Comments on: Post-Game Show: Rangers 3, Angels 2

By: JGM

JGM — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 14:41:32 +0000

How does a “great clubhouse manager” let his team go through the offensive performance of the last week? How does a “great clubhouse manager” let a gap hitting, highly productive
2nd baseman turn into nearly an automatic out? Feldman didn’t look like he thought he was playing for a “great clubhouse manager” when he was talking to MY in the dugout after being pulled. Amanager doesn’t necessarily have to win games for you but they definitely shouldn’t lose them for you…and Warsh has lost games.

By: leftybp

leftybp — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 11:49:34 +0000

KJ I stand with you, I am a season ticket holder also, maybe not next year, if wash is still here… I’ll just watch on tv.

I think the Rangers have achieved in spite of wash. He is a very good coach and a friend to all players, but not a game manager, and we need one…
A manager has to know/see how to evaluate his players… not just read in a book..

By: Scott

Scott — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:44:36 +0000

Wash is a great clubhouse manager. He deserves a lot of credit for the fire this team has shown that has allowed them to compete into September. Wash has also proven to be an average to below average in game manager. He got bit on this last month by not subbing Davis for Blalock. Now he says it won’t happen again. Fool me once. I wouldn’t fire him though. Overall our team has over achieved. In baseball I think the manager’s most important job is managing the clubhouse.

By: Kenny T in China

Kenny T in China — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:32:52 +0000

But KJ, every team can go back and look at 3-5 games that they should have won during a year! It happens to every single baseball team! Should Wash have made a switch, yes, should Hank have made the play, yes!

By: KJ

KJ — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:00:07 +0000

@Charles- But with all that said, we’re probably not making the playoffs. And we’re going to come up short about 3-5 wins. And in my mind, you can go back and find 3-5 losses that you can pin directly on Wash.

I’ve been a die-hard Rangers fan and season ticket holder for a long time and I don’t want to wait for 2010. I don’t take moral victories and I’m going to be really ticked if we miss the playoffs because of dumb moves, or lack thereof.

There is no good manager that would make a basic mistake of not putting your best defensive players in a one-run game that you’re trying to win. It’s little league and for a self-proclaimed defense coach, it’s purely unacceptable to me.

But thanks for playing.

By: Charles

Charles — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 05:47:23 +0000

Tonight does go to Feldman, excellent game from him. Well, actually, you know what, it wasn’t an excellent game, it was what I expect from Feldman every time he runs out there. Still, he’s definitely player of the game.

@KJ: I find it absolutely unfathomable that a guy who has a team many felt to be 3rd or 4th in this division and at 90+ losses 15 games over .500. All this despite not having one of his best players for damn near the whole season.

I can’t understand how anybody would want to fire a manager of an overachieving team.Does he make bad choices? You better believe he does, but every single manager makes bad choices. I mean, think about it this way. We’ve had to depend on rookies (Hunter, for a stretch Holland) to keep us in games against some stiff competition (LAA, NY, Boston). We’ve had a converted reliever turn into our best starter, and we’ve had to depend on a long reliever/spot starter to work magic – whether that be winning a game against the Red Sox, or pitching 3 times in 8 days. We made wire claims that turned into gold, an unpredictable setup man and closer, and have depended on rookies (Andrus, Borbon, Davis, Teagarden), an unknown commodity (Cruz) and unreliable veterans (Jones, Blalock). The one calling games for most of the season is barely my age and he was our starter (Saltalamacchia). Our best player from last year has been hurt or ineffective most of the season, our .300 leadoff hitter is hitting 50 points lower than expected, and we’re a better team! How are we not the A’s, or the Royals, or the Indians? Teams loaded with young guys and seem to all reside near the bottom.

Sorry for that long diatribe, but my point is this: in hindsight we can look back and criticize many of Washington’s moves. A lot of them are stupid – playing A. Jones or Guardado at all come to mind – but despite his advanced age, he is a lot like the team we have. He’s young, he’s learning on the job, and so far he’s exceeding expectations. And the two words you should fear – Buck Showalter. Remember Buck, like one would remember the Alamo. Never forget that era.

By: Terry

Terry — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 05:40:27 +0000

I was not at the stadium on Saturday, but to say Saturday was the first time the crowd had energy may not be fair. The rainy games against the A’s were pretty listless, agreed. Just hate to see you fall into the media groupthink that believes Ranger fans are too fickle. If that was really the case, The Corner would not be nearly as active as it is. The Ranger fans are supporting their Rangers. Good effort Friday night, but no results. Good effort Saturday night results in scoring plus a win. Just don’t be too quick to jump on the fans.

By: Stephen R

Stephen R — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 04:20:51 +0000

Feldman is the player of the game in my book. Great game for Feldman, and I think Washington removed him at the right time. I know Washington got a lot of criticism about that move, but I had no problem with it. O’Day has been great this year and CJ/Francisco are solid. Feldman imploded late in the game last start. When you have a strong, well-rested pen, I have no problem erring on the side of caution.

By: rob m

rob m — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 04:19:17 +0000

I hope Wash knew that Hank owns Weaver (A 1.305 ops in 30 ABs.) and not just because he wanted a veteran LHB in the line up. His lack of making the defensive substitution is unexcusable.

By: KJ

KJ — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 04:08:31 +0000

No doubt in my mind tonight goes to Feldman. With Weaver pitching well, and the offensive drought, he knew he had to pitch well and at least match Weaver. He got us to a spot that the bullpen could finish off the game effectively, in spite of Wash’s 9th inning blunder.

It’s just absolutely unfathomable that this guy will probably still be the manager next year. That ground ball that Blalock bobbled should have been at least one out, and with the way Davis has played at first, I’m not putting it out of the realm of possibility that was the game-ending double play.

I’d also give Frankie honorable mention for not giving up after that and imploding.