If I were . . .

Gm of any team in any sport, these would be my beginning principles.

1.  Coach and Systematic Approach

Hand pick a coach with whom you share the same overall systematic approach to the game.  So that both you and the coach have the ability to step back and follow the same certain principles set down before intense personnel decisions have to be made.  Someone smart and confident, and has enough patience to allow a systematic approach of the game to work.  When hiring this coach and agreeing to the system, you are saying “no player will be above the team, no player will be above the system.”

This is the most important decision a team can make, and the beginning principles would need to be both overall and narrow.  For instance in the overall issues you would decide:  Do we run a west coast or run driven offense;  do we value big or speedy lineman;  do we rely on power or contact hitters; do we play inside out or movement offense.  Then you move to more narrow issues like what kind of character do you ask your scouts to zero in on, what kind of drills and offseason workouts to enhance precision, are left handed players miles and away better than right handed players at certain positions, etc.

This can go on forever and should.  There should be a well thought out system in place that gives you an advantage over all other teams who wing it.

2.  Playoff Mentality

This one is sort of weird, because you would think that it is really obvious.  But a lot of teams go through the season with simply a hope to get into the playoffs and then MAYBE move forward.  It is not in the organization’s way of thinking that making it to the playoffs is the beginning of the real season – not the end of it.  You have put your heart into the offseason, practices and regular season games to get to this starting point.  The playoffs is where it all begins.

That means there is no sense of accomplishment.  No loss of focus, because the goal of the season still remains empty.  But something does happen at the end of the regular season.  The real season starts and your team ought to be able to smell it and be hungry for it.  This can be influenced by environment, but also you have to make sure you draft, sign and trade for hungry players.

There is also a second aspect to the playoff mentality.  The One Game At A Time mentalaty  A mentally strong team knows what game they are playing and what they want from the game.  They know games aren’t won on paper, in the media or in Vegas (except for in the NBA).  They don’t come out and play last week’s game or next week’s game.  They, as a team, exist to demolish this weeks opponent.  They get up for the game they are playing in.

Obviously the Dallas Cowboys are the worst offender of this rule.

 3.  Freshness

Having a long term system that is known and followed by the team can have the unwanted side effect of stagnating creativity.  With this I might give the illustration of Devon Harris.  He was in a Maverick’s uniform for a while.  But the people chosen to lead the organization had a specific role they tried to push him in.  Not that that is bad, but when you see talent and know that it is there yet not coming out in all the ways you thought it could, you should then readjust your own glasses and try different things with him.

This quality in an organization is all about not getting caught standing flat footed.  Just because you have certain long term principles you follow does not mean there is no room for creativity and experimentation.  John Danks goes to the White Sox and picks up a cutter which really helps him in his second year.  Someone had to be convinced a cutter would really help him, convince him and then have him add this to his arsenal.

Freshness is about eyeing the players, the team and yourself and then moving beyond the trenches you have dug for yourself that are not working or not working as well as possible.  You should always keep a team on their toes, it has a way of making the opposing team the one always chasing you. 

4.  Irrelevant – Relevant Media

Never allow the media to effect, or should I say infect, your decisions.  If something is not working right you should have a firm grasp of why it is not working.   The media is not there to think, it is there to feed an unhealthy appetite of newspaper columns, blogs, talk radio and television.  The media is DUMB.  It does not think more than one step ahead – if that.  Consider it irrelevant when it comes to anything involving personnel decisions.

I think the Texas Rangers may actually make a number of their decisions based on how they think the media will react.  It’s as if whenever they make a decision the media is in the room looking at them.  Which is why oftentimes they look like a chicken with its head cut off.  The media is there for interacting with your fan base, that part of the media is relevant.  The media that thinks it can and should think for you is not.

5.  Crisp Short Window Transactions

These are situations that shoot up for a short time every now and again while not always looking the same.  Sometimes you’ll have a Milton Bradely on the free agent market not getting any interest, sometimes Eric Gagne, sometimes there will be a team willing to trade you Travis Hafner for Einar Diaz, sometimes Manny Rameriz will be on the market being short shrifted with a two year offer, sometimes a team will be willing to trade you Kevin Garnett for a bunch of cheetos and Al Jefferson.

When these spontaneous short windowed situations occur, you must have the vision and capacity to capitalize.  Teams can rise and fall with how these situations turn out.

6.  Winning at The Edges

Pretty simple, just find those small areas were you can gain an honest advantage against your opponent.  Whether in certain drills, certain odd usage of the rule book.  Whether it be in the locker room, on the field or in the front office, search high and low for that HONEST edge and take it.

Merry Christmas Rangers

For this Christmas I’m giving the Texas Rangers some free advice.  I haven’t paid all that much attention to baseball in the past 6 months and I’m not sure how all the Type A/Type B free agents will affect the Rangers draft, but this is a wonderful opportunity to get two players that would really help this team at a fraction of normal costs – so go do it.

Sign – Manny Rameriz (3 years 68 million)
Sign – Pettite (1 year 12 million base with incentives to make 16 million)
Sign – Livan Hernandez – give him a bullpen role with opp. to be your closer. (1 year 4 million)
Sign – Rich Aurilla – (1 $680,000)

This would give the Rangers a fighting chance next year to hit a spark.  And someway/somehow they’re going to have to find a way to make their bullpen better, most likely through trades.  Guys like Frank Catalanotto, Hank Blaylock, Nelson Cruz and some of the so-so bullpen guys need to be put out there by themselves or in a collection to see if they can’t bring two or three reliable bullpen arms.

It hurts me to say it, but they hardly have a clue.  Yet all their wingding fans are in a frenzy over the children on the farm.  The ones who are playing with cows right now are going to be like Barry Bonds was in his early years.  Like Pedro Martinez except with maybe a better fastball.  Yep doesn’t take much to get by as a Ranger fan.

If the fan base doesn’t demand sanity, why would shifting Tom Hicks deviate from his postion of gobbledygook.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a blessed life.

Milton Bradley Prediction

I just want to make a prediction on July 15, 2008 at 2:16p.m., 4 hours and 45 minutes before the MLB All Star Game, that Milton Bradley will be the MVP.

Genus

Jon Daniels is brilliant.  Genus.  Or is it Ghengus.  Guinnesses.  Genesis.  Ya he’s that.  He has developed one of the great farm systems in all of the Minor Leagues.  Congratulations.  The Good Guys over at Baseball Time in Arlington have made a list in dedication to his brilliance.  Luminous.  Genus.  Guinnesses.  Ya that.

Well I being. . . . Well I I being . . . . Well I being whoever. . . whoever the heck dang dash dog I am.  I decided to make my own little list, in honor of my good pal and drinking partner Jon Daniels.

It’s a list of Jon Daniels little reign in Arlington minus all his trades.  Did you hear me right?  I said it’s a list of Jon Daniels professional pursuit here in Arlington minus all his genesis little trades, genus trades.  In the list I include players he has signed as free agents (example Vincente Padilla, who although traded for became a free agent and signed with us).  I also disinclude all those Jon Daniels traded yet they became free agents and signed elsewhere (this group would include the Alfonso Sorianos and Francisco Corderos).  Let us begin.

1.  Ian Kinsler 2B – not drafted by JD
2.  Micheal Young SS – not traded for by JD
3.  Adrian Gonzalez LF – not traded for by JD
4.  Mark Teixeira 1B – not drafted by JD
5.  MIlton Bradley RF – signed as free agent by JD
6.  Hank Blaylock 3B – not drafted by JD
7.  Frank Catalanotto DH – signed as free agent by JD
8.  Brandon Boggs CF – not drafted by JD
9.  Gerald Laird C – not traded for by JD

Kevin Millwood – signed as free agent by JD
Vincente Padilla – signed as free agent by JD
Chris Young – not traded for by JD 4 -4 with a 4.50 era this year (been injured) rest of years traded away 20 -13 with era under 3.4
Edinson Volquez – not signed as free agent by JD 10 – 2 with a 1.71 era 95 innings 110 strikeouts
John Danks – not drafted by JD 4 – 4 with a 2.80 era in 86.2 innings

Josh Rupe – not traded for by JD
Joaquin Benoit – not signed as free agent by JD
C.J. Wilson – not drafted by JD
Frankie Francisco – not traded for by JD
Nick Masset – not drafted by JD 0 – 0 with a 3.41 era in 31.2 innings with 27 strikeouts
Jamie Wright – signed as free agent by JD
Eddie Guardado – signed as free agent by JD

I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t see a lack of talent on this team.  And to be honest I really like the starting rotation.  Plus you get the benefit of still having guys like Eric Hurley, Chris Davis, Taylor Teagarden and Kasey Kiker in the minor leagues.  So although Jon Daniels is a gangus, I think I could do without all his gangusesses of trades. Genus.  Genesis.  Guinness. That, Ya maybe he’s that.

Goodbye .500, Hello Common Sense

Jarrod Saltalamacchia represents a turning point for the organization that derives its name from those more honorable lawmen.  It is in him and in him uniquely that the Ranger organization can peer into its profound and basic incompetency.  Its magazinish like dedication to the existing trend.

Why is Jarrod unusually gifted for this delineation?  Well it all begins with a trivial aspect of player development, evaluation.  If you want to be more specific individual player evaluation.  A comprehensive intake and assessment where you reasonably project the completion of that player’s mutational process.  Jarrod’s pedigree suggests he is more than capable to be one of, if not the best offensive catcher in the game.  Projecting and displaying the somehow disappearing emblem that represented the last 15 years, Power.  Not only that when fully developed he stands to be average to solid defensively, though his current defense is below this.  Armed with a bit of athleticism, a strong arm and a positive attitude he looks to have three factors that warrant reasonable optimism his defense will improve with consistent play.

But the simple actuality he exhibits faults presently in his game has kept the Rangers from allowing his project-ability to earn him a starting spot in the Ranger’s lineup.  Allowing Gerald Laird, the 28 year old catcher who last year did not live up to General Washington’s game calling expectations, and most certainly not any offensive expectations (.224, .278, .349 in 407 ABs), to this year play 21 more games with the major league club than the 22 year old prospect.

Now if this all goes back to player evaluation it can be said that Gerald has never and will never project to be close to the kind of player with the type of value Jarrod could provide for this ball club. He has never been his organizations top prospect.  He has never been considered one of the top 40 prospects in all of baseball.  He has never been traded for with one of the best players in all of baseball. His career line of .257, .308, .387 in 1150 Plate Appearances certainly suggests his project-ability was correct – above average throwing out runners, average to below at the plate.  Yet because at the age of 28 he is more developed than a twenty two year old – he is placed out alongside and ahead of real talent.

Mediocrity standing in the way of potential greatness.  The fallacy the Ranger’s organization holds fast to – that somehow greatness grows on the bench and even a more prevalent thought in the Ranger’s organization – somehow dependability, progress and production grow out of being juggled from one place to the next, one role to the next, based on the most short sampled results.  The Rangers aren’t long term investors, they’re day traders.  But maybe the Laird injury and Saltalamacchia opportunity will turn this ship around.  Optimism I know but when the Rangers say goodbye to Gerald Laird, goodbye to .500 and mediocrity, maybe, just maybe they will say goodbye to the obvious idiocy of their thought patterns and hello to common sense.  Naaa, but it was worth a try.

 

Moving To First – Last Place Move

Hank Blaylock has made a Ranger career decision, he’s moving to first base.  The team is not smart to let him do so, but then again when were they ever accused of being smart.  First Base is a position you put baseball players who aren’t good at defense.  It’s the position you put your offensive fire power in order to hide their defensive inequities.  It’s a position you manage until your 22 year old, Double A hitting .313 with 10 homers and 33 RBI’s, prospect is ready to break into the Majors.  It’s not a position you put your solid defensive third baseman in order to let Ramon Vasquez play, and I like Ramon Vasquez.

This can be traced (in my opinion) to Ron Washington’s inability to A:  Stick with Jason Botts; and B:  Allow Frank the Cat to be Frank the Cat.  Ron has certain players he goes out of his way to play (last year it was Jerry Hairston Jr., this year Ben Broussard) and certain players he refuses to give a fair shake – Jason Botts and Catalanotto come to mind.  He puts them in bad situations and expects them to impress him.  He pulls them early and often while playing them very little to begin with. 

Frank’s situation has changed a little because of Broussard’s release, but is now going to change again with Hank’s move.  Opposing managers know all they have to do is bring in a lefty around the sixth or seventh inning and you won’t have to see Frank anymore.  They desire their lefty against whatever righty we have to throw up there because, A:  Frank is a good hitter, and B:  Frank won’t be able to face whatever righty you have out there later in the game.   Frank hit .231 with a .375 on base percentage against lefties in 19 PA’s last year.  I don’t know which one is worse the fact he was only allowed the opportunity to hit lefties 19 times, or the fact that somebody needs to tell Ron a .231 average and .375 on base percentage is not reason enough to pull him for Jr. Jerry Hairston or Chris Comcast Shelton.  Frank hit .299, .293, .301, and .300 in the four years prior to becoming a Ranger.  In the three years he was healthy he averaged 117 more AB’s than he did last year.  He hit .260 last year and is hitting .247 this year.  If you want to know how to screw up a good .300 hitter I suggest a chat with none other than Ron Washington.   Frank is and has been a good hitter in this league, why is he the first guy Ron pulls for hitting?  It’s not a trick question – Ron’s a jackass.

A good manager puts his players in the best position to help the team win.  The reason I call Ron a jackass is because there is no reason to be a dirty, rotten, fool about this game.  There is no reason to stand in your own way.  Jackasses have to be coerced.  They’re stubborn beasts of burden who refuse to move even if it benefits them.  And because of Ron’s refusal (for whatever reason) to get out of his own way, Hank for no apparent reason (oh, other than the great Ramon Vasquez, and I like Ramon) is going to move to first base.  Congratulations Rangers, for being intellectually baseball challenged.

The Four Horsemen

Our four major teams all have business to attend to this weekend.  Let’s start with the Mavs:

The Mavericks played horribly in game 2 and come back home in need of 2 victories.  The Mavericks have played a total of 4 halfs in this series, giving up 40, 64, 67, and 60 points respectively each half.  The first one (the 40) is good, the rest are abysmal.  My three Keys to the game going forward are:

1.  Fast break points.  They have to go up for the Mavs and down for the Hornets.  In Game 1 the Mavs had 10 fast break points, the Hornets 15.  In Game 2 the Mavs had 13, the Hornets had 29.  The Mavs need to score in the 20 to 30 range and hold the Hornets under 20.

2.  Play defense.  This shouldn’t be as hard as the Mavs are making it out to be.  And I have some concern that Avery just doesn’t look like he knows how to coach this team anymore, the attitude to play defense just isn’t there.  The easy baskets and points in the paint for the Hornets are out of hand.  Also the turnovers run the New Orlean’s way as well.  In Game 1 the Hornets only turned the ball over 8 times, the Mavs 14.  In Game 2 The Hornets 6, The Mavs 15.  The Mavs should be causing more turnovers and allow less points in the paint.  In Game 1 they allowed 36, in Game 2 they allowed 48, that’s terrible.

3.  Jason Terry.  In Game 1 he shot 3-7, in game to he shot 5-8.  He has to take more attempts than seven and eight.  Then he has to make most of them.  What has happened to him since he received his contract I don’t know, but he has to start doing the things he did in the run to the finals.  I don’t know how he lost it, but most point guards have the shot where the beat their man, but when they see someone hanging around the basket pull up and float the shot in.  Jason Terry did have that shot, it’s a shot you have to practice.  I don’t know if he just doesn’t practice it anymore, but he was good at it and now he just doesn’t attempt it anymore.  Shots like that and three pointers he has to attempt and make.  Jason Terry has to become a scorer, then that will open things up for everyone else while Dirk and him are on the floor. 

This men have to grow some intestinal fortitude on the way from New Orleans to Dallas if they want to have a chance in this series, they need to be the aggressors.

Now the Stars:

Marty Turco was good, not great.  I’m glad they’ll be taking on the San Jose Sharks, it gives them a chance to go back to Caly and play two road games to start off a series.  This series will go 6 games, don’t know who wins.  But offense will be the key.  The Stars were the aggressors against the Ducks.  They will need to continue that, winning the battles along the boards and flying to loose pucks.

Now for the Cowboys:

If no one falls unexpectedly to pick #22 I trade the pick and pick #61 if I can for a first rounder next year and an earlier pick in round 2 this year.  I then pick a WR at pick #28.  I like Mario Manningham although there have been character issues and concerns with him.  If his character checks out I pick him.  If not, going with a Malcom Kelly isn’t too bad.  I don’t like the DeSean Jackson pick just because of the overvaluing of a punt returner.  I then try and go for a corner with my early second rounder and a running back with one of my later picks.  Obviously I wouldn’t go to far away from my pick the best player on the board, but I would lean toward the WR, CB and RB positions.

As for the Rangers:

Pitching, starting and bullpen need to work together in order to win.  Until they do this we won’t go on any prolonged winning streak, but we will go on prolonged losing streaks as we are in right now.  And just for fun I’m going to point out the guys I think should be on the team looking at the rest of this season.  Catalanotto.  Botts.  Kinsler.  Young.  Blaylock.  Hamilton.  Bradley.  Vasquez.  Duran.  Murphy.  Byrd.  Salty then Laird.  Millwood, Padilla, Jennings (if only to trade or cut in mid season, unless something unforeseen happens here), Gabbard, McCarthy, Loe, Rupe, Littleton, Franscisco, Wright, Benoit, Wilson.  And if had to pick I might bring a young lefty up in place of Loe and bring Loe up when a righty was hurt.

Stupidity, Ignorance and Insanity

Definitions taken from online webster dictionary. 

Stupidity – the quality or state of being stupid; extreme dullness of perception or understanding; insensibility; sluggishness.

Ignorance – The state of being uneducated or uninformed; A willful neglect or refusal to acquire knowledge which one may acquire and it is his duty to have.

Insanity - (Law) Such a mental condition, as, either from the existence of delusions, or from incapacity to distinguish between right and wrong, with regard to any matter under action, does away with individual responsibility.  (Albert Einstein’s definition) Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

There have been some eye popping decisions from our sport’s teams lately that involved these three triats.  First the Mavs. 

The Kidd Trade went like this – Devon Harris, DeSagana Diop, Maurice Ager, Keith Van Horn, Trenton Hassell, two first-round draft picks and 3 million dollars for Jason Kidd, Malik Allen and Antoine Wright.  Now that’s eye opening.  Why?  Because there is no need to give New Jersey anymore than the 5 players mentioned.  Imagine Rod Thorn trying to keep his laughter inside of him while hearing the Mavericks agree not only to give them a young talented point gaurd under contract for 4 more years (if I remember correctly) at about half what Kidd makes, but 2 first round picks and 3 million dollars.  Wow. 

It’s a toss up right now as to who is a better point gaurd at this stage of their careers:  Devon Harris or Jason Kidd.  Coupled with the fact that one’s best years are behind him and one’s best years are in front, one gets paid 20 million dollars a year the other 10 millon (If I remember correctly).  Jason Kidd is probably the best player now, but not by much.  The one thing that I can look at as semi-positive with this trade is Jason Kidd’s 21 million comes off the book next year and for the first time in along time we come under the salary cap – with players like Dirk, Josh Howard, Jerry Stackhouse and Jason Terry still here, Oh! and Erik Dampier.

But I’m not losing hope on the Mavs.  They still have the talent and (I beleive) grit to upset teams in the playoffs and if they play to capability – win.

As for the Rangers:

Song and dance, Song and dance.  They’ve made good decisions don’t get me wrong – Josh Hamilton for Eddie Volquez – grrrreat!  Mark Texiera Trade – dddddecent.  But how are we going to improve by putting Eddie Guardado in front of Frankie Francisco?  How are we going to improve if we keep sending Kameron Loe to new places each year?  Robinson Tejeda over Kameron Loe, Frankie Francisco?  Saltalamacchia in the minors, Laird starting?  Move Jason Botts to first after you give all those health concerns about tall players getting back problems there, the kind Botts has had?  These people just wing it.  Forget your future isn’t Laird, Forget your future isn’t Broussard (and make Catalanotto play there keeping Botts in OF).  Gaurdado has no place here with as many young arms as we have, but while we’re in the mood let’s forget Francisco and Loe.

I see talent here and depth, which is good.  But as long as we start out the season with the failed policy of putting two-bit veterans in front of players  who you need to find out if they can play, is ignorant, stupid and insane (they’ve done this before).

Roger Clemens Denies Steroid Use In Youtube Video

Update 12-24-07:  It is actually posted on Youtube now.  Here you go.

On his website in a Youtube Video he denies steroid use and says he will be interviewed by Mike Wallace of 60 minutes after Christmas.  So if you want to see it click here. 

Recent 12-22-07

Recently things have gotten out of hand.  But this is the year of out of hand, because now we know all of sports is rigged.  From Floyd Landis to Bill Belichick to Marion Jones to Shawn Merriman to Tim Donaghy to David Stern to Roger Clemens to Rodney Harrison to Barry Bonds and Bud Selig.  And remember nobody has or can yet be caught with a drug test for HGH.  We’ve let these bozo’s take control – we keep coming to the games and they juice up to make millions off of us.  But oh well, here is some of the semi-recent events that have taken place and I haven’t blogged about yet.

1.  The Mitchell Report

2.  20 FSU players suspended for academic cheating scandal.

3.  Vick gets 23 months in prison.

4.  Bobby Petrino skips town not 1 year in to a five year deal with Atlanta.

5.  John Smoltz and Curt Schilling speak out demanding that Roger speak out if he is innocent, I don’t think they think he is.  But does it matter what I think that they think or we think that they think if he thinks he isn’t.

6.  The Grimsley affidavit is unsealed revealing the biggest suprise of all – Grimsley suspected Jose Canseco of steriod use.  Hmmm, thanks Grims.

7.  Jessica shows up to the Cowboy game in a pink, Romo jersey.  Romo is shot down into mortality (earning 3 points in my fantasy league and costing me a shot at the championship title).  T.O. comes out saying Mickey was right women make you weak in the knees Tony don’t let Jessica near you for the next 2 months.

8.  Brian Westbrook, against my beloved Cowboys, has a chance to score a touchdown at the end of the game, but instead kneels down at the 1 yard line (again an action that led to me not advancing in my fantasy league playoffs).

9.  Important to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area – the Mavs and the Stars, while not doing great, are still in their respective division leads or at least within a game.

10.  Can it be that for the second year in a row the Texas Longhorn’s have the best player in college basketball – DJ Augustin.

Okay consider it blogged.  Oh and Merry Christmas!