Topps Cards That Should Have Been: 2014 Rangers

 

Just like with the Padres post a few days ago, this tale of some odd 2014 Rangers that Topps didn't have time for has to begin with Miles Mikolas.

After another listless year with San Diego, Mikolas made his way to Arlington, where they had some starting spots open [as we'll see]. In 10 starts, Mikolas had a 6.44 ERA, and only 2 wins. These would be the numbers that would bring Mikolas over to Japan, where he'd revitalize his career. 

Another starter the Rangers tried in 2014 was Joe Saunders, who we just talked about with some super numbers for the 2012 Orioles. In 2013, Saunders' year in Seattle, his numbers plummeted down to earth, and by 2014 he was going from minor league deal to minor league deal. Saunders got 8 games with the Rangers, and similarly struggled, with a 6.13 ERA, a WHIP over 2, and no wins with 5 losses. He would return to Baltimore to attempt to recover, but it would not work. 

After splitting 2013 between Houston and Kansas City, the heavily depleted bat of once-strong Carlos Pena made it back to Texas, where he began his career in the late 90s. Pena's numbers were a lot different now, and he'd be playing as a DH rather than a corner infielder. In 18 games, his last ones in the majors, he'd hit .136 with one more home run. After the cut, that'd be it for the former Rays all-star.

Biggest flex of any of these? Kevin Kouzmanoff, who made his first MLB action since 2011 for the Rangers in 2014. The former Padres prospect may not have been as hot and blog-beloved as he was in 2009 or so, but he surprised everyone by hitting .362 with 10 RBIs and 2 homers in 13 games. He was hidden behind starters for the stretch, but as a backup who was thought to be out of commission, he performed like a champ. Sadly, these were Kouz's last career numbers, but man did he go out hot.

Tomorrow, we go back to 2011 for some Rays.

Custom Card of the Day: Pena Edition

This guy just got DFAd. So I'm gonna talk about him.

Every guy has one of those players that they hate simply because they only hit well against their team. Ellis Burks was like that, because he'd hit .250 against the rest of the league, and .350 against the Yankees.

Carlos Pena was like that during his tenure with the Rays. Specifically last season. The first few Yankees-Rays series', he would hit, like, 9 homers against us, and then he wouldn't perform at all for the rest of the season. And it was infuriating, because you'd see him for the rest of the season hitting pathetically, and then he'd come back to Yankee Stadium and beat us down.

Thankfully, he hasn't played the Yankees at all this season, which means he did pretty terribly this season. Of course, a lot of that has to do with the fact that he plays for the worst team in the league, but also, he's at the end. He doesn't have much left, and he sank pretty low just by joining the Astros. So now he's without a team, and he might not get picked up (unless the Yankees are really friggin desperate), and now it's sad cause he doesn't get to hit against the Yankees.

So yeah. That's me prattling about Carlos Pena for a few paragraphs.

Coming Tomorrow- Probably that Brewer I promised yesterday.

Custom Card of the Day: Pena Edition

Carlos Pena was a moderate star before his 2007 season with the Rays. Having swooshed around the AL in bit parts for the Tigers, Rangers and Red Sox, the Rays needed a first baseman after Aubrey Huff left. So they gave Pena a shot. Pretty soon, he'd be an all star with the team, and almost won the world series with them. But this year, Pena was signed by Chicago, which didn't seem like a good sign for his playoff chances. Fortunately, he's been hitting well, and playing well in the field.

Coming Tomorrow- A Young Dodger, of the quick, speedy variety.