Fielder for Kinsler

I can see Rangers asking Fielder to take more half days off as a DH next year. As to full days off not sure. But Wash has shown in the past if he thinks a player needs a day off it usually does not matter whether player likes it. So if he is going on one of those 19 game droughts like he did a couple times last year he will get some time off. But if he does not go on any such streaks like that Wash has also shown he is willing to ride a guy until he asks out. I could see him playing 160 games next season with about 40 or so at DH.

Gentry would play everyday for a lot of teams.

One of my biggest disappointment last year was with the early platooning and then injuries Gentry did not get a chance to play every day and keep some rhythm going. I would love to see him given a chance to play every day for a full season and given green light to run at will and see what he could accomplish. But betting that will never happen while with the Rangers.

It would be the wrong type lineup for the ballpark but would love to see them sing Ellsbury and have an OF of Martin, Ellsbury, and Gentry. Then turn them all loose along with Elvis and see if we can wear out a few catcher arms.

I am as excited to see Fielder as he will be to see that right field Home Run porch at the Ballpark. As for Kinsler, the following article from the Fort Worth Star Telegram sums it up for me. I find it well written and right on the nose:
http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/11/21 ... loved.html

P.S. Good luck in Cleveland Murph! We love ya!

Well, word is that Cano flew into Detroit on Friday for three or four hours. Not sure where it would leave Kinsler but I like having Cano in that line up. Probably have to trade Kinsler if they sign Cano. Or maybe it will be the most expensive platoon in baseball history.

Read that article.

And so it went for Ian Michael Kinsler

Did Ian have a brother who played for the team. If so I missed it.

“After they got rid of Josh [Hamilton], Ian arguably was the last player people could relate to.”

Whoa. Whether Franklin intended or not, his remark implies that Rangers fans only “relate to” 30-year-old white players.

It is not fair to Kinsler or his agent to call that a racist remark without following up the question to verify that is what he meant. This is the kind of poor journalism I have become accustomed to since moving first to Dallas and now to Fort Worth. Worse sports journalists in the nation work in this market.

For some reason they feel it necessary to kick most players on their way out of town. I just do not understand why.

Local media does not seem able to agree on where Fielder should fit in lineup. Some say third and some say 4th.
I am betting he will hit third because Wash really likes Beltre at cleanup. Since his arrival the rest of the lineup has gone through various shuffling but I do not remember Beltre ever hitting anywhere but 4th.

It is also natural to discuss what this means for Moreland. Some say there is still a role for him at DH. But why use him at DH when he is the better defensive first baseman? Except that you would be paying Prince a lot of money to DH. It might make sense if you still believed in Moreland's bat to move him to LF but if they add Choo or Ellsbury as many are calling for that is not an option. Plus I think I would prefer to have Gentry start in LF and see what he can do playing every day and hitting leadoff.

I would think Moreland's best value to team right now is as trade material. That does bring up the question what teams could use a first baseman and could afford to gamble Moreland can stay healthy and be the hitter Rangers thought he could when they traded Davis and Smoak away to hand him the keys to first base.

And speaking of trading those 2 away the Fielder trade would not have been necessary if they had kept Davis. I hated that trade from the day I heard it announced and like the Cardinals trading Carlton off many years ago have not quite got over it. I think I am going to start adding Wise to all my ATG teams preseason just so I can offer him to whomever has Carlton on their roster. See how many of them come on here citing me for trying to take advantage......