Ranger Bullpen Problems

Last night's 7-6 loss to the A's in 13 innings presented an overview of the way the Ranger's bullpen has been in the early going. The bullpen gave up 4 runs on 9 hits, 2 walks, and threw 104 pitches in 6 innings. The Rangers, at 3 games over .500, have been good in most aspects of the game. We've had excellent SP which has always been a huge problem. We've had a couple injuries that have given us problems, Kinsler and Cruz, and we've had some issues at 1B and C, but we've survived those for the most part. The bullpen however is a more pressing issue. We have a 7 man bullpen right now with essentially only 3 guys being trusted to get outs late in ballgames- Feliz, O'day, and Oliver. Some shuffling will happen soon with the plethora of power relievers waiting in OKC, but let's look at the remaining 4 and what they're chances are of remaining on the roster.

• Frank Francisco- Frank isn't going anywhere. He's a guy who has proven he can get big league hitters out and has a closer mentality. He is definitely struggling early, 5.5 BB/9 with a 6.75 era. He has been one of the biggest disappointments this year, but he will be given ample opportunities to refind his stuff. His biggest issue has been lack of velocity which has cause him to get hit harder, 12.9 H/9 and 2 homers in 13 innings, and a lack of control. He looked to be coming around at the end of April with 6 consecutive appearances without a run and only 3 hits, but he's given up 6 hits in his last 3 innings. Frank needs to get it together as he is vital to the back-end of the bullpen being a strength.

• Doug Mathis- Mathis isn't a guy who is going to be in many close games in the 7th, 8th, or 9th innings but he fills a key role in the bullpen as the long man. He actually has been pretty good with a 3.6 era in 15 innings. Homers have hurt him (3 in 15 innings) and he's giving up 10.8 h/9 which isn't great. He's a guy who probably deserves to stay in the bullpen for the time being but he has options left which makes him a fine candidate to make the trip up I-35 to OKC multiple times this year.

• Dustin Nippert- Nippert is a guy was pretty solid last year, but has been relatively ineffective this year. He's walking more, giving up more homers and more hits than last year so far and his ERA shows it- 6.23. He's been used in different roles this year as he's moved from the long man to a 7th inning guy at times. He has an explosive fastball sometimes reaching 98 MPH, but he hasn't shown good command of it. Nippert is out of options and there is a very slim chance they get him through waivers. The Rangers may end up switching Nippert back to the long man slot at the expense of Mathis due to the lack of options.

• Chris Ray- Chris Ray is a guy who has a nice ERA, 3.07, but hasn't looked great. He's been wild, 5 BB/9, and hasn't struck out anybody, 3.8 K/9. Guys are making good contact against him and he's given up mostly flyballs which is dangerous in the Ballpark. Ray is a guy who has yet to earn Wash's trust and doesn't have much of a role. We've used him in the 7th some but we acquired him hoping he would be a 7th/8th inning power reliever who could come in a get a strikeout. He hasn't done that. With 1 option remaining he is an option to be demoted in the near future.

Ray and Mathis are the two who are being looked at the closest for demotions. The decision will be coming soon too. The Rangers have quite a few options for spots and all the guys are hard throwing arms who have been dominating the minors. Scheppers, Beltre, and Ogando are all in AAA (Scheppers and Ogando recently) have proven they need to be challenged more, and are very close to a big league promotion. All 3 throw regularly at 95 or higher, with Ogando and Scheppers regularly hitting 98. Ogando and Scheppers have received a large amount of national attention early on with their astounding performances and won't need long in AAA. Pedro Strop, who had a cup of coffee last September, is another option, as is Matt Harrison. Harrison sat at 96 in the AFL last Fall coming out of the bullpen and was extremely effective. If Holland proves to be an asset in the rotation, Harrison could fill CJ Wilson's void as a hard throwing lefty that we still haven't replaced.

What this really means is that for the first time in a long time the Rangers have numerous options for pitching. If our current bullpen member don't turn their seasons around soon they will quickly become former bullpen members. It's not a huge stretch of the imagination to imagine a bullpen in October like this: Feliz, Scheppers, Ogando, O'day, Oliver, Francisco, Harrison with 5 of 7 throwing 95 or harder. I remember seasons in the early 90's where we couldn't find 1 guy who could touch 95. Help is coming, and it's coming soon!