Dave Bush signs minor league deal with Rangers

[trwi7]

It's the opposite of what normally happens.

[ttsather]

I think of it as a "Reverse Melvin."

[Invader3K]

I'm really surprised someone wouldn't give him a one year MLB deal. It's not like he's a horrible pitcher or something.

[Funketown]

I'm a bit surprised as well that he couldn't fine a 1 year 1.5 million deal. He'd obviously have little value to the Brewers on a major league deal, but you've got to think somebody could have used him as a 5th/6th starter, no?

[MNBrew]

Good move for Bush since this gives him a chance to work under Maddux's tutelage again. I wonder if that'll help him become someone whose performance can once again justifiably be looked at as half-full rather than half-empty.

 

I also wonder if other MLB teams were in serious pursuit, but Bush picked Texas because of Maddux.

[Ennder]

That ballpark is a pretty horrible match for Bush. Surprised a team like the Mets or Padres didn't sign him or heck even the Giants instead of taking Suppan, pretty much any pitcher can succeed in those ballparks as long as they can keep their walks down.

[Fear The Chorizo]

I was thinking the same thing about that ballpark - not a good place for a flyball pitcher who tends to give up home runs in bunches to pitch 1/2 his innings.

[JohnBriggs12]

That ballpark is a pretty horrible match for Bush. Surprised a team like the Mets or Padres didn't sign him or heck even the Giants instead of taking Suppan, pretty much any pitcher can succeed in those ballparks as long as they can keep their walks down.

He's more likely to start the season in Round Rock (Rangers new AAA affiliate) than his is in Arlington anyway, so why not go where the major league pitching coach knows you well and would recommend you when an opening arises?. Generally speaking when Bush is on, he's fine, and when he starts giving up HR, they go out of any park. Besides if he does end up starting some games for Texas, I think he figures to get plenty of run support.

[crewcrazy]

Bush has an out clause in his contract -- if he's not going to make the 25-man roster out of spring training, he can opt for free agency.

 

It sounds like he's insurance just in case Brandon Webb isn't ready, which is entirely possible.

[GAME05]

i always liked Bush. he usually has great peripherals, but just has those lapses in concentration. i wonder maybe if he had a veteran SP to mentor him that he could very well turn out to be a decent pitcher in the Majors. i don't disagree with Milwaukee cutting him loose, but i sure hope he catches on with the Rangers or somewhere else and ends up playing for a lot more years.

[monty57]

I think Bush is better than a lot of #5 starters out there, so I'm surprised he didn't get a major league offer. Bush gave his all for the Brewers and a lot of his bad numbers came from pitching when his arm had to hurt pretty bad from getting drilled with a line drive. I certainly hope he's able to pitch in the majors in 2011, as I believe he deserves it.

[And That]

OT, but I think it's funny that there's a baseball reporter with the last name Andro. Wonder if he did any reporting on McGwire?

[rluzinski]

I don't think it has ANYTHING to do with lapses in concentration. He's a flyball pitcher who had an 86.5 MPH fastball last year. That's down 2.5 MPH over the last few years:

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/...635&position=P#pitchtype

 

That isn't going to cut it for 99.9% of non-knuckleball pitchers.