The Rangers deserve the 2005 "What the hell are you thinking?" award
December 27, 2005 | By Dennis Bakay |
Discuss
The
Rangers have given former Phillies (disappointment) pitcher, Kevin “Deadwood”
Millwood $12 million, count 'em $12 million per season. This was his reward
for one good season, following his 2-year “stint” in Philadelphia.
Granted, he led the American League (which is not friendly to pitchers)
in ERA. However, did anyone see the footage from his 2003-2004 seasons in
Philadelphia? Did anyone from the Rangers front office see the infamous
scene of Millwood sweating like a pig as he sat on a lawn chair in the leadoff
deck during a sultry game?!
For, we were duped in Philadelphia. The lure of the siren was master-GM John Schuerholtz's offer of Millwood for Johnny Estrada. We were further duped when Millwood tossed a no-hitter in his first month in a Phillies uniform. Little would we know, this would be the pinnalce achievement for the pitcher known in these parts as "Deadwood." There were countless crucial games during the 03-04 campaigns, when Millwood would take the reigns as the so-called ace of the Phillies, only to give up 5 or 6 runs. Thereby, stretching the bullpen like Johnny Wad Holmes would do to his female counterpart in a porn scene.
This is what the Rangers fans can expect out of Millwood during the two-years he'll stay there before he is jettisoned, as I predict. They can expect a 13-12 record with a 4.80-5.00 ERA. This is hardly ace material. Added to that, he's in the American League as well. Yes, he had a career year with the Indians, but it was during a contract year. Again, it's the lure of the siren. When the Rangers have a key divisional match-up against the likes of Bartolo Colon or Barry Zito in late-July they won't see Millwood sweating in a lawn chair on the leadoff deck (luckily for them since he won't bat in the AL), rather they'll see him marching off the mound having given up 6 runs in 5 innings. The Rangers should expect nothing less than mediocrity for his $12 million annual salary.


