a700hitter

The latest is that there is mutual interest between Oswalt and the Rangers. If that happens, Texas will be a very good team for another year.

In one of those 2 years, he still pitched 181 innings.

I posted the other poll almost two weeks ago. Most people (almost 80%) thought we would get a new starting pitcher. I'd like to see if the passage of time has changed any minds, so I am reposting it.

I think something will develop quickly here. I think something will happen by before the weekend. Benny Boy seems to be turning up the heat on the two pitchers.

Oswalt is the much better pitcher.

Thank goodness you were being sarcastic. The thought of him in an important role gave me the dry heaves.

So you are okay with Aceves and Bard as the 4th and 5th starters? Also, who will be the swingman/long reliever in the Pen?

You don't want a starting pitcher?

The Rangers might consider bolstering their pen by moving Ogando or Feliz back to the pen. If they do, they'll have an opening for a starter. I am concerned about them making such a move. I can't see that the are comfortable with an old broken down Nathan anchoring the pen.

Someone didn't get any last night. Your last 2 lines are the crux of the matter. The goals of the fan and management are antithetical to one another. They always have been and they always will be. The goals of management and the fan are only similar to the extent that the fan wants the team to make money so it can continue to put a championship caliber team on the field and management wants to win championships, because it helps to make money. The ultimate goals differ: make money vs. win championships. That is why people criticize, and I use that word instead of complain, because we want the best possible team, but we have no control except to vote with our feet. However, if things get to that point, they have gotten very bad. Look at the Mets. Yes, Cherrington knows better than the non-professionals how to build a competitive team that will make money, but so do the other 29 GMs. The fans, however, can sit in judgment of whether they think a roster has what it takes to win. Every GM does his best to build his team. However, many know that their rosters don't have a chance to succeed, but they can never say that publicly. There are years when teams like the Sox and the Yankees know that they will have a struggle to make the playoffs. Sometimes they are in a rebuilding mode, but they can't say that they are rebuilding and charge $50-150 ticket. Whether a team is good enough to go all the way is a legitimate topic of discussion for the fans. In that matter the fans may not know better, but we can discuss it more honestly, because we are not also wearing marketing hats. As this team stands, they will have a tough time competing for the playoffs. The Yanks are clearly better and several teams look like tough competition for the wild card. If we get another starting pitcher, that analysis changes. If I end with a :thumbsup::thumbsup:, will you feel better about the situation.

Middlebrooks has made great progress, but I wouldn't say that he has done wverything that he has needed to do in the minors. I have seen better prospects than him (Hanley Ramirez comes to mind) regress while in the minors. Middlebrooks needs to play well again this season to prove that he can be consistent. As for Youk's, if he doesn't stay healthy and have a good year in 2012, I don't see them exercising his option.

And last year they signed VMart to catch but he DH'd most of the season.

First of all, let's not jump the gun with Middlebrooks just yet. Maybe he will be ready in 2013. Isn't 2013 an option year for Youkilis?

Youk has missed games due to back spasms each year, even when playing 1B. They knock him out for 3-5 games and then he is okay the rest of the way. They usually hit him a little after mid-season-- probably due to fatigue and dehydration. Everyone is concerned about him playing 3B. I'm not. I don't think he is any more likely to suffer an injury at 3rd than 1st. I am concerned about his hip. That was the first of his injuries last year. That can be a chronic thing. I hope that he drops about 20 lbs to start the year. 240 is too much weight.

Another day and no starting pitcher.

^ Strawman!!

You'd be doing me a favor. I spend so much time here that it can't be healthy.

Miggy and Prince will share 1st and DH in 2012. I don't know what happens in 2012 when VMart comes back.