El Duque!!!!!

The Rangers have signed Orlando Hernandez to a minor league deal. The Rangers must think they are making the playoffs if they are trying out El Duque, because that's the only place where you can reasonably expect him to excel. Seriously, he's 9-3 with a 2.55 ERA in the post season. Even in 2005 for the White Sox he had that inning against the Red Sox in the ALDS getting out of bases loaded no outs unscathed. I think El Duque can roll out of bed at 43? years old and throw a great inning of relief in the playoffs adrenaline and all. But asking him to help out your pitching staff during the regular season may be a bit much.

Well for a minor league deal you have nothing to lose, but you should have no expectations as well. He's 43 (wikipedia says there have been reports he could be as old as 50, wow), and he hasn't pitched since 2007, the main reason behind that due to various injuries. It's debatable if El Duque still even has a toe anymore after having surgery on it in 2008 causing him to miss the entire year. I'm not sure how much stock you would put into his numbers from 2007 (if any) but he was pretty darn good on the Mets, 9-5 with a 3.72 ERA/115ERA+ in 147.2 innings. Expecting a performance near that would be utterly stupuid, but if El Duque can give the Rangers anything it would be a plus. Just seeing that leg kick one more time would a plus, and seeing the eephus pitch wouldn't hurt either.

I wouldn't doubt El Duque never even making the Rangers this year or the majors ever again, but count me in as rooting for the guy.