I made this point the other night in either a post or a comment, I can’t really remember but for those of you who may have missed it, Ill make it again. The Rangers have proven time and time again this year they have big bats, and can fight their way back into most games, even when we feel they are complete blow outs. This team does not give up, which is a nice change from previous Ranger teams. I am willing to accept the fact that the Rangers are finally in a *rebuilding* phase, and are alot further along in that process then most would have thought they would be. Now can we get some pitchers??? I don’t really feel that is to much to ask!! Better yet, can we get some pitchers that can stay healthy for more then a start or two. That would be really GREAT!!!
The Dallas media should also stop entertaining the idea that we are going to land some big name free agent, like Ben Sheets, or C.C. Sabathia in the offseason, NO ONE wants to come here and pitch. No big name free agent who cares about wins, stats, or a possible chance to go into the Hall Of Fame is going to come pitcher in Arlington. Now before anyone says anything.. Yes we did get Nolan Ryan, but lets face it.. his invitation to Cooperstown was already a done deal when he came here! Let us also not forget NO ONE wants to come play in the Texas summer heat. Real bright idea not putting a roof on the Ball Park huh?? *shakes head* Lets face it, the only big name pitcher that has come in here SEVERAL years is Nolan Ryan, and he is our friggin President!
I swear to god if I hear another fan tell me *but Ick we have Kevin Millwood* I will snap, and not be held accountable for my actions. Millwood can’t stay healthy, but currently is sucking $11 million dollars a year out of Tom Hicks wallet. EVERY pitcher we seem to get who is either (good) or could become a solid starter in the Rangers rotation, we TRADE! Anyone remember Edison Volquez?? Currently a Cincinnati Red, (13-5 with a 2.93 ERA)
I am extremely happy with the progress the Rangers have made this year.. as Liverdamage would say, they are 2 years away.. problem is, he makes that statement EVERY season. Forget about this team competing with the Angels, not gonna happen. They have a solid rotation, big bats, and a $120 million dollar payroll. If the Rangers every want to be more then they are right now, either A. Develop some pitchers in the farm system, and actually KEEP THEM. or B. Pray that you can sign a potential superstar pitcher. Lets face it, yeah the Rangers big bats can keep them in the game, but they can’t always count on Ian Kinsler getting 5 hits in a night, or Josh Hamilton’s walk off homeruns.. They have got to have a pitcher that can get out of the first inning without giving up 10 friggin runs!!!
10 responses so far ↓
1 Bushwack // Aug 13, 2008 at 3:43 am
Jason, just a little reminder.. in 2002 when the Angels won the WS. their payroll was like Texas maybe less, I remember hearing about the differences between the Angels, Yanks, Boston and Giants. I remember thinking the angels were WAY under valued then. NOW they are VALUABLE. (some would say over valued)
There are a lot of stars in the league now, that came from the Angel farm system. Few big name high dollar stars, but TEAM players, folks like Eckstein, Willits, Figgins, Edmonds, the Molina’s the Weavers, and more.. they are studs and they don’t get the credit like the big boys.
You look right now bro, 2 players on the starting roster of the Angels batting over 300.. Kendrick and Anderson I think…. Pitching is the key and Texas needs some Pitching..
I don’t think the weather plays that big of a role in the decision making process. A team willing to put together a WINNING season makes the difference.
BTW here is your Mark T pic in a winning Uniform:
2 Ick // Aug 13, 2008 at 2:54 pm
There is no way that when the Angels won in 2002 they were working with the same shoe sting budget the Rangers are working with.
Atleast we both agree they need some damn pitching!!!
And I told you not to waste the battery life to take a picture of that bum!!! *shakes head*
*looks for delete button for buswacks comment, just for the picture of Tex!*
The only way Tex stays with the Angels, is if you guys win the World Series.. If not.. You rented a nice player for a few months!!!
3 Robert // Aug 14, 2008 at 7:27 am
My personal opinion is We didn’t need him, Kotch was good enough to carry us through and having M.T in the lineup makes us like the Yanks, and Boston, highly paid superstars. Not needed IMO, give me a young, no fear crew with guts, decent talent and teamwork and that’s a shot at a ring.
Roberts last blog post..The Nuclear Option for Obama.
4 frank // Aug 14, 2008 at 7:35 pm
i remember when you said the rangers would make last place nolan ryan was just a publicity move and you said wait 5 yrs for the rangers to make something of themselves i love baseball and love my astros but living in dallas i have been watching the young rangers hit and pitch the were actually really good around june till wherever the standings lead them to you might wanna go back to your old blogs back from oct till april and read what you said about the rangers damm bangwagoners
5 frank // Aug 14, 2008 at 8:09 pm
and all im saying is that when you say something it usually the opposite what happens with any sport or team going back to the greatest trade shaq to suns cowboys would never take zach thomas jason taylor would never be traded owens to cowboys bad idea even though he is the only player to have more than 7 tds in a sesson since irving in 1997 but hey its just a blog, blog about it were just talking sports and yea im drunk :P just dont text me and call me out im not calling you out we are just talking sports back and forth even though your always right
6 Ick // Aug 14, 2008 at 10:09 pm
@ Frank
Oh where to start, first and foremost the term bandwagoner would apply if I either A) Was a die hard Rangers fan, then left them when they started loosing, or B) I hopped on the Rangers bandwagon when they were winning, and claimed to be a fan the whole time.
Now on your advice I went back and read some of the stuff I have written in the past year or so about the Rangers. I wrote about how cheap Tom Hicks is and how he will not sign any free agents.. That has not happened, I wrote about how tired I was of hearing John Daniels same *rebuilding* speech each trade deadline, which this is the first year in many that Ranger fans have not heard that. Ive wrote about how Sammy Sosa wanted to stay with the club, but if they were truly going to rebuild then they should bring up players from the farm system to see what they had in the farm. I wrote about all the players good young players that have been traded way for prospects of the years.
Never once have I changed my opinion about this franchise. I remember the conversation you and I had about Nolan Ryan quite well, You askd what did I think about it, I told you I thought it was for publicity, nothing more. Its my opinion, you asked you got it. In the same conversation I told you I felt the Rangers were atleast 5 years away from being a contending team, I still feel that way. Not because of their offense, but because of their pitching. Their starting rotation stinks this year, and the bullpen is shaky at best. This Rangers team has been as many as 7 games over 500 this season, and is currently 9 games out of wild card contention. Never once in the above post did I say anything to make anyone think I was jumping on a bandwagon for the Rangers. Ask Kelly, he will tell you that I am far from a Rangers fan. I have seen what this team has done to its fans for several years, you have been watching them for a few months.
Now on to your second comment.
You asked me what I thought about the Shaq trade, and I told you point blank it would be NEXT season before we saw anything, because the team had to get used to Shaq, and Shaq had to get used to the playing style of the Suns (people were present for that conversation if you care to check that one)
You asked me the day Zach Thomas was released did I think the Cowboys would pick him up. I said no, because of his age, and the fact that he can’t stay healthy.. once again you asked me what I thought about a situation
You asked me did I think Jason Taylor would be traded, at the time you asked me I said No because at that time the Dolphins wanted a first round draft pick for him, given his age that wasn’t going to happen, they later settle for a 3rd or 4th rounder..
You asked me what I thought about T.O. being a Cowboy, I told you I didn’t like it because of what he had done with previous teams, and I was waiting for him to become a disruption. We saw him start to become a disruption the last year Parcells was here at training camp, falling asleep in team meeting ect, ect ect.
Now as far as always being right, nope.. I’ve never claimed to be. Sports are a debate, you bring interesting points to the table, so do I. We have had many a sports debate and they are always fun. Thats why I love sports so much. Way better then politics! ;)
Thanks for the comments, get ready for football picks! College and NFL this year.
7 frank // Aug 14, 2008 at 10:56 pm
now thats what im talking about like your style just typing on my iphone to your ickscorner.com i’ve been drinking since 3pm now home and going to sleep its a blog comments on everything but never personal GOO ASTROS !!!!!!!!!!!!!
8 Babygirl // Aug 15, 2008 at 12:26 pm
<—wonders how long it took frank to type a complete sentence after several hours of drinking, on a touch screen… hmmm…
9 Kate // Aug 15, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Yeah, politics may suck, but it makes the world go ’round…..or not! LOL
Kates last blog post..How Could I Have Forgotten!
10 Ick // Aug 15, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Hey Frank is pretty fast on his touch screen keyboard!! ;)
Icks last blog post..The Drama Ends…
Leave a Comment