The irony of columnist Jenn Floyd-Engel and Brandon McCarthy facing off in a Twitter fight about the Texas Rangers is that neither has a connection with the organization.
Anyway, it started, I think, when Floyd-Engel took a cheap shot at McCarthy's expense:
"Looking at tall and skinny Fister reminds me of Brandon McCarthy, except well Fister can actually pitch. #jondanksenvy"
And then:
"Two final things. Yes McCarthy was better which is like being the tallest midget. And injury is coming, almost guarantee it."
Now, Floyd-Engel has a reputation ... to protect. She's known for her hot sports opinions. She got a national writing gig because of it. And because she's a woman (it sure as hell didn't hurt).
She also has to know that McCarthy is an avid Twitterer. Everybody in sports knows it. In fact, if there were a ranking of the best athlete Twitterers, McCarthy's top 10. He's funny, self-deprecating, provides insight and more. I know that the big-time baseball writers love him for it.
So, unless Floyd-Engel's the biggest idiot in the world, she knew that it would get back to McCarthy. Let's face it: She wasn't going to go after Jack McKeon or, perhaps, Alexi Ogando or any other person to whom Twitter would be a foreign concept.
McCarthy responded:
"@engeljen So Michael Young was a 'bad' player until last season? Felix is a 'bad' pitcher? Not comparing myself to them, just pointing...""@engeljen out that using playoffs as the decider on player ability is patently absurd and I'm pretty sure you know that."
"@engeljen which is what bugs me. You're cherry picking your arguments and then crawfishing out of them with 'he'll get hurt'."
"@engeljen I'm not mad at this on a personal level. I'm mad that you can't defend your statements well enough to justify making them."
Floyd-Engel has not responded to McCarthy's (somewhat confusing) Tweets.
I think one fact should be put to rest: McCarthy did stink as a Texas Ranger and that was mostly due to two factors. One, he was perpetually hurt. Two, our perspective of McCarthy would always have to start with John Danks, the guy the Rangers traded to the Chicago White Sox for McCarthy. Danks has been good. McCarthy's been hurt.
What I found repulsive about Floyd-Engel's comments is that McCarthy wasn't making a money grab. He didn't get a big contract and simply quit playing or didn't care. He wasn't Vicente Padilla or Kevin Millwood.
McCarthy had everything to gain in Texas. He was young, he was, at the time, one of the best Major League-ready starters on the club and he had an opportunity to lead this team into a new direction.
It's not that McCarthy didn't try. It's not that he didn't care. He had more to gain than the Rangers. It hurt his value, it hurt his ability to play the game that he loves. He was a free agent last year and it was eaten up with injuries. He needed last season in order to prove himself valuable to the Rangers or another team. He wasn't able to do that.
Instead, he took a very low deal to go to Oakland where he's done well.
Floyd-Engel's comments were just mean. They were meant to get the Twitter and blog world in a tizzy in order to drive up her follower count and readership at FOX Sports.
If she wanted to take aim at a guy that hurt the Texas Rangers, start with John Hart, hit Tom Hicks and wind your way to Alex Rodriguez or Mark Teixeira. Those guys cared more for golf and money than winning baseball games. Those are the real culprits.
As McCarthy Tweeted later:
"@Kaustin24 hell I was more frustrated than anybody."
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