Bad Vlad a Ranger...Praise the Lord!

The Rangers have announced today they have come to terms with Vladimir Guerrero for the upcoming 2010 season.

Praise the Lord, and pass the potatoes.

Guerrero, who is coming back from an injury-plagued 2009, should provide protection and a big bat in the middle of the order and is projected to play DH. Despite two trips to the disabled list, he still hit .295 with 15 home runs and 50 RBI last year.

Bad Vlad, who is 34, has been in the majors since 1996 when he broke in with the Montreal Expos. 

Since then, he has accumulated Hall of Fame numbers, pounding out 407 home runs, 1,318 RBI, and sporting a stellar .321 batting average. 

If he can come back from the injuries of last year, which represent the first time he has spent significant time on the DL in his career, he will be a steal for the Rangers. 

With 2,249 hits over his career, he should also break the 3,000 hit mark in a few seasons, and will be a lock for the Hall of Fame barring a major career-ending injury.

But that is not the real good news for Rangers fans. The good news is they don't have to face Bad Vlad anymore. Because for the Rangers, he was indeed very, very bad.

Guerrero batted .396 with 24 home runs and 68 RBI vs. the Rangers. As such, he was personally responsible for two to four Angel victories over Texas on an annual basis. 

So the Rangers, utilizing the old ethos of "if you can't beat em', join em,'" have eliminated a major headache amongst a division rival by obtaining his services.

The Angels now have lost Lackey, Guerrero, and speedster Chone Figgins and may be vulnerable for 2010. 

For the Rangers, maybe now it can be Glad Vlad.