OPINION

By Gerry Fraley

updated 9:53 p.m. ET June 25, 2008

The Texas Rangers still cannot escape the reminders that John Hart's four-year stay as general manager was a mind-bending disaster.

The latest sign: A pitcher Hart tossed away could become one of the few to make All-Star teams as a starter and a reliever.

Oakland A's right-hander Justin Duchscherer has pushed his way into consideration for the American League All-Star team. Duchscherer rides a four-game winning streak and is 8-4 with a 1.99 ERA overall heading into Saturday's compelling matchup against San Francisco Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum.

This is Duchscherer's first season as a full-time starter in the majors. He relies on the same combination of "cut" fastball and curveball that made him a quality middle reliever with Oakland from 2004-07, with an All-Star selection in 2005.

Since the move to divisional play in 1969, only six pitchers have made All-Star teams as a starter and as a reliever. Two are Hall of Famers: Dennis Eckersley and Goose Gossage. Another should make it to Cooperstown: John Smoltz.

The others on the list — Derek Lowe, Jeff Russell and Bob Stanley — are having or had quality careers. Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm had seven All-Star selections as a reliever, the last with the National League in 1970. He made the two AL teams of 1959 as a starter.

"It's too early to talk about it," Duchscherer told reporters. "I do remember going into the season thinking that it would be really cool (to play in the '08 All-Star Game) because it's the last year of Yankee Stadium, but I'm really more concerned with doing my job. I'm glad I'm healthy and pitching every five days."

Duchscherer was among the first players discarded when Hart took over the Rangers before the 2002 season. Hart said Duchscherer did not throw hard enough and was traded to Oakland for righthander Luis Vizcaino.

At least the Rangers got a serviceable reliever out of the deal.

OK, not really. Vizcaino spent five days with the Rangers before being traded to Milwaukee for lefthander Jesus Pena, who quickly vanished. Vizcaino has found success elsewhere but not on Duchscherer's level.

And the Rangers continue to clean up Hart's mess.

Duchscherer belongs to a group of ex-Rangers pitchers who have found success elsewhere. A rotation of Duchscherer, left-hander John Danks of the Chicago White Sox and right-handers Edinson Volquez of Cincinnati, Armando Galarraga of Detroit and Chris Young of San Diego would be a significant upgrade. All were jettisoned by the Rangers, who do have injured right-hander Brandon McCarthy and slugging center fielder Josh Hamilton to show for the trades.

Though current Rangers GM Jon Daniels traded Danks, Volquez, Galaragga and Young, Hart was involved in those decisions in his current role as senior advisor to the general manager. Hart also takes the blame for dubious free-agent pitching signings such as Chan Ho Park, Jay Powell and Todd Van Poppel that figured in the Rangers losing their second- through fifth-round picks in the 2002 draft. That created a yawning talent gap in the system.

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