This Is the Start of Something Good, Don't You Agree?

Perhaps I should begin to have higher expectations in the Jon Daniel era, but the Rangers are really starting to surprise me. You can find the story here of the reported signing of Kevin Millwood.


I realize that he had a 9-11 record last year, but when you have the opportunity to pick up the pitcher who led the league in ERA that same year, with a 2.86, that is a deal that you cannot easily pass up. I also believe that Millwood's win-loss record last year can be attributed to the ever changing atmosphere of the Indians' lineup last year before they gelled in the second half of the season to make a playoff run. Next year, Millwood will not need to worry about run support.

Millwood is 31 years old now, with a lifetime record of 107-75 and an ERA of 3.76. I obviously do not want to put him into the same category as Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, or Curt Schilling, but I cite them to argue that a pitcher who is entering his early 30's is a pitcher who could be entering his prime.

I expected Daniel to be making moves from the moment that he took over as the Rangers GM, but his moves have been targeted towards exactly what doomed the Rangers last season and every season in recent memory:poor pitching. The addition of Adam Eaton, Vicente Padilla, and now Kevin Millwood has this Ranger fan looking forward to next season with something other than trepidation.