I'm Slammin' Sammy, And You Should Too

Why?

Why is Sammy Sosa trying to make a comeback?

Why?

And why do the Texas Rangers think he can do it? Lest we forget, this team was wrong about his talent in 1989 when they traded him (along with Wilson Alvarez and Scott Fletcher) to the Chicago White Sox for Harold Baines and Fred Manrique. Now, 587 home runs and 18 years later, it's come full-circle and the Rangers are going to wrong about his talent again.

Did they not watch him limp to the finish line of a spectacular, if not controversial career, filled with steroid allegations, a corked bat gaffe, and plenty of miffed Cubs fans, coaches and teammates? Did they not watch his home run totals plummet and strikeout totals skyrocket in the orange and black of Baltimore? Is this organization that bereft of viable DH options that they think a guy who hasn't seen a big league pitch since 2005 can somehow turn back the clock and regain the strike-zone judgment that eluded him in his last few years?

They couldn't have.

The truth is, Sammy was always a big strikeout guy. Even in his MVP season of 1998 where he went yard 66 times, he still wiffed 171 times, and walked just 73 times. But in the years that followed, his walk totals went up (to 78, then 91, then 116, then down to 103), and his punch-out total went down, slowly (it actually stayed at 171, then dipped to 168, 153, and 144).

Then something happened in 2003. His production dropped off across the board. He had nagging injuries, and lost all plate discipline. That year he only drew 62 base on balls, his lowest total in 6 seasons. Yes, 2003 marked the beginning of the end of Sammy Sosa, Superstar. It was the last time he'd hit 40 home runs, the last time he'd hit above .260, the last time he'd come close to 100 runs scored, or driven in.

In the two years that followed, his decline turned exponential. His 35 bombs in 2004 came with a .253 average, just 80 RBI, 56 walks, and 133 strikeouts. Sammy Sosa had become Steve Balboni (who hit .243 with 36 homers, 88 RBI, 52 walks and 166 strikeouts for the 1985 Kansas City Royals). Unfortunately, nobody told the Baltimore Orioles, who sent him up to the plate 419 times in 2005. He reached base just 123 times, touched all four bases 39 times, and touched all four with one swing just 14 times...his lowest total since his days with the White Sox, a decade and a half before.

Even new Rangers skipper Ron Washington (the Oakland A's former third base and infield coach) sounds skeptical of Sammy Sosa, Texas Ranger. Personally, I think he'd rather have Walker, Texas Ranger.

"All he wants is an opportunity, and the Texas Rangers organization decided we want to give him that opportunity," Washington was quoted as saying.

That sounds like a guy who's ready to pencil in #21 for 500 at-bats this season.

My prediction? Sosa hits as many home runs for Texas this season as he did when they had him the first time...one.