Friday 3 June 2011

Notes from the bullpen underground

Big Game, in Round Rock
The Texas Rangers beat the Cleveland Indians last night, 7-4. A notable performance. Any time you win a Dave Bush start, it's a good thing. The Rangers have won four of five and are 2-0 in June.

The bullpen was fantastic. Bush allowed three runs and finished four innings. Mike Kirkman continued his excellence going three innings, striking out four and allowing a hit (a home run, no less). Since getting called up, Kirkman's allowed two hits and one run in 5.2 innings.

Mark Lowe followed up a sloppy Darren Oliver third-inning getting two outs with two runners on. He threw seven pitches. All strikes. He's getting better. He's allowed one run in last 10 outings.

Then Neftali Feliz put together his second straight good outing (questionable as to whether he should've been out there) finally striking someone out and working a harmless ninth.

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Brandon Webb -- who was rehabbing at Frisco -- was shut down yesterday after reporting shoulder soreness. He'll not pitch for another week. I'd be shocked if we see him in 2011, if at all.

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The Rangers were forced to let Yhancy Brazoban go from their Triple A club. So, they went out and signed Manny Delcarmen off waivers.

Love it. Delcarmen was once very good. In 2007, he pitched 44 innings, striking out 41 and posting a 2.05 ERA. He pitched in 74 innings the next year and posted a 3.27 ERA with a strikeout per frame. He'll be in Arlington, sooner or later.

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Tommy Hunter is starting his rehab in Round Rock, allegedly still a month away. I will say this about Webb and Hunter: If the Rangers rotation sucked, would they be where they are at? Would the Rangers push them a bit harder and bring them along quicker if Alexi Ogando or Matt Harrison were fumbling around?

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Mason Tobin had Tommy John surgery for the 1,000th time in his life. And Tanner Scheppers is throwing baseballs again.