Ogando: Starter? All we need is another eight games and we'll get our four wins.
By the way, I think we're being really shortsighted with the Neftali Feliz report that he would "prefer" to remain the closer.
Feliz said he's more "comfortable" as the closer because he knows what it takes to win in that position in the Majors. I totally understand this.
However, it's worth noting that Feliz hasn't started since early 2009 and was quickly swept into the bullpen when the Rangers needed some arms in relief. If the Rangers had been 30 games out of the AL West in 2009, I'm convinced that Feliz stays in the starting rotation.
Of course he's comfortable there. He's been there for two years. He's seen success. Are the Rangers comfortable starting Eric Hurley, Matt Harrison and Dave Bush? I sure as hell am not.
Two things do make me happy: the idea of Alexi Ogando and Neftali Feliz in the bullpen or starting rotation.
The Good
Yorvit Torrealba drove in the lone run. He is our starting catcher. He's hitting .200 in the spring.
Chris Davis hit another two doubles (four for the spring) and his average is at .435. He also struck out twice. As pitching gets stiffer in the spring, it'll be interesting to see how he does. He's got five strikeouts in 23 spring at-bats.
Fringe relievers Zach Jackson and Mason Tobin each pitched quiet innings.
Despite allowing four baserunners, Alexi Ogando had a sweet three innings allowing no runs and striking out four. Also, of his five outs from batted balls, four were groundouts.
The Bad
Julio Borbon, Josh Hamilton, Mike Young, Nelson Cruz, Elvis Andrus and Mitch "Tacos" Moreland all went hitless.
Andrus is hitting .100, by the way.
Tommy Hunter did strike out three in three innings. It's the five hits and four runs that concern me.
