Monday Morning Manager...A Tale of Two Decades.

1.) I think so. It goes to show you how important it is to develop from within, rather than splash into the Free Agent pool. The money that was thrown at Millwood and Padilla, could have been used elsewhere.

2.) Less Aggressive. You can't build a championship team by spending the dough on FA's. The Astros come to mind last year, when Ed Wade took over. Seems to me, he signed all of them last year. (exaggeration)

3.) If they intend to sign a Free Agent, I think they should focus on a closer more...yes. While many will argue that we need Starting Pitching, look at how many games last year were lost because the bullpen failed us...primarily the closer. The Starting Pitching should be developed within the organization, rather than outside.

4.) Nope

5.) Kevin Brown, Nolan Ryan, Fergie Jenkins, John Burkett, Rick Helling

1. It's obvious that long term contracts to free agent starters is risky, especially over the age of 30. It makes much more sense to develop your own or trade for them while they're still youngsters.

2. I'm fine with them maintaining a low profile this offseason with regard to the free agent market. I would like to see some young pitching come back via trades, though.

3. I think they should concentrate on the bullpen, though, not necessarily a closer. I like either Juan Cruz or Eddie Guardado.

4. I don't want this club to add any veteran starters (unless they move one of the current ones) so I'll say none for us, but for other teams, Garland and Lowe are pretty safe bets. Both decent pitchers and really durable.

5. Ferguson Jenkins, Nolan Ryan, Kenny Rogers, Kevin Brown and Charlie Hough. I really wanted to find a spot for Rick Helling, but that's my 5. Dick Bosman was a late cut also.

1. I think the biggest reason for for the success in the 90's versus the failures of the 00's is the lack of defined plan by the franchise (and its ownership). The Free Agency aspect is coincedental IMHO.

The 90's gave us Doug Melvin as our GM who was allowed by ownership to operate under a somewhat consistent plan. The team also had better scouting in place, the value of which cannot be overemphasized. The team had a strong core, and Melvin made trades to bolster it (not all of which were wins, but trades to help the team when they actually were close to a pennant) Melvin didn't avoid signing free agents - John Wettland and Kenny Rogers were signed under his watch (as well as Raffy), both of whom contributed to what meager success this franchise has experienced.

Then enter Tom Hicks...

In this century, we have seen nothing that has resembled a plan (other than the last 12 months). Our scouting for the early 2000's showed itself to be worse than average, which in turn led to poor trades - both by overvaluing other team's talent and undervaluing our own. We gave up too many draft picks by signing FAs in the futile attempt to 'win now' when the team wasn't good enough, and our minor league system went south - 2002 was an especially demoralizing year where we had only one pick in the first five rounds (and that was Drew Meyer!). Buck Showalter was a major contributor to the disfunction of the organization as well. He didn't give a dime about any previous organizational strategy - it was his way or the highway. He also had no patience for developing young players - especially pitchers. If they struggled upon joining the big league club they were promptly sent back down. Don't forget John Hart, and his contirbutions to setting the franchise back. And how many pitching coaches have there been in the 2000's for this team?

A well-defined, consistently applied plan was the difference between the 1990s and the early 2000s. It will also be the difference again in 2010, when the team becomes competitive once again. And I can't wait...

2. Not sure they could be any less-agressive, so far anyway. I'd rather see the team make the trades we discussed last week to add pitching, but if a strong FA starter is still out there in January, I wouldn't mind seeing the team make an offer. I don't support signing a FA to play 3rd based on what I see in the market and the number of years we'd have to give. I'd be ok with a veteran RP on a 1 year deal, too.

3. Absolutely not.

4. Definitely without question? Nope.

5. Ryan, Blyleven, Jenkins, Rogers, and Hough (Hough because it's my list and I always liked Charlie)

1. Well TR...that's the question of the decade isn't it? Here's what I think. I don't think it's free agents directly I think perhaps it's management. That said free agents are costly. And here's a little food for thought. If you're the team that controls a major free agent pitcher....why would you let him go? Wouldn't you meet or beat someone else's price to control him....unless you had doubts about his arm, his work ethic, or something else your pitching gurus and saber stat guys had discovered. So when you buy on the FA market you might be getting damaged goods....anyway that's the way I see it.
2. The Ranger's have stated they're not going to be active. I can't see any reason out there for them to change.
3. We should be oportunistic... but I think our closer situation is fine. Could be wrong about that though.
4. No!
5. Ryan, Jenkins, Rogers, Brown and Hough

1. I do think there is a correlation here, but if everything we keep hearing about our farm system is true. The Rangers should be in good shape for a while. Hopefully, the Rangers are on there way up as their good prospects turn into All Stars like people think they will.

2. I think they should be actively shopping through trade and free agents. Maybe not aggressive but Active. I actually hate waiting for players to fall into your lap because that usually doesn't happen.

3. I think the Rangers should go after K-Rod but not if they aren't going to add a starting pitcher too.

4. I don't know if any player is worth what he gets for playing baseball as a person who works a real job for a living. But I do think there are some quality starters out in the market that would help the Ranghers greatly noe and in the future too. A.J. Burnett, Ryan Dempster and Jon Garland come to mind for starters.

5. Nolan Ryan, Kenny Rogers, Charlie Hough, Ferguson Jenkins and Kevin Brown.

1. The correlation isn't about free agents dollars, its about bad drafting and prospect evaluation.

2. Its about right, I just wish they would stop playing the "out of our price range" card. The only free agents worth signing are the sure things, and sure things will be expensive.

3. You can't draft for need, don't sign for need. Sign because he's the best damn arm out there.

4. A.J. Burnett

5. My memory can recall back to 1988. Nolan Ryan, Kenny Rogers, Kevin Brown, John Wetteland, Jose Canseco

I was thinking since I responded yesterday about...well I was wondering if we didn't all miss something in regard to free agents. I wonder if the Rangers and their tradition can attract a free agent. Here's what I mean. If the Rangers offerred Tazawa San $7 m and the BoSox offer him $6m will he play for the Rangers? ....I wonder.

Fred, Jamie Newberg sited a report out of Japan saying that Boston and Seattle had both offered Tazawa 3 year deals for 3 million, Atlanta a 4 year deal in the neighborhood of 4-5 million and Texas, 4 years for 7 million. All were major league deals meaning he would have to be added to the 40 man roster. The same report said he was set to accept the Red Sox' offer.

1. Is there a correlation?
One might infer a correlation. From a strict statistical viewpoint the data set isn't sufficient to prove (or disprove) a correlation. The Rangers have not made enough post-seasons to counter the down-side set. Might try the Red Sox and Yankees going back to the beginning of free agency.

2. Should the Rangers be more aggressive or less aggressive in the free agent market. Less aggressive it's time to stick with the plan.

3. Should the Rangers focus on a closer in free agency rather than starting pitching? Add middle relief.

4. Is there one free agent starting pitcher on the market this season that you feel would definitely without question - be worth the money. No.

5. Who are the five best starting pitchers in Rangers history?
Jenkins, Ryan, Hough, Brown, Rogers, Helling and Blyleven as cited several times above are all good choices. But Gaylord Perry should be a candidate also.

1) No correlation other than we have traded away most of our pitching prospects for a bag of beans.
2) Forget the free agents, go get Zito, he should have been here years ago and would have been if they would have paid that $400,000. Go get Rogers too, he can pitch here. Does it really matter what an idiot he is? He can win in Arlington and helps the staff. He may be ready for a return.
3) Starting pitching, the bullpen will improve when you stop overworking them. Wilson and Francisco will be fine.
4) Burnett was who we wanted when they settled for Millwood. Get Burnett and let the Yankees have Millwood.
5) Jenkins, Perry, Rogers, Ryan and Hough. Both Perry and Brown had most of their success elsewhere, but i like Gaylord. Now for the best Ranger pitchers who were traded or given away, Darling, Righetti, Henke, Nen, Dempster, Danks, Young, Terrell, Gallaragga, and Volquez. Oh i forget the feelgood story guy. IT IS ALL ABOUT THE PITCHING! DVD, DVD, DVD...... Can we please get some pitching for John Mayberry?????????

1. I agree with what the stork (briant) said: lack of planning and direction have more to do with the failures of the 2000's, and bad FA signings are just a by product of that.

2. I think the Rangers are afraid to make any big deals this winter, which is why they've imposed this 75mm "salary cap" on themselves. I would like to see them be a little more agressive than they are, as long as they're only looking at guys worth going after - say Sheets and Wood, for example. The more mediocre Derek Lowe and Casey Blake types however, I could care less about.

3. There's not really much to focus on in the closer market outside of Kerry Wood.

4. There's not really a free agent pitcher out there who isn't either overpriced or injury prone.

5. Nolan, Kenny Rogers, Kevin Brown, Bert Blyleven and Fergison Jenkins.

1. Not so much - probably more of a confluence of events than correlation. There have been successful FA SPs in the past and there will be in the future. Notably: Schilling a couple of times; Ryan to Houston then to Texas; Big Unit to Arizona; Pettite & Clemons to Houston got them into the World Cereal Bowl...
2. They already have all they need coming up - if someone WANTS TO PITCH HERE (ala K.Rogers a couple of different times) sign him to a market deal - don't ignore that type of player, but, don't go wooing anyone that isn't predisposed to the Rangers to begin with.

3. I'd take Hoffman... his influence on the young studs in the Ranger bullpen couldn't be overestimated.

4. See #2

5. (1) Ferguson Jenkins; (2) Nolan Ryan; (3) Gaylord Perry; (4) Bert Blyleven; and (5) The Gambler (because he WANTED to be here).

Just because some idiot chose to sign the wrong free-agents, doesn't mean that we shouldn't sign some. Park was the wrong pitcher at the wrong time. Rogers wasn't a bad pitcher, he is just a nut. I would sign him now if he wants to come back, he helps this staff and pitches well in this ballpark. Millwood isn't the guy we wanted, it was Burnett, but they settled. That is what happens when you settle. IF you don't get the guy you want, don't just sign someone to be signing someone. Does that make sense? IF i want Rachel Welch and she rebuffs me, do i then go to the next lady that looks similar to her or do i pick up the best looking blonde on the block?