Washington: That's the way baseball go With that in mind, Wednesday as full of pitching for the Texas Rangers. They wound up beating the Oakland A's 9-2. Some very important arms got good, long looks.
Derek Holland turned in what some are calling his best set of innings of his big-league career. Consider this: Holland pitched three innings. In those, he threw 37 pitches. Thirty (30) were for strikes.
Needless to say, it was a great success. He struck out four and allowed two hits. Holland, my friends, just sealed his spot in the Opening Day rotation.
Neftali Feliz also logged three innings. He wasn't near as crisp, but who is? He allowed a hit and two walks, but allowed no runs and struck out four.
There's mixed reaction as per Feliz' feelings, his current skillset and the Rangers' need regarding his role. Someone at the Dallas Morning News poked Jean-Jacques Taylor with a stick and he pooped a soulless column about how Feliz should be in the bullpen.
I still think you push him. I think sending him back to the bullpen is a decision you make in a couple of weeks as you see how Eric Hurley, Holland, Brandon Webb and others develop. And how Feliz develops. There's plenty of time to get Feliz back in as closer. Now is the time that you see exactly what the kid has.
I pitching news that is not nearly as impressive, the A's rolled Brandon McCarthy back out there. On cue, he allowed four hits and a run in three innings.
The Good
Pedro Strop recorded another scoreless inning. Perfect this spring.
Elvis Andrus' two hits dragged his average up to .174.
Mike Young's hitting .526 and drove in runs Nos. 5 and 6.
The Bad
Chris Davis went hitless, struck out twice.
Calling Arthur Rhodes and Darren O'Day "shakey" is looking at a half-full glass.
Nellie Cruz: .190 average.
