To Texas Rangers fans calling for manager, club brass to be fired, I have some bad news
April 18, 2022
(AP photo/Charlie Riedel)
A few things to remember about the Texas Rangers’ 2-7 start to the 2022 MLB season:
Nine games of a baseball season is equivalent to 3 1/2 quarters of one NFL game. In that parlance, the Rangers are about to be 0-1.
The Rangers aren’t happy with their start. Not at all. But they also aren’t freaking out because (brace yourselves) there are 153 games remaining and 153 chance to improve.
They will improve.
Now, here’s the most important thing to remember going forward:
I typed a long comment, then deleted it like the fine fellow that I am. So I’ll just say this: Woody has never had the expectation to win games. Improve, yes—but not win. And it shows. I don’t think he should be fired at all, but at some point he will be held accountable for winning and then we’ll see how he does
You’re right, and he’s trying to instill winning. They made shirts that say E2W — Expect 2 Win. He’s told players they have to perform.
It’s been nine games. Anyone who thinks he should be fired is foolish.
Thanks, amigo.
Yeah Woody has nothing to do with the lack of performance but I do wonder if Mathis is on the hot seat at some point if this pitching doesn’t improve drastically.
Woody has said there are no more excuses for players. They have to perform to what is expected. Don’t be surprised if some moves are on the horizon for the underperforming.
I’m interested in hearing about those moves
One thing I like about Rangers ownership is how they keep things consistent in the front office. I have heard many people call for Jon Daniels’ job both before and after the 2010-2011 World Series years, but I’ve never completely understood why. The MLB GM tree has many branches that spring from JD’s roots (weird analogy, probably). He knows how to build a winner. Yes, he’s had a few rough drafts and/or trades, but I trust his judgment and his process. Choosing to add ex-players in advisory roles, and hiring Chris Young to replace him as GM only solidifies my feelings on JD. Similarly, there’s no way I’m casting off Chris Woodward just because of the 2-7 start. This is the VERY FIRST year that Woodward has been given even a passable roster. I think he’s absolutely the right person to turn the team around, and especially to manage it when success comes.
I’m a fan like anyone else, but here’s hoping the Rangers stay the course. I have a high degree of confidence that we’re headed toward a marked improvement over the last two years.
No one is getting fired. Ownership signed off on the plan to spend on position players for this season and let the pitchers develop. More one will be available next offseason for pitching, and maybe Cole Winn and Jack Leiter will be ready in 2023.
There are expectations of being better, but not contending. The Rangers need to improve, and they will. Woodward’s seat gets hot next season if the team falters.
What I’m trying to understand is if they weren’t trying to do much with the rotation why were they nearly going to sign Kershaw before he chose LAD? I get that of course the Rangers would’ve signed him, but once he returned to LA why did they not sign another SP of his ilk? Martin Perez was plan B? Why? Why not sign Rodon? It only took a 2 year commitment for him…he’s crushing the competition in SF now. If not Rodon why not Nick Martinez? I was with John in believing he’d return to Texas. I am just more confused by their moves on pitching. I get if you want to wait to address the rotation and pen but to essentially have Kershaw projected to come to Texas, only to have him stay in LA and then not address the rotation with anything other than a warm body is frustrating. The other thing is that Perez moved to the pen (just like Richards) in Boston last year, so why do the Rangers believe that he is serviceable as a starter? 🤷🏼♂️
Kershaw wasn’t to help the Rangers win so much as it was for him to educate young starters and show them the way. It would have been a one-year deal. Martinez agreed before the lockout, but it wasn’t announced until after. Not sure about Rodon, but there is an extensive injury history.
The Rangers decided in October they weren’t going to spend much on pitching last offseason. That will be different next offseason.
Man…so if the Rangers do bring Kershaw in next year it will only be to educate the staff? I think that’d be a waste of money if they are trying to win. Go sign two ace-type SP FA and even go trade for another SP. If Kershaw is essentially a mentor then that’d be a bad move.
Beltre helped to mentor young players but he was brought in to win and that’s what I hope any and all moves are meant to be next offseason.
The mentoring thing was always the reason behind Kershaw. The Rangers didn’t hide that. He wanted to win, and the Dodgers gave him the better chance. A Rangers pursuit of Kershaw would be different next season. They would sign him to be a part of a winning club, not to help form a winning culture as was the case this year.
Money will be spent on pitching next offseason, but room will be held in reserve for Winn and or Leiter. Developing starting pitching is a must for all teams, but incredibly hard to attain.
If Kershaw is coming next season they better offer less than what they did after the amount of innings that he’ll add to his arm this season. That being said, a vet deal for him would be fine but they better not expect him to be more than a SP3. They need two of Nola, Rodon (can opt out), Musgrove, Bassitt, Eovaldi. As much as I like Kershaw he needs to be plan C.
As far as the young arms, I would love to see them make the strides to be in the rotation but never count on that. Look at the Mets and who they added to the rotation. Doubt they expected Megill to have to start in the rotation but look at him go. Again the young guys are just a bonus, you have to have the studs in order to win.
1 – SP FA
2 – SP FA
3 – Kershaw
4 – Gray
5 – Dunning
That is truly how you show you mean business, none of that half measure BS
Tired of winning on the farm and learning to be winners while losing way more than you win
need quality manager quality starting pitchers quality relievers and at least one stud in outfield plus
one stud in infield to go with Seager and Siemian.
I get it. The best teams have farm depth and know how to win. One more season of development and then all bets are off. I think rotation help and an outfielder will be offseason priorities after this season, maybe at the trade deadline a la Hamels in 2015.
I haven’t been able to access this article on the new format. Just this one.
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Every year Oakland brings up pitchers from the minor league system and many of them flourish to the point that they are eventually traded away for future pieces. (ex: Manea and eventually Montas this year) Why can’t Texas follow this plan and stop signing retreads? For every Kyle Gibson we sign, we get five Greg Hollands and Matt Moores. We have a lot of young arms at the upper levels of the Rangers system. why not call them up now? They will get just as much experience here losing as they would in the minors.The rangers baby their prospects too much (both hitters and pitchers) until they get injured in the minors or flop. We have a ton of young talent in the minors (B. Thompson, S. Walker, j. Foscue, D. Wedzel, etc.). Why not call them up now and see what they can do instead of playing the retreads we’re using now?. Bring them up now if you want to compete next year and into the future to see what we have.
The Rangers are notorious for rushing prospects and watching them struggle or flop.
I get what you’re saying about young pitchers and using the A’s as an example, but they typically don’t rush pitchers to the majors. Greg Holland and Matt Moore? There are guys like them on many MLB rosters. Maybe they turn into something, and if not no big deal. Their purpose is to keep a team from rushing prospects or waiting for injured guys to get healthy. In the Rangers’ case, that’s Jose Leclerc and Jonathan Hernandez.
And the Rangers position players you mentioned, rushing them can be even worse. Look at Leody Taveras, Sherten Apostel and Kyle Cody from 2020. They didn’t need to be in the majors that season, even if it was only for a portion of a 60-game MLB season. Bubba needs to replicate last season, Foscue and Wendzel have both been injured. Walker is dealing with concussion, last I heard.
The retread position players are helping with player development. Charlie Culberson, for instance, shouldn’t be on the team once the Rangers are ready to go with Wendzel or Josh Smith. Kole Calhoun could be a trade candidate if he gets going. Something will have to shake loose if Taveras keeps hitting .400 at Triple A and shows he’s ready. Maybe it’s the end of Willie Calhoun, who is hitting .125.
Thanks for the note. I’m going to be addressing some of this in the Sunday Read this week.
Here we go again another losing season please hire a quality manager someone to motivate the team end the suffering
Rangers started the season 2-9. They’re 11-9 since. There are still 131 games to go. Not saying it’s going to get better or worse, but there are a lot of people responsible for what you’re seeing. That includes the front office.