Rangers Offseason Thread

[Mike]

Papelbon has reportedly gone to the Phils... Trying to further strengthen the "greatest pitching staff ever"... They'll be favorites again.

I was hoping we would resign Madson. But Papelbon has exp closing out a WS game, so I guess it works.

well they can have the best pitching staff in baseball, but if they dont put up runs then they will end their season like last year. They need to produce more runs.

I skipped the ignore hoping you would post something that wasn't regurgitated ESPN material.... Obviously I wasted my time.

They spent a lot of money to get him. Too much IMO but he is a good player and will help them close out games

I don't disagree. But they played Madson and Boras to set the market for closers this off season. It was really a nice business move.

But do they really need a closer with guys like Cliff "I'm Going To Win This Game All By Myself" Lee?

Awesome.

[mustang_marc]

Looks like Joe Nathan is our new closer and Feliz is moving to the rotation.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/baseball/mlb/11/21/joe.nathan.texas.rangers.ap/index.html?sct=hp_t2_a11&eref=sihp

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Joe Nathan and the Texas Rangers have agreed to a two-year contract with a club option for 2014, a move that means closer Neftali Feliz will shift to the starting rotation.

The two-time defending AL champions announced the moves on Monday.

Nathan, who turns 37 on Tuesday, missed the 2010 season following Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow and struggled to find his form with Minnesota this year. The four-time All-Star went 2-1 with a 4.84 ERA and 14 saves in 48 appearances, losing his job as closer early in the season before reclaiming it later.

The Rangers say they have informed Feliz that he will switch from the bullpen to the rotation, a move that would help offset the loss of free-agent starter C.J. Wilson if he signs elsewhere.

[Nash B.]

Oh boy.

[Geor!]

The object is to upgrade, not drastically downgrade.

[pHILSANITY07]

The object is to upgrade, not drastically downgrade.

I wouldnt call this a downgrade if it works out like it should. Nathan was a good closer fo the Twins, and lets be honest. Feliz has been shaky as a closer.

[Osiris]

I wouldnt mind seeing Linsecum in a Ranger jersey.

[Geor!]

I wouldnt call this a downgrade if it works out like it should. Nathan was a good closer fo the Twins, and lets be honest. Feliz has been shaky as a closer.

Nathan WAS a good closer.

[BP]

I wouldnt mind seeing Linsecum in a Ranger jersey.

I think he'll be another Zito, way over paid and once he leaves California he'll be mediocre at best. I think it's all that legal pot they have.

As for Nathan, yeah he's posted as the closer but Mike Adams, Mike Gonzales, Cody Epply and Tanner Sheppers are all trying out for the same job. The depth chart most definitely isn't set in stone.

[GTBrian23]

Hmm, I would have prefered to spend a little extra and get Heath Bell. We have plenty of depth right now though that can come in and take over the closer role if Nathan isnt up to snuff. From everything I have read(dont know much about Nathan) he started getting his stuff back after the all-star break last year. Hopefully that will continue here.

As far as Feliz, I like this move. He has been a starter before just not in MLB so he should have more Stamina out that gate than Ogando last year and with Maddux staying on I think he should be able to get much more consistant with his Slider and Curve. If he can get to the point that he can hit his spots with those pitches then his fastball will be that much more brutal to hitters. The other thing that I would like to see is if he can keep is fastball around 98-99 for 7 innnings. Seemed to me like that was an issue last year in ST but with more time to prepare himself I would hope that improves this year.

PLEASE do not pull a Joba with him and move him back and forth to the bullpen, committ him fully to the rotation and if it doesnt work out then back to the bullpen for good. Flip flopping does no one any good.

[Nash B.]

I don't think Feliz will make a good starter. He's mostly successful from the bullpen because he can throw hard and the hitters don't have 2 or 3 at bats against him to adjust. I predict a lot of short starts with a lot of walks and runs.

[mustang_marc]

I don't think Feliz will make a good starter. He's mostly successful from the bullpen because he can throw hard and the hitters don't have 2 or 3 at bats against him to adjust. I predict a lot of short starts with a lot of walks and runs.

I think it depends on how he compliments his fastball with other pitches. He can get away with mostly fastballs when he faces a couple of batters a game. It's hard for them to hit 100mph. He's got a couple of other good pitches, but I think he doesn't always trust them from what I remember announcers saying. If he trusts his slider/curve and they're working, they'll compliment his fastball well and he can be lights out.

[Nash B.]

Yeah, it's tough to hit a 100 mph fastball but it's much easier if you know that it's coming, it doesn't have any movement, and it's belt-high out over the plate. Most of the games he did well in, he had good location and/or good movement. The games he was terrible in, he threw really, really fast, straight meat where it could be hit. But it's still just meat, and any good Major League hitter can hit meat, even at 100 mph.

[Geor!]

Yeah, it's tough to hit a 100 mph fastball but it's much easier if you know that it's coming, it doesn't have any movement, and it's belt-high out over the plate. Most of the games he did well in, he had good location and/or good movement. The games he was terrible in, he threw really, really fast, straight meat where it could be hit. But it's still just meat, and any good Major League hitter can hit meat, even at 100 mph.

Hell, I even hear some guys named Anthony like meat.

[Nash B.]

I knew that would bring you into the thread.

[mstng86]

I knew that would bring you into the thread.

You two Meat lovers unite!