Media getting restless. 53 comments


Yesterday, in the Dallas Morning News, Kevin Sherrington had an article about the rebirth of Martin Perez, perhaps the single-most frustrating Ranger of all.

Perez was a total disappointment in every aspect. But Sherrington’s disappointment was aimed in a different direction. Inward, toward the Ranger’s front office. I thought it was interesting on a few levels.

He heaved some very pointed criticism Jon Daniels and his decision to let Perez go when he did.

He questioned why, without so little pitching in the system and so few other options, they would simply walk away from a left-handed starter they had coveted as their number one pitching prospect. And why wouldn’t Daniels at least let the new regime take one last crack at fixing him before letting him go? After all, it’s been pretty well established this season was never about winning, so what did they have to lose? Sure, Perez was a failure. But it’s not like he went out and stocked up on anyone better with Miller, Volquez, or Smyly.

His third point was the dagger in the heart: “Most egregious of all, the Rangers couldn’t accomplish in seven big-league seasons what the Twins managed in a single spring.”

This was the opposite of a puff piece.

It seems this front office’s inability to draft, develop, and evaluate is wearing thin on more than the fans here. The local media are being brave enough to discuss it. It seems they are no longer willing to give this front office a pass.

Oh, and don’t look now but Atlanta has a new closer. Remember Luke Jackson? He couldn’t get anyone out when he was a Ranger. Now he’s closing out games for a team that has very real designs on post-season. Connor Sadzeck’s 2.70 ERA and 1.080 WHIP would make him the cream of the Rangers bullpen crop. Only he’s doing that with Seattle.

Maybe it’s not fair to level a charge of failure based on just a few players. Plenty of players flame out with one team only to find success with another.

In the case of Perez, he simply refused to listen, refused to take direction and instruction, and refused to get better. Maybe unemployment was the great motivator for him.

Nobody was more vocal about dumping Martin Perez than I was. I do not miss him, nor do I trust the success he is having will sustain. But Sherrington makes a very valid point. When you don’t have any pitching in your pipeline, and when you are not playing to win anyway, why cut ties with your scarcest commodity?

Fair question.

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