Monday, August 25, 2008 , Updated
Texas Rangers trade closer Eddie Guardado to the Minnesota Twins for a Hamburger
Photo not provided by the Minnesota Twins
Hamburger should make mince-meat out of opposing hitters
ARLINGTON — The Texas Rangers officially started playing for next year Monday afternoon, trading closer Eddie Guardado to the Minnesota Twins for minor league pitcher Mark Hamburger.
Guardado was 3-3 with a 3.65 ERA, and one of the few bright spots on a pitching staff decimated by injuries and incompetence. Guardado had taken over the closer's role from C.J. Wilson when Wilson was injured earlier in the year.
Guardado was a fan favorite in Minnesota, where he played from 1993 to 2003, saving 116 games and endearing himself to fans and teammates.
Mark Hamburger is a relative unknown in the Twins minor league system, originally signed by the Twins at an open tryout. Hamburger has been pitching in the rookie Appalachian League this season, where he was 1-2 with a 4.17 ERA and 13 saves and named the league's closer of the year. Ironically, Hamburger spent the offseason working as a server at Champps, a hamburger joint.
Posted by Todd M.
dadavark, says:
hmmm...it must be after the All Star break because the Rangers are heading for the cellar. Every year I try to tell myself this year will be different. How hard is it to understand that PITCHING wins games? We have great hitters and fielders, but they don;t seem to value great pitching.
Anonymous
1 year, 3 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
zormax, says:
The boy wonder, thats the GM, really did good. He traded for a pitcher with a higher ERA in the little leagues than the one he got rid of. Same as when we got the Washington Senators years ago. There is no chance this group will ever put a winning team on the diamond. Their best expectations this year, or any year,is to be 5o%. Whee. As long as we keep filling the stands we will never see a winner. Why spend the money.
Anonymous
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