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— A Timely Look at Transactions as They Happen

Thursday, October 04, 2007

2008 ZiPS Projections - Texas Rangers

Well, the good news is that ZiPS still likes the front of the bullpen to remain solid and the Rangers have some catcher depth to sort through. The bad new is that the rest of the team is pretty, bleak, with ZiPS not seeing anyone in the organization that's odds-on to be an above-average 1B, DH, 3B, LF, RF, #2 starter, #3 starter, #4 starter, or #5 starter. And the few to even come close are generally long-shots for jobs. As good a player as Salty can be, the Rangers really have to be concerned at their front-line offense, which is might be worse than that of the Jays.

I've done spotlights for Taylor Teagarden and Kevin Millwood. Teagarden's a pretty interesting player now that he's recovered from Tommy John surgery. The team's going to continue to work on getting his arm back to where it used to be and sort out the catching situation in the next year or so. The third above-average offensive catcher on the list, Max Ramirez, isn't much of a defensive catcher and won't stay there if his bat gets him to the majors. Teagarden doesn't project to be an above-average DH-type this year, but I have to agree with ZiPS here regarding his power potential. This was essentially Teagarden's first full professional season, for all intents and purposes. The Rangers really need to promote Teagarden aggressively in 2008 and not leave him to beat up younger pitchers - given their situation, it'd be nice for the team to get an idea what they have in him going into 2009. As for Kevin Millwood, well, he's the only Ranger starter with a really good shot to not stink.


Name                     P  Age   AVG   OBP   SLG   G  AB   R   H 2B 3B HR RBI  BB   K SB CS 
AVERAGE 1B/DH ---------- 1b ---- .284  .362  .490 ------------------------------------------
AVERAGE LF ------------- lf ---- .277  .353  .471 ------------------------------------------
AVERAGE RF ------------- rf ---- .277  .351  .472 ------------------------------------------
Jason Botts#             lf  27  .258  .359  .447 134 472  73 122 32  3 17  77  73 152  1  1 
AVERAGE 3B ------------- 3b ---- .279  .347  .458 ------------------------------------------
Mike Young               ss  31  .303  .352  .427 158 661  88 200 39  2 13  95  48 105  8  3 
Ian Kinsler              2b  26  .269  .345  .440 132 491  95 132 25  1 19  65  54  67 18  4 
Victor Diaz              rf  26  .274  .329  .475 112 394  50 108 20  1 19  77  31 111  4  2 
Marlon Byrd              cf  30  .288  .344  .443 141 497  67 143 28  5 13  79  37  99  4  3 
Hank Blalock*            3b  27  .276  .336  .446 136 536  72 148 27  2 20  88  47  93  1  0 
Taylor Teagarden         c   24  .251  .337  .454 105 350  46  88 20  0 17  55  41 127  1  1 
Nate Gold                1b  28  .264  .323  .474 118 435  56 115 23  1 22  85  36  94  1  1 
AVERAGE CF ------------- cf ---- .276  .340  .443 ------------------------------------------ 
Frankie Catalanotto*     lf  34  .274  .355  .413 110 361  50  99 25  2  7  47  37  41  0  1
AVERAGE 2B ------------- 2B ---- .281  .341  .424 ------------------------------------------
David Murphy*            cf  26  .273  .336  .429 146 506  64 138 30  5 13  66  48  89  6  3 
Brad Wilkerson*          lf  31  .236  .332  .435 115 382  60  90 24  2 16  56  53 119  3  3 
Maximiliano Ramirez      c   23  .236  .340  .401 120 406  54  96 25  0 14  70  64 111  2  0 
Jarrod Saltalamacchia#   c   23  .257  .323  .425 111 374  45  96 19  1 14  45  35  90  0  0 
John Mayberry Jr.        rf  24  .235  .309  .455 123 442  65 104 23  1 24  73  42 113  9  2 
Kevin West               lf  28  .257  .321  .424  93 323  37  83 18  0 12  46  27  74  0  1 
AVERAGE SS ------------- ss ---- .274  .329  .404 ------------------------------------------
Nelson Cruz              rf  27  .248  .320  .435 139 460  59 114 21  1 21  70  46 148  6  5 
AVERAGE C --------------- c ---- .265  .326  .412 ------------------------------------------ 
Freddy Guzman#           cf  27  .266  .338  .367 130 485  80 129 22  6  5  35  51  75 38 11 
Anthony Webster*         rf  25  .268  .306  .400 122 452  67 121 25  4  9  43  22  58 20  8 
Gerald Laird             c   28  .249  .305  .391 105 353  49  88 18  1 10  45  25  82  3  2 
Sammy Sosa               rf  39  .229  .294  .398  76 279  31  64 14  0 11  51  24  80  0  0 
Chris Davis*             3b  22  .234  .272  .442 117 414  35  97 24  1 20  68  19 144  2  2 
Chris Stewart            c   26  .249  .293  .398  87 261  30  65 16  1  7  33  15  31  1  1 
Guillermo Quiroz         c   26  .248  .286  .393  70 234  16  58 13  0  7  35  12  49  0  0 
German Duran             2b  23  .251  .291  .397 124 446  48 112 25  2 12  56  23  79  7  4 
Desi Relaford#           3b  34  .236  .322  .328  77 259  34  61 13  1  3  37  31  45  3  0 
Ramon Vazquez*           3b  31  .224  .306  .369 113 344  53  77 17  3  9  34  39  80  2  1 
Kevin Mahar              rf  27  .244  .294  .378 114 431  59 105 23  1 11  48  25 112  5  3 
Travis Metcalf           3b  25  .233  .289  .379 128 430  57 100 25  1 12  54  34 110  3  2 
Elvis Andrus             ss  19  .248  .313  .338 116 444  65 110 24  2  4  47  38 102 26 12 
Joaquin Arias            ss  23  .271  .297  .352 124 483  54 131 17  5  4  49  15  55 12  7 
Jerry Hairston Jr.       cf  32  .236  .312  .338  90 237  33  56 13  1  3  21  20  38  4  4 
Drew Meyer*              2b  26  .242  .298  .320 100 363  45  88 18  2  2  33  27  78  5  5 

* - Bats Left
# = Switch-Hitter

Name               CThr 1b 2b 3b ss lf cf rf 
Botts#                  Av          Av    Fr 
Young                            Fr          
Kinsler                    Av                
Diaz                                Fr    Fr 
Byrd                                Av Av Av 
Blalock*                      Fr             
Teagarden          Av                        
Gold                    Av                   
Catalanotto*            Av          Fr    Pr 
Murphy*                             Vg Fr Av 
Wilkerson*              Av          Av Pr Av 
Ramirez            Fr                        
Saltalamacchia#    Fr   Fr                   
Mayberry                            Av    Av 
West                    Fr    Pr    Fr    Fr 
Cruz                                Av Fr Av 
Guzman#                             Av Av Av 
Webster*                            Fr Fr Fr 
Laird              Vg                        
Sosa                                      Fr 
Davis*                        Fr             
Stewart            Av                        
Quiroz             Vg                        
Duran                      Vg    Av          
Relaford#                  Fr Av Pr Fr Fr Fr 
Vazquez*                Fr Fr Av Pr          
Mahar                               Av Fr Av 
Metcalf                       Fr             
Andrus                           Av          
Arias                      Av    Av          
Hairston                   Fr       Av Fr Av 
Meyer*                     Vg Av Vg Vg Av   

Player Spotlight - Taylor Teagarden
Name               AVG   OBP   SLG   G  AB   R   H 2B 3B HR RBI  BB   K SB CS
Optimistic (15%)  .288  .380  .553 117 389  63 112 26  1 25  82  51 128  1  0  
Mean              .251  .337  .454 105 350  46  88 20  0 17  55  41 127  1  1
Pessimistic (15%) .231  .303  .399  82 273  30  63 13  0 11  34  26 107  0  1 

Top Near-Age Offensive Comps: Jim Pagliaroni, Steve Yeager

Name                     Age    ERA   W   L   G  GS     INN    H   ER  HR   BB    K 
Akinori Otsuka            36   3.40   4   2  56   0    53.0   50   20   3   19   41 
Joaquin Benoit            30   3.44   5   2  64   0    81.0   71   31   7   30   83 
C.J. Wilson*              27   3.90   3   2  63   0    67.0   63   29   6   27   58 
Frankie Francisco         28   4.00   2   1  60   0    63.0   60   28   3   33   51 
LEAGUE AVERAGE RELIEVER ------ 4.34 -----------------------------------------------
Kevin Millwood            33   4.52  12  11  31  31   189.0  207   95  22   57  135 
A.J. Murray*              26   4.56   3   4  66   0    75.0   79   38  10   33   54 
LEAGUE AVERAGE STARTER ------- 4.71 ------------------------------------------------
Scott Feldman             25   4.83   3   3  62   0    82.0   91   44   8   33   48 
Vicente Padilla           30   4.92  10  12  32  32   172.0  189   94  20   67  112 
Willie Eyre               29   4.93   5   5  48   1    84.0   94   46  10   31   52 
Jorge Vasquez             29   4.94   2   3  45   0    62.0   64   34  10   33   52 
Brandon McCarthy          24   4.96   8  10  24  24   127.0  140   70  16   47   77 
Kason Gabbard*            26   5.07   9  11  31  29   158.0  171   89  21   70   99 
Franklyn German           28   5.07   2   3  53   0    55.0   58   31   8   33   40 
Wes Littleton             25   5.10   4   4  62   0    90.0  101   51  16   25   52 
Mike Wood                 28   5.13   6   8  38  17   135.0  160   77  22   39   72 
John Rheinecker*          29   5.14   6   8  30  21   133.0  157   76  16   44   69 
Kameron Loe               26   5.18   8  10  38  23   146.0  169   84  16   57   79 
Jamey Wright              33   5.20   7  10  31  20   142.0  161   82  19   65   84 
Luis Mendoza              24   5.31   9  12  32  30   173.0  211  102  24   44   74 
Edinson Volquez           24   5.35  10  14  33  33   175.0  189  104  31   79  131 
Thomas Diamond            25   5.47   8  11  30  30   153.0  160   93  25   87  126 
Bill White*               29   5.57   1   1  59   0    63.0   71   39   9   36   49 
Armando Galarraga         26   5.65   7  11  29  28   161.0  190  101  29   51   99 
Rob Tejeda                26   5.66   7  12  28  27   143.0  160   90  20   79   93 
Brandon Puffer            32   5.79   3   4  56   0    73.0   89   47  13   25   36 
Chris Baker               30   5.97   4   8  26  16   107.0  132   71  19   31   56 
Josh Rupe                 25   5.98   5  10  29  20   131.0  157   87  24   50   75 
Randy Williams*           32   6.22   2   4  57   0    68.0   81   47  14   29   46 
Ezequiel Astacio          28   6.39   4   9  33  17   107.0  129   76  26   42   73 
Francisco Cruceta         26   6.43   5  10  34  21   140.0  162  100  32   65  102 
Eric Hurley               22   6.59   6  15  31  30   168.0  207  123  46   51  102 
Bruce Chen*               31   6.64   2   4  32  11    84.0  105   62  21   30   56 
Alfredo Simon             27   7.45   4  11  30  20   122.0  167  101  29   40   51 

* - Throws Left

Player Spotlight - Kevin Millwood
                    ERA   W   L   G  GS  INN    H   ER  HR   BB    K 
Optimistic (15%)   3.64  17   9  34  34  215  216   87  18   55  163 
Mean               4.52  12  11  31  31  189  207   95  22   57  135
Pessimistic (15%)  5.62   8  12  26  26  152  184   95  24   54   99

Top Near-Age Comps:  Dave Goltz, John Burkett

Disclaimer:  ZiPS projections are computer-based projections of performance.  
Performances have not been allocated to predicted playing time in the majors - 
many of the players listed above are unlikely to play in the majors at all in 2008.  
ZiPS is projecting equivalent production - a .240 ZiPS projection may end up 
being .280 in AAA or .300 in AA, for example.  Whether or not a player will play 
is one of many non-statistical factors one has to take into account when predicting 
the future.

Players are listed with their most recent teams unless Dan has made a mistake.  
This is very possible as a lot of minor-league signings are generally unreported in
the offseason.  

ZiPS is projecting based on the AL having a 4.49 ERA and the NL having a 4.40 ERA.
Dan Szymborski Posted: October 04, 2007 at 01:28 PM | 24 comment(s)
  Related News: TexasZIPS

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Reader Comments and Retorts

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Page 1 of 1 pages
   1. Frisco Cali  Posted: October 04, 2007 at 01:29 PM (#2560024)
So ZIPS doesn't put a whole lot of stock in Blalock's power surge in limited AB's this year. Seems reasonable.

On a good note, Michael Young gets another 200 hits.
   2. HowardMegdal  Posted: October 04, 2007 at 01:45 PM (#2560042)
Ah Victor Diaz- one of these years, you're sure to slug your weight.
   3. Shooty Did Not Kill McGurk  Posted: October 04, 2007 at 01:48 PM (#2560045)
Man, it looks like the Blue Jays line up without the frontline pitching.

Forgive my ignorance, but who is Taylor Teagarden? That's an interesting line, especially compared to Salty.
   4. Dan Szymborski  Posted: October 04, 2007 at 01:48 PM (#2560046)
Ah Victor Diaz- one of these years, you're sure to slug your weight.

Now that's mean!
   5. Bob Dernier Cri  Posted: October 04, 2007 at 01:53 PM (#2560049)
As if wasn't bad enough having to watch the 2007 Rangers, without having the 2008 version flashed before my eyes ...
   6. Dan Szymborski  Posted: October 04, 2007 at 01:53 PM (#2560050)
Forgive my ignorance, but who is Taylor Teagarden? That's an interesting line, especially compared to Salty.

Teagarden was the Rangers' 3rd round draft pick in 2005, but he messed up his elbow in the Arizona and had to have Tommy John surgery. He's still had some pain in his elbow this year, too, but they didn't find any more damage. His primary strength coming out of college on defense was considered his arm, but if that's kinda iffy, it's a concern about him staying there. The Rangers would like him to stay at catcher as long as possible, but they've also been wary about losing him again and he DHed more than he caught this year.
   7. Shooty Did Not Kill McGurk  Posted: October 04, 2007 at 01:56 PM (#2560054)
Thanks, Dan. If he comes to spring training with a healthy arm, and with the number of teams with a need for young catching, they might have a nice problem to deal with.
   8. Dan Szymborski  Posted: October 04, 2007 at 01:58 PM (#2560055)
in the Arizona

Almost as bad as "in the Iraq."
   9. BaseballDIY  Posted: October 04, 2007 at 02:00 PM (#2560057)
I got bored one day and added German Duran to my fantasy minor league roster. Anything to say about him (good or bad), Rangers fans?
   10. AROM  Posted: October 05, 2007 at 11:43 AM (#2561657)
The Rangers certainly have some nice young options at catcher. When is Marlon Byrd hitting free agency? Right now he looks like he's on the Gary Matthews Jr. career path.
   11. Still Waiting on Pork Chops (John R.)  Posted: October 05, 2007 at 04:59 PM (#2562169)
I honestly can't believe that there is no one in the Ranger organization that is projected to slug even .500 next season.

(mentally panning through the roster)

What exactly would it take to get Adam Dunn in a Ranger uniform???

*sigh* What happened to the Rangers I grew up loving? The ones where a pitcher making 34 starts with an ERA+ barely over 100 could win 18-20 games a year?
   12. jamcadbury  Posted: October 05, 2007 at 09:56 PM (#2563433)
AROM, Byrd is arb-eligible and won't be a free agent until after 2009.
   13. HowardMegdal  Posted: October 05, 2007 at 11:08 PM (#2563636)
More importantly- Dan, will you post your Diamond Mind Rosters with projections for 2007? I'm eager to know what to expect in the recently completed season.
   14. jamcadbury  Posted: October 08, 2007 at 04:20 PM (#2567758)
FWIW, I did a comparison of Dan's 2007 ZiPS projections compared to the actual numbers put up by the Rangers offense. You can check that out here, if you wish.
   15. DCA  Posted: October 12, 2007 at 05:07 PM (#2573250)
I'm taking the over on Millwood's optimistic projection. He's been very consistent in three year cycles ... big year, average year with 200+ IP, mediocre year with few IP. He's due for another big one.
   16. Dan Szymborski  Posted: October 12, 2007 at 05:14 PM (#2573254)
BTW, While reading your entry JM, I finally figured out why I hate Most Valuable Network's Logo - it's very similar to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration logo, which always comes in the mail to tell me they want to give me an expensive year sticker for my license plate or warn me that I'm 6 weeks late for emissions testing and they're going to send goons over to murder me.
   17. 8ball  Posted: October 20, 2007 at 02:27 PM (#2585116)
Question...any chance you could do a projection for Brandon Boggs, who put up some pretty decent numbers splitting time between high-A and AA this year?
   18. Gold Star 4 Robot Boy  Posted: October 20, 2007 at 03:21 PM (#2585145)
Kinsler treads water?
   19. Vaux, A.B.D.  Posted: October 20, 2007 at 03:42 PM (#2585166)
God, I hate the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration.
   20. Crispix Attacks is in the best shape of his life.  Posted: October 20, 2007 at 03:51 PM (#2585177)
AROM, Byrd is arb-eligible and won't be a free agent until after 2009.

But according to this he was a free agent a year ago.
   21. Dan Szymborski  Posted: October 23, 2007 at 02:06 PM (#2590476)
Byrd wasn't a major league free agent - he simply had enough major league time to elect for minor league free agency at the end of last season after he was outrighted to the minors.

I do find it amusing, however, that as mediocre-to-bad team the Rangers were this season, they still managed to come up with two centerfielders that played better than Sarge Lite this season.
   22. jamcadbury  Posted: November 16, 2007 at 04:27 PM (#2617866)
Wow, that resemblance is uncanny between the logos Dan.

I finished Part II of the ZiPS comparisons some time back (which focuses on the pitching), that you can view here.
   23. Dan Szymborski  Posted: November 16, 2007 at 04:40 PM (#2617886)
Thanks, JM, while I don't really pimp my stuff all that often, I'm always a sucker for attention. I have to admit occasionally googling myself (it's pretty easy since Dan Szymborski is almost always me).
   24. Der Komminsk-sar  Posted: November 19, 2007 at 07:58 PM (#2620678)
Second the Boggs request.
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