Is Mike Maddux the Answer?

The question these day is why is Texas Rangers pitching so bad? Could the answer be as simple as Mike Maddux? Nothing against Doug Brocail, but I always say if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The Rangers pitching was not broke. So why the change at pitching coach? That is a question we may never get answered.

The Rangers had never finished a season with an ERA below five before Mike Maddux came to town in 2009. From 2000 t0 2008 the Rangers ERA was 5.14, worst in the AL. In 2008, the year before Maddux was hired, the Rangers ERA was 5.37. The combination of Mike Maddux and Nolan Ryan proved to be a very good one for Rangers pitchers. Here are the team ERA’s during the Mike Maddux Era:

2009: 4.38 ERA

2010: 3.93 ERA

2011: 3.79 ERA

2012: 3.99 ERA

2013: 3.62 ERA

2014: 4.49 ERA

2015: 4.24 ERA

That means that during the Mike Maddux Era, the Rangers pitching staff had a collective ERA of 4.06. Over a run better than their total team ERA from 200 – 2008. By the way, he is now with the Washington Nationals, and can you guess what their team ERA is in 2016? You guessed it: 3.22. The Texas Rangers 2016 team ERA? It is 4.47. Higher than all but one ERA during the Maddux time in Texas.

So why did the Rangers decide to go a different way? I did not like the decision at the time, and I really do not like it now. I know injuries have played into it, but Maddux suffered through a couple of injury riddled seasons as well. Mike took a desolate pitching staff and turned it around his first season in Texas. I have trust in Jon Daniels, but it does not mean I find him infallible. I think letting Mike Maddux walk will be on of the worst decisions of his tenure as the Texas Rangers general manager. Mike Maddux is a fantastic pitching coach, not was, and now the Nationals are seeing the results of it instead of the Rangers.

Is Mike Maddux the key? We will never know, but I really would have liked the chance to find out if he would make the difference for this years Texas Rangers team. May I remind you that both Nick Martinez and Chi Chi Gonzalez were decent major league pitchers under Maddux? Just food for thought today.