump and making the playoffs. Pitching has been the downfall for 7-8 yrs now. It would be nice to do what needs to be done, before the talent that has been developed, such as Michael Young and Hank Blalock are worn out and retired. Millwood is almost finished, maybe a year or two left so who is going to take his place as the "ace" of the squad. Feldman had a good year, but I want to see him follow it up with another before I call him a polished pitcher. It was nice to see him pitch as well as he did on the road. I have a feeling that he will continue to get better. After Feldman I dont particularly think we have much.


is the season just about developing young talent and winning more games than you lose? If that's the case someone better the tell the Yankees and Red Sox they need to quit because they are just showing off.

WOW -- the suggestion of making the playoffs this season would have been grounds for a straight jacket back in April!

My first post in this thread:

>>Aren't you guys glad that the Rangers have been patient with their young talent, or do you still believe throwing $$$ toward a mercenary starting pitcher is the way to build a team?<<


I did not suggest that not making their playoffs was an acceptable outcome, I merely stated that I am glad that the Rangers did not trade away young talent -- either in the off-season or at the trade deadline -- for a rent-a-pitcher.

...and I am still glad that they did not.


Meh – actually, it was the bats that were M.I.A. down the stretch this season.


So . . . Derek Holland, Tommy Hunter & Matt Harrison are all "washed-up" at the tender ages of 22-23, huh ???

You actually have to BECOME something before you could ever be called a Has Been or Washed up. Holland had a few decent games as did the others.

My bet is this time next year we'll have this same discussion.....and the next year.. Sounds about like the last 8 yrs when Michael Young was young. Look at the Braves run of 15 consecutive division titles. Pitching, pitching, a few runs and more pitching.

Holland is a pitcher a year removed from Class A.

That's cool ... Baseball fans weren't sold on Sandy Koufax, Nolan Ryan & John Smoltz early in their careers, either.

Uh-oh ... before you guys jump on this one & think I am implying than Derek Holland is the next Sandy Koufax, I am merely pointing out that a disappointing rookie season with "a few decent games" does not end a career.


stay tuned..........

I agree that Holland did show flashes of brilliance. he also did it at the right time for him to stay with the Rangers. I understand that he is just a "year removed from Class A". He wouldn't be in the bigs if they didn't think he couldn't do it, but this is the big boy league and its not for polishing pitchers. you need to be fairly polished when you arrive here. I think he is too inconsistent to be the in the starting rotation and help the Rangers get to the postseason next year. YOu know, there is always next year!!

Hopefully these young guys continue to produce and the rangers stay healthy next season. With a healthy team all season this year i believe they would have made the playoffs. Losing guys like Hamilton and Young is not good for a team who looks at hamilton almost like a veteran. They are young and will be ready for next season.

Just went back and checked my early February 2009 record prediction. I missed it by two games. I predicted a record of 85-77, whereas the REAL Good Guys finished with a record of 87-75. If I'm not mistaken, CrankThat Crabtree only missed by one game! He predicted 86 wins, and I think somebody else only missed by a game with a prediction of 88 wins.