Texas Rangers 2023 - They're Still Shitty?

[dcar00 14,905]

Just now, Vic Mackey said:

So how bad do we lose game 6??

probably 6 or 7. they have a chance to show everyone they aren't pussies but I don't expect anything.  LeClerc is the definition but none of these guys save maybe Adolis do I trust in a pressure situation.  Lowe is the LeClerc of the lineup.  just wilts.

[BigDHornfan 6,625]

Shit.
We win game 6 and get buttfucked in game 7.
This is the way.

[dcar00 14,905]

18 minutes ago, Vic Mackey said:

I'm just never sure about that with my teams anymore. It's always something when it matters to stop them. I get we are way ahead of schedule but that doesn't excuse coming home and losing 3 straight. At the absolute worst, win just one and go back up 3-2.

Never thought Garcia getting hit would set in motion this kind of collapse. This team turned into a bunch of pussies after that. And it bled over into the 9th in both halves. Got 1st and 2nd no out and at worst, could tie it up and extend the game but nope.

to be honest, Bochy should have been out there telling the umps we don't care, get the fucking game going.

[gofuckyourself 8,939]

27 minutes ago, Had Enough said:

Was Presley warming up when Abreu got tossed?

I’d say it’s pretty unlikely Abreu escapes that inning giving up no runs. That’s a pretty significant screwup in the matter of pride. The delay didn’t help. The resultant changes were worse.

Yep.

Adolis has earned some slack, but he should have just pointed, said fuck you and taken his base. Abreu was giving up runs.

Easier said than done.

[NOOBSDUDE 596]

That’s the difference between regular season warriors like seager and semien and cold blooded killers like Altuve and yordan who walk the walk. Our stars have folded under the pressure all series. Our only hope is that they suck at home and our players seem to play more relaxed away. To wind 2 in a row is a tough task though.

[Surly Bevo 25,658]

They let toothpick man hustle them.  Relievers and starters are a different breed.  Relievers get amped up and want to go....they sit that long and you often see them lose something.  Leclerc may be a pussy, but that 20 minutes with nothing to show for it was not helpful at all.

[Vic Mackey 47,848]

1 minute ago, dcar00 said:

to be honest, Bochy should have been out there telling the umps we don't care, get the fucking game going.

Dusty knew exactly what he was doing. Keep extending the game because our closer was on the bench getting cold. Had no way to warm up since he was already in the game. And this stems from another problem. Chapman, our 8th inning guy, gives the coaches no confidence that the slightest bit of adversity causes him to get pulled. Had Chapman been able to get out of the 8th, Leclerc could have been out in the pen warming up the entire time of the little skirmish. 

[dcar00 14,905]

2 minutes ago, Surly Bevo said:

They let toothpick man hustle them.  Relievers and starters are a different breed.  Relievers get amped up and want to go....they sit that long and you often see them lose something.  Leclerc may be a pussy, but that 20 minutes with nothing to show for it was not helpful at all.

I'd give him a pass if I hadn't seen him fold under pressure time and time again.

[gofuckyourself 8,939]

33 minutes ago, mdmost said:

Josh Smith never needs to be pinch running again. Two instances where he could've tried for 3rd and just sat there. You change the whole dynamic of the final at bats if he had tagged up. F'ing gutless.

Is it gutless, stupid or poorly coached?

Honest question because I don't know how those situations are taught/trained.

Definitely seemed like an easy tag and make it to 3rd play.

 

[Vic Mackey 47,848]

2 minutes ago, Surly Bevo said:

They let toothpick man hustle them.  Relievers and starters are a different breed.  Relievers get amped up and want to go....they sit that long and you often see them lose something.  Leclerc may be a pussy, but that 20 minutes with nothing to show for it was not helpful at all.

But his approach to the 8th and 9th guy were dogshit. Especially to the 9th hole. I get he sat too long but for those guys, all you need to do is throw strikes and make them beat you with their bats. No idea why Maddux didn't go out there to talk to him after walking a guy who hasn't even seen an at bat this postseason. 

[dcar00 14,905]

1 minute ago, gofuckyourself said:

Is it gutless, stupid or poorly coached?

Honest question because I don't know how those situations are taught/trained.

Definitely seemed like an easy tag and make it to 3rd play.

 

the 3rd base coach should be yelling at him to tag but who knows.

[mdmost 43,852]

1 minute ago, gofuckyourself said:

Is it gutless, stupid or poorly coached?

Honest question because I don't know how those situations are taught/trained.

Definitely seemed like an easy tag and make it to 3rd play.

 

Not sure either. You would think the 3rd base coach would be telling him to stay or go. Or at a minimum they signal the decision ahead of time. If he flies out, you still go. I'd love Bouchy to give some clarification on that but he won't. I'm also waiting for Bouchy to show some of the shit that helped him win multiple rings because it doesn't seem to be something he's capable of conjuring up the past 3 games after getting a 2-0 lead. 

[AbeFroman 3,090]

I was always a Billy Barty man myself.  The pearl is in the river.

[shadow_operative2.0 16,182]

Is spelling his name wrong some kind of shtick? 

[Pato del Muerto 53,333]

46 minutes ago, Ignatius said:

First and second, nobody out the last three half-innings.

Our two, we got jack shit. Their one, they hit a fucking 3-run homer.

Fuck…

One of our guys hit a ball much further than their home run, for a loud out. I’m sure the official scorer will take that under consideration when deciding who really won this game. 

[Pato del Muerto 53,333]

9 minutes ago, Vic Mackey said:

Dusty knew exactly what he was doing. Keep extending the game because our closer was on the bench getting cold. Had no way to warm up since he was already in the game. And this stems from another problem. Chapman, our 8th inning guy, gives the coaches no confidence that the slightest bit of adversity causes him to get pulled. Had Chapman been able to get out of the 8th, Leclerc could have been out in the pen warming up the entire time of the little skirmish. 

He can grab one of about 20 guys and go into the clubhouse and toss a ball if that’s a concern. 

[dcar00 14,905]

7 minutes ago, Vic Mackey said:

Dusty knew exactly what he was doing. Keep extending the game because our closer was on the bench getting cold. Had no way to warm up since he was already in the game. And this stems from another problem. Chapman, our 8th inning guy, gives the coaches no confidence that the slightest bit of adversity causes him to get pulled. Had Chapman been able to get out of the 8th, Leclerc could have been out in the pen warming up the entire time of the little skirmish. 

oh i know(on both).  I'm still not sure why Garcia got tossed.  that was bullshit.  I was done with Chapman after about a month.

I'm still amazed that we rode with LeClerc'd as our closer.  he's not a closer and never really has been.

[Surly Bevo 25,658]

But his approach to the 8th and 9th guy were dogshit. Especially to the 9th hole. I get he sat too long but for those guys, all you need to do is throw strikes and make them beat you with their bats. No idea why Maddux didn't go out there to talk to him after walking a guy who hasn't even seen an at bat this postseason. 

Fair. But is that approach or just not having command? Would have to go back and see if he was shaking stuff off or just going with what was called and couldn’t do it (which is sometimes harder to tell with pitchcom).

[LTtxfan 49,911]

22 minutes ago, BigDHornfan said:

Shit.
We win game 6 and get buttfucked in game 7.
This is the way.

Give me a Game 7....   Please !!!

[tfoolry 8,341]

I just wanna punch this fucker in face.  
 

[mdmost 43,852]

Just now, dcar00 said:

I'm still amazed that we rode with LeClerc'd as our closer.  he's not a closer and never really has been.

What other choice did they have? Chapman is either great or a disaster. LeClerc fit the bill for a time but he was always going to regress to the mean. I was hoping it would last a little longer but it's not at all shocking. 

[dcar00 14,905]

Just now, Surly Bevo said:

Fair. But is that approach or just not having command? Would have to go back and see if he was shaking stuff off or just going with what was called and couldn’t do it (which is sometimes harder to tell with pitchcom).

it was command because....pressure.  the sitting didn't help but its really reggie miller gif

[hookem48 4,808]

1 minute ago, dcar00 said:

it was command because....pressure.  the sitting didn't help but its really reggie miller gif

yep

[Vic Mackey 47,848]

4 minutes ago, mdmost said:

Not sure either. You would think the 3rd base coach would be telling him to stay or go. Or at a minimum they signal the decision ahead of time. If he flies out, you still go. I'd love Bouchy to give some clarification on that but he won't. I'm also waiting for Bouchy to show some of the shit that helped him win multiple rings because it doesn't seem to be something he's capable of conjuring up the past 3 games after getting a 2-0 lead. 

In those days, he had an excellent pitching staff that gave the Giants a big advantage. Also had guys who came up clutch with the bats when it mattered. We don't have any of that. It's also been almost 10 years since his last ring. Hasn't did shit since then and was out the game for like 4 years until we gave him a call. Same thing as Jimmy Johnson when he went to the Dolphins. That magic was gone and he was playing with a lesser team than the one he had his success.

One thing I do question of him is 1st and 2nd no out for 2 innings straight and we get 0 runs. Not even once we don't bunt to get 2nd and 3rd with 2 at bats to get a minimum of one run. I had a bad feeling after that bottom 8 ended. 3 straight easy outs (well the first out was well hit but right at the 1B). The next 2 were dogshit. And right after that, they get 1st and 2nd 0 out and capitalize.

[dcar00 14,905]

Just now, mdmost said:

What other choice did they have? Chapman is either great or a disaster. LeClerc fit the bill for a time but he was always going to regress to the mean. I was hoping it would last a little longer but it's not at all shocking. 

I just meant from the front office in the season.  They knew what LeClerc was from multiple years and guess what....here we are.

[Surly Bevo 25,658]

it was command because....pressure.  the sitting didn't help but its really reggie miller gif

In theory he had less pressure than he did when he came in during the 8th.

[Billy Pilgrim 2,058]

44 minutes ago, C-Man said:

The bullpen is garbage. It has been for six weeks or more. We had no clue this was going to be a contender last winter. We are way ahead of schedule. Fortify the bullpen, re-sign Montgomery and let’s roll next spring. This team will win a championship.

Need to get a hard pipe hitting motherfucker at DH too. Garver ain’t the answer 

[dcar00 14,905]

4 minutes ago, LTtxfan said:

Give me a Game 7....   Please !!!

This.  I give us about 5% chance of getting to a game 7 after that monumental collapse and our pitching situation.

[mdmost 43,852]

Just now, dcar00 said:

I just meant from the front office in the season.  They knew what LeClerc was from multiple years and guess what....here we are.

I don't know, man. I guess high priced bats are always more fun than solid bullpen help. Chapman was their answer it seems. 

[dcar00 14,905]

2 minutes ago, Surly Bevo said:

In theory he had less pressure than he did when he came in during the 8th.

somewhat. In the 9th, he had to get 3 outs. once he had given up the lead he was rollie fingers.  that's all you need to know.  He's not the worst reliever ever he's just not a closer.

[Vic Mackey 47,848]

5 minutes ago, dcar00 said:

oh i know(on both).  I'm still not sure why Garcia got tossed.  that was bullshit.  I was done with Chapman after about a month.

I'm still amazed that we rode with LeClerc'd as our closer.  he's not a closer and never really has been.

Agreed. If it was deemed by the umps that Abreu intentionally hit Garcia, why are we punishing Garcia by tossing him by simply reacting to what you deem a dirty play? He didn't throw a punch. He was heated and jawed but never really escalated it enough to get tossed. And they get their closer up and going while the whole thing extends out. 

Yeah, if Leclerc and Chapman are your 2 highest leveraged guys in your pen, you are in trouble. Luckily it hasn't hurt us these playoffs but at some point it was and it did it at the worst possible time. 

I get you don't trust Chapman at all but I would like to have seen him get that last out. Bullpen guys are such a fickle bunch. You take them out of their comfort zone, they can go off the rails.

[dcar00 14,905]

5 minutes ago, Billy Pilgrim said:

Need to get a hard pipe hitting motherfucker at DH too. Garver ain’t the answer 

exactly.  no one fears MItch fucking Garver.

[Pato del Muerto 53,333]

Gray and scherzer getting hurt crippled our rotation for a 7 game series.  
 

that plus the known issues with the pen and inconsistency of the offense are not a great combo for the highest level of success. These things were known, and they’ve been the culprits.  Having the pen not fail in the first two games didn’t solve those issues.

plus, the rangers this season like to have a losing streak follow their winning streaks. 
 

Next two are still winnable with a great effort from eovaldi, a strong rebound for Max’s second start back, and/or a game that the offense takes over.  I don’t think it happens, but it can. 

[dcar00 14,905]

Just now, Vic Mackey said:

Agreed. If it was deemed by the umps that Abreu intentionally hit Garcia, why are we punishing Garcia by tossing him by simply reacting to what you deem a dirty play? He didn't throw a punch. He was heated and jawed but never really escalated it enough to get tossed. And they get their closer up and going while the whole thing extends out. 

Yeah, if Leclerc and Chapman are your 2 highest leveraged guys in your pen, you are in trouble. Luckily it hasn't hurt us these playoffs but at some point it was and it did it at the worst possible time. 

I get you don't trust Chapman at all but I would like to have seen him get that last out. Bullpen guys are such a fickle bunch. You take them out of their comfort zone, they can go off the rails.

While none of them are any good options, I wanted SBorz to go out again. this is the season and I trust him more than chapman.

Chapman's stuff isn't "unusual" anymore.  guys don't fear him at all.

They must fix the bullpen.  we knew it had a chance to catch up to us and the starter situation just made it worse.  we are lucky to even be here.  It just suck losing to these douchnozzles.

[Vic Mackey 47,848]

4 minutes ago, dcar00 said:

This.  I give us about 5% chance of getting to a game 7 after that monumental collapse and our pitching situation.

This is 2011 all over again. There was zero chance the Rangers recover after collapsing then and it seems unlikely it will change now. All we can hope for is a repeat of the 2019 WS with Houston/Washington. But I don't recall Washington losing game 5 at home the way we just did. Makes a difference. I guess Eovaldi has a gem and have the AL come down to one game. Even then, who steps on the mound that gives you any sort of confidence? Another fatal flaw of this team. No one after your first 2 guys really are reliable. 

3 straight games where Houston jumps out early. We absolutely have to find a way to get on top of Houston in the early innings. 

[dcar00 14,905]

Just now, Vic Mackey said:

This is 2011 all over again. There was zero chance the Rangers recover after collapsing then and it seems unlikely it will change now. All we can hope for is a repeat of the 2019 WS with Houston/Washington. But I don't recall Washington losing game 5 at home the way we just did. Makes a difference. I guess Eovaldi has a gem and have the AL come down to one game. Even then, who steps on the mound that gives you any sort of confidence? Another fatal flaw of this team. No one after your first 2 guys really are reliable. 

3 straight games where Houston jumps out early. We absolutely have to find a way to get on top of Houston in the early innings. 

2 shutouts would be nice...

[gsoda3 3,358]

26 minutes ago, gofuckyourself said:

Is it gutless, stupid or poorly coached?

Honest question because I don't know how those situations are taught/trained.

Definitely seemed like an easy tag and make it to 3rd play.

 

you're taught from little league on to never ever ever make the third out at third base.  you're in scoring position when you're at second base.  you have to give the next batter a chance to get you home.  advancing to third might get you home on a wild pitch but those occur at a much lower rate than base hits.

 

there was a very similar situation earlier this year.  we were down 1 in the 9th with no outs and zeke was on second. the batter hit a flyball to the left center gap and the left fielder made a running catch with his back to third base.  zeke didn't tag b/c he was halfway to third thinking the ball might drop.  he got roasted for that-  if the ball wasn't caught he would have scored from second and if it was caught he needed to be on third with 1 out where a fly ball could sacrifice him home.  i'm sure that was a coaching point that was discussed. 

 

what i'm wondering about is who is our "high iq baseball" guy in the clubhouse?  who's the leader everyone looks to for that?  boch is a good people manager. adolis is our emotional leader.  hedges is our energy guy.  it's not corey-  he hardly talks to the guys in the clubhouse apparently.  is it marcus?  as much as i know about this team i realized i don't know who it is. 

[Vic Mackey 47,848]

2 minutes ago, dcar00 said:

While none of them are any good options, I wanted SBorz to go out again. this is the season and I trust him more than chapman.

Chapman's stuff isn't "unusual" anymore.  guys don't fear him at all.

They must fix the bullpen.  we knew it had a chance to catch up to us and the starter situation just made it worse.  we are lucky to even be here.  It just suck losing to these douchnozzles.

Chapman has always been a one trick pony. Once that one trick isn't a big deal anymore, you aren't effective. The air came out of his sails in 2019 when he gave up the walk off ALCS HR to Altuve. Not sure why we thought trading for him was the best of ideas. I get going after this season but not for him. I would have been completely fine leaving him off the ALCS roster but we know that was never going to happen. 

Bullpen needs a big makeover this offseason. 

[HOOKEM4 5,152]

As much as I want to shit on y'all, home team has lost every game. Quit being chicken little. Just don't chant we want Houston. Yall ain't going down without a fight.

[dcar00 14,905]

13 minutes ago, mdmost said:

I don't know, man. I guess high priced bats are always more fun than solid bullpen help. Chapman was their answer it seems. 

sure. you are going to have to find some 6,7,8 guys on the cheap but you need a bulldog closer.  we have a guy who is known to wilt under pressure.

[Surly Bevo 25,658]

23 minutes ago, mdmost said:

I don't know, man. I guess high priced bats are always more fun than solid bullpen help. 

Chicks dig the long ball.

Edited October 21, 2023 by Surly Bevo

[Surly Bevo 25,658]

2 hours ago, Surly Bevo said:

They showed Dak. We’re fucked.

Gordo knows what's up

 

[dcar00 14,905]

23 minutes ago, gsoda3 said:

you're taught from little league on to never ever ever make the third out at third base.  you're in scoring position when you're at second base.  you have to give the next batter a chance to get you home.  advancing to third might get you home on a wild pitch but those occur at a much lower rate than base hits.

 

there was a very similar situation earlier this year.  we were down 1 in the 9th with no outs and zeke was on second. the batter hit a flyball to the left center gap and the left fielder made a running catch with his back to third base.  zeke didn't tag b/c he was halfway to third thinking the ball might drop.  he got roasted for that-  if the ball wasn't caught he would have scored from second and if it was caught he needed to be on third with 1 out where a fly ball could sacrifice him home.  i'm sure that was a coaching point that was discussed. 

 

what i'm wondering about is who is our "high iq baseball" guy in the clubhouse?  who's the leader everyone looks to for that?  boch is a good people manager. adolis is our emotional leader.  hedges is our energy guy.  it's not corey-  he hardly talks to the guys in the clubhouse apparently.  is it marcus?  as much as i know about this team i realized i don't know who it is. 

It would be nice if Heim stepped up.   Seager should be the guy but yeah.

[NOOBSDUDE 596]

I get it Leclerc got a little cold by sitting but still man. It’s not like it was a tie game with the heart of their lineup coming up. You have a 2 run fucking cushion with guys who’s names I can’t even remember. He fucking choked plain and simple.

[shadow_operative2.0 16,182]

36 minutes ago, gsoda3 said:

what i'm wondering about is who is our "high iq baseball" guy in the clubhouse?  who's the leader everyone looks to for that?

Probably Brad. 

[NOOBSDUDE 596]

Hard hit ball to seager which was a tough play and it gets past him. A hard hit ball to abreu while he playing up expecting bunt and he makes the play.
Season on the line top of the 9th Altuve comes up with 2 on base and crushes us. Bottom of the 9th, 2 on and season on the line and seager and semien do nothing.
They are making championship plays and we aren’t.

[Pato del Muerto 53,333]

9 minutes ago, NOOBSDUDE said:

Hard hit ball to seager which was a tough play and it gets past him. A hard hit ball to abreu while he playing up expecting bunt and he makes the play.
Season on the line top of the 9th Altuve comes up with 2 on base and crushes us. Bottom of the 9th, 2 on and season on the line and seager and semien do nothing.
They are making championship plays and we aren’t.

Both hit the ball as hard or harder than altuve. After that, it do be like that sometimes. 

[NOOBSDUDE 596]

Both hit the ball as hard or harder than altuve. After that, it do be like that sometimes. 

Like a good friend told me once “close only counts in horseshoes”.

[Hornsbay22 480]

1 hour ago, gsoda3 said:

you're taught from little league on to never ever ever make the third out at third base.  you're in scoring position when you're at second base.  you have to give the next batter a chance to get you home.  advancing to third might get you home on a wild pitch but those occur at a much lower rate than base hits.

 

there was a very similar situation earlier this year.  we were down 1 in the 9th with no outs and zeke was on second. the batter hit a flyball to the left center gap and the left fielder made a running catch with his back to third base.  zeke didn't tag b/c he was halfway to third thinking the ball might drop.  he got roasted for that-  if the ball wasn't caught he would have scored from second and if it was caught he needed to be on third with 1 out where a fly ball could sacrifice him home.  i'm sure that was a coaching point that was discussed. 

 

what i'm wondering about is who is our "high iq baseball" guy in the clubhouse?  who's the leader everyone looks to for that?  boch is a good people manager. adolis is our emotional leader.  hedges is our energy guy.  it's not corey-  he hardly talks to the guys in the clubhouse apparently.  is it marcus?  as much as i know about this team i realized i don't know who it is. 

He should of tagged no matter what.    The best arm in the league in CF is still going to throw the ball to 2B to stop the winning run from getting into scoring position by 1B tagging too.

[Zeus 6,753]

3 hours ago, dcar00 said:

Dusty is doing this bullshit on purpose to make LeClerc sit more.  I really don't care if he gets tossed just get on with the game.  

Bingo