Rangers adding Patterson

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 23, 2008 8:32 PM CDT Comment 49 comments

T.R. Sullivan reports that the Rangers are going to sign John Patterson to a minor league deal.

That's fine with me. He was good recently. If he gets back to his old self, the Rangers got themselves a good pitcher. If not, well, no big loss.

I would guess that this means the AAA rotation starts out as Luis Mendoza (to keep him on pace with the 5th starter schedule in Texas), Eric Hurley, Patterson, Doug Mathis, and A.J. Murray.

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Uproar?

Based on the last few minor league deals we have signed players to I am curious how big the uproar will be on this one

by bigsteve on Mar 23, 2008 8:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

oh interesting..

he was the Nats opening day starter last year.
What was his injury?

I hereby deem you Benny Brou Ha Ha<---Wash thinks you can hit lefties....in 2 months time you will be a full fledged Brouhaha..trust me on that one.

by LAMuscleFag on Mar 23, 2008 8:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I like this signing

I hope he does well in OKC.

"My death certificate will probably say: 'Cause of Death: World Series.'" Jamey Newberg

by boomer1 on Mar 23, 2008 8:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

He's obviously

in bad condition for them to just release him, but he was pretty darn good before getting hurt. I've always liked him.

by Brett Perryman on Mar 23, 2008 8:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

I liked him before he got hurt

" Winning doesn't always mean being first,
winning means you are doing better than you have done before"

by coolaid on Mar 23, 2008 8:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

As a minor

league deal I think tthis is good

* "You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there." - Yogi Berra (looks like he might have been thinking about the Rangers)

by camartin44 on Mar 23, 2008 8:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Good signing,

no risk involved, only good things could come from it.

Milton Bradley for MVP

by miles on Mar 23, 2008 8:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It's clear

that the Rangers aren't just handing over spots on the roster to these guys on minor league deals so I'm fine with this. If it pans out great, if he never sees Arlington fine.

I am interested to know what convinced him to sign with Texas because I have to believe other teams were willing to give him a minor league deal.

by TexasTiger on Mar 23, 2008 8:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

He apparently wanted to come back to Texas, but I'm not sure why he chose us over Houston, who wanted him too.

by Brett Perryman on Mar 23, 2008 8:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Texas > Houston

by sprite on Mar 23, 2008 8:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Houston blows.

Milton Bradley for MVP

by miles on Mar 23, 2008 8:52 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs

yikes

If Washington deemed Patterson out of shape... after seeing what constitutes as passable in Washingtons eyes with Nick Johnson.... Patterson might be 400 pounds and in a wheelchair.

Josh Hamilton = Baseball Jesus

by JJStuart on Mar 23, 2008 8:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I actually like this OK

I'm not jumping up and down, but I'm fine with it. He'll be a nice commodity to have in AAA, and if he's healthy (that's a big if, but still), he could even wind up contributing in the ML rotation.

Unlike a certain Sidney Ponson, John Patterson has actually had some success in his career - his problem is, he's just been hurt the last two seasons. As long as this is a minor league deal, I'm fine with it - even though he's probably not 100% healthy, he's a better investment than Ponson.

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 23, 2008 9:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

really?

How do you define success? The stats I am looking at show they are pretty even. The major difference is Patterson has had 1 season where he pitched over 100 innings. Ponson has had 4 over 200 inning seasons.

by bigsteve on Mar 23, 2008 9:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The difference is, Patterson used to be a top-of-the-rotation starter

Sidney Ponson used to be a bottom-of-the-barrel spare for whoever was unlucky enough to have him.

The last time Patterson was healthy (which was admittedly back in 2005) he put up an ERA+ of 130. Ponson's career high ERA+ is 117, and that was way back in 2003. Patterson's career WHIP is also 1.351, wheras Ponson's is 1.463.

There's also the fact that since 2003, Ponson has been consistent crap, due largely in part to the fact that he has had past drinking problems, and problems staying in shape. And, oh yeah, he was never anything more than a fringe-average pitcher to begin with.

Patterson, on the other hand, enjoyed a breakout season in 2005, and then got hurt, which has limited his playing time greatly the last two years.

If Patterson is healthy (which is admittedly unlikely) he could provide a solid middle of the rotation presence. If Ponson is healthy, he'll provide fringe-average production (if we're lucky) from the #5 spot. You tell me, which one has the better possibility of being an asset?

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 23, 2008 9:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

top of the rotation?

What made you think he was going to be a top of the rotation starter? Just because he was the Nationals #1 starter doesn't mean he is a top of the rotation guy. Im looking at his minor league stats and after reaching AA he was crap. For 4 years in a row he had an ERA over 4 with peripherials that weren't very good. I know about his 1 good year but how does that make him a potential top of rotation guy? I don't think either guy will amount to much if anything here in the Ranger organization but it does make me laugh a little seeing all the fuss that occurred with the signings of Mench, Ponson, Wright, etc to the same deals but this spare everybody is happy to see come aboard.

by bigsteve on Mar 23, 2008 9:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not too concerned

Because I seriously doubt he will be healthy enough to see time in the bigs, and steal anyones playing time. And even if he is, I think there's a real chance he could be a solid pitcher.

Back in 2005, which is widely considered a breakout year for him, he posted a 3.13 ERA, a 1.195 WHIP, and struck out 185 to 65 BB (along with the 130 ERA+ I mentioned above). Those are top-of-the-rotation numbers. He was posting similar ones in 2006 before he got hurt - only 8 starts and 40 innings, but a 1.107 WHIP, 42 K to 9 BB, and a 4.43 ERA before he got hurt that year - he was picking up pretty much where he had left off in 2005. It's very unfortunate that the injuries have derailed his career, because this guy does indeed have talent.

If he can get healthy - and that's a huge "if" - he could be quite solid for us - and he only turned 30 this January, so I think this signing is worth the risk. Even if he never does get healthy, it's not like we'll have lost anything by giving him a spot in AAA.

Again, this is completely different than Ponson - Patterson actually has the stuff to be a good pitcher, so in this case, we really do have everything to gain, and nothing to lose.

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 23, 2008 9:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ponson

fwiw, Ponson was always thought to have top of the rotation stuff. It has been his other issues that have hampered him.

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 23, 2008 9:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Top of the rotation stuff...

But fringe-average #'s, even in his best years. At least Patterson has actually flashed T-o-R numbers, even if it was only for a short period, and cut short by injury.

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 23, 2008 9:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wrong

Ponson had an era+ of 117 in 2003. Regardless of his career numbers, a +117 is not considered fringe-average.

lepricon

by jparks77 on Mar 24, 2008 9:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just wanna know

who wins the quarters game between Ponson, Blalock, and Padilla.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on Mar 24, 2008 9:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

May I ask why you

have Blalock in with Padilla and Ponson?

I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby

by RangerMad on Mar 24, 2008 10:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hahaha....

SHHH, people will get offended about that comment on this site...

Milton Bradley for MVP

by miles on Mar 24, 2008 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ponson

is Ponson not even in the AAA rotation? long relief?

New Troll Script for 2.0

by ab03 on Mar 23, 2008 9:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

hurt for now

no word on where he'll be.

by BHill on Mar 23, 2008 9:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

not a real big baseball expert here

but it seems like it's a low risk, medium-to-high reward signing. If he works through his injury issues, could end up being a good deal. If not, he can go work with Lincoln Coleman on the Home Depot loading dock.

"Does this effectively hide my thunder?"

by Bob Loblaw on Mar 23, 2008 9:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

AAA

Seems like a good deal for me. See if he has anything left in AAA and see how the season plays out. Maybe we get lucky and he gets back to his 2004 days. If not drop at the end of this year.

by psmitty on Mar 23, 2008 9:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Cool.

I was hoping the Rangers could get him on a minor league deal. I thought some other team would pick him up for a swingman spot.

If I owned a lightsaber, the blade color would be black light, so that I could use it to fight evil and to liven-up parties.

by rooster on Mar 23, 2008 9:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow

This excites me more than I can express, I've always thought this guy had ace stuff. Maybe not anymore but damn, to roll the dice on a guy like this and not have to give anything up is a spectacular signing imo.

by j d on Mar 23, 2008 9:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Patterson video

Interview w/Wash Post on 2/21/08 - LINK

Airplane Pics

by shroomer on Mar 23, 2008 9:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Dude's pretty young still, right?

under 30 at least - I think 29?

anyways, with him and Jennings, we have two guys that have had great success recently and had horrible numbers and injuries last year (and with Patterson 2006 as well). If he's healthy, WHY THE HELL NOT - and we can just call him Ponson 2.0 and send the original Sid packing, or keep him aboard as Vinny Pad's AA partner...

"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."

by Walter Sobchak on Mar 23, 2008 10:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

He

turned 30 in January, I think

The Texas Rangers rounded the bases at a dizzying pace

by fsujon on Mar 23, 2008 10:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

January 30th

And he's from Orange, Texas, BTW.

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 23, 2008 10:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

fine by me

downside is he takes a AAA roster spot (or dl spot...) for a while and leaves. no big deal.

upside he gets himself together and is an improvement for the back of the rotation.

i think its a pretty small chance that he does do that, but for a minor league deal might as well find out.

by DSheppard on Mar 23, 2008 10:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

the way I see it with Jennings and Patterson

is if we catch fire with one or both, we sign those guys to an extension and then we have the freedom to try to trade Millwood or Padilla - or both, whoever is having a successful year - to a playoff team that needs starting pitching for some really good young talent/draft picks. That way, we're not blocking Hurley or Harrison's path after the all star break, we've got some veteran pitchers at the top of the rotation, McCarthy and Gabbard in the mix, and we can make a huge signing (if any are available) with the money we save to get a true Ace in the offseason. And in addition, maybe we can flip Laird or Salty and Cat in addition and catch a pretty good starter in return...the more upper level starting pitching prospects we can take back, the more likely we are to have a Ranger pitching prospect finally succeed FOR US in the majors.

"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."

by Walter Sobchak on Mar 23, 2008 10:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like the Jennings/Patterson comp

That's actually pretty accurate, in terms of stuff, and how good they might be if healthy. Patterson strikes more guys out, though.

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 23, 2008 10:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

low risk/high reward

typical JD.

"LBrooks passes away... after the 'miracle' Rangers of '08 win the AL West." -slc ranger

by dstar442005 on Mar 23, 2008 10:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Which is a good thing

"My death certificate will probably say: 'Cause of Death: World Series.'" Jamey Newberg

by boomer1 on Mar 23, 2008 10:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

High Reward?

At least the "low risk" part might apply.

"Hello", he lied.

by Clueless on Mar 23, 2008 11:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

add him to the list of guys

that we can forever ask Evan/T.R. "How is ______ doing? Is he going to come back soon?' In the last 4 years, he's stayed healthy exactly once. Every other season he's pitched under 100 innings.

He's far more likely to increase the Ranger's Health Insurance premiums than he is to contribute to them ever winning a baseball game.

------------
:) - Obligatory smiley showing I don't mean whatever mean
spiritedness is likely contained in the preceding post

by jtts on Mar 23, 2008 10:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

As Chris Carpenter was

when the Cards first signed him.

by Brett Perryman on Mar 23, 2008 11:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

not really

Carpenter missed two years, but was a consistently productive pitcher prior to his injury. Patterson has a one year track record. Carpenter had about 5 straight years of health with above average production prior to missing 2002-2003.

------------
:) - Obligatory smiley showing I don't mean whatever mean
spiritedness is likely contained in the preceding post

by jtts on Mar 24, 2008 1:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

More on the Patterson deal

It's not much, but it includes a quote from JD:
http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080323&content_id=2454090&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 23, 2008 11:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

woowhoo

Adam loves him some Lard

by NYTXFAN on Mar 24, 2008 3:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Not sure why

Nats elected to release Patterson this early, but it is a good move by JD to sign him to a minor league contract. But his 06 strained forearm problems which led to September 06 surgery for nerve problems in his right forearm, sounds kind of what is happening to McCarthy. I sure hope not and that we see McCarthy soon.

I guess the question is: Has Patterson's rehab gone as far as it can? Since it has been only since Sep 06, I say probably not. Then perhaps we have acquired a fine power arm at little cost.

by TitaniumJoe on Mar 24, 2008 11:23 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

To save money

If they wait until after the season starts, they have to pay him his whole salary.

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 24, 2008 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

only since Sep 06

that's a long time ago at this point

New Troll Script for 2.0

by ab03 on Mar 24, 2008 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep,

you could be right. The Nats seem to think so, not willing to go any further with his rehab.

by TitaniumJoe on Mar 24, 2008 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good move

Not likely to pan out since he's 1) never been able to pitch a full season, and 2) hasn't been able to throw as hard as he did pre-surgeries.

But still, this is a minor-league deal which has the POSSIBILITY of becoming good.

Plus only if he performs, will he really get a shot at the rotation. Pitchers are much harder to keep in the lineup if they don't perform, since if they don't perform it affect the WHOLE pitching staff, whereas a hitter if he doesn't perform doesn't affect anyone else.

So, if he can get his fastball back up to the low 90s, he'll be a good gamble. If he never does, he was just a minor league contract.

Req

by Requiem on Mar 24, 2008 9:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs