Friday, July 28, 2006

Same Old Same Old in Arlington


Groundhog Day! Rise and shine Campers!

ESPN is reporting that the Rangers are sending Kevin Mench, Laynce Nix, Francisco Cordero and a minor league arm to the Milwaukee Brewers for Carlos Lee (HR 28, RBI 81, R 60, OBP .347, AVG .286), a couple more position players and some gum. So, the Rangers essentially traded one big, average-fielding OF with power for another. The Rangers get to be rid of disappointing Nix. But, to do so, they part with a reliever who can still have flashes of overpowering nastiness (SO/BB: 54/16) in Cordero.

Texas has always been a bastion of great power hitters. Since the early 90's, Will Clark, Mickey Tettleton, Pudge Rodriguez, Juan Gonzalez, Ruben Sierra, Julio Franco, Mark Texiera, Hank Blalock, Michael Young come to mind. Fat lot of good it's done them.

This trade looks bad on its face because Texas has never been able to afford parting with solid pitching. Since Tom Hicks bought the team in 1998, the Rangers have been in last place in Team ERA every year, except for 1999 (They were 2nd to last.) Also, Lee's in the last year of his contract. The Rangers will a.) lose him or b.) overpay to keep him, when they should be spending their money on pitching.

The Rangers' futility can not be layed at the feet of it's coaches or management. Since Hicks took over, Johnny Oates, Jerry Narron and Buck Showalter have all been at the helm; all with similar poor results. The failure at Ameriquest can't be layed at the feet of the GM because there have been several: none of whom could bring about solid pitching (Doug Melvin, John Hart and John Daniels. The only people still in their same positions since Hicks bought the team are Hitting Coach, Rudy Jaramillo and Hicks himself. And, with Texas always at the top in offensive categories, its clear that Rudy gets a pass.

If I was a writer of even the slightest import, I might get a call from him reminding me that Arlington is a steambath every summer. So, the pitching staff wilts like a daisy every August and September. He'll say it can't be helped. And, I'll admit that the only thing that can grow and flourish during a nightgame at Ameriquest is my burgeoning prostate. But, that doesn't mean you can just throw up your hands and trade away good pitching.

Hicks might say that an owner should be judged by his willingness to spend enough to produce a winner. And, he would be right. But, the results have been the same whether he has had the highest (2003, 1998) team salary in the AL West or the lowest(2004): failure because of poor pitching.

It's always the same. Groundhog day.