Let this soak in real quick: Ryan Dempster had allowed six runs once this season as a member of the Chicago Cubs, where he had posted a season ERA of 2.25 before being moved to the Texas Rangers at the July 31 trade deadline.
That was his low point, and it wasn't really even close. But that was the National League.
Welcome to the AL, pal. Dempster has made three starts for the Rangers now — against the Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. Aside from the Rangers, those are probably the three lineups in the league you don't want to face.
He was great against the Red Sox in Fenway, but against the Angels he allowed eight runs, and he duplicated that feat on Monday when he gave up eight earned runs to the Yankees in the ridiculous launching pad that is Yankee Stadium, with half of that damage coming on a third-inning grand slam off the bat of Nick Swisher.
He now has a 1-1 record with an 8.31 ERA in his three starts for the Rangers.
“Too much is made of that,” Dempster said of the transition from the NL to the AL. “I know how to make pitches. It just comes down to executing. And tonight, I paid for my mistakes.”
Now, to be fair, his three starts have come against some titans in the game, but that's the way American League baseball is.
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Dempster is either going to have to get used to the change of game (no pitcher at the plate every nine batters with an easy out) or he's going to be a massive failure of an acquisition. Just be thankful the Rangers didn't give up much of anything for the renta-player.
