As I’m thinking of what to do with the site in 2007 (just minor tweaks, nothing elaborate), I had a thought. Would anyone visiting this site be interested in having those open comments posts I see on a lot of other sites?
Traditionally I’ve resisted them, since I’ve never been a big fan, but I was wondering if folks here would like to have them.
Please let me know. If I don’t hear more than a couple of comments, then I’ll assume nobody cares, and not bother.
Nationals sign a few former Rangers
Today Jim Bowden of the Washington Nationals signed a ton of players. Twenty one minor league free agents in all. There’s several former Rangers on that list:
Pitchers Colby Lewis, Mike Bacsik, & Chris Michalak. In addition, they also signed catcher Danny Ardoin. None of these guys were world beaters when here, although I think most Ranger fans will remember Colby Lewis as a promising pitcher who was taken down by injury and then lost on a roster squeeze to a waiver claim. Colby came up for a cup of coffee with the Tigers this season; makes me wonder if he’ll get an AL championship ring. :)
The guys over at USS Mariner had this to say about Lewis in a larger article on the big signing spree by the Nats:
Remember Colby Lewis? He was a big prospect once. He disappeared after rotator cuff surgery, missed almost all of 2004 and then didn’t pitch in 2005. And yet early returns were shockingly good last year. In Toledo, he was a little homer-prone but struck out 111 and walked 38. Next year he’ll be 27, so he’s like… a better Gil Meche? The really interesting twist here is that the Nationals got someone else to pick up the tab on his rehab, saw that he might be one of the few to return to any kind of effectiveness after shoulder surgery, and then they picked him up.
Makes you think Bowden is going for the quantity theory on the basis of you bring in a boatload of players, you might get someone decent out of the lot; fully expecting most of them not to amount to anything. I do admit to some surprise that Chris Michalak is still hanging around.
Wak, out, Art Howe in?
In the press conference this afternoon, Ron Washington said that the makeup of the coaching staff was not set, and they had not discussed specifics. I find that a little hard to believe. Especially after reading this article on the Phillies site. It says that the Rangers have received permission from the Phillies to interview former Ranger coach and A’s/Mets manager Art Howe to be Washington’s bench coach. The article seems to implu we only have permission for 24 hours to do this, so if this is going to happen, it’ll happen quickly, I would imagine.
There’s several open managerial slots, and Wakamatsu will probably be in on several of them. Even if he doesn’t get one of them, it might have been odd to have Wak as the bench coach for the guy who beat him out. I’m sure Wak would be professional about it, but still, you have to think it would be a sticky situation. Hopefully Wak can land one of the open managerial slots.
Kip Wells files for free agency
Kip Wells has filed for free agency today. I don’t think he’ll be back – I don’t see a groundswell of support for the team to retain his services.
If he comes back at all, it probably will be a non roster invite in the spring at best.
Ron Washington Hired
- MGR Ron Washington hired [ Link ]
Mahay Option
- P Ron Mahay’s 2007 option exercised
It’s Ron Washington
Well, the search is over. We’ve been hearing for the last few days that the announcement on who to hire would come early in the week. That early is very early. According to TR Sullivan, the decision has been made, and Ron Washington, the former coach of the Oakland A’s will be named the manager of the Rangers tomorrow. Ron beats out favorite Don Wakamatsu, who all along I figure most people expected to be named, and former Ranger potential manager Trey Hillman.
For Washington to beat out Wak is a big achievement, as I got the feeling that the interviews were a formality that it was Wak’s job. I don’t know much about Washington, but I’m sure we’ll be hearing a lot shortly about it.
UPDATE Nov 6 @ 1AM: There’s a good article over at the San Francisco Chronicle about Ron’s hiring. Includes a few quotes from Ron. The article also says it is a two year deal for Washington, but gives no further details than that. They also believe that Wakamatsu would be a candidate for the A’s job. Check out the article here.
UPDATE Nov 6 @ 2:15PM: There’s stories all over the place today about the hiring. The Rangers are having a press conference to introduce Mr. Washington at 5:30PM today. Here is the official release from the Rangers about the hiring.
Rangers exercise option on Mahay
On Sunday, the Rangers exercised their 2007 option on left handed reliever Ron Mahay. This is probably a move that won’t surprise anyone, I’d imagine. Ron’s 2007 salary will be $1.2 Million.
A Giants’ fan view on Gary Matthews
Interesting article.
Great blog on the Giants, though. Just offering the link with no commentary on my part.
Alfredo Simon
- P Alfredo Simon signed to a 1 year minor league contract w/invite to spring training [ link ]
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