SB Nation - Scott Feldman

Monday morning Rangers stuff

Adam J. Morris — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:36:49 -0000

Evan Grant runs through the grades for the individual starting pitchers for the Rangers this year, with Scott Feldman grading out the highest and Matt Harrison the lowest.

Richard Durrett takes a look at the Rangers #2 starter spot, which was filled by Scott Feldman (of course, only after the powers that be figured out that they'd screwed up by relegating him to the bullpen to make room for Kris Benson).

Wednesday a.m. Rangers things

Adam J. Morris — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:22:47 -0000

More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP

2 months ago: Texas Rangers' Michael Young throws his batting helmet after striking out against the Los Angeles Angels during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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Playing out the string, and guys continue to go down to injury. Marlon Byrd got pulled yesterday after injuring his hip, and Chris Davis missed yesterday's game with a hamstring injury.

Jim Reeves' game story notes that Scott Feldman is running out of gas, with Feldman having his second shaky outing in a row, although Ron Washington scolds Elvis Andrus as well for a mental error that cost Feldman two runs.

Marlon Byrd fell on his face running past first, and then almost collapsed going out to center field, resulting in Craig Gentry coming in and replacing him last night. With just 5 games left, I'd assume that Byrd is going to join Josh Hamilton on the "shut down for the year" list.

That could mean Julio Borbon getting some time in center field, except that Ron Washington says Borbon isn't playing center until the Rangers have clinched second place. Why Washington just doesn't come out and say Borbon isn't going to play center until the last day of the season, I don't know...I have to think there's some real reason that we are getting.

Jim Reeves says that the future of Neftali Feliz -- as starter or reliever -- is a key question for the offseason. He indicates Ron Washington, Mike Maddux, and Andy Hawkins all seem to prefer Feliz out of the bullpen, while Jon Daniels and Nolan Ryan see him as a starter.

Reeves also quotes Washington as saying that Feliz could impact "four or five games a week" as a reliever, and the idea of Washington going to Feliz five times a week out of the pen is enough for me to want to see him back in the rotation ASAP.

Derek Holland gets the start today, and he says he wants to end his season on a high note.

T.R. Sullivan writes that the Rangers show promise for 2010, and has a quote from Michael Young about the necessity of re-signing Marlon Byrd, along with Pudge Rodriguez saying he wants to come back to Texas next season.

Angels Victory Tuesday Clinches Red Sox Rematch

Rev Halofan — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:50:42 -0000

More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP

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Final Score in Anaheim: Angels 5, Rangers 2

With a lineup featuring many Triple A players, the Angels eliminated the allegedly major league Texas Rangers from post-season contention. This assures the Halos of facing their postseason nemesis, the Boston Red Sox late next week in the American League Division Series.

Looming just a little further down the road, rookie starting pitcher Sean O`Sullivan dominated the Arlington Also-Rans and seems to be in contention for a 2010 rotation spot. The young Jack Black doppleganger struck out 3 Rangers in 5 innings, allowed 2 ER and gave up only 3 hits one night after giving a nationally televised and champagne-soaked locker-room popping demo, taking the team "best dancer" award uncontested.

Batting for Vladimir Guerrero in the 4th inning, Mike Napoli hit a 2 run single with the bases loaded and later in the game rookie Chris Pettit got a hit in his first major league plate appearance. Bobby Abreu went 2 for 3 with a solo HR off of 17-Game Winner Scott Feldman to get the night's scoring started. But according to some statistical analysts, WINS don't matter. Those analysts are not going to the postseason.

Poll

Panther of the Game

Sean O'Sullivan

194 votes

Mike Napoli

67 votes

261 votes | Poll has closed

Murray Chass on Scott Feldman and the Ranger pitching

Adam J. Morris — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:06:53 -0000

Non-blogger Murray Chass has a blog post up today that talks at length about the greatness of Scott Feldman and how Nolan Ryan is responsible for the Rangers allowing fewer runs this year.

By altering the practice of pampering pitchers with pitch counts and inning counts, the old-fashioned Ryan knows he is risking unwanted scrutiny from people ready to say I told you so.
* * *
The health and effectiveness of the pitchers is a major reason behind the Ranges’ place in the races for a playoff spot, division and wild card, and the likelihood that they will finish with their best won-lost record in 10 years.

Friday morning Rangers stuff

Adam J. Morris — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:25:21 -0000

by Tony Dejak - AP

3 months ago: Texas Rangers' Ivan Rodriguez looks up after running the bases after hitting a two-run home run off Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Fausto Carmona in the first inning in a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

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I'm going to stop saying "big series" or "big game," because they are all big right now.

Jeff Wilson writes that the Rangers have set their rotation for the final stretch, with Kevin Millwood, Scott Feldman, and Tommy Hunter all getting five starts apiece, and Brandon McCarthy and Derek Holland getting four.

Evan Grant has a lengthy piece up looking at the performance of Ron Washington this season.

Randy Galloway has a column celebrating Nolan Ryan and Mike Maddux turning the Rangers around by fixing their pitching.

Saturday morning Rangers stuff

Adam J. Morris — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 14:11:23 -0000

by Gail Burton - AP

3 months ago: Texas Rangers starting pitcher Scott Feldman is congratulated by teammates after leaving the game in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, in Baltimore. The Rangers won 5-1. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

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The Rangers are 18 games over .500 for the first time since the 2004 season. They haven't been 19 games over .500 since 1999. This has been a pretty positive year.

Scott Feldman had another solid game yesterday, and Jeff Wilson's game story suggests that the biggest move (or non-move, depending on how you look at it) of the season may have been to leave Feldman in the rotation when Kris Benson, who Feldman had replaced in the rotation when Benson went to the d.l., was activated.

Putting Feldman in the bullpen in the first place was a dumb decision, a panic move based on fears in spring training that the bullpen was a mess and the decision that, well, maybe Benson wouldn't be terrible in the rotation. I killed the Rangers for about a month or so over that decision, something that I feel compelled to bring up fairly often because of the recent complaints that I'm anti-Feldman and refuse to give him credit because I didn't think he'd be good.

And I mention this because I figure I'm about to upset some folks again with what will be perceived as "criticism" of Feldman. Evan Grant's game story suggests that Feldman should be in the mix for the Cy Young Award, something that I've seen suggested elsewhere. But just like Kevin Millwood wasn't a legit Cy Young candidate earlier in the year, Feldman isn't now.

Feldman isn't in the top 10 in ERA (Millwood, in fact, is 10th, a skosh ahead of Feldman). He's 10th in ERA+. He's nowhere near the leaders in innings pitched, in part because he started the season in the bullpen, in part because he doesn't work deep into games.

If we look at some of the higher-level stats, he's 12th in the A.L. in VORP (Millwood is 11th). He's 18th in WAR, behind guys like Dallas Braden and Carl Pavano. He's 21st in FIP.

Scott Feldman has had a very good year. He's been one of the best 10-20 starting pitchers in the A.L. this year. But the only real case he has for winning the Cy Young Award is that he's got 15 wins for a playoff contender. Zack Greinke and, maybe, King Felix are the guys who should be in the mix to win, and there are a half-dozen others who should be getting third place votes. Neither Feldman nor Millwood should be in that group.

Moving on...

Willie Eyre is a major leaguer again, having been recalled yesterday by the Rangers.

Brandon McCarthy is back in the rotation, replacing Dustin Nippert, and Josh Hamilton hopes to travel to Baltimore today after getting an injection in his back.

Nelson Cruz gets some praise from Jeff Wilson, albeit without some criticism from the manager about his run-producing:

"He’s still not the guy he’s capable of being," Washington said. "As strong as he is, if you keep giving him at-bats, he’ll run into 30 home runs. Now we’ve got to get those 30 bombs and transfer them into 100 RBI. Then, you’ve arrived."

Nelson Cruz is hitting .290/.398/.495 with runners in scoring position. He just has had a lot fewer opportunities with men on base this year than some of his teammates, in part because of the time missed with injury, in part because of the OBP failings of the guys in front of him, in part because he's hit in the bottom of the lineup much of the year, and in part because of the random benchings that Washington has imposed.

I can't believe I'm sitting here reading about reading complaints from the Ranger manager that the team's best hitter this year -- who has performed with runners on base -- doesn't have enough RBIs.

David Pinto is a fan of Neftali Feliz.

Pavano Good, Feldman Better, Rangers Blank Twins

Jesse — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 10:03:56 -0000

More photos » by Paul Battaglia - AP

3 months ago: Texas Rangers shortstop Omar Vizquel, right, throws to first to complete the double play after forcing out the Minnesota Twins' Michael Cuddyer during the second inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Paul Battaglia)

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Twins 0, Rangers 3. That was frustrating.

It was an early strike by the Rangers that did all the necessary damage on Saturday night. I'm glad I fell asleep during the fifth inning, because I'm pretty sure my frustration wouldn't have let me sleep.

Carl Pavano struck out Julio Borbon to start the game. Good start. Michael Young followed that up with a single and Josh Hamilton doubled into the left-center gap for a run scoring double on a liner just over the outstretched glove of Orlando Cabrera. It gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead three batters into the game, and ultimately it was all they'd need. Two batters later, Ian Kinsler kicked off his big game with a liner into center field to plate Hamilton, completing a two-run first for Texas.

In spite of Carlos Gomez slipping twice in the outfield, Pavano had a solid night. After those two runs scored, he settled in, largely kept Texas off the bases and tallied a few strikeouts.

The offense blanked itself last night as much as the Rangers did it to them. In the first, Joe Mauer grounded into a double play to end the inning. Brendan Harris grounded into another one in the second to end a possible threat. Harris doubled to lead off the fifth but was stranded there. Cabrera and Mauer ended up on second and third with one out in the sixth--Scott Feldman got Jason Kubel to pop out before Neftali Feliz got Michael Cuddyer to strike out on a wicked curveball low and away. Gameday insists it was in the strike zone, but I don't believe it.

After the sixth the Twins were retired in order, nine up and nine down. Feliz knocked them down in the seventh, C.J. Wilson pitched a perfect eighth and Frank Francisco looked every bit the stud while striking out Morneau, Kubel and Cuddyer to lock it up.

Chicago and Detroit did the Twins a favor by losing on Saturday, but these are the games this team needs to be winning. Saturday was a gift day, and it went to waste.

Sunday is another day, and another chance to win. I'll see you for the game.

Stars
#3: Jesse Crain (1.1 IP, 1 K 0 R, .048 WPA)
#2: Orlando Cabrera (0-for-2, 2 BB, .018 WPA)
#1: Carl Pavano (6 IP, 6 H, 7 K, 1 BB, 2 R, .058 WPA)

Duds
Justin Morneau -- Not a good day at the dish.
Alexi Casilla -- A pair of strikeouts, also nicht good.
Jose Mijares -- Gave up a home run to Ivan Rodriguez.

Monday a.m. Rangers things

Adam J. Morris — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:39:58 -0000

More photos » by Steve Nesius - AP

4 months ago: Texas Rangers starter Scott Feldman pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

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Anthony Andro writes that Scott Feldman has become the Rangers' road warrior, winning his fifth straight road start yesterday, and doing it with a career-high 11 strikeouts, the most by a Ranger starter since Matt Perisho struck out 12 in a meaningless game at the end of the 1999 season.

Evan Grant says that the key to Feldman's recent trend of missing more bats is changing speeds and mixing in his curve more.

As discussed last night, Chris Davis is being called up for the series in New York, and Ron Washington says he'll be the team's first baseman, with Hank Blalock moving into his old role as a part-time DH and backup first baseman.

And Michael Young is on track to have a 200 hit season again, after falling short last year.

Friday a.m. Rangers things

Adam J. Morris — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:15:08 -0000

More photos » by Mark Duncan - AP

4 months ago: Cleveland Indians' Jamey Carroll slides under the tag of Texas Rangers catcher Taylor Teagarden to score on a sacrifice fly by Shin-Soo Choo in the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

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I don't know how to put this, but...this series is kind of a big deal.

Texas and Boston, the top two teams in the Wild Card race, with Boston up a half game on the Rangers. This isn't exactly do or die, but a sweep by either team would certainly be a huge blow to the other's playoff hopes.

Anthony Andro writes that Scott Feldman's outing yesterday wasn't pretty, but he got the job done.

Josh Hamilton's struggles this year have been mystifying, and a big reason why the offense hasn't clicked, but T.R. Sullivan writes that the good Hamilton may be back.

The Rangers are considering putting Nelson Cruz on the disabled list today, if his ankle doesn't show that he's close to being ready to return.

And Jeff Wilson has a story about the Rangers doing better against good teams than against bad ones.

Monday morning Rangers things

Adam J. Morris — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:53:30 -0000

More photos » by Tony Gutierrez - AP

4 months ago: Texas Rangers' David Murphy, foreground, trots home following his solo home run off of Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Ian Snell, rear, in the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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59-44 is the second-best record after 103 games in franchise history. Remarkable.

Scott Feldman rebounded from his worst start of the season to give the Rangers a solid outing on short rest.

Neftali Feliz is up, Frank Francisco is activated, and Ian Kinsler and Jason Grilli are d.l.'d.

Omar Vizquel is happy to be able to contribute at second base with Kinsler being down.

Gil LeBreton says the Rangers' road trip, which starts today, could determine the fate of the season.