Oh oh oh Ogando It shouldn't.
The Rangers are a pretty sad-sack 25-23 this season and what would normally be a deep disinterest in such a mediocre team is instead met with excitement. This is because the Rangers have one of the best pitching staffs in baseball and any night could be something spectacular.
Enter: Alexi Ogando. I think we have a pretty good cross section of starts for him now and I think we can safely say that this team would suck with him in the bullpen. In fact, Evan Grant tweeted last night that Ogando's success is evidence that the Rangers should push Neftali Feliz into a starter's role next year.
Ogando pitched a complete game shutout last night. His last pitch -- a soft groundout to end the game -- hit 97 miles per hour.
He was simply phenomenal. His fastball was between 93-96 all night. His slider was in the mid-80s and was thrown for a strike all night. In fact, he abused the strike zone all night (John Danks also pitched a complete game in the loss and he too threw strike after strike). About 70 percent of Ogando's pitches were strikes.
There is absolutely nothing -- right now -- to dislike about Ogando. In nine starts, he's gone at least six innings in each. He's thrown quality starts in eight.
In 59 innings, his BAA is .181 and his WHIP is 0.87, meaning he's not only not allowing runs, he's not allowing baserunners. He hasn't allowed more than six hits in a start, and he's allowed six just once.
Ogando's ERA has dipped to a lofty 1.87. He's allowed just six home runs all season and just three in the last 40 innings spanning six starts.
Right now, the Rangers have no one else as dependable as him. And that's a remarkable thing to say.
Notes:
1. The Rangers bullpen since Thursday: Three total innings pitched.
2. Nelson Cruz has homered in four straight games going back to his rehab stints in Frisco and Round Rock.
3. Mike Young had another three hits, including a triple. It's his third, matching last year's total.
4. Hamilton and Cruz's return to the line-up had a real influence in that dugout. It was noticable when Hamilton homered and you could see the weight's lifted off the shoulders of Dave Murphy and Mitch Moreland and Mike Napoli. Like they weren't have to carry the world on their shoulders. Everything seemed in its right place. Thanks Thom Yorke.
5. Young is 88 hits away from 2,000 in his career.
6. Ian Kinsler is by a million miles the most inconsistent, maddening guy on the team. Had another two hits last night including his 14th double. Still, he's hitting .230. I wonder if it'll click for him this year.
7. John Danks is a remarkable 0-7, and he's not that bad. You just wonder what this team would look like if that dumb trade was never made. Do you take a chance on Colby Lewis? Do you feel the need for Cliff Lee? Is Ogando in the bullpen still? It's night and day thinking about it.
8. I've always considered Murphy an above-average defender with an above-average arm. Do I like him in centerfield? No. Does he kill you defensively? Hell no. Murph covered some pretty good ground last night on Paulie Konerko's gapper and with an amazing throw (turning around, on his back leg) threw a beauty to Ian Kinsler on a play that surprised Konerko more than anyone.
9. The highlight of the game: The foul ball headed right at George W. Bush. For one, Bush looked terrified and frozen. Like he didn't know what to do. Nolan Ryan thought the ex-president was going to die in his ballpark. What was Ruth Ryan doing? Was she trying to dive in front of Laura and George? Where was the secret service? What was that usher guy doing? It was a really funny moment. I strongly suggest finding it and watching it.
