Good luck Rangers

A so called "new and improved" Sidney Ponson signed with the Texas Rangers today. The rumors are that he has stopped drinking, lost weight and picked up some mph's. He obviously had enough time to work on all that last year. After the Twins let him go early in the season, I'm assuming he did some thinking and decided he didn't want to be known as a fat drunk pitcher who sported a curly mullet a few years too late.

Ponson threw just 37 2/3 innings last year with Minnesota. He went 2-5 with a 6.93 ERA and was released in early May.

I don't blame him, I wouldn't want that to be my stigma either.

Weighing about 20 pounds less than when the Cardinals released him 20 months earlier, Ponson exhibited a 93-94 mph fastball, a slider that touched 88 and a changeup that hit 84. An animal with bite replaced the rolling curveball seen two years ago.

That has to be promising for the Rangers. I'm just glad we don't have that old guy that Terry Ryan is giving a chance this year.

Ponson Works out for scouts.