top of page

Questions of the week


As previously mentioned in the blog post before this one each and every week(depending on the demand) I will answer your sports questions. This week we have some real good ones as we discuss the Texas Rangers, free agency in baseball, and some NFL questions. The following are questions from the last week:

1) What are my thoughts on the comment made by Justin Verlander? Michael S., Mid-Cities, Texas

This one is a very good question! If you do not know what was said by Justin on twitter I will tell you his tweet: "100 or so free agents left unsigned. System is broken. They blame "rebuilding" but that's BS. You're telling me you couldn't sign Bryce Harper or Manny Machado for 10 years and go from there? Seems like a good place to start a rebuild to me. 26-36 is a great performance window too."

I can't fathom giving any one player who is out of their prime a ten year deal. I don't blame the owners for this fiasco, instead, I blame very GREEDY agents for this problem. Do you true baseball fans know when a hitters prime is? If you guessed 29 you are absolutely right. The prime of MLB hitters is 29 and once they hit that ceiling any player NOT on steroids will continue to decrease.

Let's look at the stats at both of these players starting with Bryce Harper:

2018
AB-550
HR-34
RBI-100
R-103
Hits-137
BA-.249
Projected 2019
AB-491
HR-27
RBI-87
R-90
Hits-130
BA-.265
Granted here is the problem with Harper: He will only be 26 this year meaning I can see where his agent has said ok he hasn't hit his ceiling yet. But 10 year deals are a thing of the past! Why? Look at the last two ten year multi-million dollar deals: Alex Rodriguez signed 10/252 with Texas Rangers was traded 3 years into the deal after one outstanding season, the last Giancarlo Stanton 10 year deal with Marlins worth over 300 million. Like ARod he was traded for much younger pieces to build the team around. Here's the best deal i give to Harper: 4-5 year deal worth maybe 20 million max with a year worth of incentives to get the deal to 5-6 years. That is the best I would give Bryce Harper.
Now let's look at Manny Machado:
2018
AB-632
HR-37
RBI-107
R-84
Hits-188
BA-.297
Projected 2019
AB-563
HR-30
RBI-87
R-78
Hits-157
BA-.279
Look at Manny Machado: Similarly, Machado will only be 26 this year as well. So why are teams not calling for their services when they are 3 time or more All Star players? Like mentioned above owners and GM's have been bitten by the ten year deal bug before and those days I'm sorry to tell you are all but over. This is the best I give Machado: 3-4 year deal worth about 15-20 million at the most with a year worth of incentives like you give to Harper.
So to the comment made by Mr. Verlander: The owners could be the problem. However, in this case, I honestly think you have too many players 100 or so asking for way more than their value is even close to being worth. The trend of ten year deals was set by A Rod and was squashed with Giancarlo Stanton. Those days are LONG GONE! Players should start hiring better agents especially if you have ones that won't budge on what they think you are worth so they can line their fat wallets(Yes, that's a shot at Scott Boras!).
2) My thoughts on synthetic turf being put in the new Globe Life Field? Rob S. Frisco, Texas
If you truly want to know my thoughts on the new synthetic turf you should read a couple of posts ago. However, since you asked I think it is a TERRIBLE idea! So the city of Arlington puts a retractable roof on the stadium to lure pitchers or that is why the Rangers wanted it. Then they go and try to sell a new stadium to those same pitchers and free agents with synthetic turf. Two things will happen: players will be getting hurt more often on it and you will be replacing it more with all the events you want to have in it from concerts to football games etc.
3) My thoughts on trading Dak Prescott to the Arizona Cardinals for Josh Rosen and a pick? Mason C., Colleyville, Texas
This question had me floored when asked and Mason brought up a good point as he asked this question. Most NFL teams are built around a QB and the Cowboys are built around a more conservative run game. So with that being said we could then trade and be able to sign a lot of talent. This is something that I had not thought of but the more I think about it the more I like the idea. Not only do you get a pick something that the Cowboys desperately need you also get to re-sign and sign free agents. You can re-sign Zeke, Cooper, Lawrence, and sign some defensive free agents that you desperately need. If I am Jerry Jones and the Cowboys I would definitely jump at a deal like this.
4) What are your thoughts on the new Rangers skipper Chris Woodward? Madeline C., College Station, Texas
I am a huge fan of the Texas Rangers through thick and thin! With that being said, I like this deal with Chris Woodward. Honestly, this is the best managerial deal I think the Rangers have made since Ron Washington. Notice what I did there: Woodward reminds me a lot of Ron Washington. He has love for the game and is very personal with the players and has been getting to know them since the day of hire. This is a trust thing and will go a long way with players who are still somewhat developing. Most sports writers and critics don't see the Rangers winning the West for another 3-5 years. I wholeheartedly disagree!!! I could potentially see this team competing again as soon as 2020.
5) What are my thoughts on today's report that says the Houston Astros practically struck a deal with the Washington Nationals last year for Bryce Harper? Kaitlyn G. Sugarland, Texas
This concerns me in a huge way! Not that the Astros almost got Bryce Harper and that could have leaped them to another World Series title but the fact the Nationals didn't pull the trigger for what is believed to be 3 of the Astros top 50 prospects. What I really think happened in this case was a disconnect between Harper and the Nationals. Personally and this is just my opinion floating up there I think Harper had wanted to sign with the Nats and shot down both the deals to the Astros and Dodgers(yes the Dodgers had a deal in place as well). Something happened for the Nationals to turn down some EXTREMELY good offers for a hitter like Harper. This could be too why Harper is still on the free agent lines as well.
Well that's it for this week! Tune in to this page for your questions answered. Also to get those answered send emails to: screamerproductions@yahoo.com. Thanks and look forward to answering your AWESOME questions!
bottom of page