The inevitable September Collapse of the Texas Rangers

Look up.

 

I grew up on the NL and pitchers batting; I looked down at the AL for DECADES and hated the DH.

Now? Why would anyone want to EVER watch a pitcher bat? What is the point? In what other sport would we champion an idea in which the participants themselves are wholly ambivalent? Pitchers are terrible batters and yet make next-to-no effort to improve. THEY don't care. It's the equivalent of watching a kicker who never practices.

 

Yes, Dez had too many drops last year. If he hadn't...he'd still be there. But I think he was dropping them because he was pressing...trying too hard to make things work. That sounds like a solvable problem. He'll also be healthier this year, and now with a big chip on his shoulder. I think he'll have a pretty good year wherever he goes. Not sure he would have with the Cowboys. Dez is the type of player who is always open, no matter how well he's covered. You throw the ball up, and he goes up and gets it. The problem is...Dak doesn't/can't make that throw. Romo could. That Dez's declining production coincides with Romo's being unavailable at QB is no coincidence.

 

If THEY don't care, you don't want THEM on your team, just like a kicker who never practices. Maybe have pitchers throw at them during BP until their attitude improves....

 

Very disappointing as he chases 500 HR. Beltre is so interesting because for half his career he was really kind of a disappointment. Looked like he would be a superstar as a young guy in LA, then fell off before putting up that MVP caliber season in his walk year, just to sign with Seattle and really disappoint, especially at the end and had to settle for a 1 year show me deal with Boston and he never looked back. In the non-PED era (not that there aren't PEDs still), he has been a better player after 30 than he was before.

Didn't make an all-star team his first 12 seasons in the bigs, but is going to be a first ballot HOFer. Arguably the 2nd best 3rd baseman of all-time.

 

Modern metrics really make him look good.

The 3000 hits and almost 500 HR are HOF check to begin with. But when you include his glittering defensive metrics, his WAR is top 30 for position players. We're talking all time great career, even with disappointing offensive result for most of the first half of his career.

Really only Mike Schmidt is clearly ahead of him.

 

If their most valuable veteran parts are injured, it's going to be very difficult for them to get any real value back in a trade. I'm not even mad.

 

Beltre is a guy I've always respected. An all-world 3Bman who always came across as a great guy who was loved by his teammates. HOF easy.

 

Brooks Robinson. Hard to think of any others.

 

Also hate to see Beltre go down.

 

The following are at least on par, and I'd take any of the three over Beltre

Chipper Jones, Wade Boggs (even with lack of HRs, OPS is much higher than Beltre), George Brett

Also, the Astros very own, Eddie Matthews

 

Chipper and Eddie Mathews maybe

Boggs is another Red sox player that got a massive, massive boost from playing 1/3 of his career games at Fenway Park. Before the Rockies existed it was easily the most hitter friendly park in baseball. Not that he wasn't still a great hitter away from Fenway, just that his numbers wouldn't be nearly as impressive.

 

Scott Rolen, when healthy.

 

But that doesn't exist does it?

Rolen is basically Beltre, just with fewer PAs due to injury. If he had another 200 games in his prime, I think he'd be in the HOF. I think he may get there one day still, but it would be via Veteran's committee. Even with the injuries he's very similar career wise to Ron Santo.

 

Rolen = Caminiti

I get your point, and you are not wrong. So can I go back to Schmidt, Robinson, Beltre?

 

Why someone would be disappointed that a 1) contract-year savant and 2) likely PED abuser got injured is beyond stupid.

That poster sleeps wearing his Kelvin Cato jersey.

 

Your opinion is duly disregarded.

For me, I wish no ill on anyone, including those from irrelevant teams that some like to hate on. Also, when good players go down, the talent in the league is less. That's not good for baseball. (I was similarly disappointed when Durant and Curry were injured; I want to see the Rockets beat the best team at its best. Not a fan of lame asterisks...)

Thanks for reminding me of Cato and that ridiculous contract. I'll see your Cato and raise you a Matt Maloney (not that he was a roider?; just another bad contract and bad memory).