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Texas Rangers Live!
Members of the Texas Rangers drop by to answer your questions in a Web chat, hosted by Rangers beat writer Anthony Andro.
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Texas Rangers beat writer
Most Recently Answered Questions
Questions 1 - 10 of 22 (Page 1 of 3)Submitted by Patricia Cole from Lubbock, TX
Q: This team has broken my heart season after season for 20 years. We've never had trouble getting the big bats. What is it going to take to really make us a contender? (I know, "It's the pitching, stupid.") When we get a good, young guy (Edison Volquez, Danks, Chris Young) we trade them away. I don't get this game at all!
Answered 09/16/08 15:06:58 by Anthony Andro
A: Pitching and defense. Offense will always be what it is. Opposing pitchers will determine that. You wake up with pitching and defense. As soon as we get to that point, that's when the Texas Rangers will arrive.Submitted by Jon Page from Garden Grove, CA
Q: I have a 2-part question for your 9/16 Ron Washington chat re: the batting order. First off, what is the mentality behind hitting Joaquin Arias leadoff? Sure he was plenty of speed, but he's got to be able to get on base to use it and his OBP is currently a dismal .294 (as of 9/7). Why not move Marlon Byrd, who also has some speed - and a much healthier .375 OBP - up to leadoff and bat Arias in the 8 or 9-slot, where he clearly belongs? Hitting someone who gets on base so little directly in front of Young and Hamilton has been depriving them of RBI chances. Second, what's the deal with Chris Davis still hitting 8th and even 9th in the order? I get wanting to keep some of the pressure off of him (obviously, he's not ready to hit cleanup or anything at this point) but if hitting him 6th or 7th in the order instead of 8th or 9th was really too much of a challenge for him, I would tend to think he would not be in the majors right now. Thanks in advance for your answer.
Answered 09/16/08 15:05:37 by Anthony Andro
A: Arias is hitting leadoff because if you look at our lineup, he's the only speed factor we have. The reason Davis is hitting seventh, eighth and ninth, when you bring up an inexperienced, talented kid, you want him to be in positions where they can succeed. If he's due to hit there, his performance will dictate that. He's still learning to play the game.Submitted by Aaron from Dallas, Texas
Q: Have you ever considered using Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Max Ramirez at positions other than C/1B/DH? Do you think either of them could handle left field or third base?
Answered 09/16/08 15:03:49 by Anthony Andro
A: No. I don't think they have the quickness to be at third base or in the outfield. With work, they can be first basemen. There are certain posititions you have to have instincts, quickness and excellent reactions. At third and left, those are the things you need.Submitted by Kristen from Canada
Q: Hi Mr. Washington. Thanks for taking some of your valuable time to answer our questions. Mine is: in your albeit brief exposure to some of our young pitchers coming up through the pipe, do you find some of them are reminiscent of the pitchers you had in OAK? For example: Frank Chipmunk-Cheeks Francisco throws hard but is a little wild, kind of like Billy Koch was in his one year with the A's; Matt Harrison has the exact same repertoire that Mark Mulder had in OAK: fastball; change; and a slider that Mulder would for some reason later ditch for a curveball in his 3rd year in STL; C.J. Wilson's kind of flaky but nice like Zito was, etc. Thanks!
Answered 09/16/08 15:02:37 by Anthony Andro
A: The only difference between the Mulder's and Zito's is maturity. They had already accomplished that when they arrived at the big leagues. Plus, they had outstanding stuff. When they arrived, there wasn't a whole lot of developing left. The guys here got it. They just haven't learned how to use it in the same manner yet.Submitted by oc from Irving, TX
Q: To Ron Washington: The year is coming to a close. What is one thing you've felt that you've accomplished as a manager this season? What is one thing you feel needs improvement?
Answered 09/16/08 15:00:35 by Anthony Andro
A: The one thing I've accomplished is having the clubhouse understand what being on the same page is about. Through the adversity, we learned to depend on each other. Trust. I still have to remember to be never comfortable. That equates to total focus all the time.Submitted by Brad Avery from Topeka Kansas
Q: Why don't the Rangers employ the squeeze bunt with a runner on third base? I watch the games on MLB.com, and I don't recall seeing the squeeze once in the last two seasons. I do recall numerous runners being stranded on third base.
Answered 09/16/08 14:58:42 by Anthony Andro
A: We won a game last year with Gerald on a squeeze. The right person has to be on the field to execute it.Submitted by marhobo from Nashville, Tn.
Q: Ron. So many questions....so little time....so here's an easy one. It was my understanding that part of your selection winning resume was defense, yet the Rangers are about to set a club record for unearned runs. Why should the Rangers bring you back next year?
Answered 09/16/08 14:57:37 by Anthony Andro
A: When you've been an organization that's done everything through offense and you try to bring in pitchng to help, and then you have the injuries in the places we've had on the infield, you have to expect guys to do things they never have. You have inconsistencies. They take defense to heart. Going into next year, they will see a jump in better defense. It has become a mindset. We've experienced what not playing defense can do. Sometimes you have to go through adversity to get to the good. We're solid up the middle. We have to strengthen the corners.Submitted by Sgt Chavez from Iraq
Q: I've been reading how health is a concern for Bradley when discussing a new contract. Is that true or do they just want the complementary draft picks that will be headed their way when they say "Thank you for your service". At the very least he could be a great DH for a number of years.
Answered 09/16/08 14:55:23 by Anthony Andro
A: We don't think about a player when he's productive and try and see what we can get for him. Health is important because when he's healthy, that equals production. It's all about getting a productive commodity. When he's healthy, we know what we're going to get. The draft choices, if that happens, it happens. Our goal is to put healthy people on the field. We want Milton healthy.Submitted by Rev English from Arlington, TX
Q: In your opinion is Hank Blalock's health starting to out weigh his potential.
Answered 09/16/08 14:53:29 by Anthony Andro
A: No. It's just a matter of Hank taking the winter and making sure he gets healthy. He's still young and he still possesses ability. If he can get healthy, especially going into the offseason healthy, we'll see a resurgence of Hank. He's still a quality professional player.Submitted by Joe from Southlake
Q: What have you been told about the organization's plans to spend money on some of the big name free agents during the offseason?
Answered 09/16/08 14:52:15 by Anthony Andro
A: That's something we address at the end of the season. Many people within the organization will determine that.