subject: Texas' entire pitching outlook hinges on Feliz [print this page] Texas' entire pitching outlook hinges on Feliz
The Rangers held another summit meeting to discuss their pitching staff on Sunday. Neftali Feliz was high on the agenda.
There is almost nothing else to discuss. Feliz remains the fulcrum around which all other pitching decisions revolve. Until the Rangers figure whether Feliz will start or remain the closer, other issues will go unresolved. That one big decision hasn't been made yet.where to buy cheap MLB Jerseys?ujersy is a good choice.
"We talked about a lot of things, but obviously his role on the club influences more than one guy and how the other dominoes fall," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said after the meeting. "As a group, we know he's capable of starting and we know he will excel at the back end of the bullpen. It's what's best for the team. We're still working through that."
There is little question that if the Rangers go strictly by immediate need, Feliz will remain as a closer and Alexi Ogando will remain as the right-handed setup reliever. That's where they are needed most right now. Feliz said his goal is to be a starter but will understand if the Rangers decide otherwise.
It might be different if others were pitching well. They are not. Right-hander Mark Lowe has a 14.14 ERA and Darren O'Day is at 10.29, and both have the Rangers concerned. That reinforces the Rangers' need to keep both Feliz and Ogando in the bullpen.
"It's all part of the same discussion," Daniels said. "We can't make a decision on Neftali in a vacuum."
Ogando has been talked about as the closer even though he has never done that job before. "He's a strike-thrower and has good stuff," Daniels said. "Until you see somebody in that role, you just don't know."
It also might be different if the Rangers could acquire a front-line reliever by trade. Daniels acknowledged that he has investigated the possibility but doesn't expect that to happen.
"We've had some conversations," Daniels said. "This is the time of the year where you talk to teams in general. But if you look at transactions over the past decade, how many dominant players get traded in Spring Training? We're approaching this as the group we have is the group we're going to break with. recommend directory: KALINE #6 Detroit Tigers Mitchell and Ness White MLB Jersey.
"That's not a bad thing. We like our club. We like our club a lot."
Feliz's next start is scheduled for Thursday night against the Padres. He will make that start and with the aim of throwing 90 pitches over six innings. After that, the Rangers will likely make a decision.
The other part of the equation is how other rotation candidates pitch over the next week. Tommy Hunter pitched in a Triple-A game on Saturday and allowed one run in five innings. He gave up seven hits, no walks and struck out one.
Hunter was a 13-game winner last year and has the inside track for the third spot in the rotation. The Rangers just haven't announced it yet.
They would like to see two left-handers -- Derek Holland, Matt Harrison or Michael Kirkman -- seize the final two spots. Right-hander Brandon Webb is not close. He will pitch another live batting practice session on Monday and likely won't be ready until May. David Bush, another right-hander, is in camp, but the young left-handers have the best chance if they can seize it.
If so, Feliz will remain as closer.
"It's going to come together here pretty soon," manager Ron Washington said.
If Feliz does close this year, he would do so all season but could still end up being a starter at some point in the next few years. There does seem to be an air of inevitability about Feliz moving to the rotation, right now just doesn't seem to be the right time.
"We're not going to close the door," Daniels said. "If he doesn't start in April 2011, that doesn't preclude him from starting in the future. You can look at C.J. Wilson and other guys who became starters late in their careers."
Kenny Rogers was another example. He was a reliever in 1989-90 before being given a chance to start in 1991. That lasted just nine starts before he was sent back to the bullpen with a record of 4-4 and a 7.53 ERA. He stayed in the bullpen in 1992 before being given another chance in 1993. He won 16 games that season and remained a starter to the end of his career.
The Rangers would prefer Feliz not to bounce back and forth. If he goes into the rotation, they want him to stay there.
"If Feliz is in our rotation, it's not an audition, it's a commitment," Washington said. "If he's a starter, we'll roll with it. If we stay in-house with him in the rotation, we'll make it work. Whichever way we go, we'll make it work."
It is the talk of the camp and the biggest decision facing the Rangers. Other decisions rest on it. Expect more meetings before this one is finalized. recommend directory: ORDONEZ #30 Detroit Tigers White MLB Jersey.
