Rangers Pitching History - Any Legit Aces?

[TheJourneyman]

Something deftones mentioned in a nother thread had me thinking so I want to get others opinions. Who have the Rangers had in their history that you considered a legitimate ace pitcher? This is while with the Rangers, not after they got traded or anything.

So while they were pitching with the Rangers they were a legitimate ace. And by ace I mean could have been a #1 starter on just about any other club.

Discuss

[KCGHOST]

Ken Hill in 1996 would qualify. So would Jim Kern (1979), Jon Matlack (1978) and Bert Blyleven (1977). All these guys were in the Top 5 pitchers in MLB in RSAA. The problem is that all these basically had one great year and were either gone or fell off the table.

[TheJourneyman]

Ken Hill in 1996 would qualify. So would Jim Kern (1979), Jon Matlack (1978) and Bert Blyleven (1977). All these guys were in the Top 5 pitchers in MLB in RSAA. The problem is that all these basically had one great year and were either gone or fell off the table.

True we have never had anyone sustain anything great for a long period of time.

The first one I thought most would bring up was Kevin Brown in 92.

[Imgran]

Nolan was still dealing in his declining years in Texas. if the Sox could count Schill as a legit ace in '04, Nolan counts for the Rangers in '89 and '90 quite handily -- more than a K an inning and more than 200 innings equals ace-hood, right?

[SamtheBravesFan]

Charlie Hough is definitely a workhorse, not sure about being an ace.

What about Fergie Jenkins in 1974? His WHIP of 1.008 in 328 1/3 innings, that's just incredible.

[deftones999us]

Gaylord Perry sure had three very good seasons for us in the mid-late 70's. And he was a pitcher with 300 victories.
4 seasons with us he had an era 3.43 or under.. the lowest being 3.03
I really don't know about Helling or Bobby Witt, their era's were right under 5
If a pitcher is good enough to be in the hall of fame, i consider that pitcher well enough to be an "ACE"

Ferguson Jenkins
Nolan Ryan
Gaylord Perry

If there is 3 true aces in this team's history, then we are really due for a miracle.. not going to lie, we would be in for the playoffs if that was our starting pitching this year lol

[Imgran]

If the Rangers want to have aces again, they need to tighten up their D from top to bottom, especially up the middle. Kinsler is prone to monumental brain-farts and Young, while he is competent, isn't exactly out there for his glove and Ellsbury debuted by outrunning his arm in the hole twice in a game. Byrd's spent most of his career as a 4th OF. Laird's alright, but I seem to keep seeing him at his worst as well. I don't see large amounts of range anywhere in the Rangers' infield either, which I consider fairly ironic.

[TheJourneyman]

If the Rangers want to have aces again, they need to tighten up their D from top to bottom, especially up the middle. Kinsler is prone to monumental brain-farts and Young, while he is competent, isn't exactly out there for his glove and Ellsbury debuted by outrunning his arm in the hole twice in a game. Byrd's spent most of his career as a 4th OF. Laird's alright, but I seem to keep seeing him at his worst as well. I don't see large amounts of range anywhere in the Rangers' infield either, which I consider fairly ironic.

I won't argue the D could use some improving but I would argue this is not the reason why there has been no "ace" of late.

[TheJourneyman]

Gaylord Perry sure had three very good seasons for us in the mid-late 70's. And he was a pitcher with 300 victories.
4 seasons with us he had an era 3.43 or under.. the lowest being 3.03
I really don't know about Helling or Bobby Witt, their era's were right under 5
If a pitcher is good enough to be in the hall of fame, i consider that pitcher well enough to be an "ACE"

Ferguson Jenkins
Nolan Ryan
Gaylord Perry

If there is 3 true aces in this team's history, then we are really due for a miracle.. not going to lie, we would be in for the playoffs if that was our starting pitching this year lol

was their body of work with the Rangers HOF worthy?

[KCGHOST]

Nolan was still dealing in his declining years in Texas. if the Sox could count Schill as a legit ace in '04, Nolan counts for the Rangers in '89 and '90 quite handily -- more than a K an inning and more than 200 innings equals ace-hood, right?

Uh, no. He may have K-ed a lot of guys but in any of the seasons with the Rangers would not have measured up to the seasons these other guys put up. Ryan pitched well in that time frame, but not at the ace level.

[deftones999us]

i disagree with that, he had a 2.91 era in 1991, career 3.43 with rangers.. he was lagit

[deftones999us]

we are talking about the texas rangers, i don't think a k/inning would define a legitimate ace..
an ERA in the 3's with a chance to win everytime you go out in the field would.. and if your saying that 327 wins, 7 no hitters isn't ace worthy your crazy