Happy birthday, Rick Helling

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 15, 2008 2:45 PM CST Comment 35 comments

Happy birthday to Rick Helling, who turns 38 today.

Folks often forget that Helling was traded away, as a prospect, by the Rangers, along with Ryan Dempster, for John Burkett. The Rangers ended up getting him back for Ed Vosberg in 1997, in what was a pretty good deal for Doug Melvin.

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Was this the trade for Burkett

or the ridiculous trade for Burkett’s rights, and then we didn’t sign him.

I remember the 2 trades for Burkett were amongst the worst of Melvin’s tenure.

Nolan Ryan is the Greatest Pitcher ever, because Google says so.

"BTW I’m officially welching ab03. Yeah I planned too all along, but I figured I’d try to get off the hook with double or nothing first."- Sharky

by DJCahill on Dec 15, 2008 2:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The trade for Burkett...

in 1996 wasn’t too bad. He helped down the stretch get the team in the playoffs and actually won his game in that evil ALDS.

The 1994 trade for Burkett was just stupid.

by ghostofErikThompson on Dec 15, 2008 2:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

yup

he’ll always be known for winning the Rangers first ever playoff game

In reference to how good the Steelers have been in their history: "No one is even close to them."- Steal Home

by hinduplaya on Dec 15, 2008 2:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And only playoff win...

perhaps ever?

by ghostofErikThompson on Dec 15, 2008 3:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah we are 1-9 in the playoffs.

F U Yanks.

"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005

by Agreen07 on Dec 15, 2008 3:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes...

well, I meant ever in the future as well.

It was a moment of despair.

by ghostofErikThompson on Dec 15, 2008 3:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i know what you meant

bend over

by cowpoke on Dec 15, 2008 5:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It seems like we traded for him

and then non-tendered him. At least that is how I project my memory of what happened onto the rules today. Does anyone know if that is what happened, or why the team would do that? Why trade for a guy who you aren’t going to tender an offer to?

by JBImaknee on Dec 15, 2008 3:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

We released him

Had a choice between Kenny Rogers and Burkett due to their salaries supposedly. Granted him free agency when the strike ended, no costs added. Read this.

Mike Grouse Interview - Rangers' Midwest Cross Checker

by Andy Seiler on Dec 15, 2008 4:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

‘’Other years,’’ he (Burkett) said, ‘’I used to watch the playoffs on television. Two months ago I was on a team 17, 18 games out of first place. But now I’m in the playoffs.

’’I’m glad we faced some adversity in the A.L. West, going from 9 ahead to 1 ahead before we won it. The playoffs can’t be any tougher than that.’’

Famous last words…

by ghostofErikThompson on Dec 15, 2008 5:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That post-strike time was weird

i seem to remember several free agent signings that got nullified for one reason or another. But that begs the question: WHY TRADE FOR A GUY YOU CANNOT AFFORD????

by JBImaknee on Dec 15, 2008 5:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

lard ass

we couldn’t afford.

Just makes me sick that we got rid of our only exprienced catcher just cause 3 mil was to much

by cowpoke on Dec 15, 2008 7:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm a full season ticket holder

And I’m about sick and fucking tired of this team raising prices

by cowpoke on Dec 15, 2008 8:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm hard pressed to think of a better pitcher we've produced over the last 10 - 12 years.

by oc on Dec 15, 2008 2:51 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Rick Helling was actually the man who first called to my attention that 20 wins wasn't really that cool.

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on Dec 15, 2008 3:04 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

LOL

"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005

by Agreen07 on Dec 15, 2008 3:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not that I ever actually thought about it much.

’98 was about the first time I was even aware of baseball stats other than batting average and home runs.

I really never did put much stock in wins, but Rick Helling and some others were the people that called to my attention that they were worthless.

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on Dec 15, 2008 3:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

yes, you thought much

cause you got a big boner appreantly when Helling got 20 wins

by cowpoke on Dec 15, 2008 5:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This is a confusing post.

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on Dec 15, 2008 7:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Check his diary

That comment was erudite.

Nothing pithy here. Please move long.

by WyoRanger on Dec 15, 2008 7:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

LMAO!

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Dec 17, 2008 12:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Think anyone remembers his run-in with a broken bat?

by Inkara1 on Dec 15, 2008 4:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

That was nasty...

…he was lucky he wasn’t hurt much worse.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Dec 15, 2008 4:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

When the Marlins won the series

I thought it was Burkett dominating not Beckett. I was like why the hell did they trade this guy? Woops.

"Obama is a Christian - He's always been a Christian...But.........what if he is[a Muslim]? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer is no, that's not America." Colin Powell on Obama/Muslim assertions.

by AirJordan on Dec 15, 2008 4:18 PM CST reply actions 0 recs