Texas - Mostly 'Armless

Dave Paisley

Can you stand one more Alex Rodriguez article? Well, you better be able to, because that's what you're going to get. From all I've read, the reaction divides into these main bodies of thought:

1. Scott Boras is a money grubbing scumbag leech
2. Tom Hicks is a hick with too much money on his hands
3. Scott Boras is a money grubbing scumbag leech
4. It was all about the money
5. Scott Boras is a money grubbing scumbag leech
6. Major League Baseball is going to hell in a handbasket
7. Scott Boras is a money grubbing scumbag leech

Personally, I subscribe to all of those except #6.

Living in the epicenter of Alex Rodriguez' last season in Seattle has been fascinating, and I was struck by the many parallels and contrasts with the Ken Griffey Jr. case of last year. One major parallel was that it was always difficult to figure out what both players wanted. Was it about money or was it about respect, or was it about a nice place to live? At least I'll give Griffey the credit for it not being totally about the money.

Another amazing parallel is that even though both players said a whole bunch about wanting to be on a contending team and that contending teams have quality pitching, they went to two of the most pitching poor teams that actually have a shot at the playoffs. Both of these guys lived and played through the great offense/lousy pitching years in Seattle. They didn't win then and they apparently haven't learned that lesson well enough.

Griffey asked, "Where's my pitching?" right before he left Seattle. If you can believe anything Alex Rodriguez ever said, one of his criteria for his final resting place was supposed to be good pitching. Now Rodriguez acknowledges that Texas' pitching is a pile of rotting manure, but he apparently believes that Tom Hicks' wallet will just magically open and all will be well. Consider the following quote:

Then, if I understand Alex correctly, they can muddle along with a pitching staff of random stiffs, then go get Randy Johnson and Greg Maddux at the trading deadline and "Voila!" instant stretch drive pennant contenders. Yeah, that's how it works in real life. Maybe Alex would be interested in some swamp land in Florida I could sell him for, oh, maybe $252M?

But is the Texas pitching situation really that bad? You better believe it. Texas was dead last in ERA and runs allowed last season, the latter at 974 to be precise. Kenny Rogers and Rick Helling are a shade better than league average, while the rest of the rotation is very sketchy, and none of Darren Oliver, Doug Davis, Ryan Glynn or Matt Perisho is exactly going to strike terror into the hearts of AL offenses.

Their bullpen is, if anything, even worse. John Wetteland is hardly legendary any more, but he was one of only three Rangers pitchers with a season ERA under 5.00 (Rogers and Helling being the other two.) Even if you don't believe in the myth of the closer, who are the Rangers going to close out games with next season? Mike Venafro, Jeff Zimmerman or Tim Crabtree? Puh-leeze!

Let's assume that Hicks and GM Melvin know the pitching is screwed. Even if they wanted to do something, what could they do now? All the top free agents are gone, and to trade for pitching would mean giving up players like Gabe Kapler and Ruben Mateo. And they need a lot of pitching, not just one or two holes to plug. And even worse, the team with the most spare pitching is arch-rival Seattle. Think Pat Gillick is going to help out Melvin? Think again.

With 848 runs scored (9th out of the 14 AL teams) factored into that league worst runs allowed, the Rangers 71-91 record was well deserved. Adding Alex Rodriguez to the offense should add about 70 runs in a season (replacing a .700 OPS shortstop with a 1.000 one will boost team OPS by about .030, resulting in about 70 runs.) If that was the only change, it would transform the Rangers into a 76-86 team. Wow, won't that be cool!

So like Griffey last year, Rodriguez is walking into a very iffy situation. Add to that the fact that Rodriguez will likely get to see Ken Caminiti's season ending hamstring pull up close and personal (I'm guessing sometime in May - anyone want to start a pool?) and this could be a long, ugly season in Arlington.

Sour grapes from a Mariner fan? Not really. I'm disappointed that Rodriguez' rhetoric about finding the right situation was just so much smoke. I can't blame him for taking the money, but I also don't have to like the way he did it. Finally, I think there was one final critical reason for the move to Texas - it's the easiest place to win an MVP. Just as well, because there won't be any World Series rings there...

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