Matty ice Matt Harrison did it again today in a 4-1 win over the Chicago White Sox.
The Rangers went into Spring Training with two spots nailed down: C.J. Wilson and Colby Lewis. Brandon Webb is probably guaranteed a spot, if healthy. He ain't. So that opens three spots to six or seven guys. None of whom is guaranteed a spot and I would daresay each are fighting to make it.
Here's who I'm talking about:
| IP | Hits | BBs | Ks | ERA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eric Hurley | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Tommy Hunter | 5 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 7.20 |
| Matt Harrison | 9 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 1.00 |
| Dave Bush | 8 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 4.50 |
| Michael Kirkman | 9 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 3.00 |
| Derek Holland | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 1.80 |
Honestly, Holland's probably been the best so far. Followed by Harrison and Kirkman. Then Hurley and Hunter. Then Bush.
Bush, however, has experience. That matters. If he continues at this pace, he'll be in trouble. If he shows a little something in the next two weeks, he might be plugged in until Webb's return.
I would think Hurley might be on the outside looking in. He didn't pitch in 2010 and throwing him in the Majors probably isn't wise. He's striking out no one and those batted balls tend to find holes in the bigs.
That leaves Kirkman, Hunter and Harrison.
Kirkman is also probably getting a short straw, for the moment. He's a lefty. The Rangers have Wilson, Holland and Harrison ahead of him, all lefties. It'd be crazy to go into the season with potentially four lefties in the starting rotation.
I didn't include Neftali Feliz, although he's pitched well. I'd still like to see him prepped for the rotation, but it just feels like he's bullpen-bound.
For the moment, I'm going on performance over intangibles and experience. If Spring Training is the proving ground for these guys, why should Bush get a leg up on a younger playing pitching better?
With our decisions made, our rotation projection, as for the second:
C.J. Wilson
Colby Lewis
Derek Holland
Tommy Hunter
Matt Harrison
Again, this is for the moment. It's going to be hard to keep Bush out if he steps up his game. Hunter's not been the sharpest. Harrison is primed for a breakdown.
Needless to say, it's all a good problem to have.
