Rangers' spending strategy could pay off
DECEMBER 26, 2000

Fans' View

Today, MLB fan Steve Schindler says the free-spending Texas Rangers really aren't crazy. By getting older, they will get better.

Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks finally threw his hands in the air and said, "If you can't lick the Yankees, outspend 'em." So he left his home for the baseball winter meetings recently and heeded the shouts of Mrs. Hicks, "Remember to pick up that big power DH we've been needing, honey. And some fresh A-Rod would be nice, too, if you can get it!"

Hicks should listen to his wife more often. So far in this millennium, Hicks leads the big "Dallas Sports Owner Derby" by outspending both Jerry Jones and Mark Cuban for some of the finest free-agent material available in his designated sport. He and Mrs. Hicks hope it won't take long for this new infusion of high-priced talent to kick in with some positive results in the playoff win column.

One thing is for sure: These recent Ranger deals have sent ripples across the surface of pro baseball and might have a profound effect on the balance of power in the AL. That's a big maybe, though. Much depends on whether Tom Hicks continues to apply his proven "buy and build" managing methods to the Rangers as he has done successfully with his Dallas Stars and every other successful business venture he has tackled.

In spite of all the screams from around Major League Baseball decrying the recent Texas Ranger "money madness", there is a definite method to their madness, and you need to look beyond the checkbook to see what's really going on at the Ballpark in Arlington.

The Rangers took some ribbing last year and suffered at times for having too youthful a roster. With 13 rookies playing last season, the team needed to balance things out a bit. Looking at the ages of these recent acquisitions, you'll see the Rangers are working overtime to achieve that goal. Hicks and Ranger GM Doug Melvin have decided that in order to get better, the Rangers needed to get older.

The Hicks' first Christmas purchase was that new designated hitter, and Andres Galarraga fit that bill very nicely. The 39-year-old Galarraga was the NL Comeback Player of the Year last season after returning to play following cancer treatment in '99.

Playing for Atlanta, Andres hit for a .302 average with 28 homers and 100 RBIs last season. Galarraga has been good for at least that amount of offensive production for the last five seasons he has played. This should add significant spark to the No. 5 spot in the lineup that sorely lacked consistent production for the Rangers last year.

Once the buying jitters were over, the geriatric dam burst as the Rangers picked up 38-year-old Randy Velarde via trade, then agreed to terms with 37-year-old third baseman Ken Caminiti and 35-year-old righthanded pitcher Mark Petkovsek.

Suddenly, the Ranger roster is ripe with 13 players who will open play next season at age 31 or older. Caminiti is a three-time Golden Glover and a former NL MVP with health and substance abuse skeletons in his closet, but his hard-nosed attitude, leadership and offensive production will be welcomed.

The Rangers surrendered a draft pick to Anaheim for Petkovsek, who began his career in the Texas organization and has proved to be a durable middle reliever. His presence should add stability to a Ranger bullpen that was way too young at the end of last year. Six out of the eight Ranger relievers used to finish last season had less than two years of major league experience.

Then, the Rangers made the acquisition heard 'round the baseball world. Signing prized free agent Alex Rodriguez to 10-year, $252 million contract laid a foundation for the Rangers to build upon for the next decade. This is where owner Tom Hicks shined brightest. When A-Rod chose Texas, he really was choosing Hicks, who swept the 25-year-old off his feet with his vision of building a Texas powerhouse.

No one can argue that Texas paid a penny more than this guy is really worth. Rodriguez can hit the baseball a long way and does it quite often. He is fast, plays all over the field and does it all with a big smile on his face. Rodriguez loves to play baseball and is only 25. It also should be noted that Hicks made A-Rod the biggest promise of them all -- to build the team's pitching.

This key promise was made to A-Rod because every baseball purist knows that scoring seven or eight runs a game will get you to the playoffs, but you have to have defense, pitching and a great closer to get a World Series ring. And Ranger pitching must be addressed for Texas to make up any ground at all in the AL West and against those Ranger-killing Yankees.

A recent poll taken by the Dallas Morning News showed that 54 percent of respondents felt the team should have spent the A-Rod contract money to bolster the team's pitching staff. If you look past solid starters Rick Helling and Kenny Rogers, the pitching staff is suddenly nothing but a young herd of unproven hurlers.

Even with the addition of Petkovsek for middle relief, there is a huge hole left by the uncertainty of a possible John Wetteland retirement. Tim Crabtree only has converted five of his career 25 save chances, and the leftovers of the current free-agent pitching crop are not overly promising.

The Rangers' offseason moves so far have added great stability and clubhouse leadership to the team's chemistry. Now they must hope to get some help building a strong one-two punch in their playoff pitching rotation. There might be some quality pitching prospects come June or July that would jump at the chance to see what's left in Hick's wallet and join a rock-solid A-Rod and I-Rod perfecta ticket at the Ballpark in Arlington.

The Texas Rangers only can hope that will be the case and that this year's building process will continue all the way to the World Series. Then, Mr. Hicks can give Mrs. Hicks what she has always wanted: a World Series ring for Christmas.

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