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Now, keep in mind that this is going to change as Spring Training starts (which by the way is in 2 short weeks), but here is the bull pen we have right now that I believe will start as the Rangers pen.I think the Rangers have some trades to make during spring training, so I expect this to change:
1. Scott Feldman – Scott is a what have you done for me lately guy. He had a great 2009 with a 17-8 record. Then, after signing a huge contract and being the opening day starter in 2010, Scott was ineffective and then went on the DL. He stayed there through the rest of that season and most of the 2011 season, but he looked good in the stretch run of 2o11. Scott wants to be a starter from everything that I have heard, and with the young 5 in the rotation and Alexi Ogando all probably in front of him for that honor, I do not see Scott staying in Texas for too much longer. I think the Rangers will trade him or let him go after his contract is up. Scott can be a great long reliever/spot starter for the Rangers in 2012 if he wants to be though.
2. Alexi Ogando – Alexi is listed as a starter right now on the Rangers website, but I think we all know that he is going to end up in the pen at the start of the 2012 season unless something goes extremely wrong with one of the guys in front of him (namely Feliz or Harrison). Alexi is a force to be reckoned with when he comes out of the pen, and after a year as a starter under his belt, I think he will be a much stronger reliever in 2012. Look for Alexi to put up huge strikeout numbers while having a sub-3 ERA in the 2012 season.
3. Mark Hamburger – We Rangers fans have a very small sample
to go on with Hamburger from the 2011 season. He got into 5 games, struck out 6 batters in the 8 innings that he pitched. His ERA was 4.50, but, like I said, very limited sample. I like Hamburger and think he is going to be a good addition to the Texas Rangers pen. I look forward to seeing a much larger sample size from him in 2012.
4. Mark Lowe – The Rangers knew they were getting a power arm out of the bull pen that was injured when they got Lowe, and he started to seriously show some of that power at the end of 2011. Mark is a good pitcher and I think that he may turn out to be the Nelly Cruz of pitchers for the Rangers if he can stay healthy (remember, Lowe came in the Cliff Lee deal just like Cruz was an afterthought in the Carlos Lee deal). Mark can turn out to be a great middle inning guy or a great late inning guy, depending on what the Rangers need. I think he will be a great late inning guy, personally.
5. Michael Kirkman – Another guy who I believe wants to be a starter, but as of right now, he is the Rangers only left handed reliever. He has had some success and some really bad failure so far at the major league level, and I think the Ranger are ready to give him another chance to be successful. He has good stuff, and I really hope he can put it together for the 2012 season.
6. Yoshinori Tatyama – Yoshi got into 35 games in 2011, and he was a good fit for the Rangers last season. Yoshi seems to have really dominate moments, and then moments where he looks confused out there. He looked a little stronger to me, to be honest, when he was first called up then he did at the end of the season. He had a 4.50 ERA and batters hit .220 off of him in 2011. He will need his ERA to be lower and he will need to give up less hr’s to be really effective and stay in the Rangers pen in 2012 (8 hr’s given up last season). I am pulling for him to do it.
7. Koji Uehara – To be totally honest, he will not be a Ranger on Opening Day of the 2012 regular season. The Rangers are shopping him hard to try and get another left handed reliever, and I wish him well wherever he ends up. It just will not be in Texas.
8. Mike Adams – The Rangers really liked Mike in that 8th inning set-up role that he did in San Diego, and I do not see that changing in 2012. Mike got into
27 games as a Ranger in 2011 (75 total between Rangers and Padres) and he had an ERA of 2.10 as a Ranger. He was a great clutch pitcher and I think that will continue in 2012. I look forward to seeing a complete season on Adams on the mound setting up for Joe Nathan. And, as we all know, if for some reason Nathan does not work out, Mike would most likely be the closer in waiting.
9. Joe Nathan – As we all know, Joe has had a great career and he is a very like able guy. He has a career 261 saves, and a career ERA under 3. He is a
very experienced closer, and all signs point to the fact that he is healthy and ready to go in the 2012 season. If Joe can get back to most of the pitcher that he was in his hay day, the Rangers have made a great pickup in him. Joe is experienced and he is a great guy for the young pitchers to hang out with and learn from. I think this addition to the pen might be what the Rangers need to get over the hump that has stopped them from winning it all over the past two seasons. Some serious experience in the pen is always a plus for a young team. Joe is just what the doctor ordered!
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