July 19 - The Thursday Lineup Card: The Curse of Einar Diaz

curse (n.)- 1. An appeal to a supernatural power for evil or injury to befall someone or something...3. Someone or something accursed (The American Heritage Dictionary)

I'm counting on Jon Daniels to expiate the Curse of Einar Diaz.

This is the week that was:  19 year old LHP Kasey Kiker channeled Bob Gibson this week in Low A Clinton.  Kiker (3.00 ERA, 48 IP, 21 BB, 63 K) buzzed Dayton's Denis Phipps with an inside pitch Monday night - Kasey was promptly tossed from the game.  What did Denis do?  The night before he stood and admired a home run that barely cleared the fences.  Good for you Kasey, you own the inside of the plate and you've got your teammate's back. 

Out in Bakersfield, 3B Chris Davis (.309 BA/ .352 OBP /.586 SLG) invoked the spirit of Joe DiMaggio as his 35 game hitting streak ended - but he did tie the record for the longest streak in Cal League history. 

OKC Redhawk OF Jason Botts (.319 BA/ .436 OBP/ .554 SLG) suffered the misfortune of a fracture and cut on the tip of his right ring finger that landed him on the DL. But that's not nearly as bad a fate as his look alike, actor Jeff Daniels, suffered when his made the unfortunate choice to star in the truly awful "My Favorite Martian" movie in 1999.

This is the week that will be:  Baseball Mom, our friend Mrs. Schmenge and I are  headed to Round Rock for some shopping, some baseball and some dinner at the historic Stagecoach Inn in Salado.  Robert E. Lee, Sam Houston as well as Frank and Jesse James all stayed and ate at the Stagecoach which has been in operation since 1861. http://www.staystagecoach.com/golf/proto/stagecoach/

The talk shows, internet forums and blogs will kick into full speculation and rumor mode as the non-waiver trade deadline nears, which brings us to the title of today's entry.

The Curse of Einar Diaz:  When you think of it, Diaz has been directly involved or a  tangential part of most of the ignominious transactions in the Rangers recent history. (Can you tell I still have the dictionary open on my desk?)

The link starts with one of the saddest moments in franchise history - the incredibly unwise decision by Tom Hicks and John Hart to not re-sign Pudge Rodriguez.   Aside from being absolutely unforgiveable, it left the team with a need for a starting catcher.

The next link in the curse:  yet another unwise decision by John Hart - who saw only 62 major league AB's by Travis Hafner,  based his evaluation  on that limited sample and traded him to Cleveland for the guy who "plays with his hair on fire" Einar Diaz. Do I need to recap Hafner's career since joining the Tribe? Do I have to remind you of the succession of failed DH's that have followed his departure?  Do I have to recount Diaz's abysmal stint with the Rangers?

Another link in the curse - Diaz was traded to Montreal for Chris Young and Josh McKinley.  Not necessary to regurgitate the disastrous trade that sent Chris Young to San Diego.

The final link:  Aki Otsuka, the small bit of salvation from that San Diego trade debacle is now the subject of trade rumors - and not surprisingly touched by the curse as he winds up on the DL.

Some say that curses don't exist,  that a series of coincidences, or the failure to achieve a goal have nothing to do with cosmic forces or the supernatural - to which I reply - go ahead, try to tell that to a Cubs fan.

Are the Rangers cursed?  Possibly. But the reality is more likely that their recent travails have more to do with poor decision making driven by a meddling owner listening to a manipulative agent and his prize client, a manager who tried to be a  GM from the dugout and just plain bad luck.

We've got our rabbit's foot, our four-leaf clovers and a little salt tossed over our shoulder counting on Jon Daniels to do his best, and that with patience, a little luck, not to mention some better player evaluation - the Curse of Einar Diaz can be broken. 

"Every blessing ignored, becomes a curse" -- Marla Hooch