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March 2009
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Unlike my some of my colleagues, I think the Rangers signing pitcher Randy Johnson to a one-year deal is a great move. If Nolan Ryan has interest in Johnson, who are we say that it's a bad move? I would think one of the greatest pitchers of all-time would know a thing or two? Let me break it down for you: 1.) The first argument is always his age. I say, who cares that he is 45? He is coming off a season where he started 30 times and in the last five years is averaging 28.6 starts a season. You can make the AARP jokes and the Social Security jokes, but last year Johnson recorded more innings than any Rangers starting pitcher. DO NOT use the argument that Johnson is so injury prone. His numbers don't support that claim either. So he does make a few trips to the D.L. Which pitcher hasn't? Just because he is 45, doesn't mean he can't play anymore. Last year, Johnson went 11-10 with an era of 3.91. With numbers like that, he would have been the Rangers ace last season. His 173 strikeouts, was 50 better than any Rangers pitcher last year. In the last five years, Johnson has 65 wins. Almost 13 wins a year. If I was the Rangers and could get a pitcher that would get me 13 wins for 8 million dollars. I would be doing it quickly. 2.) Only 1 time since 1990, Johnson has had a season record below .500. Those kind of numbers get immediate respect from young guys. Johnson would be a great mentor to the Rangers talented, but very young pitching staff. If I was Matt Harrison, Dustin Nippert, Eric Hurley, or Luis Mendoza, I would be following every one of Johnson's moves. The reason the Rangers struggled at times last year, was the pitchers were not ready to be throwing in the majors. I have never understood the argument, "we should have the young guys out there learning how to pitch". This is wrong; you learn to pitch in the minors. Not in the majors. What is good about a young guy getting rocked by Vladimir Guerrero or David Ortiz? It does nothing but bring down their confidence. There is a reason that the baseball has a minor league system. Johnson would buy the organization some more time for them to work with a few guys in Double-A and Triple-A. 3.) Who says Jon Daniels can't pull another great veteran move? Almost every Ranger fan questioned Daniels when he brought in Eric Gagne and Kenny Lofton in 2007. "Those guys are old", "they don't have anything left", "what is he doing". I think those moves paid off. Lofton filled in well for half the season while the Rangers developed some outfielders. Then he was sent packing for catcher Max Ramirez, the same 23 year old Max Ramirez that has a shot at being the Rangers starting catcher this season. The Rangers used Gange to get 16 saves and then sent him packing during the trade deadline to the Boston Red Sox for outfielder David Murphy, pitcher Kason Gabbard, and five tool outfield prospect Engel Beltre. Murphy (27 years old) was the Rangers starting right fielder last year and hit .275 with 17 homeruns before getting hurt in August. Before getting hurt, Murphy was getting consideration for A.L. Rookie of the Year. Gabbard (25 years old) started 12 games for the Rangers posting a 2-3 record with a 4.81 ERA. Engel (19 years old) will probably start with the Rangers single-A team this year, but is being touted as one of the Rangers next big prospects. The Rangers could sign Johnson, use him for half of the year, and then send him packing to a contender for one final playoff run. In the process they would get at the very least, two prospects. 4.) Randy Johnson has 295 wins. Could you imagine the anticipation at the Ballpark in Arlington if Randy was to get his 300th in a Rangers uniform? Let's face it. Ranger fans need something to cheer for. They are tired of Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla. At the very least, Johnson would be no different then Kevin Millwood.
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