Boycott the Ballpark

[99WhiteBeast]

ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIC- a strong local high school could spank these guys.

There are just mailing it in with no basic fundamentals and it is only April.

See Sports Center or Baseball Tonight to see the laughing stock on MLB at its finest.

Today's game was it- I'm done. They will not see a dime from me until they field a team that can win:retired2.

:Bullshit:gatling::evil:flaming::throw:

[True Blue Aggie]

I was there and was no where near this pissed about the Rangers....

Could have been the amount of beer drank, but I'm not certain. :icon_wink:

[L8 APEX]

I heard Texas will never have a pitcher due to our climate. No pitcher wants to or can throw a full season in our heat. Minus the old man Ryan that ended his career in Texas. That team is laughable and are not worthy of a super stadium. They should be cheap to watch... We have called them the Strangers for as long as I can remember. My favorite thing was the soft serve ice cream that came in the little collectible plastic team hats.

[BC Lightning]

I heard Texas will never have a pitcher due to our climate. No pitcher wants to or can throw a full season in our heat. Minus the old man Ryan that ended his career in Texas. That team is laughable and are not worthy of a super stadium. They should be cheap to watch... We have called them the Strangers for as long as I can remember. My favorite thing was the soft serve ice cream that came in the little collectible plastic team hats.

I don't know who told you that, but its the first I've ever heard of pitchers not wanting to throw in the heat?? Arizona, Florida, Atlanta

As a pitcher keeping your arm warm is very important, when you pitch in cold climates your more prone to arm injury

What about the Cowboys?? the start of their season is in the worst heat, and they're in pads

Pitchers will never come because of the structure of the team, its a hitters ballpark and people want to see homeruns, so Tom Hicks dumps money into DH's and other hitters, the Rangers have always been a team to seek hitters, A-Rod, Palmero, Jose Canseco, they lucked out that Ryan wanted to come here instead of back to Houston

Remember when UT played the Rangers after they won the College World series and lost like 25-2

Moral of the story its not "the heat" but the ballpark, structure of the team, and low fan support

I haven't liked or supported the rangers since the Ryan Express retired

[L8 APEX]

The Cowboys spend a royal fortune! I think baseball has more restrictions Plus they play in the WINTER not summer. There is a difference between 80 degrees and 104 degrees with 75% humidity. I think the severe home climate is a factor along with the rest of the joke of an organization. I feel bad for Washington. That slick haired manager kid is hanging by a thread as well..

[BC Lightning]

The Cowboys spend a royal fortune! I think baseball has more restrictions Plus they play in the WINTER not summer. There is a difference between 80 degrees and 104 degrees with 75% humidity. I think the severe home climate is a factor along with the rest of the joke of an organization. I feel bad for Washington. That slick haired manager kid is hanging by a thread as well..

The rangers spent 252 million to get A-Rod, thats more than Jerry Jones spends on the entire team and more right at about 1/4 of the new cowboy stadium, ranges are still paying on A-rods old contract and he plays for the Yankees

Baseball has a players union and no salary cap, until the Govt stepped in baseball players could do whatever the wanted and the players union protected them

the heat has nothing to do with it, position players play four times the amount of games as pitchers, and catchers make twice as many throws during a game as pitchers i.e. throw back to the pitcher, around the horn after a strike out, down to second or third if a runner steals, warm up new pitchers

its not the heat its Tom Hicks, he wont spend he money to go after pitchers

80degrees?? when has it ever been 80 in august

[L8 APEX]

80 degrees in August up north where all the good pitchers are.

[BC Lightning]

80 degrees in August up north where all the good pitchers are.

define good, there has been a decrease in quality of pitchers for some time

[L8 APEX]

It just seems like the championship teams are all up north. There is an exception here and there but they have a dominant record.

[wesman]

The rangers spent 252 million to get A-Rod, thats more than Jerry Jones spends on the entire team and more right at about 1/4 of the new cowboy stadium, ranges are still paying on A-rods old contract and he plays for the Yankees

I thought he bailed out the Rangers when he opted out of his contract last year???

--wes

[BC Lightning]

It just seems like the championship teams are all up north. There is an exception here and there but they have a dominant record.

Baseball World Series Winners
Last 12 years (no World Series in 1994)


1996 Atlanta Braveshttp://mistupid.com/sports/images/vwicn114.gif New York Yankees
1997 http://mistupid.com/sports/images/vwicn114.gif Florida MarlinsCleveland Indians
1998 San Diego Padres http://mistupid.com/sports/images/vwicn114.gif New York Yankees
1999 Atlanta Braves http://mistupid.com/sports/images/vwicn114.gif New York Yankees
2000 New York Mets http://mistupid.com/sports/images/vwicn114.gif New York Yankees
2001 http://mistupid.com/sports/images/vwicn114.gif Arizona Diamondbacks New York Yankees
2002 San Francisco Giants http://mistupid.com/sports/images/vwicn114.gif Anaheim Angels
2003 http://mistupid.com/sports/images/vwicn114.gif Florida Marlins New York Yankees
2004 St. Louis Cardinals http://mistupid.com/sports/images/vwicn114.gif Boston Red Sox
2005 Houston Astros http://mistupid.com/sports/images/vwicn114.gif Chicago White Sox
2006 http://mistupid.com/sports/images/vwicn114.gif St. Louis Cardinals Detroit Tigers
2007 Colorado Rockies http://mistupid.com/sports/images/vwicn114.gif Boston Red Sox


Your probably thinking Boston and New York, and they get the most publicity, and have owners who spend money on pitchers, as well as hitters

For the longest time the Rangers were the fourth highest paid team in MLB behind New York and Boston, the money is there, its the owner thats the biggest problem, not the heat

[BC Lightning]

I thought he bailed out the Rangers when he opted out of his contract last year???

--wes

You might be right, didn't remember that

[BC Lightning]

As of 2006

Highest paid players total salaries earned

1. $188,245,322 - Barry Bonds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Bonds)
2. $170,416,252 - Alex Rodriguez (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Rodriguez)
3. $152,449,473 - Randy Johnson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Johnson)
4. $143,845,000 - Greg Maddux (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Maddux)
5. $143,328,346 - Manny Ramírez (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manny_Ram%C3%ADrez)
6. $140,682,244 - Gary Sheffield (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Sheffield)
7. $139,630,000 - Derek Jeter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Jeter)
8. $139,070,987 - Ken Griffey, Jr. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Griffey%2C_Jr.)
9. $134,446,234 - Pedro Martínez (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Mart%C3%ADnez)
10. $133,462,590 - Mike Mussina (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Mussina)
11. $130,890,502 - Kevin Brown (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Brown_%28baseball%29) (retired)
12. $128,134,019 - Jeff Bagwell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Bagwell) (retired)
13. $124,068,000 - Sammy Sosa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Sosa)
14. $121,001,000 - Roger Clemens (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Clemens)
15. $120,639,293 - Tom Glavine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Glavine)
16. $120,176,002 - Mike Piazza (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Piazza)
17. $118,299,000 - Carlos Delgado (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Delgado)
18. $116,095,446 - John Smoltz (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Smoltz)
19. $110,363,431 - Larry Walker (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Walker) (retired)
20. $108,295,001 - Jim Thome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Thome)
21. $106,575,086 - Mike Hampton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Hampton)
22. $106,158,000 - Curt Schilling (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curt_Schilling)
23. $105,218,800 - Chipper Jones (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chipper_Jones)
24. $103,100,001 - Bernie Williams (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Williams) (retired)
25. $102,694,049 - Iván Rodríguez (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iv%C3%A1n_Rodr%C3%ADguez)
26. $101,630,425 - Jason Giambi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Giambi)
27. $100,616,066 - Shawn Green (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawn_Green)
28. $100,405,001 - Mo Vaughn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mo_Vaughn) (retired)
29. $ 97,376,294 - Albert Belle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Belle) (retired)
30. $ 92,082,416 - Andy Pettitte (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Pettitte)
31. $ 92,074,000 - Frank Thomas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Thomas_%28AL_baseball_player%29)
32. $ 89,295,996 - Rafael Palmeiro (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Palmeiro) (retired)
33. $ 87,706,500 - Andruw Jones (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andruw_Jones)
34. $ 87,037,500 - Juan González (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Gonz%C3%A1lez_%28baseball_player%29) (retired)
35. $ 84,530,125 - Mariano Rivera (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariano_Rivera)
36. $ 82,165,500 - Craig Biggio (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Biggio) (retired)
37. $ 81,930,000 - Vladimir Guerrero (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Guerrero)
38. $ 81,756,945 - Chan Ho Park (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chan_Ho_Park) (retired)
39. $ 80,340,000 - Todd Helton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todd_Helton)
40. $ 78,860,000 - Matt Williams (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Williams_%28baseball%29) (retired)
41. $ 78,483,474 - Moisés Alou (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mois%C3%A9s_Alou)
42. $ 78,467,500 - Barry Larkin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Larkin) (retired)
43. $ 77,572,907 - Jim Edmonds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Edmonds)
44. $ 77,250,617 - Jeff Kent (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Kent)
45. $ 76,603,815 - Roberto Alomar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Alomar) (retired)
46. $ 76,379,666 - Bobby Abreu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Abreu)
47. $ 74,688,354 - Mark McGwire (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_McGwire) (retired)
48. $ 74,665,500 - Kenny Rogers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Rogers_%28baseball%29)
49. $ 71,501,973 - Scott Rolen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Rolen)
50. $ 71,189,000 - Johnny Damon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Damon)

I glanced pretty quickly but only 20% are pitchers

[WA 2 FST]

Michael,

I saw an interview with Rick Sutcliffe and he mentioned the oppressive heat in TX being an issue. Arizona is hot, but its a different climate. Atlanta... ok, that one isn't good, either.

Sutcliffe said that he knew of guys who pitched in TX (starting pitching) and would lose 10lbs a game if they went 6-7 innings. He said that over time, even with the 4 days off in b/w there is no way pitchers could maintain their strength/stamina over the course of the season having to consistently pitch in heat like that.

I know this was just one guy's opinion, and I _completely_ agree with your statements about the construction of the park.

And see... that's what gets me. The ownership knows what kind of park it has. There is a definite "jet stream" that pushes balls out towards the fence when the ball is lifted in the air. So, instead of just sticking with a bunch of wall-bangers who can mash, they trade all those guys in an effort to try and shore up the pitching staff (which through 14 games is significantly better so far than anytime in the last 7-8 years...although a very small sampling to this point, of course) and they can't hit at all as a team. That, coupled with pathetic defense, and poor baserunning... you can't win any games, scoring 2 runs per contest.

If Hicks was serious, he'd have never traded Soriano. He'd have never traded Texiera. The Rangers could have an offensive powerhouse and also have _enough_ pitching to win 90-92 games every year. That might not make the playoffs every season, but it would do it more than twice in 30 years.

Ron Washington should be fired. He was bringing in this Oakland A's "small ball / money ball" philosophy... so far it hasn't worked at all. The Rangers players cannot execute basic fundamentals (bunting, smart baserunning, stellar defense on _routine_ balls, hitting the cut-off men, situational hitting, etc) so all that "money ball" doesn't do squat. He is also not demanding enough. If they had a coach like Jimmy Johnson, Marlon Byrd would be placed on waivers tomorrow for missing a baserunning sign that millions saw on TV, and 16,000+ saw at the ballpark today. That is akin to Curvin Richards fumbling a ball in a meaningless regular season game... and Johnson cut him the next day. Milton Bradley missed a cut-off man in a bad way, resulting in the hitter taking an extra base. Gosh, my 13yr olds execute some basics better than these guys. I actually showed some of the clips to my son when he got home from school, to show him that fundamentals are what win games at whatever level you're playing at. Bob Knight is right... "Smart wins games." The Rangers aren't smart. And when they are bringing a half-empty revolver to a shootout, they can't afford to play dumb.

It is incredibly frustrating, and to me it starts with the manager. Time to move on and get someone in there who will light a real fire under somebody's backside. The guy is just too laid back to be coaching in the majors.

I'll keep watching them b/c I enjoy seeing some of the young players, but bad baseball is tough to swallow.

[L8 APEX]

Good post Wes, it makes as much sense and when Hicks said this. A few years back he made a snide comment that he would spend more on the team when fans bought more tickets. That makes sense:rolleyes: Just like the ticket price hikes, they are totally unwarranted considering their performance record. They are an overpriced laughing stock. College teams have better talent.

[BC Lightning]

Good post Wes, it makes as much sense and when Hicks said this. A few years back he made a snide comment that he would spend more on the team when fans bought more tickets. That makes sense:rolleyes: Just like the ticket price hikes, they are totally unwarranted considering their performance record. They are an overpriced laughing stock. College teams have better talent.

Its not that college payers have more talent, but its a faster more exciting game, metal bats are a big factor here

had a great quote from my old coach when he was yelling at our short stop "If your arm was that great, you wouldn't be here right now" meaning he would be in some level of the pros

[BC Lightning]

Michael,

I saw an interview with Rick Sutcliffe and he mentioned the oppressive heat in TX being an issue. Arizona is hot, but its a different climate. Atlanta... ok, that one isn't good, either.

Sutcliffe said that he knew of guys who pitched in TX (starting pitching) and would lose 10lbs a game if they went 6-7 innings. He said that over time, even with the 4 days off in b/w there is no way pitchers could maintain their strength/stamina over the course of the season having to consistently pitch in heat like that.

I know this was just one guy's opinion, and I _completely_ agree with your statements about the construction of the park.


It sucks pitching in the heat, I know, I pitched against UT in 2003 the year after they won the College World Series, their field was astro turf as well, the concrete held in a lot of heat, but 10 pounds is hard to believe, plus 7 innings is getting hard to do know with the quality of pitching, and with more than half of the team made up of starting pitchers, middle relief, and 1-2 closers, I doubt it is that big of a factor, the park, coaching, owners are more important as to why we can't get pitching

[98Cobra]

Yikes.

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/baseball/rangers/stories/041608dnsporangerslede.229309e.html

[toddwarren]

Michael rangers did get off the hook when ARod opted out his contract last year. The Rangers suck sorry Ranger fans! I have a friend who Manages AAA baseball and he told me when Washington was hired he did not think he would get the job done, he had managed against him in the minors and seen him work with a team. There is more than spitting tobacco and picking your nose to being a good manager, lots of personalities you have to deal with, some you show the whip to, some you have to coddle some you cut, but Washington is done here.

Randy Johnson back when he left Seattle for Arizona cited the Heat for
why he went to Phoenix over Texas they have an air conditioned stadium out there guys.

[WA 2 FST]

It sucks pitching in the heat, I know, I pitched against UT in 2003 the year after they won the College World Series, their field was astro turf as well, the concrete held in a lot of heat, but 10 pounds is hard to believe, plus 7 innings is getting hard to do know with the quality of pitching, and with more than half of the team made up of starting pitchers, middle relief, and 1-2 closers, I doubt it is that big of a factor, the park, coaching, owners are more important as to why we can't get pitching

I understand very well that pitching is more specialized now, with less complete games, but the teams that win consistently have at least 4 starters who are going 7 innings often (not all the time, but often). That part of the game hasn't changed, even if teams have 2-3 setup guys and more than one closer. Those setup guys and closers also tend to wear out quickly if they are 1) being used every day and 2) pitching in the heat.

I know I couldn't lose 10lbs in 100^F heat, but remember Sutcliffe was/is a heavy-set guy. ;)

And I do agree about the park...so the fact remains, build a team around it to win. It's not hard, and its not difficult logic to understand.

[FRDRCING]

I'm not so sure it's got to do with the heat. But ever since we have lived here in Texas for the last 8 years, they never had a good pitcher. They have always went with other position players. Maybe hicks thinks the other guys will get it done:rll:.

[99WhiteBeast]

Good post Wes, it makes as much sense and when Hicks said this. A few years back he made a snide comment that he would spend more on the team when fans bought more tickets. That makes sense:rolleyes: Just like the ticket price hikes, they are totally unwarranted considering their performance record. They are an overpriced laughing stock. College teams have better talent.

Personally I don't think Hicks gives a damn about the Rangers. He is still selling tickets that are over priced for the talent on the field. People still come in droves(not sellouts like the mid 90's) enough to continue to line his pockets.

Nolan Ryan as president- great guy, great pitcher but its a marketing ploy to continue to get some people to go to the park. They think if Nolan is involved they'll turn it around.... come on people smell the roses stop going and maybe they will step up and build a team worth watching.

[WA 2 FST]

The point about the heat has nothing to do with the pitchers themselves. It has to do with being able to attract quality pitchers. Years back Hicks made very strong offers to Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens, Mike Mussina, and others. These were also during the years the bats were scoring tons of runs. Some pitchers were turning down more money (with no state income tax, either) to play with another team.

People have often blamed Hicks for not getting enough starting pitching, but there have been times in the past where he lobbied HARD for some very quality P's... future Hall of Famers, in fact.

Lately, he's not spending the $$ and the team now suffers even worse. They can't hit or field the ball. It's disappointing to say the least.

[ZeusSVT]

And Yet another collapse today.......:hammer:

[yeti575]

ok I'll boycott it! that's an easy request!!!