This is the first ever RangerFanDieter steps to success blog, which I am writing to suggest my opinion on how the Texas Rangers can return to the World Series next season. I would love for them to read it, but I seriously doubt that they check the blogosphere to see what fan’s opinion of the Texas Rangers are. If they actually do, then I would also like to see if I can work for the Rangers. Just saying!
Anyways, now that Cliff Lee is a member of the Philadelphia Phillies, and the shock of that has worn off a bit, I would like to look at how I think the Rangers should proceed the rest of this off season. I hope that you enjoy and are entertained by it.
The Rangers won the AL West very handily last season (2010). Cliff Lee did not really play a part in that, other than giving more confidence to the rest of the team. Here is what we here at RangerFanDieter think the Rangers should do about pitching to begin the 2011 season.
1. C.J. Wilson should be the no. 1 starter on opening day against Boston. He earned it, and barring some terrible spring training, he deserves it after the season and post season that he had.
2. Colby Lewis should be the no. 2 starter. He was the pitcher of the post season in my opinion, and I think that he will make a good no. 2 starter. He has shown that he can now pitch well in the States, and he has shown that he can last the entire season. He should have won a lot more games than he did, if you remember right, he lost a bunch of games where his team only scored 2 or less runs for him.
3. Tommy Hunter should be the no. 3 starter. He had a good regular season, and he was lights out at home this season, winning most of his games in Arlington. He needs to work on his away game for sure, but I would be comfortable with Hunter being the no. 3 guy to begin the 2011 campaign.
4. Derek Holland needs to prove that he is the guy that the Texas Rangers thought he was when they called him up in 2009, and he needs to stay healthy. He was very good out of the pen in the post season, and he can be good as a starter, if he can just maintain some consistency. He has had several really good starts, and several bad starts. Weed out the really bad starts, and he can be a great young arm for the Rangers.
5. Here is where the decision is to be made. The Rangers have several options here, including trading for a big name, which would move everyone on the list down one spot, or, as I believe they should do, take from within. Here are my 4 choices for the no. 5 starter for the Texas Rangers to begin the 2011 season
a. Matt Harrison as is with Derek Holland needs to show that he can stay healthy and that he can be consistent. He has had some great starts, and he has had some bad starts. Show your best side, and you could win a spot in the rotation.
b. Alexi Ogando was real good out of the bullpen last season, and I think he should be given a chance to start in spring training. His stuff is worthy of starting, and I think he should at least be given a chance.
c. Scott Feldman was 2010’s opening day starter, and the season did not go well. Get his slider back, get his command back, and he would be a shoe in for the spot. If not, he is a big wasted contract and a huge disappointment.
d. Eric Hurley is he ready? Who knows. I keep hearing that he is a talent, is it time to find out? I would be interested in seeing how he does in spring training.
Just FYI, I would not want to make Neftali Feliz, rookie closer of the year to a starter. I think the Rangers have found a young man who is a fantastic closer, and I think it would be a bad idea to move him to a starter at this point. If he really wants to be a starter, maybe you stretch him out a bit, but I would still say no if I had a say!
