I don't like to go off in a negative way on professional or collegiate players, because it's often unfair since the entire truth is hardly ever known. In this case however, I've ridden a certain guy for a couple years now, and I'm more than happy to jump on crybaby Phil Nevin one more time.

This joker blamed Petco Park in San Diego for just about all of his offensive failings during the 2004 & 2005 seasons as a member of the Padres. Constant temper tantrums when his fly balls turned into outs instead of home runs signified Nevin's playing days in Petco. He'd go ballistic, occasionally, on the base paths when he saw one of his fly balls not clear the fence. There was one particular instance I recall after Nevin hit a double off the wall. So enraged that he didn't get a home run, he threw his batting helmet across the field and argued with manager Bruce Bochy. His actions were perfectly consistent with that of a egostistical primadonna, and his antics grew old. I, for one, couldn't stand to watch this guy play, and the Padres, in a wise management move, shipped the overrated Nevin to Texas for Chan Ho Park. Arlington, Texas, wow!

This bandbox ought to be an easy place for Nevin to prove to everyone that he's a legitimate and productive major-league power hitter. Well, if he was those things, it would've been easy to prove, but unfortunately for Nevin, all he has proven in less than a full year is that he's no longer even good enough to have a spot in the Rangers lineup. Pretty much benched by manager Buck Showalter a couple days ago, I'm glad to see that it wasn't Petco Park which was holding this guy back from putting together clean-up hitter type numbers.

Since he's come to Texas, here's exactly what Nevin hass done: 71 games played, 258 at-bats, a .209 batting average, a .289 on-base percentage, 10 home runs, 35 RBI and a .376 slugging percentages. Not exactly what every American League team is looking for out of their No. 4 hitter. The Texas Rangers fans are fed up with the guy, and it's come to the point where Showalter has said he needs to keep Mark DeRosa in the lineup, and the Rangers have called up minor leaguer Jason Botts to be their designated hitter. Word has it that Nevin's at-bats will continue to dwindle as Texas is likely to also bring second baseman Ian Kinsler up from Class AAA this week.

With DeRosa, Botts and Kinsler now ahead of Nevin in the starting lineups, he's no more than a once-a-week DH and occasional pinch hitter. I'm glad to see it wasn't Petco Park which was holding this whiner back from putting up major- league numbers the last three years.