Rangers rotation for '10

[orangecat]

I didn't watch the game today, but it appears that McCarthy had another remarkable performance. So, the Rangers have a nice problem to have: too many potential starters for next season.

This nice problem, combined with the fact that virtually none of these guys have pitched a full season without missing starts, leads me to the conclusion that the Rangers should start the year with a six man rotation. Check it out, in no particular order:

McCarthy
Holland
Hunter
Millwood
Feldman
Feliz

I'm thinking it's a no-brainer that Feliz is starting. He's proven he can pitch in the big leagues. If he really is as good as he has shown during most of his time in the majors, the spot he will do the most good is starting. He has an opportunity to impact far more innings as a starter than as a reliever.

Since you give each pitcher the benefit of an extra day of rest, the expectation is there to not only enter the 7th on each start, but actually come close to finishing the 7th every time out.

Also, you tell these guys up front, whoever falters on a fairly consistent basis will go to long relief, then you fall back into a five man rotation. Thus providing the incentive to stay in great shape.

 

[HornHuskerDad]

Matt Harrison??? Eric Hurley???? Both coming off the 60-day DL.

HHD

 

[orangecat]

good question, I was trying to include guys who had started this year, who were looking good. (and Feliz who needs to start). Rangers still need help with bullpen, so these other two guys could be in the pen. Nippert in the pen also

Everybody won't come back healthy, but if they did, wow, just compare this potential list to the one we had in training!

 

[OUEngineer]

I am really excited to have so many options. Haven't had that in .. well ... I'm not even sure we've ever had so many options before.

Feliz scares me a little. I know he's been a starter up until this year, but he strikes me as the kind of guy who's better in short bursts. I'm probably in the minority, but I'm guessing everyone was gung-ho about Joba as a starter, too, and that has remained a work-in-progress. Both have amazing stuff, but Joba hasn't been able to put it all together. He's young, though, and the Yanks are committed to bringing him along. It might click for Feliz earlier.

We'll see, but this is a 'problem' I like having.

 

[busterbrown16]

Feliz is a closer in waiting. He will stay in the stopper role. I am not sure we will see CJ Wilson and/or Frankie back, so Felix could get the 8th inning spot or even be thrust into the closer role next year.

The uncertainty with the ownership will cause a lot of issues this offseason. It needs to get worked out fast so the Rangers can make some moves and sign some people earlier rather than later. Unfortunately, with the way things work in the MLB, it may be March before anything is worked out and that is too late (MLB is saying right now they want it resolved before the end of the year).

Also, watch out for Feldman and his arbitration case. His salary could spike quite a bit after the year he has had. The Rangers team as of late does not like paying that much for anyone, let alone a pitcher with one good year under his belt.

One positive is that Hamilton's injuries should really hurt his arbitration case so they will not have to pay as much for him.

 

[orangecat]

wow! you're saying there is a possiblity they would not even bring Feldman back after winning 17-18 games?! That's pretty hard for even a casual fan like me to stomach. If they really are that close to bankrupt, they should have put MIllwood down, and not even let him come close to that $12 million.

To me, that's just really inconsistent, to let Millwood get his, and not pay Feldman, if he goes to arbitration.

 

[busterbrown16]

I don't have any inside information (obviously), but it is something to consider. With the way the Rangers have pinched their pennies over the past few years, when these guys that had good years come up for arbitration, you have to either put up or shut up.

And they could not have shut Millwood down because the players union would have gone ballistic if the Rangers shut down a perfectly healthy pitcher so he would not reach his performance bonus. If they did that, they would have to pay him the $12 million for next season plus his fees and expenses for pursuing the Rangers for making such a move.

I am just saying with players like Hamilton, Feldman, Wilson, and Francisco all up for arbitration and uncertainty with the ownership, it could be a blood bath. I hope I am wrong because it is nice to see the Rangers competitive again.