ranger pitching

H

hookem1962

250+ Posts
may well cost us this season...again.
brickwall.gif
 
Well that's pretty bad statement considering that we have the second best ERA in the AL. That being said, I have noticed a disturbing pattern in the past week. It appears that our starters are just having to labor through the 5th inning and are being brought back for the 6th where they are just not effective. Hunter, Feldman and Millwood all went through this. To a lesser extent, Holland made it through but had to battle and use a ton of pitches to get there. I just wonder if the Ryan/Maddux plan to eat up innings with starters is starting to wear the rotation down in the August heat. If so, then Wash needs to adjust and be ready to go to the pen to start the 6th if the 5th was a difficult inning for the starter.
 
I've seen this before. Starters get in trouble early. Relievers get overexposed and you need 6-10 runs to win a game. I think part of the problem is the disciplined approach the Twins bring to the plate. They are tough and determined to work the count.
 
I think Wash waited too long to pull both Feldman and Milwood. I'm wondering if we are seeing the effects of our pitchers throwing deeper into games than they had been accustomed to in past seasons. Of course, sometimes I think Wash pulls pitchers too early or plays the statistics too much. I guess this is why I am not a manager.

I also am getting worried about our middle relievers specifically Jennings and Mathis. They just have seemed to struggle as of late throwing strikes.

All in all, I am ecstatic about this team and its future. I think the Rangers have a chance to field one of the best teams in its history in the next season or two. From top to bottom they will be loaded, young, and have an affordable payroll for the foreseeable future.
 
Milwood is good for 100 pitches. Every pitch over 100 is a crapshoot at best. Maybe Wash will figure that out about the time Milwood retires.
mad.gif
 
Well, it could be worse. The Rangers did not give up 20 runs on 23 hits like their competition for the wild card.
eek.gif
 
Believe me, I have made that claim early in the season many times in the past with justification... but not this season. Wash should have pulled Millwood the other night but that is not Mill's fault. This is a good pitching staff, not great but good. I am still confident in them and making a serious run toward the wild card spot.
 
Horrible post. Rangers would be looking up at Seattle in the standings if it were not for their outstanding pitching this season.
 
Scooter with the best start of his career Sunday. 11K's in 7IP.

But I agree with the general idea on this thread. It seems a few guys have hit a wall, and have done so at the worst time. We'll see what happens going forward. I'm hopeful Millwood doesn't completely fall apart, but dude has looked fatigued the last few outings. Hunter is battling, but not faring as well, either. Holland continues to shine and Feldman is still solid, as we saw yesterday. Nippert is an unknown. Can he become consistent? I'm not sure.

The bullpen is solid, but the last few weeks have been shaky. O'Day, Wilson, Jennings, Grilli and Fransisco have all blown it at times.

At best, this is indicative of the normal ebb and flow that a pitching staff goes through. At worst, we slowly fade out of the playoff picture this year. Even if that happens, no Ranger fan can be too disappointed with this season. What a breath of fresh air this team has become! Looking forward to the future with actual playoff-contending teams for years to come (assuming the club doesn't go belly-up).
 
OUE, you're right - we could split hairs about a game or two either way. But I think the important points are these - (a) a record somewhere near .500 would be considered a success, (b) finish out of the cellar in the AL West, (c) don't deal away young talent for a quick fix, and (d) develop the young players so they can be ready to be competitive by 2010 or 2011.

The current team has exceeded all of the above this year. None of us could have foreseen the team being this good in 2009. So on balance, the season has to be considered a success, even if they fall short of the Wild Card.

HHD
hookem.gif
texasflag.gif
coolnana.gif
ousucksnana.gif
 
HHD and OUE., I could not agree more. In fact, this year has been such a pleasant surprise and such fun to watch that I'm not even about to jump out of my skin in anticipation of football season starting. Usually by this time, the Rangers have thrown in the towel and are just going through the motions to complete the season, and I am chomping at the bit for football. But not this year -- what a great ride it's been!

texasflag.gif
Rangers -- Built for Fun!
 
Had it all the way! What's anyone worried about? That call at the end wasn't even close.
eek.gif


Woohoo!!!!!!!! Eat it Yankee fans!!!!
yippee.gif
smokin.gif
 
We simply cannot afford these 9th-inning meltdowns by the bullpen, especially this late in the season and in the middle of a pennant race. CJ's done it, Frankie's done it, and even my darling O'Day has done it (although not as often as the others).

Reliability by the bullpen is a MUST if we are going to go anywhere in the post-season, IF we even make it. Championship teams don't have frequent late-inning bullpen meltdowns.
 
Over-managing by wash again. Should've just left oday in the game to finish it off and save wilson and frankie if we need them for the next two nights. Grilli should not see the field again unless we're down by 16 runs. Jennings has sucked as of late as well. Thankfully we have feliz to bridge us to the 8th if our starters can't make it through the 5th or 6th innings but he can't go every night having to throw more than 1 inning.
 
Whew... a 10-9 nailbiter. the yanks usually get the best of other teams in games like this - especially the Rangers, but not tonight for a change. Ranger bullpen better get their act together. the kind of meltdown we saw tonight will doom this teams run toward the wildcard spot.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Weekly Prediction Contest

* Predict HORNS-AGGIES *
Sat, Nov 30 • 6:30 PM on ABC

Recent Threads

Prediction Results Threads

2024 Schedules

Back
Top