Fresh start helps Texas Rangers' staff
11:30 PM CDT on Saturday, March 21, 2009
SURPRISE, Ariz. – Two series last season, roughly a month apart, revealed why the Texas Rangers would never be serious playoff contenders.
The first came in July, just before the All-Star break, against the AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels. The other came in August, against the wild card-leading Boston Red Sox.
Rangers 8, Rockies 4
Five of the six starters the Rangers faced reached double figures in wins and combined for 78 victories.
None of the Rangers' starters in those series reached double figures, and they combined for 18 wins. All five – Luis Mendoza started in both series – were either rookies or in their first full seasons as starters.
Injuries caused the uneven matchups, but the Rangers also didn't have starting pitching depth. Those pitchers were the best healthy options in a season that saw the Rangers use 15 starters for the second consecutive year, leading the majors both times.
The Rangers see reason to think 2009 will be different. So far, the five members of the starting rotation are healthy and have been pitching well. If one or two falter along the way, there is better depth.
"Last year was a weird year, and I hope we never have to go through that again," manager Ron Washington said. "Things happen, and we want to be prepared and not get caught without some backup if something happens."
Bad things started to happen in spring training last year, when Kevin Millwood and Brandon McCarthy were injured.
Though Millwood returned and made his third consecutive opening-day start for the Rangers, he would go on the disabled list twice. McCarthy wasn't healthy enough for big-league starts until August.
They were hardly alone. Vicente Padilla, who led the Rangers with 14 victories, was on the DL twice. So were Mendoza, Kason Gabbard and Eric Hurley. Jason Jennings went on the DL in May and never came off.
But the new off-season workout regimen was designed in part to keep players healthy. And veterans like Millwood want to carry their share of the load.
"I'm in a better place than I was last year at this time," said Millwood, who pitched six innings Saturday with the temperature approaching 90 degrees. "I can definitely feel a little difference in strength and endurance."
That's a sentiment shared by pitchers throughout the organization, and the results are becoming evident. Now, some tough decisions on how to fill out rotations at Triple-A Oklahoma City and Double-A Frisco await the Rangers' brass.
Kris Benson, the top overall pick in the 1996 draft, could start the year at Oklahoma City, and 2002 National League Rookie of the Year Jennings could start in Frisco while continuing to build arm strength.
Top prospects Neftali Feliz and Derek Holland could start 2009 where they finished 2008 – Double-A.
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