Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels took the Texas Rangers where they haven’t been in a while. They dished out big money for a Kevin Millwood, a free agent pitcher. It’s something that haven’t done since the ill-fated signing of Chan Ho Park for $65 Million Dollars in 2002.
Millwood is a 31-year old veteran who rejected salary arbitration from the Cleveland Indians, and was also pursued by Boston before finally settling on Texas.
“I felt like this is a place where I'd be more comfortable,” said Millwood. “Comfort is definitely a big part of it.”
The signing is the biggest free agent signing to date for Daniels who took over for John Hart earlier this year. The deal is for about $11 million to $12 million dollars per season. “He's a front line starter,” said Daniels, “He has taken the ball in big games, pitched his butt off down the stretch for Cleveland last year, and really adds something to our club that we have sorely needed.”
Millwood is expected to lead a staff that will be totally different from one year ago, when names like Kenny Rogers, Ryan Drese, Chris Young, Chan Ho Park and Pedro Astacio made up the starting rotation. Today, all five are gone.
“Kevin can't do it by himself,” says Manager Buck Showalter. “I'm very proud of the work that's been done, to try and improve our club. It’s always an ongoing process. We're hoping we can get to the point where guys have to knock the door down in the minor leagues, as opposed to just tapping on it. We haven't been in that situation a lot, and to maintain the integrity of what we're trying to do with the organization and keep our guys, this helps.”
Agent Scott Boras says things came together in a hurry, once Millwood made up his mind. “The first decision that Kevin had to make was to understand that this place is a priority for him, and he liked Texas,” says Boras. “Tom hicks did a great job of making for him comfortable in a place in a place where he felt he had an owner that was personally involved in the desire to win.”
As for helping a younger staff, Millwood says he's ready. “Well, i've got a lot of stuff up there, I don't know if it will help or not, but I'll do my best. I think everybody would want to be in one place for their whole career, but in reality, that's not the way it is these days.”
Millwood’s signing follows last weeks deals when the Rangers acquired starter Adam Eaton, setup man Akinori Otsuka, and catching prospect Ben Killian from San Diego for pitcher Chris Young, outfielder Terrmel Sledge and Adrian Gonzalez.
Today, the starting five includes Millwood, Eaton, Vicente Padilla, Juan Dominguez, and Kameron Loe. Others in the running for a starting spot include knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, Josh Rupe, and Edison Volquez.
Unlike Chan Ho Park who had a 5-years guaranteed, Millwood essentially has a 4-year contract, and has to earn his fifth year. Either way, the Rangers hope he makes a big splash, and doesn't become a big bust.
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Drew Bledsoe Still Hoping For A Playoff Spot
Every time Cowboys Quarterback Drew Bledsoe throws a touchdown pass, his foundation donates 25-hundred dollars to the Salvation Army. Through week sixteen, the total is 22-touchdowns and 55-thousand dollars. Those are big numbers, but not big enough to guarantee a playoff spot.
“I’m not satisfied with what we've accomplished this year,” says Bledsoe. “I expected us to be in a better situation than we are, but at the same time, we're sitting here with a chance going into the last game of the season, so that's something. We've accomplished something.
Bledsoe was brought to Dallas with the idea of taking the Cowboys to the playoffs. Even his contract calls for bonuses, up to 1-millioin dollars for reaching the Super Bowl. To reach that, Bledsoe would have to make the playoffs and receive a bonus of $250,000. If the Cowboys win a playoff game, he would earn another $250,000. He would earn an additional $500,000 if the Cowboys make it to Super Bowl XL.
As it stands now, Dallas still has a chance of making the playoffs, but if the team fails, everyone will share the blame.
Says Wide Receiver Keyshawn Johnson, “Well its not drew, you say what could Drew have done, I mean, I don't know you say Drew like Drew was the only person that got the six losses. I mean collectively as a team, we could have all done something a little better to give us the extra win or tow that we need to win to win the game.”
Offensive Tackle Marco Rivera agrees. “I thought he had an excellent year, there were some plays you wish you could take back, and that’s on offense, that's on everybody.”
Center Al Johnson doesn’t blame any one player. “I think its just a whole team thing you know. You can't put it on one guy, I could have done more, ah, drew has helped this team tremendously.”
So far, Bledsoe's goal of taking Dallas to the playoffs has not been realized, but he is close, so close that one more win and a little bit of help will get him there. The Cowboys can make the playoffs if they win, and either Washington or Carolina loose in week seventeen
“I’m not satisfied with what we've accomplished this year,” says Bledsoe. “I expected us to be in a better situation than we are, but at the same time, we're sitting here with a chance going into the last game of the season, so that's something. We've accomplished something.
Bledsoe was brought to Dallas with the idea of taking the Cowboys to the playoffs. Even his contract calls for bonuses, up to 1-millioin dollars for reaching the Super Bowl. To reach that, Bledsoe would have to make the playoffs and receive a bonus of $250,000. If the Cowboys win a playoff game, he would earn another $250,000. He would earn an additional $500,000 if the Cowboys make it to Super Bowl XL.
As it stands now, Dallas still has a chance of making the playoffs, but if the team fails, everyone will share the blame.
Says Wide Receiver Keyshawn Johnson, “Well its not drew, you say what could Drew have done, I mean, I don't know you say Drew like Drew was the only person that got the six losses. I mean collectively as a team, we could have all done something a little better to give us the extra win or tow that we need to win to win the game.”
Offensive Tackle Marco Rivera agrees. “I thought he had an excellent year, there were some plays you wish you could take back, and that’s on offense, that's on everybody.”
Center Al Johnson doesn’t blame any one player. “I think its just a whole team thing you know. You can't put it on one guy, I could have done more, ah, drew has helped this team tremendously.”
So far, Bledsoe's goal of taking Dallas to the playoffs has not been realized, but he is close, so close that one more win and a little bit of help will get him there. The Cowboys can make the playoffs if they win, and either Washington or Carolina loose in week seventeen
Monday, December 26, 2005
Cowboys Playoff Chances
The goal of making the playoffs is still alive for the Cowboys, but at this stage, they need help.
“Look, if someone says to you, out there in Oxnard, in week seventeen, you got a chance to do something, would you take it?” asks Head Coach Bill Parcells. “It would have been a unanimous vote. Coaches and players.”
The scenario is simple. The Cowboys have to win, and one team, either Tampa Bay or Washington has to lose. If they both win, Dallas is left out, regardless of what they do Sunday night.
Linebacker Bradie James says, “No matter what the scenario is, if we don't win, we definitely don't have a chance. I think no matter what's going on, no matter, we can't let any of these things be distractions, so if we don't take care of business, we don't have a chance.”
Rookie Defensive End Marcus Spears is realistic. “We’ve got to play and control what we can control, and ah, that's pretty much it. That's all I can say about it. You definitely wish you weren't in this position,” he says.
Usually, 10-wins is the magic number but, Dallas faces the real possibility of winning ten games, and still missing out. That would be a rarity. The last time that happened was 1991. In that year, San Francisco and Philadelphia finished with 10-wins, and yet, both the 49ers and the Eagles failed to qualify for the playoffs.
The problem this year is that as many as eight teams in the NFC could finish the year with 10 wins. That means, two would not make the playoffs.
“It’s frustrating because we controlled our own destiny early,” says Cornerback Terence Newman. “Now we have to wait for other people try to help us get in, so it’s definitely frustrating.”
“We put ourselves in this situation and we have to take responsibility for that,” says Cornerback Aaron Glenn. “We need to just go out there and play a good game against St Louis.
Says Tight End Jason Witten. “I guess it can happen you know, yeah, but ha, I can't imagine that happening you know. I don't even remember the last time it was, like fifteen years or something, 1991, so yeah.”
So as it stands now, the cowboys are still alive for a playoff spot, but it may also vanish by the time they take the field Sunday Night. That is of course if both Tampa Bay and Washington win earlier in the day.
“Look, if someone says to you, out there in Oxnard, in week seventeen, you got a chance to do something, would you take it?” asks Head Coach Bill Parcells. “It would have been a unanimous vote. Coaches and players.”
The scenario is simple. The Cowboys have to win, and one team, either Tampa Bay or Washington has to lose. If they both win, Dallas is left out, regardless of what they do Sunday night.
Linebacker Bradie James says, “No matter what the scenario is, if we don't win, we definitely don't have a chance. I think no matter what's going on, no matter, we can't let any of these things be distractions, so if we don't take care of business, we don't have a chance.”
Rookie Defensive End Marcus Spears is realistic. “We’ve got to play and control what we can control, and ah, that's pretty much it. That's all I can say about it. You definitely wish you weren't in this position,” he says.
Usually, 10-wins is the magic number but, Dallas faces the real possibility of winning ten games, and still missing out. That would be a rarity. The last time that happened was 1991. In that year, San Francisco and Philadelphia finished with 10-wins, and yet, both the 49ers and the Eagles failed to qualify for the playoffs.
The problem this year is that as many as eight teams in the NFC could finish the year with 10 wins. That means, two would not make the playoffs.
“It’s frustrating because we controlled our own destiny early,” says Cornerback Terence Newman. “Now we have to wait for other people try to help us get in, so it’s definitely frustrating.”
“We put ourselves in this situation and we have to take responsibility for that,” says Cornerback Aaron Glenn. “We need to just go out there and play a good game against St Louis.
Says Tight End Jason Witten. “I guess it can happen you know, yeah, but ha, I can't imagine that happening you know. I don't even remember the last time it was, like fifteen years or something, 1991, so yeah.”
So as it stands now, the cowboys are still alive for a playoff spot, but it may also vanish by the time they take the field Sunday Night. That is of course if both Tampa Bay and Washington win earlier in the day.
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