ESPN is reporting that Harden is close to signing with Texas: The Texas Rangers are closing in on a deal with right-handed pitcher Rich Harden, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney on Wednesday
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I wonder why Richie would opt to pitch in a park that most likely won't help him much in reestablishing his value. I'll assume that the guaranteed money and the option weighed very heavily on this. Maybe when more details of the contract are revealed this would make more sense.
As I previously stated in another comment, I like him there simply because I would have hated it had he gone to Seattle. Maybe he will find a way to reverse his flyball tendencies, and throw more groundballs so that he enjoys the benefit of the Ranger's IF defense. And, hopefully, he is kept as far away as possible from Nolan Ryan and his arm busting theories. :-X
I wonder why Richie would opt to pitch in a park that most likely won't help him much in reestablishing his value
Indeed! I mean, that's gotta be the idea behind only signing for one year - to try the free agent market again, unless the Rangers invoke the option. He did almost pitch a perfect game against Texas, but that was in Oakland, so it's still a hitter's ballpark as far as he's concerned. The Seattle blog I linked too above suggested that there were some clauses that Harden wanted in the deal that the Mariners balked at, so I'm also interested to know more details of this contract, if he does indeed sign.
Maybe he will find a way to reverse his flyball tendencies
Man, from your keyboard to the pitching coach's ears. Otherwise it's gonna be a loooooooooooooooooooong season.
I am oddly satisfied with this. Anything's better than having him 'round here in Boston! I didn't trust the local yokels to treat him right. Strangely, I didn't want him to come to my Mets, either... didn't seem like the right fit for either side. (I'm afraid Mets fans would've gone ballistic on him if he got injured).
lol, I figured you'd be glad not to have him in Boston, but I didn't know you were hoping he'd go somewhere other than to the Mets. But you're probably right - most all of the bloggish speculation I've seen didn't make me think Mets fans would take kindly to more injuries from key guys.
The only downside to this deal, I think, is the fact that I have ZERO desire to go to Texas. Happily, the Rangers play half their games on the road?
It's weird... I think if Richie were to become a Met, I'd feel like I was being forced to "share" him with all the other Mets fans, and I don't wanna share! Haha I know that makes no sense. Also, I would hate going through 3 months of daily "Is he going to stay healthy?!" hysteria on NY-area sports shows, before pitchers & catchers even report. You hit the nail on the head; I think it would be bad timing for the Mets to sign anyone with an "injury-prone" tag right now, as they had such a DL flood last year.
At this point I just wanted him to go somewhere that felt like a "fresh start" to me; a team that I don't have too many feelings about... Texas fits that bill :)
Haha, the ballpark at Arlington is supposed to be nice, isn't it? But I can wait for him to come to the East coast. I've already printed a Rangers schedule for my cube wall. :)
and I don't wanna share! Haha I know that makes no sense.
lol, no, it totally does. I went through that with Moose going to the Yankees. And I remember Bri being kinda nervous about Rich going to the Cubs, like he'd been her little secret in Oakland, and now he was going to hit the big time ;)
Haha, the ballpark at Arlington is supposed to be nice, isn't it?
It is supposed to be! I've never been. Bri and I saw their AAA team in Oklahoma City, and their ballpark was purportedly a smaller scaled replica, and that was pretty nice.
I've already printed a Rangers schedule for my cube wall. :)
Hee, great minds? I did the same thing once I heard he was taking the physical. Sat down and highlighted all the "potential" roadtrips even (wishful thinking with this job I have now, though).
Oh man, you shouldn't have offered. My personal philosophy has always been that it will be a cold day in hell before I do anything but have a layover in Texas, but Bri might actually want to take you up on that ;) And of course, that was my philosophy pre-Rich Harden signing with a Texas team. Don't tell Bri I said that :P
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As I previously stated in another comment, I like him there simply because I would have hated it had he gone to Seattle. Maybe he will find a way to reverse his flyball tendencies, and throw more groundballs so that he enjoys the benefit of the Ranger's IF defense. And, hopefully, he is kept as far away as possible from Nolan Ryan and his arm busting theories. :-X
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Indeed! I mean, that's gotta be the idea behind only signing for one year - to try the free agent market again, unless the Rangers invoke the option. He did almost pitch a perfect game against Texas, but that was in Oakland, so it's still a hitter's ballpark as far as he's concerned. The Seattle blog I linked too above suggested that there were some clauses that Harden wanted in the deal that the Mariners balked at, so I'm also interested to know more details of this contract, if he does indeed sign.
Maybe he will find a way to reverse his flyball tendencies
Man, from your keyboard to the pitching coach's ears. Otherwise it's gonna be a loooooooooooooooooooong season.
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The only downside to this deal, I think, is the fact that I have ZERO desire to go to Texas. Happily, the Rangers play half their games on the road?
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At this point I just wanted him to go somewhere that felt like a "fresh start" to me; a team that I don't have too many feelings about... Texas fits that bill :)
Haha, the ballpark at Arlington is supposed to be nice, isn't it? But I can wait for him to come to the East coast. I've already printed a Rangers schedule for my cube wall. :)
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lol, no, it totally does. I went through that with Moose going to the Yankees. And I remember Bri being kinda nervous about Rich going to the Cubs, like he'd been her little secret in Oakland, and now he was going to hit the big time ;)
Haha, the ballpark at Arlington is supposed to be nice, isn't it?
It is supposed to be! I've never been. Bri and I saw their AAA team in Oklahoma City, and their ballpark was purportedly a smaller scaled replica, and that was pretty nice.
I've already printed a Rangers schedule for my cube wall. :)
Hee, great minds? I did the same thing once I heard he was taking the physical. Sat down and highlighted all the "potential" roadtrips even (wishful thinking with this job I have now, though).
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Not state income tax! We convince born and bred Californians to establish residency and adopt Texas as their home.
But really, it's gotta be the second hottest park in baseball. He'll look hot though.
If you two need a place to crash when the Rangers play in Houston, our apt is yours! Hahahaha. Houston in the summer is helllllll.
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