Comments on: Sitting Kevin Millwood Down Would Help Rangers Balance Sheet; Might it Help Playoff Chances, too?

By: Bobby in Bryan

Bobby in Bryan — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:31:24 +0000

Oh, I forgot–isn’t Millwood very close to getting his 180 innings? Can he get the 180 in the playoffs, or does his contract say it has to be in the regular season?

Sit him for a start, and bring him back if Holland has another bad start. That gives Millie a rest, and probably gets him his innings too.

By: Bobby in Bryan

Bobby in Bryan — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:25:34 +0000

Don’t you think the players realize that Millie is not getting the job done? Check out the starters on other playoff-bound teams and you will notice how some of them had to sit or go to the pen because of trades to bring in better starters down the stretch.

Wasn’t Feliz trowing in the pen late in Sunday’s first game with a six run lead? Could it be that he was getting in his work before his first major league start this week?

By: Brett in SD

Brett in SD — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:00:40 +0000

Good luck signing ANY free agents if the Rangers sit their #1 pitcher at the end of the season and prohibit him from earning $12M. You can argue that Millwood has pitched himself out of the rotation until you are blue (or red?) in face, but the bottom line is that potential free agent signees will either (1) demand guaranteed money from the Rangers (which the Rangers obviously don’t have) or (2) sign with another team that seemingly won’t submarine their performance incentives by forcing them to the bench just as the milestone is about to be achieved.

Also, there will be a possible mutiny in the Rangers clubhouse if the players get the sense that management is trying prevent one of their own from achieving a huge payment milestone. Even in a playoff race, and even if fans are salivating at the opportunity to make a playoff run for the first time in a decade, it’s still first and foremost about the money. It’s still a business. And if you think the players should be willing to let this slide simply because the Rangers are “only” out of the playoff race by less than double digits, then you should ask (1) whether you would be willing to sacrifice your salary next year so your company could have a strong finish to its fiscal year and (2) why Hicks doesn’t just offer to pay Millwood the $12M performance incentive in the event management decides it won’t let him play.

It’s a business and it’s about money, and sitting Millwood AND not paying him the performance milestone is simply not good long-term business for the Rangers because any player who has the chance will elect to play elsewhere.

By: Tom Hick's empty wallet

Tom Hick's empty wallet — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:54:25 +0000

Don’t be so sure that the Rangers would actually re-invest the $12M savings in new players. Especially since MLB will probably have the last say in what the Ranger’s can or can not spend this offseason. We may be better off keeping Millwood around next year than having nothing in return.

By: Ranger_Rick

Ranger_Rick — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:26:50 +0000

@Jim – they shouldn’t sit Holland, he needs this experience especially working through a bad stretch in the midst of a race. If he can learn from this then his development will be that much better off and next time you may see a totally different pitcher in this situation. He is pitcing well just not getting the breaks. You can’t control it when a grounder goes straight up the middle instead to SS or SB player as positioned in the field. Let Holland pitch through this, maybe if possible let him skip a start but you can’t sit him.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:05:01 +0000

Are they (please) going to sit Holland, too?

By: gbm

gbm — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:37:12 +0000

That is a nice little trade Jack Daddy … for some reason Milton loved it hear, and performed accordingly … you keep him out of the field and solely DH, and you have something

By: gbm

gbm — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:33:54 +0000

don’t sit him, skip him in the rotation once, and then give him another crack at it … you wanna look Young or Kinsler in the eye after shutting down your only true veteran starter … even if he is hurt, it will look like the club is cutting money …

By: Jack Daddy

Jack Daddy — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:20:07 +0000

How about we trade Millwood to the Cubs for Bradley? That sticks us with the 3rd year, but he is owed a total of $21MM over the next 2 years. What if we threw in Max Ramirez and a pitcher (say Omar Poveda) and asked them to pick up all but $3-5MM of the 2011 salary of Bradley?

This is actually a brilliant idea.

By: Ranger_Rick

Ranger_Rick — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:51:36 +0000

I agreee with you Jack Daddy. I think he needs to take the long man role in the bullpen. Yes its a demotion as seen by some but maybe it rejuvenates him for the rest of the stretch and motivates him to perform better. I wish there was a way for the Rangers to cut ties with him after this season but I’m afraid they are stuck with him through next year. IMHO – next year he is the #3,4 or even 5 man in the rotation, Feldman is my ACE starting next year and he gets that #1 spot. Hunter is #2 and if Harrison proves healthy then you fill out the rotation with him, Holland and Millwood.