When you have to go to fielding to make your case for a pitcher, you might want to rethink the case.

Besides, if any pitcher holds the ridiculous title of 'best field pitcher of a generation", it's Greg Maddux, not Rogers.

Rogers certainly isn't as great as recent media is making him out to be, but he's also been a better pitcher than casual fans and many saber-minded fans care to admit. He's had a better career than many modern pitchers who received a greatl deal more press.

Since when did the Mets make it to the '99 World Series? Rogers flamed out in the NLCS against Atlanta. Game 6 he walked in the winning run. He wasn't even on the Mets when they made it to the WS the next year.

It's from Dallas...they're trying to get Rogers back in a Rangers uni, now that they see he can pitch in the post season. That's why he's saying that stuff. Kenny's pitched great this october, but, it's only once. 1 out of 3 post seasons.

Rogers is an interesting case for the sabermetricians. He's never been a huge name, and he's probably best known for disappointment in his two Yankee seasons and for shoving a cameraman. Neither of these lowlights of his career endeared him to the media.

But he's been a consistently above average pitcher. His career ERA of 4.19 looks high, but that's because he pitched in a high-offense era. The combined park-adjusted league ERA for his career has been 4.60 (he's pitched almost all his games in the DH league).

So adjusting for park effects - Ameriquest hurt him, Comerica helped him, etc. - baseball-reference.com figures he's been 10% better in ERA than a league-average pitcher over his career. In only three of his eighteen seasons has he been worse than league average. His last two seasons have been among his best, at thirty and eighteen percent better than league average.

That's not spectacular but it's certainly serviceable. You fill your staff with pitchers who are ten percent better than league average year after year, and you've got a chance to contend year after year if your offense is halfway decent.

Decided to check a few more lefties on the baseball-reference.com database. Tom Glavine's probably going to the HOF, and he rates 20% better than league average for his career. Randy Johnson is definitely going to the Hall, and he comes in 38% better.

Looking at a few young'uns, Sabathia is 11% better, Zito 27% and Santana 44%. And if I had to guess, I'd say their HOF chances are slim, decent, and real good, respectively. All that could change with their next pitch, of course.

Rogers won't get a plaque, but he has definitely put together a career that's better than "okay".

Devon, trust me, Dallas isn't in any hurry to get Kenny Rogers back...We value our cameramen too much!

First: the idea that Kenny Rogers is one of "baseball's elite lefties...ever" is absurd.

He does have a change to go down as one of the 5-10 greatest OLD lefties. He's won 93 games since turning 35. Glavine's won 82 (though he's a year younger).

Here's a short list of lefties after they turned 35:

Spahn - 183
Plank - 124
Carlton - 102
Grove - 97
Rogers - 93
Glavine - 82

I'm sure there's a name or two I've forgotten.

Oh wow...I plum forgot Dave Wells - 124 wins after turning 35.

For those of you who like JAWS (JAffe WARP Score), Rogers is ranked #52 all-time among pitchers (starters and relievers). JAWS balances peak and career WARP3 figures. For context purposes (I forget the exact number) I think Saberhagen is #55, and Chuck Finley is #47 or #48.