Designated Ranger Killers

by John Paul on Nov 9, 2010 10:36 PM CST

The year was 1997. The Rangers were playing the Angels in a meaningless late September game. The Angels swept the Rangers in that three game set, winning 7-1, 7-6, and 4-1. Adding to the misery was that the heavyweight Gary Disarcina, who posted a .246/.271/.326 line on the year, went 6 for 15 (.400/.400/.467) in the series. It was frustrating.

Unfortunately, this seemed to be a routine occurence; at the time I posited that it was a product of the middling bastion of pitchers the Rangers hurled at opposing teams during the 90s. My Dad and I had a special name for hitters like Disarcina who played like All Stars against the Rangers but like Little League All Stars against the rest of the league. We coined the term "Designated Ranger Killers" for these types of players. This season, amidst a two game stretch against the Royals (from August 31st to September 1st) that saw the almighty Yuniesky Betancourt carve out a 3 for 7 showing with two home runs and two walks, I realized that even with this vastly improved pitching staff, that there were still Designated Ranger Killers lurking in mediocrity, waiting for their chance to strike.

For the record, a "Designated Ranger Killer" shall be defined as "a mediocre hitter who wreaks havoc on the Rangers". I don't feel the need to be too precise about this; everyone knows how they felt when Betancourt walked twice in that game on August 31st. And just as a disclaimer to any strict sabermetricians: these abominations below are indeed due to a small sample size (and no conclusions are being drawn here as to ability). But the results are still maddening as hell (see, for example: Punto, Nick).

Just so everyone can share my frustration, I've devised a list at least one player from each team who qualifies in my opinion as a Designated Ranger Killer. This list was agonizingly compiled from memories of games poisoned by said Ranger Killers. The players and teams are listed in no particular order. I'm sure that you will notice that some offenders are worse than others (for example, Nick Punto is a worse offender than Darnell McDonald because Punto is, well, crappier). Additionally, the stats are taken from the 2010 regular season. On a separate note, it feels good to have to clarify that it was during the regular season, doesn't it?

Kansas City Royals: Yuniesky Betancourt

Overall: .259/.288/.405 Against the Rangers: .308/.400/.654

New York Yankees: Francisco Cervelli

Overall: .271/.359/.335 Against the Rangers: .556/.733/.556

Oakland Athletics: Gabe Gross

Overall: .239/.290/.311 Against the Rangers: .421/.522/.474

Oakland Atheltics: Eric Patterson

Overall: .204/.255/.408 Against the Rangers: .313./.353/.875

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Erick Aybar

Overall: .253/.306/.330 Against the Rangers: .304/.344/.446

Baltimore Orioles: Corey Patterson

Overall: .269/.315/.406 Against the Rangers: .306/.342/.528

Detroit Tigers: No Designated Ranger Killer Found (open for nominations, though!)

Cleveland Indians: Jayson Nix

Overall: .224/.281/.396 Against the Rangers: .313/.421/1.063

Chicago White Sox: Brent Lillibridge

Overall: .224/.248/.378 Against the Rangers: .600/.600/.800

Seattle Mariners: Justin Smoak

Overall: .218/.307/.371 Against the Rangers: .368/.429/.842

Tampa Bay Rays: Jason Bartlett

Overall: .254/.324/.350 Against the Rangers: .385/.429/.385

Toronto Blue Jays: Jose Molina

Overall: .246/.304/.377 Against the Rangers: .300/.300/.600

Boston Red Sox: Darnell McDonald

Overall: .270/.336/.429 Against the Rangers: .316/.435/.842

Minnesota Twins: Nick Punto

Overall: .238/.313/.302 Against the Rangers: .400/.625/.400

Honorable Mentions:

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Peter Bourjos

Overall: .204/.287/.381 Against the Rangers: .296/.286/.630

Baltimore Orioles: Josh Bell

Overall: .214/.224/.302 Against the Rangers: .273/.273/.818

Since this is not a rigorous sabermetric piece, I am sure to have left out several who belong on this list -- please feel free to add any players I have overlooked in the comments section. You are also welcome to share your own Gary Disarcina stories, from this season or any season. Misery loves company, after all.

Thanks for reading! --JP

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Comments

For Oakland

Mark Ellis throughout his career has been an annoying little bastard. The guy’s half the size of a normal human being and a horrible career hitter, but I think he has the highest batting average against the Rangers of any player

by mtobo on Nov 9, 2010 11:02 PM CST reply actions

he didn't mash Ranger pitching in 2010

but over the course of his career he definitely qualifies with a .300/.371/.451 slashline in 481 PAs.

"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. Not all holes, or games, are created equal." --George Will

by John Paul on Nov 10, 2010 9:43 AM CST up reply actions

Tim Salmon

by Agreen07 on Nov 9, 2010 11:38 PM CST reply actions

First guy I thought of.

And it’s pretty true, statistically.

I never have anything interesting to say, but follow me anyway.

by AsDevilsRun on Nov 9, 2010 11:51 PM CST up reply actions

Thirded.

That son of a bitch.

"I don't really like pitchers." - Nelson Cruz

by AceJC on Nov 10, 2010 12:13 AM CST up reply actions

.353/.447.624 ..... wow

I may have to do a follow-up post about players who were actually good who destroyed the Rangers over the course of their careers

"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. Not all holes, or games, are created equal." --George Will

by John Paul on Nov 10, 2010 9:41 AM CST up reply actions

that was who I thought of too

by JShoe on Nov 10, 2010 9:51 AM CST up reply actions

He was good though

This list is comprised mostly of spares

by oc on Nov 11, 2010 9:54 PM CST up reply actions

Fuck Ryan Sweeney!

Remember to retire Fin's number, Mark.

"I've had people walk out on me before, but not when I was being so charming."

by jonthefon on Nov 9, 2010 11:51 PM CST reply actions

.273/.273/.409 against Texas in 2010

with a modest career line of .310/.380.419 …. but that’s probably understating his value, as he’s stolen at least 2 home runs from the Rangers in recent years.

"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. Not all holes, or games, are created equal." --George Will

by John Paul on Nov 10, 2010 9:46 AM CST up reply actions

For the Orioles,

I might substitute Josh Bell or Luke Scott. Josh Bell hit 2/3 of his home runs in 11 PAs against the Rangers…both were off Cliff Lee.

Or, if you stick with Corey Patterson, you could put little bro Eric Patterson in for Oakland: .313./.353/.875. His overall line with Oakland was .204/.255/.408.

I never have anything interesting to say, but follow me anyway.

by AsDevilsRun on Nov 9, 2010 11:57 PM CST reply actions

Scott hit .429/.455/.810 against the Rangers this year

I don’t know how I missed that. And Bell hit .273/.273/.818 … definitely worth an honorable mention. I’ll add these to the post. Thanks!

"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. Not all holes, or games, are created equal." --George Will

by John Paul on Nov 10, 2010 9:50 AM CST up reply actions

Now I know how I missed it ....

Scott was actually quite good this year, posting a .284/.368/.535 line overall (good for a .902 OPS). So, yes, he absolutely killed the Rangers, but he had too good of a year to warrant being included in this list.

"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. Not all holes, or games, are created equal." --George Will

by John Paul on Nov 10, 2010 11:40 AM CST up reply actions

I hate Luke Scott.

Mainly bc he poses wearing Oakley’s

"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz

"Baseball's all that's real" - JB

by Ryin A on Nov 10, 2010 11:13 PM CST up reply actions

Smoak.

"The Angels are like the villain in the movie that isn't dead until he's been stabbed 150 times in the bath tub, yet he still might come back up one more time." - Eric Nadel

by TXHC on Nov 10, 2010 1:22 AM CST reply actions

vlad has to be on the list.

Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.

by knockoutking on Nov 10, 2010 7:46 AM CST reply actions

Vlad was AWESOME against everyone...

just better against the Rangers.

by JShoe on Nov 10, 2010 9:52 AM CST up reply actions

My first thought as well.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Nov 10, 2010 1:04 PM CST up reply actions

Honorary 5 scoops of sucking

Goes to the tigers Gerald Laurd

A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.

by NothinG on Nov 10, 2010 8:26 AM CST via mobile reply actions

You have Yuni twice

and I agree with KoK, even though Vlad wasn’t a mediocre player like the rest of these guys, he is the true DRK.

by jam0152 on Nov 10, 2010 8:55 AM CST reply actions

agreed

though he and Tim Salmon don’t really belong on this list, as they were players with actual value. I’m thinking about doing a post later on about these types of Ranger Killers (who knows, Designated Ranger Killers Type I and Type 2?)

"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. Not all holes, or games, are created equal." --George Will

by John Paul on Nov 10, 2010 9:38 AM CST up reply actions

Yuni... did drop that popup to SS, though

loved that game.

by JShoe on Nov 10, 2010 9:53 AM CST up reply actions

wasn't that CJ's complete game?

(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."

by mtex on Nov 10, 2010 10:12 AM CST up reply actions

Francisco Cervelli

I have wondered why the Yankees did not play him more against the Rangers in the ALCS the way he killed the Rangers in the regular season.

Quote from Yankees GM about the Texas Rangers Beating them in the 2010 ALCS "They manhandled us," Cashman said. "It was like a steamroller. We couldn't stop them."

by TRFAN on Nov 10, 2010 10:40 AM CST reply actions

Well

They got Jorge Posada

by oc on Nov 11, 2010 9:55 PM CST up reply actions

Dan Wilson

He’s the first name that comes to mind for me. I think one time I looked and he had about 1/4-1/3 of his career homers vs Texas and seemed to tear us up despite being a scrub catcher for Seattle.

Ron Washington...giving hope everywhere to the kids who eat lead paint chips of being a big league manager when they grow up since 2007.

by rangers85 on Nov 10, 2010 1:59 PM CST via mobile reply actions