1975 Topps - Steve Hargan.

Steve Hargan, shown here on card number 362 of the 1975 Topps set, had a rather odd year in 1975. After a decent 1974 season it seemed like Steve's numbers couldn't decide if they wanted to improve or not.

Depending on which stats one looks at, Hargan was either the second or third starter in the Rangers rotation. He would make 26 starts in 33 appearances and end the season with a 9-10 record. He would pitch a total of 189.1 innings, up slightly from the year before. Hargan's ERA dropped by 15 points to 3.80 but his WHIP climbed to 1.400. This was mostly due to his walks jumping by 14 to 62 on the season, his hits allowed total inched up by just one. His strikeout total came to 93, five less than the previous year.

1975 was a troubling year for Steve Hargan. He didn't implode but there were signs of trouble ahead. In addition to the above numbers he also threw 12 wild pitches and allowed 17 home runs. Apparently he was struggling with his control. If he wanted to stay in Texas for the 1976 season he would need to address that issue. If he couldn't figure it out his post playing career in the mail order business might arrive sooner than estimated.

Minor League Monday - Coaching Staff, 1989 ProCards.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas. Taking the rest of this week off to spend with family so the posts will be pre-recorded. Letting you know in case I miss a major Rangers development. Going to finish up the 1989 ProCards Gastonia Rangers team set today. I have previously posted all the players and am now down to the coaching staff. Since the staff is rather hard to research I will be combining them all in this post.

First off is manager Orlando Gomez on card number 1017 of the set. Gomez was originally drafted by the Yankees in 1964 and spent 13 seasons in the minors as a player. He then moved into managing in 1977. Since then he has managed for 16 seasons in the minors. In 2011 he managed for the Baltimore Orioles A+ team.

Coach Jim Crawford appears on card number 1015. 1989 was his first year as a coach in professional ball after twenty years in the collegiate ranks. Can't find much information on Jim so I have no idea where he's at today.

1989 was also pitching coach Oscar Acosta's first year as a coach at the professional level. Acosta, shown here on card number 1025, played in the Phillies' minor league system for three years in starting in 1978. He must have liked coaching because he moved into minor league managing in 1999. He managed in 1999 in the Cubs system and in 2004 and 2005 in the Yankees system. Oscar passed away in April of 2006 at the age of 49.

Trainer Chuck Marquardt appears on card number 1010. It's almost as hard to find information on Chuck as it is on Jim Crawford. 1989 was Chuck's second season with the Rangers organization. He had previously served in the Navy and worked as a high school trainer and at the University of Washington. He also taught sports medicine in the off-season.

Well, that wraps up the 1989 ProCards Gastonia Rangers team set. Doesn't wrap up my minor league collection though so Minor League Monday will continue.

Christmas gift.

Luke 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
2:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
2:17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
2:18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

Amid all the wrappings and trappings of our modern-day Christmas each of us should remember to do as Mary. Keep in mind and ponder the greatest gift that mankind has ever received, reconciliation with God. Merry Christmas.

Kasey has struck out.

The first round of the 2006 draft has officially not turned out well for the Rangers. Today they released their first round pick. Texas took Kasey Kiker, shown here on an autographed 2007 Bowman card, after the Giants took their original choice, Tim Lincecum.

Fortunately for Texas, Kiker didn't develop the drug habit that Lincecum apparently has. Unfortunately he didn't develop as a pitcher either. In the six seasons since he was drafted Kasey never made it past Double A.

In 2011 he pitched for Myrtle Beach in A ball. In 44.2 innings he posted a 7.05 ERA and an ugly 2.172 WHIP. Part of the reason for that was that he struck out just two more batters than he walked all season (54/52).

Well, I feel bad for Kasey but that's just the way things shake out sometimes. At least he stayed with it for six years and tried to get it put together. At 24 he still has a lot of good years left and hopefully he finds success in whatever he attempts next.

Quick show-off post.

Very busy day today. Went from work to a meeting to church and now trying to get the kiddos to bed. Not much time to concoct a post.

Since I'm running behind today I decided to show off the latest addition to my Jon Matlack collection. I just picked this 1979 Baseball Guidebook up from Ebay. I had never seen this particular magazine cover of Matlack before so I jumped on it when it popped up. Gotta say that I like the picture.

Stunned.

The title about sums it up. The Rangers won the rights to Japanese pitching phenom Yu Darvish.

Not really sure what I think about this. Never expected Texas to be a serious bidder so I never really mulled it over. Just hope he works out better for Texas than Hideki Irabu, seen here on card 488 of the 2002 Topps Chrome set, did for New York.

Minor League Monday - Mike Mendazona, 1989 ProCards.

The Rangers signed Mike Mendazona as a free agent on June 7, 1988. That was about a month and a half before they signed another catcher, Ivan Rodriguez. That set up a big hurdle for Mike, shown here on card number 1026 of the 1989 ProCards set.

Unlike his drafted teammates, Mendanzona started his career with the Rookie level GCL Rangers in 1988. In 71 plate appearances he posted a dismal .183 batting average and a .280 on-base percentage. He committed just three errors in 134 chances though. His glove is likely what got him promoted to Single A for the 1989 season.

With Gastonia Mike's offensive woes continued. He made 147 plate appearances and posted a barely improved .188 batting average. His on-base percentage dropped to .250 while his strikeouts jumped. In fact Mike struck out 16 times in the course of the season while walking just 11 times. That might work for a thumper but Mendazona wasn't a power hitter.

If there was any improvement to Mike's game it was on defense. He again committed three errors on the season but this time they came in 318 chances. That pushed his fielding percentage up to .991. One possibly disturbing point was that his number of passed balls climbed from six the previous season to 15 in 1989.

Things just hadn't come together for Mike Mendazona in 1989. In spite of his defense, Ivan Rodriguez had blown past him. Mike had really needed his bat to show up for the season and it just hadn't. In fact, things had gotten worse. Apparently the Rangers weren't convinced they were going to get better either - 1989 would be Mike Mendazona's last season in pro ball.