Year in Review: Pitching

Going into the season, it was pretty much taken for granted that the Rangers offense would there. The big question would be whether the pitching could carry the team to success. If the Rangers wanted to be in the race till the end, it was pivotal that the pitching improved, because 2008 was proof that even the best offense can't carry a team all the way. Well, as it turned out, the Rangers got almost exactly what they wanted.

The success of the rotation had hardly anything to do with how it began: Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla, Brandon McCarthy, Matt Harrison and Kris Benson (I'm wondering if Jon Daniels was somehow blackmailed into letting him pitch in place of Feldman). Not that these five made for an execrable rotation. It's just that what the Rangers had at the end was much improved: Kevin Millwood, Scott Feldman, Tommy Hunter, Derek Holland, and Brandon McCarthy (McCarthy only made a few starts at the end of the year). But it was a team effort, and all these pitchers are responsible for the team's first sub 4 ERA, a full run better than last year.

For the first few months, the bright spot was obviously Kevin Millwood, who was eating innings like a dog eats meat. He also compiled one of the league's best ERAs for the first half and it was looking like the Millwood from 2005 had returned. But, as we all know, he faded in the later months, making the choice for the Rangers best starter of 2009 clear: Scott Feldman. The fact that Scott spent most of April in the bullpen makes his 17 wins all the more impressive. Feldman's best month was August, during which he went 5-0 with a 2.89 ERA. Feldman's final numbers are somewhat deceiving, simply because his 4.08 ERA is due to his final three starts, all of which were filled with chagrin (and laid to rest any hopes of Cy Young consideration). Also, he had a terrific chance to get at least 19 wins, but lost his final three decisions. But overall, Feldman was brilliant, and easily deserving of the title 'Ace' on this team.

The other bright spot was Tommy Hunter, who won 9 games despite not making his first start until July 3rd. Hunter was plagued by a bad finish, in which his ERA rose above four and he failed to capture his somewhat coveted 10th win. But Hunter was a staple in the rotation during the second half, and his success definitely contributed to the Rangers staying in contention through September.

As for Kevin Millwood, his season still has to be acknowledged as a success, even though he was of almost no help during the team's most crucial games. But of the starters he had the best ERA at 3.67, and second most wins at 13. But if not for his dynamite finish (when any hopes of making the playoffs had all but vanished), Millwood's numbers would have been mediocre at best.

As far as the rest of the rotation goes, well, it wasn't exactly brilliant. Derek Holland was a disaster for the most part. Yes, he had a few games that were as dominant as any pitched in baseball this year, but coupled with those were some nightmarish outings that made his ERA (6.12) the highest among starters with at least 100 innings in the AL. Injuries put a damper on what looked to be a pretty bright rotation, as two of the keys, Brandon McCarthy and Matt Harrison went on the DL early. Harrison showed signs of brilliance, and McCarthy, who returned at the end of season, at least proved that he could make it past six innings. Now he has to prove that he actually stay healthy.

It seems like Vicente Padilla never even pitched for the Rangers this year. I think everyone has completely forgotten about him (though it was hard to ignore his recent 10 strikeout performance with the Dodgers), the players included. He wasn't terrible for the Rangers this year, going 8-6, but his attitude was inexcusable.

Overall, the rotation, though far from perfect, gave the team a chance, unlike last year. It was a year where pitching and defense was the real story, for once overshadowing the Rangers formidable, but slightly desultory offense.

When talking about the Rangers pitching in 2009, a lot of people will refer to the rotation. But to me, the real improvement was the bullpen, which had seven pitchers with ERAs below 4. For all the C.J. Wilson haters out there, you should take a look at his final line, which is nothing short of brilliant. Yes, he blew a few games, but his 2.81 ERA is one of the league's best, plus he ranked 5th in the AL with 74 appearances.

Also at the top of the line was Frank Francisco, who, despite several injuries, picked up 25 saves and was key for the Rangers during countless late innings.


But to me, the real hero of the 2009 bullpen was Darren O'Day, who ended up being one of the greatest finds in all of baseball this year. From his memorable first appearance in which he wore Kason Gabbard's jersey to his final glittering 1.94 ERA, O'Day was without a doubt a savior for this team.

The success of the pitching is attributed to many different things I believe, but none more than the arrival Mike Maddux, the tough, brilliant new pitching coach who looks like he came right out of the movie 'Tombstone'. I don't think it's a coincidence that a prized coach like Maddux arrives and suddenly the pitching shows drastic improvement. Maddux, a former big league pitcher himself, is about as knowledgeable about pitching as Roger Emrich is about high school football. I think it took Maddux a little while to get used to his new location, which could explain the team's pitching woes in April. But once he gained the trust of the players, and figured out how each of them played, he was able to instruct them on improving their game. And clearly, the results showed.

Finally, I'll leave you with my thoughts on one of the most exciting additions to the team this year, Neftali Feliz. Feliz was on fire when he first came up, striking out the first four hitters he faced and showing off with ease his 100 MPH fastball. All throughout August and the beginning of September Feliz put up staggering numbers. But then, he began to fade, losing some velocity as well as his control. Still, he finished with a 1.74 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 31 innings. Feliz will be battling for a rotation spot next year, which should be exciting. However, if he fails to impress and is put back in the bullpen, that won't exactly be a crime. Whenever Feliz came in this year, I always breathed a sigh of relief, despite the fact that he was only 21 and in his first months in the big leagues. As far as the drop in velocity, I wouldn't be too concerned. Feliz was clearly showing signs of fatigue over the long, grinding season in which he experienced a lot of things about the game, both physically and emotionally. Look for Feliz to be back next year with his fastball back in form, as well as improved off-speed pitches. Personally, I can't wait.