A bullpen of Francisco, Wilson, Guardado, Rupe, Feldman and Madrigal isn’t going to allow this thing to contend.

If you are looking at 2009, you are missing the big picture.

Why do you write off the Rangers so quickly? As constructed now, they aren’t going to the playoffs, but who’s to say that they don’t make some trades later and/or sign Sheets mid-season if the aged Angels crater? There is a lot of season left before writing any team off. And believe me, I am not a Hicks kool-aid drinker.

I agree with your assessment. Eyre and Nippert are both expendable. The Rangers don’t trade Metcalf because they had 8 players play third last year. Golson to me is just another Donald Harris.

Again – you are solely focusing on this year. What if Golson does turn the corner? What if he breaks out in 2009 and becomes a legit CF option. Then Texas has the ability to flip him for something valuable – whereas Metcalf will never have any value.

And yes, Cruz and Golson are completely different players – but the point remains, Cruz didn’t “figure it out” until age 29, despite doing well in the minors.

Murphy was also a late bloomer. Sorry – you don’t just cut talented players at age 22/23 b/c they haven’t done it “yet.”

Like I said – Golson is probably nothing more than a future 4th/5th OFer – but there is a chance he turns into much more. Why eliminate that possibility by cutting him in favor of a below-average 27-year-old? Who cares if Young goes down – this team isn’t contending this year anyway.

And people here get concerned about roster decisions because sometimes guys that “haven’t figured it out” DO figure it out…ala Galaragga.

Let me give you a quick glance at the minor league stats of the 2.

Golson: 5 seasons, .265 AVG, .310 OBP, .406 SLG, 716 OPS, 46 HR, 120 SB, 623 K
Cruz: 8 seaons, .298 AVG, .370 OBP, .539 SLG, 909 OPS, 149 HR, 105 SB, 707 K

If you can seriously look at those numbers and say that Golson has the same step to take to become a MLB player, then there is no sense arguing with you. Cruz has put up those numbers playing 5 seasons at AAA. Golson’s pitiful numbers come playing 5 seasons below AAA.

Sure all of the guys in the minor leagues have potential. However, real prospects like Cruz have skill. Guys like Golson continue to have potential with nothing to show for it.

Please don’t get me wrong. I would love to see Golson turn into a 5 tool player at the MLB level. Unlike some, I’m not going to lose sleep over it and cry if the Rangers cut a career underachiever with little potential to turn his potential into contact with the ball.

To answer your first assumption that I thought the Rangers should cut Cruz, I didn’t think they should and I thought all along they hadn’t given him a legitimate shot. Don’t believe me? Search the DMN blogs and you will find all proof that your assumption was false.

That said, you missed my point. I’m not saying they should just cut all of those guys. I’m saying that none of those guys is worth worrying about losing. Too many people on this blog think that the Rangers have some crisis over choosing who to cut. In reality, the Rangers have plenty of guys who would be cut by the Yankees or Red Sox without hesitation if the right player came along. Heck, Nippert was cut by the DBacks. You don’t see them worrying about the potential of a guy who will have a career ERA over 5.00. At the same time, you see a bunch of Rangers fans worrying about Nippert being given his walking papers. Most MLB teams could come up with a 5.00+ERA guy any time any place. So why worry and argue about Nippert. Oh, wait it’s because he has “potential”. Forget that he has never shown anything at the MLB level other than the ability to be a contributor on the worst staff in baseball.

Sure you can find A guy on any championship team that fits into the Benson/Catalanotto category. You won’t find a championship team that has 3 (Benson, Feldman, Nippert) of 12 MLB pitchers that fit into that category.

I bet you didn’t believe that Cruz was going to “turn the corner” either. The farm-system is all about guys with potential. Golson has it. Will he tap into it at some point – doubtful.

But Metcalf has no upside. He will turn 27 at the end of the year and has produced a 9-year career of mediocrity.

Golson, OTOH, is 23 years old, and has skills to at least become a serviceable 4th OFer…and much more if the “light” turns on. Golson is, more than likely, going to be a non-factor…but he much more likely to contribute than Metcalf.