Yu
Colbra
Dutch
Feliz

And who?

Harry or Ogando?

I like Evan Grants idea. Ogando to the pen or trade him or Harry for another good bullpen arm.

Feldman maybe?

Great longman.

I know everyone has Feliz penciled in as a starter but he still has to prove he can do that. He doesn't have a ton of pitches and he's been coming out as the closer for a while. Even then there's no guarantee he can make it the whole year. I think there's the possibility you see the rangers employ both ogando and Feliz as the fifth man, with the one not starting in the bullpen. I just dont see how we can toss Ogando back aside after his phenomenal first half as a starter last year. Especially if Feliz struggles during spring training.

Can we talk Colby into sitting on the bench until October? If so, I like Yu and the youth in the rotation.

how can you consider trading any starters away prior to seeing what Yu can do not to mention how well Feliz adjusts

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I just dont see how we can toss Ogando back aside after his phenomenal first half as a starter last year.

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He won't be.

You roll into ST with:

Darvish
Holland
Lewis
Ogando
Feliz

If Feliz isn't able to make the transition, you've got Feldman and Harrison both waiting in the wings to compete for a spot.

Realistically the chances of Holland, Lewis, Ogando, Feliz, Harrison and Feldman all putting up stellar numbers as a starter next year is very slim. Players don't always improve from year to year, and some just lose it (eg. Feldman losing his rotation spot in one season).

Rangers media seems to think Feliz will get a very long leash.

I think the Ogando/Harrison question is far from answered, and a trade of some sort is still very possible.

I think people have somehow quickly forgotten how good Ogando looked in his first year as a starter:

He was a bad August away from being in the Cy Young talks.

I think Ogando is great either way...but he could make the bullpen much stronger.

Not sure the same potential is there for Harry to do the same.

Or they could always sit on the depth...always an option.

this

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Darvish
Holland
Lewis
Ogando
Feliz

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If Texas is concerned about bullpen depth they wouldn't be trying to convert Feliz to a starter.

If Feliz puts up a 2012 year as a starter like Ogando did in 2011 the Rangers brass would be on Cloud 9... So logically it doesn't make any sense to take the type of starter performance you are looking for (2011 Ogando) and move it to the bullpen so that you can take a piece from the bullpen and try it out in the rotation.

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I think people have somehow quickly forgotten how good Ogando looked

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And also how solid Harrison has been since he stopped doing that retarded windup.

Dude was our most consistent pitcher for a while last year. Yet everyone assumes he won't have a spot

6 man rotation...

Yu
Colby
Harrison
Holland
Feliz
Ogando

Any chance yummy starts in AAA to get adjusted to the us game

No chance.

Yummy?

Damn auto correct need to add yu to my dictionary

Add me to your dictionary?

Ok I'm done now...

I like this one

Yu
Holland
Cobra
Harrison
Ogando

Feliz has a lot of developing to do before he's a starter. Two pitches ain't enough, even if you hit triple digits once in a while. I could also see Feldman in there. He won 17 games in 2009, and was hurt most of 2010-11. If he can get that sinker working again, he's proven he can be an effective starter. I know the Rangers traded for a closer, but they could always have Adams, Nathan and Feliz as their 7-8-9 guys. Should be interesting to see how it all shakes out. Wouldn't mind seeing them trade Feldman or Harrison and a prospect or two for Matt Garza either.

A six man rotation would be awesome. But I doubt we see it. Someone's getting shoved to the pen or traded.

mhayden

If I'm not mistaken, Feldman was found to have been injured, and thus the reduced numbers. His surgery and recovery seems to have been successful.

From what I understand CLew was pitching through hip trouble, I believe. I'm guessing cortisone helped him in October.

With all of that... might we find out CLew had surgery and won't be available for the start of the season?! They picked up his option, but that may have ben as much about appearances, as anything. Also, if he heads to the DL, they may think he may be available late in the season.

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I think people have somehow quickly forgotten how good Ogando looked in his first year as a starter:

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Not a bad October, either.

Darvish
Harrison
Holland
Lewis
Feliz/Ogando

Not necessarily in that order.

Another factor to consider: Joe Nathan still needs to prove he's got his pitches back. His return from injury was pretty poor. That will be factored into any decisions with Feliz.

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If I'm not mistaken, Feldman was found to have been injured

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Anytime a pitcher completely tanks in a season there is always some kind of injury/surgery/major-adjustment.

Not saying it wasn't relevant, but still not near enough of a sample size from Feldman to think he's "back".

Tanked? Or just fell off of cloud 9?

IMO, 2008 and 2010 is closer to the real Feldman than 2009.

Sometimes it is fun just to be antagonistic.

FIFY:

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IMO, 2008 and 2010 is closer to the real Feldman than 2006, 2009, and 2011.

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If we are doing that, I think Feldman in 2007, 2008, and 2010 was closer to the real Feldman than 2006, 2009, and 2011.

He's a viable long reliever, no doubt about it, but for a discussion of his merits as a starter, can you really put significant value on 1,2, or even 3 inning appearances?

I also hope Colby Lewis isn't an automatic inclusion to the opening rotation, but alas, that's probably hoping against hope.

Talent/stuff wise I don't disagree with you - but at this point Colby is the only true MLB "veteran" of the bunch and there's a lot to be said for a guy that is OK with the pressure being on him to stop the bleeding.

I would be thrilled if we could get Colby to the DL for the first part of the season. Let him allow some lingering injuries to heal. For as much I enjoyed watching him in the playoffs, I did not enjoy watching him during the regular season. Let the young guys figure some things out and have CLew come in if there is an injury or someone crashes and burns.

Glad you're coming around on "the Colbra???", mhayden.

It sure seems like the club bled a lot when Lewis was on the mound. I think I might be okay with a youngster bleeding for a month or two and then bringing in Lewis to stop it if required.

I guess what I am asking for is that the best pitchers in spring training get a spot in the rotation. I don't think Colby, or really anyone for that matter, but Colby especially, has done anything in the past, or has enough experience, to take a spot if others are visibly pitching better than they are going into the season.

Ideally, the young guys perform well, show they are capable starting pitchers, and Colby has a nice extended spring training and then slots in when someone inevitably gets hurt or takes a step back.

Ya, Colby's innings probably need to be capped during the regular season. His hip gave him a lot of trouble last year. He fought through that in the post season. Would love to see a healthy Colby come October.

Feliz makes me nervous as a starter. Hell, he makes me nervous as a closer. His innings are ALWAYS too drama-filled.

The drama from Feliz supports Nolan's voiced opinion that he doesn't have a Closer's mentality. I think the 2011 WS helped Feliz see that.

Another question I have is... who has minor league options?!

I don't think Harrison does.

Maybe Holland and Ogando?!

Start 2012 in Arlington as:
Yu, CLew, Harrison, Feldman, Feliz

Round Rock:
Holland, Ogando, Martin Perez, Neil Ramirez

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Glad you're coming around on "the Colbra???", mhayden

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I don't believe you'll find any post with me being that high on the guy - only those saying he deserved the ball every 5th day last year and that his contract was great... Two things I don't think many could argue (though I'm sure you'll try).