The Good News: The Texas Rangers are leading the AL West, and look poised to remain in contention through the long hot months of the summer. The Bad News: the pitching it seems does not hold up. Some veteran presence could shape and change that.
The Rangers are winning despite leading the league in men LOB and trailing in the category of base on balls. That is a bad combination but both are irrelevant as they are products of offense. Despite my concerns of small ball, this is how the Rangers play, and is now obvious on how they win. But this is not a formula for post season success. What the Rangers need to do is get a veteran pitcher. Who they need to pursue is Roy Oswalt.
Even thought the Rangers are feasting on interleague play, what concerns me is pitching. Pitching is a constant commodity, especially after a long hot season in North Texas; come September the arms wear thin, the stamina gets lost. Just look back to the most recent two successful seasons in recent history and you will find teams that fizzle down the stretch due to arm fatigue; 2004 and 2009. What both of those teams had in common despite losing trends is a veteran starter on the hill.
In 2004 Kenny Rogers lead the staff with an 18-9, 212 IP effort when the team played to an 89- 73 record. In 2009 Kevin Millwood performed at a 13-10, 199 IP level and aced a team that finished 7-14 down the stretch. In Millwood’s defense, during his last three starts he garnered a win that broke up losing streaks. We don’t have a veteran hurler to count on this season and that will haunt us in the end. Let’s think about what we need to change that.
Recently it was rumored that the Rangers may be interested in Roy Oswald. True, he is owed $15 million this year and $16 next, but savvy owners could work that to an advantage, especially when factored into a futures player deal. The Rangers are just such a team to make that work. Let’s talk trade.
But why they need to make that work is based upon Oswalt’s proven track record; he is a pitcher that gets stronger down the stretch. Just look at these numbers: for his 10 year career, Roy improves his ERA (you know this isn’t my favorite pitching stat, but it serves my purpose here) from 3.51 in July to 2.80 in August to an incredible 2.75 in September. He shines in the hot Texas heat just like a jalapeño on the vine. Make a trade now.
In order to do so, a team needs to offer cellar dwelling Houston prospects. The Rangers are perhaps better equipped to do this than anyone as they have a minor league system ripe with talent. In fact, they are bottle necked at AAA and are in a quandary on what to do with majors ready players now.
The problem seems to be MLB from what I can read. Bud Selig is handicapping the team due to owner Hicks being bankrupt and trying to sell the team. I don’t understand all of that, but I also think at the same time the Rangers have to operate in order to remain solvable and they should not use this as an excuse to short shift the organization, franchise and fans. Make the move.
Get Roy now before other organizations realize his immediate impact. Trade some prospects that can’t make the roster for Oswalt. We’ll need him in September if we want to make the play-offs. And his October numbers (2-0 through 2 starts) are impeccable. Bring a winner to this team to lead the way.
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Let’s tap the brakes on Oswalt a little bit.
I don’t know if it was the Ranger bats or what, but Oswalt didn’t look all that steady in the Sunday game of the Astros/Rangers series.
I’ll admit to not paying a whole lot of attention to Oswalt this season, but I’ll be on the lookout for here on forward.
I agree that the Rangers need to add a veteran arm, I just need to see more of what Oswalt has to offer.
Another name I’ve heard bounce around is Cliff Lee. What would it take to pry him from the Mariners?