Texas Rangers sign Milton Bradley

[YosemiteSam]

Texas Rangers sign Milton Bradley. (pending physical)

 

[Mavs Man]

This could be a good signing for the Rangers, who don't exactly have a Monopoly on the market. Their offseason free agent shopping spree has been more of a Trivial Pursuit than anything.

The health status with Bradley's knee could make him a potential Risk - hopefully the Operation cleared things up. Right now we really have no Clue.

If he doesn't pan out the front office could be Sorry! Especially GM Jon Daniels who could be looking at the noose of a Hangman. This would be cause for more Aggravation among Rangers fans. But I guess that's Life.

 

[ologan]

Texas Rangers sign Milton Bradley. (pending physical)

Thay guy's really got "game"!!!

 

[joseephuss]

Typical Rangers move. Another bat when they need pitching, pitching and more pitching.

 

[Mavs Man]

Typical Rangers move. Another bat when they need pitching, pitching and more pitching.

They really, really need a good defensive center fielder who can cover that territory. I seriously doubt this is a longterm solution - I would have loved to have Hunter for four or five years while some of their youngsters developed. They've started a different CF almost every year since their ballpark opened in the mid-90s, so this is another shot at injecting some consistency at the position. We'll see how he does, but I'm not holding my breath.

I find it laughable that local sportswriters suggest the Rangers should go after big pitching names like Johan Santana. They aren't coming here, and if they did, their sanity must be called into question. The only way Rangers pitching is going to improve is by developing their farm system, acquiring young talent via trades, or adding free agents AFTER this team reestablishes itself as a contender in the AL. All of which will take years.

 

[Boys009]

This signing confuses me. The Rangers don't have the talent to compete until 2009 at the earliest. Why sign a journeyman coming off of knee surgery for one year that simply won't make a difference? They are an entire outfield, 1B and 2 starting pitchers away from contending. I'm not saying the signing was a bad move, just unnecessary in my opinion.

 

[Mavs Man]

This signing confuses me. The Rangers don't have the talent to compete until 2009 at the earliest. Why sign a journeyman coming off of knee surgery for one year that simply won't make a difference? They are an entire outfield, 1B and 2 starting pitchers away from contending. I'm not saying the signing was a bad move, just unnecessary in my opinion.

I was thinking they'd try and package Gerald Laird and some younger guys for a young CF, since Salty was named next year's catcher already.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Typical Rangers move. Another bat when they need pitching, pitching and more pitching.

They've got starting pitching. The need some arms in the bullpen and their offense is piss poor. I'm guessing by what you said, you haven't watched the Rangers much lately. Their offense is putrid.

 

[Mavs Man]

They've got starting pitching. The need some arms in the bullpen and their offense is piss poor. I'm guessing by what you said, you haven't watched the Rangers much lately. Their offense is putrid.

Their offense was bad this year, other than Michael Young (who had a terrible April).

I wouldn't be so bold to say they have starting pitching, though. Millwood is probably a good #2 or #3 starter on a well-staffed team. Padilla was awful after signing his new deal. McCarty is still a question mark. Gabbard might have something, but it's way too early to be sure, either way. I have no idea who their fifth starter will be next year.

 

[YosemiteSam]

This signing confuses me. The Rangers don't have the talent to compete until 2009 at the earliest. Why sign a journeyman coming off of knee surgery for one year that simply won't make a difference? They are an entire outfield, 1B and 2 starting pitchers away from contending. I'm not saying the signing was a bad move, just unnecessary in my opinion.

They have several potential starting pitchers on the roster now and several more on the way with Thomas Diamond and Eric Hurley. If they can get 15+ wins out of Millwood and Padilla (30+ wins) like they did two years ago with Gabbard continuing to pitch solid like last year and Volquez looks like he has some real talent. Thats four starters and several others as options at the 5th starter.

What they lack is a big bat. Young is their best hitter. Their top HR hitter last year was a part-timer in Sosa and now he is gone too! If Bradley can get healthy he is a great pickup. I like Salty at first, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen. The Rangers have several catching prospects and Laird to boot yet, we have a player with a lot of offensive potential and he is going to play at a position the Rangers are fat at.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Their offense was bad this year, other than Michael Young (who had a terrible April).

I wouldn't be so bold to say they have starting pitching, though. Millwood is probably a good #2 or #3 starter on a well-staffed team. Padilla was awful after signing his new deal. McCarty is still a question mark. Gabbard might have something, but it's way too early to be sure, either way. I have no idea who their fifth starter will be next year.

What I mean is they have talented starting pitchers on the staff. They are lacking more in the bullpen at this point. Not saying we have a staff of aces!

 

[Mavs Man]

What I mean is they have talented starting pitchers on the staff. They are lacking more in the bullpen at this point. Not saying we have a staff of aces!

I know. I totally agree with your last post - IF we can get 30+ wins from Padilla/Millwood, Gabbard works out, and a few of our younger pitchers can develop into solid starters we can finally stop worrying about the staff being a liability.

It's sad what has happened to the bullpen. That was a strength in 2004.

 

[joseephuss]

They've got starting pitching. The need some arms in the bullpen and their offense is piss poor. I'm guessing by what you said, you haven't watched the Rangers much lately. Their offense is putrid.

I didn't limit their need for pitching to just starters. They need bullpen guys. I know their offense was poor last year. They have had a decent to good offense for years and gotten nowhere because of their poor pitching. I don't think they need to go out and get top flight names, but they do need to bring in more pitching. And more importantly make better decisions on who is a quality pitcher. They have developed some good pitchers in their farm system only to let them go. And the big thing is that Bradley hardly fixes their offense and is a head case. Plus he is injured.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I didn't limit their need for pitching to just starters. They need bullpen guys. I know their offense was poor last year. They have had a decent to good offense for years and gotten nowhere because of their poor pitching. I don't think they need to go out and get top flight names, but they do need to bring in more pitching. And more importantly make better decisions on who is a quality pitcher. They have developed some good pitchers in their farm system only to let them go. And the big thing is that Bradley hardly fixes their offense and is a head case. Plus he is injured.

I agree for the most part. I'm just glad they are sticking to the rebuild from within process and I hope they don't give in again as they did the last two times they did this. (around 85-86 and then again in the late 90s)

 

[GTaylor]

We need bullpen guys?? They've been our strength last year, especially considering how taxed they were when the starters couldn't last 7 innings.

We do need better pitching, but who outside of Boston doesn't? This team needs bats in the worst way, Kinsler and Salty are you only young bats on the roster right now, that's not good.

 

[joseephuss]

We need bullpen guys?? They've been our strength last year, especially considering how taxed they were when the starters couldn't last 7 innings.

We do need better pitching, but who outside of Boston doesn't? This team needs bats in the worst way, Kinsler and Salty are you only young bats on the roster right now, that's not good.

What the Rangers really need is a domed stadium. I have always felt that the Texas heat just causes the whole team to fade down the stretch year after year, especially the pitching. I never understood why they didn't build a dome instead of the BP@A. It is a beautiful stadium, but it gets darn hot in the summer.

The Rangers finished 5th in runs scored per game in the AL out of 14 teams. They finished 11th in ERA and 12th in actual runs allowed per game. That is pretty much where they finished in 2005 and 2006 as well.

 

[GTaylor]

What the Rangers really need is a domed stadium. I have always felt that the Texas heat just causes the whole team to fade down the stretch year after year, especially the pitching. I never understood why they didn't build a dome instead of the BP@A. It is a beautiful stadium, but it gets darn hot in the summer.

The Rangers finished 5th in runs scored per game in the AL out of 14 teams. They finished 11th in ERA and 12th in actual runs allowed per game. That is pretty much where they finished in 2005 and 2006 as well.

I agree on the domed stadium, but thats more for the fans, the heat should be a beneficiary for the home team since the visitors would be the ones wilting. If they really want to help the pitching they need to change the wind patterns starting with that stupid Gold Club, sadly Hicks has said he'll make adjustments but only if they don't affect the GC.