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Baseball Quick Hits

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UPDATE: Click here for Joey Matschulat’s look at the state of umpiring in general this morning at BBTiA.

It’s been a rough October for MLB umpires, who have struggled to get some of the most obvious calls correct. Among a litany of his peers, Phil Cuzzi came under scrutiny in the ALDS series between the Twins and the Yankees when he ruled a Joe Mauer liner foul even though the ball landed well inside the chalk. The Twins went on to lose the game 4-3 in 11 innings and the series in three games.

But the general outrage may have culminated with Tim McClelland’s bizarre call Tuesday night — which you can watch here — that resulted in Robinson Cano being called safe at third base despite standing with his foot clearly off the bag as Angels catcher Mike Napoli tagged him with the ball. Though the call didn’t affect the outcome of the Yankees’ 10-1 blowout win, the miss was so evident that many fans and critics have spoken out for the expansion of instant replay in baseball.

Much maligned commissioner Bud Selig is uninterested in addressing the issue, seemingly not wanting to leave a legacy, fair or not, as the guy who let the Steroid Era happen and the guy who slowed the game down. The argument against says that a game based so heavily on pace and timing would be hurt by frequent interruptions to check fair or foul, out or safe, etc. And where do you draw the line? Foul tips? Hit batsmen?

But missed calls like we’ve seen so far can’t continue, especially not at this point in the year. After playing through a grueling 162 game schedule — 163 if you count their one game playoff with Detroit– the Twins were done in just three games, and at least one of them was affected by a shoddy call. And the fact that even experienced umpires are botching plays has only emboldened those who want to bring MLB into a more technological state of existence. So can baseball really afford to wait for a major umpiring meltdown before they implement some kind of change?

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Putting the Rangers “DVD” Era Drafts in Perspective

The Rangers decision to waive RHP Thomas Diamond last week, which ultimately led to the Chicago Cubs claiming him, officially put an end to the once-celebrated  “DVD” Era in Rangers history. DVD stood for Danks-Volquez-Diamond and together they were going to form the heart of a championship Rangers rotation. We followed their every start, marveled at every out, counted the days until they reached the majors. And then they produced a total of three wins while in Rangers uniforms.

The divestiture of Diamond got me thinking something else: The Rangers no longer have control of their top draft pick from 2002-2005 and they got very, very little from the quartet of picks, even though the average top selection was No. 12 overall. In total, the Rangers got five games. From Drew Meyer, the 10th overall pick in 2002. He had three hits, all of them singles.

So, I decided to look at what other clubs received from their top picks in that era, characterized by the John Hart-Grady Fuson management team that was formed for 2002 and joined by GM-wannabe Buck Showalter a year later. In short, it’s not pretty, but, surprisingly, five games of contribution was not the worst in baseball.  With that in mind, here’s what you can do with this post:

1. Choose not to read it and move on.
2. Mutter about how little the Rangers got from their top draft picks during the 2002-2005 seasons.
3. Marvel at how far the scouting/player development side has come so quickly despite complete washouts with four consecutive top picks. The Rangers, after all, entered the season as the No. 1-ranked farm system in baseball, according to Baseball America. I suspect they will remain in the top five after this season, even after graduating SS Elvis Andrus, LHP Derek Holland, RHP Neftali Feliz and RHP Tommy Hunter to the big leagues.

It’s your choice. See the glass as half empty, half full or ignore the glass entirely.

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Rangers 3B Michael Young Hopes to Return from Injury Against Angels on September 18

ARLINGTON - Texas Rangers 3B Michael Young was told Wednesday afternoon that the hamstring strain he suffered on Tuesday night was slightly more than a Level 1 strain. He was then shown a needle the length of a ballpoint pen and given a rather painful injection.

All of this he welcomed as good news, bordering on great, because it means he still has a chance to impact the playoff race.

“On the way home last night, I was certain my season was over,” Young said. “When [team orthopedist Dr. Keith Meister] looked at me and kind of smiled after reading the MRI, I treated it as very good news. I could get upset about missing some time or I could visualize the impact I could have on the last two weeks of the season. As down as I was about it last night, what I was told today was very uplifting. It’s only going to give me more energy about being aggressive with my rehab.”

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Rangers Roster Moves for September 1

ARLINGTON - The Rangers have added seven players to the roster today since said rosters can be expanded to 40 players. Perhaps the biggest news, however, was one of the players they removed: Former first-round pick RHP Thomas Diamond. Diamond, the 10th overall pick in 2004, was designated for assignment.

The seven roster additions comes from three pools:

Players activated from the DL: RHP Brandon McCarthy, who will start the second game of today’s doubleheader, LHP Eddie Guardado and INF Esteban German.

Players recalled from minor league assignments: RHP Warner Madrigal and RHP Guillermo Moscoso.

Players purchased from the minor leagues, thus adding them to the 40-man roster: OF Craig Gentry and C Kevin Richardson.

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Jason Jennings Designated for Assignment

Just got off the phone with Evan who relays that RHP Jason Jennings was designated for assignment to make room for Pedro Strop on the Rangers’ roster. Evan will have more shortly.

Bulletin From Bronx: Pedro Strop in Clubhouse

That’s what Evan just passed along from Yankee Stadium. The minor league right-hander isn’t on the 40-man roster according to what I just looked at on the Rangers’ web site. The Rangers have announced no roster move. In 36 relief appearances for Frisco before promotion to Oklahoma, Strop worked 51.1 innings, allowing 48 hits and 29 walks with 48 strikeouts. ERA of 4.38 with a 5-5 record. At OKC, 12.2 innings, 13 hits and four walks with 13 K’s. ERA of 7.38.

If Chris Davis Is in, Who is out?

The Rangers are expected to officially recall 1B Chris Davis from Triple-A Oklahoma City today. The flip side of that move is they are going to have to remove somebody from the 25-man roster either by a DL move, optioning a player to the minors or flat out releasing somebody. Here’s a look at the possible choices. And here is where you can vote for who is likely to lose his spot. Try not to let personal frustrations get involved in your vote. Think of what you may need in September and what gives you the most roster flexibility. (Note: All players are listed in alphabetical order.)

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Chris Davis Returning to Rangers Lineup

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The progression of manager Ron Washington’s comments over the weekend, combined with three pickoff throws to first that ended up in the right field corner apparently means 1B Chris Davis will be returning to the Rangers lineup when they face the Yankees in New York Tuesday.

Washington was asked each day during the Tampa Bay series about an impending Davis return. On Friday, he said the Rangers had discussed it, but had not yet found the right way to bring him back before Sept. 1 when rosters can be expanded. By Sunday afternoon, Washington was smiling in response to the question.

“Maybe,” Washington said. “Maybe not.”

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Rangers Notes: Countdown to Chris Davis Return?

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Are the Rangers putting 1B Hank Blalock on notice that he’s got 10 days left – max – to prove he should remain at the position for the playoff race’s September stretch drive?

It certainly appears so. On Saturday, manager Ron Washington said the club is looking at way it could bring 1B Chris Davis back from Triple-A Oklahoma City before rosters expand on Sept. 1. The club isn’t yet ready to move Davis back into the spot Blalock inherited when Davis was sent to the minors in July. But, Washington said, that when Davis does return, he will play first base.

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Julio Borbon Missed Sign in Eighth Inning

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Rangers asked Julio Borbon to be a pinch runner on Friday, not a base stealer.

Understanding the difference between the two roles might have made the difference in the Rangers’  5-3 loss to Tampa Bay Friday night. Inserted into the game as the Rangers were rallying in the eighth, Borbon took off for second on a 2-and-2 pitch to Josh Hamilton, who just happened to represent the tying run. He did it against reliever Grant Balfour, whose extremely quick time to the plate had been noted by manager Ron Washington when he flashed the “red light” to Borbon before the pitch.

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Catching Up on All Rangers Catchers News

ARLINGTON - If Pudge Rodriguez arrives in time for tonight’s game, he’ll be added to the active roster and Kevin Richardson will receive a pat on the back. Manager Ron Washington anticipates playing him twice a week. And Jarrod Saltalamacchia is aiming at a return on Sept. 1 with today’s decision that surgery isn’t necessary – at least not yet – for the nerve problem in his neck and ribs that has recently caused his shoulder soreness and a numb right hand.

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Rangers to Release Vicente Padilla

Unable to get another team to pony up for any of RHP Vicente Padilla’s remaining salary, the Rangers placed the pitcher on waivers for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release on Monday. Padilla, who was designated for assignment on August 7, should clear waivers on Tuesday afternoon and then would be eligible to sign with any club. If he does, the Rangers will be responsible for all but about $100,000 of the nearly $2.5 million remaining on his contract. The Rangers are also responsible for a $1.l75 million option in his contract for 2010.

Kinsler Update and Other Texas Rangers Notes

ARLINGTON - Ian Kinsler said Sunday morning that he feels no ill effects from being hit in the eighth inning on Saturday night and, after a post-game chat with Boston catcher Jason Varitek, has no ill will toward the Red Sox.

In Monday night’s game against Minnesota lefty Francisco Liriano, Rangers manager Ron Washington plans to sit left-handed hitting Julio Borbon, return Kinsler to the top of the order and start recent call-up Kevin Richardson to give Taylor Teagarden a night off.

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In Other Rangers News: Francisco To Close Again

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Rangers manager Ron Washington said Friday afternoon that bidding farewell to RHP Vicente Padilla wasn’t the only pitching-staff news of the day.

Also: RHP Frank Francisco will return to closing duties immediately; LHP C.J. Wilson will go back to working the eighth inning and, when needed, at least part of the seventh.

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Rangers Have Seen Last Of Vicente Padilla

UPDATED, 6:58 p.m. CDT

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Rangers on Friday decided that 49 times was enough.

Just 48 hours after Vicente Padilla hit Kurt Suzuki with a first-inning pitch that resulted in retaliation aimed at Michael Young, the team finally cut ties with the volatile right-handed pitcher. After 49 hit batters over three plus seasons, Padilla was designated for assignment. The team has 10 days to trade or release him. General manager Jon Daniels made it clear the Rangers are through with him.

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