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As we watch this Ranger season come to an end during the last 1/3 of the season, I thought it might be interesting to look at the 12 pitchers who are currently in the organization who are going to be vying for a rotation spot next spring. I’ve posted some stats from the Official Ranger site as of 1 A.M. August 4th.  I think who makes the rotation next year depends on who we can land as a free agent during the winter. I think if we land a Sabathia and or Sheets, the organization will probably go with a veteran staff with Millwood and Padilla filling out the #s 2&3 or 3&4 spots. That basically leaves one or two spots in the rotation to be filled with 1 or 2 of the following ten guys. Personally, I think Feldman and Mendoza have done the most to prove they belong in the Majors so far this season.

            If the Rangers fail to land a big time free agent pitcher, I wouldn’t doubt if we saw another year like this year where we constantly have “rookie” pitchers filling out the rotation. I guess they will probably keep Millwood in the rotation because he has a couple years left on his contract and I doubt he’ll have much trade value for the Rangers during the winter. Padilla on the other hand will have some trade value for the Rangers if they package him with a catcher for something. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a rotation of Millwood, Feldman, Mendoza, Hurley and McCarthy if they went this route.

The Texas Rangers Rotation: Just my take on things

Kevin Millwood

I really don’t care if he WAS an “innings eater,” Millwood has been disappointing as an “Ace.” While he didn’t call himself that, the Rangers failed to bring in some better pitching, so the role as the franchise’s #1 guy fell in his lap. If Millwood were a #3, 4, or 5 guy, I probably wouldn’t be so disappointed. But nobody with a 6-6 record and 5.40 ERA should be considered a #1 pitcher. I would like to see him gone, but his contact and recent performance will probably make that prospect unlikely. I expect him to be our 2009 opening day starter after the Rangers fail to bring in anyone better, yet again.

 Vincente Padilla

It’s really hard to complain about a guy who has won 12 games. But, I know y’all have been watching the same Padilla I have and know why this guy frustrates me so much because I’m sure y’all feel the same way. I hope teams look at his win/loss record when we try to trade this guy and not his ERA. I wouldn’t mind keeping Padilla as a #4 or #5 guy, but I can’t handle him at #2 behind Millwood.

Brandon McCarthy- 2008 Stats N/A

I still like McCarthy. I know Danks is really starting to come around for the ChiSox, but everyone in Chicago was pissed that McCarthy was traded and the consensus was that the Rangers won in this trade when it was first executed. I think once McCarthy gets himself right, he’s going to be a solid pitcher and eventually be a good #2 or #3 pitcher. But on the other hand, McCarthy really needs to step up and show the Rangers he can stay healthy before the Rangers give him a rotation spot. There is too much competition right now to just hand this guy a rotation spot. He should earn it like the others are having to do.

 Kason Gabbard

I don’t know about this guy. From the stuff that I’ve seen from him compared to what the rest of our young pitchers have, I don’t think his value to this team is worth anything more than trade bait. The best Gabbard could shoot for during his career is a spot in some rotation as a #3 pitcher. Personally, I think he’ll settle as a #4 or 5 guy or even a long relief pitcher. I don’t think he has the stuff to beat out five, six or even seven of our other young pitchers. He could be another guy to include in a trade package with one of our catchers.

 Scott Feldman

I think Scott Feldman needs another season as a starter before the Rangers can really get a good grasp of what kind of pitcher this guy is going to be. On the high end, he could be a solid #2 or 3 guy with the movement on his fastball being similar to that of Halliday. Halliday doesn’t have an overpowering fastball, but the command he has of his pitches is second to none. If Feldman can throw his pitches where he wants with two fastballs that move in two different directions and a nice slider, there’s no reason to think this guy can’t hand in the middle of the Ranger rotation for a long time.

 Luis Mendoza

Mendoza has showed himself to be if nothing else, the most durable of the Rangers’ young pitchers. I honestly think this guy is going to blow Armando Gallaraga out of the water. As soon as Mendoza can realize his potential and start commanding his pitches, he will find a permanent spot on the Rangers’ staff. Period. I think he has the stuff to be anywhere from a #2 to a #5 guy. It all just depends on how good the Rangers’ younger guys are.

 Eric Hurley

Hurley, like Mendoza has the stuff to claim a permanent spot in the rotation. He’s only pitched 25 innings this season so he needs to prove he can stay healthy before the Rangers should hand him a rotation spot.

 Doug Mathis

It’s been so long since we’ve seen this guy pitch. It’s kind of hard to believe he’s only pitched 2 1/3 innings less than Hurley. I honestly don’t know what to say about this guy. I haven’t seen him pitch enough to comment. But he’s averaging less than 3 innings a start with a 6.85 ERA. This guy really needs to get healthy if he has plans on making the rotation next season.

 Jason Jennings

Pass. I really had high hopes for this guy at the beginning of the season but I’d rather give a rotation spot to a rookie worth developing.

 Matt Harrison

The Joe Blanton starter kit. I was impressed with his first start and I think he had some great stuff against the Angels. I just haven’t seen it again since. I really think he has the talent to be in the rotation for a long time, just like Hurley, Mendoza, McCarthy, and Feldman. Although, with the talent in the organization, I don’t know if he’ll ever get higher than a #4 or 5 when all is said and done.

 Tommy Hunter

I think Hunter had an impressive debut. In fact, other than Harrison’s debut, I think Hunter’s first game was the best of the rookies. He got hit hard, but he sucked it up, went back out there and shut them down. In fact, he lasted longer than his veteran counter part. I really liked Hunter. I think he had the best stuff out of all the rookie pitchers. I really will be surprised if he gets sent back down this season. I think Hunter is going to really surprise some people over the final third of the season.

I don’t know if this season could have gone any better for a team looking to develop pitching or wanting to see how several different pitchers perform at the big league level. It kind of sucks that it had to happen in a year where at least some semblance of a professional staff probably would have us leading the wild card at the very least. It really does suck that we have the worst ERA in the majors to go along with the best offense. If we had just an average staff, we’d be killer.

Anyway, based on what we’ve seen in 2007 and 2008, I really think we will see four of the following pitchers in the 2009 rotation. If you look at these pitchers, which would you kick out if you had only four spots to fill? Which would you send down if you have only 2 or even 1 spot fill? The Rangers are going to be in a tough spot next year when all these guys come back healthy and if they can’t trade away some guys and even more of a problem if they bring in one or two big free agents.

 But I really would like to know which of these guys you’d like to keep and which you’d like to trade and which you’d like to send down.

Feldman

Harrison

Hunter

Hurley

Mathis

McCarthy

Mendoza

My guess in order will be:

Feldman

Mendoza

Hunter

McCarthy

Harrison

Hurley

Mathis

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