Non-SMU game thread

[SMU_Alumni11]

I know this is going to sound familiar but Wash needs to go if rangers want to make the next move up. He never messes with the lineup as much as a manager should. He gets way too aggressive with people who shouldn't be aggressive (KINSLER). He doesn't mix it up for instance Cruz and Moreland for the most part sucked. I keep Moreland til we find an actual consistent batter same for Lf. As fast as Martin is, he doesn't make up for his atrocious hitting. I wish we had trout for CF and train/get someone to firstbase but Moreland as a backup. Beltre will be an issue soon and he will be for the most part impossible to replace as I have never seem a more clutch hitter than him. Obviously the pitching needs some boosting and I think if we weren't so plagued by injuries this season could have been a lot different. Always next year but I predict AL will sadly destroy the NL this year in the World Series. I'm going to say its either Cleveland or Boston.

[HB Pony Dad]

ASLEEP on the mound

and

Rays get their UMP stolen run back!

Who is more disappointing POKES or RANGERS?

At least the POKES don't make a great run to get in the PLAYOFFS and then just rip out your heart>

TIME TO GET BEHIND THE DODGERS

[lwjr]

Guys, here is my take on the 2013 Rangers. I have followed this team since they moved to Arlington in 1972, yes I am that old!
I was disappointed when JD was not able to resign Napoli. His career year was in 2011, 2012 was a little below atypical year for him. 2013 was more of a typical year for him even though his rbi total was better and his strike out numbers were higher, 26 HR, 92 RBI and a 259 BA. He did strike out 187 times. I would have taken that but I understood why he left, he wanted a more defined role with the Rangers and Boston gave him that, even though both team offered him same contract. No way I would have resigned Hamilton, especially at the stupid money the Angels threw at him. I think the years of drug abuse are finally starting to take a toll on his body and he also is a little fragile upstairs, IMO. Losing Cruz for the last fifty games did not help, but I think the Rangers knew this was going to happen. That is three of your top four power hitters from the year before. That is a big hole to replace.
As far as pitching goes, the team never had Colby Lewis the entire year. He is now a back of the rotation pitcher who keeps you in games and eats up innings. They lost Matt Harrison for the season after two starts. At one point during the season four members of the starting rotation were on the DL, not counting Lewis. That is unbelievable to me. Marin Perez is developing into a pretty good rotation pitcher and he is under the Rangers control until 2017 or 2018. Darvish, he will only get better, scarey. Holland, he is an enigma. Would not shock me if he is traded at some point assuming the Rangers get no worse than a #3 starting pitcher in return. The rookie Mike Tepish, pitched pretty good for a rookie, but at times he pitched like a rookie. The bullpen is solid but they will make a few changes, Joe Nathan's contract is up I believe.
They need a power hitting first baseman, Moreland is not getting it done. Kinsler is a good fielder but I am tired of him getting picked off of first base. The talk is the Rangers are considering moving Kinsler to the outfield and Profar steps in at 2nd. Kinsler's upper cut swing drives me nuts. Elvis great fielder, very little bat. This team needs some power hitters to make the rest of the line up work.
Leonys Martin is going to be very good well as Profar, don't forget they are rookies.
Ron Washington takes a lot of heat for his in game decisions, I don't argue that. At times I think he plays the odds to much with his pitchers as well as a few other things. But consider the hand he was dealt with when Spring Training opened, throw in the injuries to the starting pitchers, the suspension of Cruz and the rookies they plugged in to fill the gaps. The way he held this team together and the way this team responds to him, I think this was his finest year as a manager. Hopefully JD and company can find some power hitters to plug into the lineup for 2014.
Sorry this is so long.