Relief.
Mavs out of the way Rangers now the sole focus Time to turn it on. Scott Feldman deserved better yesterday, and while Darren O'Day and Dustin Nippert aren't in danger of losing their jobs, the bullpen has been a problem, accounting for seven of the club's 12 losses (last year's relief corps lost 19 games all year) and a .461 slug. It's easy to point quickly to the absence of C.J. Wilson, but that's lazy, as Darren Oliver has been effective in Wilson's vacated role. The problems are elsewhere. Neftali Feliz and Frankie Francisco have contributed most heavily to the troublesome bullpen numbers, and they're not going anywhere either, but it's fair to assume that, in the natural course of things, reinforcements will be needed in various relief roles over the remaining 140 games, and there are several young relievers on the farm – including three who weren't stateside in the system last year – pushing for whiteboard discussions at 1000 Ballpark Way. There were fewer than 6,000 paid in Frisco last night for the RoughRiders' 1-0, 11-inning win over San Antonio (fans of both clubs probably had another Thursday evening sports appointment), but what happened in the top halves of the eighth and ninth was probably worth noting. Alexi Ogando, after three "starts" (designed to keep the relief prospect's innings carefully managed), was shifted to the bullpen (perhaps to begin getting him used to the situations he'll be asked to handle, and maybe to get him more regular work than the rotation assignment allowed). And Tanner Scheppers worked on two days' rest for the first time and pitched one inning, having had his first five Frisco appearances spaced out further and logging two frames at a time. Again, this could be an effort to step up the grooming process. Their work last night, the first game they pitched in together: Ogando's seventh: perfect inning, groundout-flyout-groundout. Seven pitches, four strikes. Reportedly worked 95-96, mixing in his advanced slider. Scheppers's eighth: perfect inning, strikeout looking-groundout-flyout. Thirteen pitches, nine strikes. Reports of 96-98 and dirtiness in his own power curve and change. Ogando this season (holding opponents to 2 for 34, fanning 14 of 34 batters faced, .059/.111/.088):
DATEIPHRERBBSOHRPITCHESSTRIKESApr 10 2.2 0 0 0 1 3 0 39 25 Apr 19 3.0 1 1 1 0 3 0 44 34 Apr 25 4.0 1 0 0 1 8 0 59 43 Apr 29 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 4 TOTALS 10.2 2 1 1 2 14 0 149 106
Scheppers (holding opponents to 3 for 38, punching out half of his batters faced, .079/.079/.158):
DATEIPHRERBBSOHRPITCHESSTRIKESApr 92.01000303222Apr 132.01110313422Apr 172.00000302618Apr 222.01000402618Apr 262.00000502719Apr 291.0000010139TOTALS11.03110191158108
Omar Beltre, working out of the Oklahoma City bullpen, is probably going to get some work tonight in relief of lefthander Michael Kirkman, hoping to finish off an impressive April (to date: 8.2 innings, two runs [2.08 ERA] on six hits [all singles] and five walks [.194/.297/.194], 12 strikeouts, eye-opening ratio of 10 groundouts to three flyouts). He's been pitching on two or three days' rest each time out. Will Scheppers, Ogando, and Beltre be up this year? For various reasons (long-term shoulder risk for the former, age for the latter two), it might make sense to err on the side of pushing them a bit. It's too soon, but given the erratic start that the big club has had in the bullpen this month, it's hard not to keep one eye on what's happening with those three out of the gate. The other benefit, of course, is that very few pitchers jump into big league games with the kind of success and reliability that Feliz provided last summer. Scheppers, Ogando, and Beltre are going to be counted on to help in 2011. It would make sense to get them used to the major leagues in 2010, and get the acclimation period out of the way. The way those three are dealing, the acclimation period may belong to opposing hitters. =========================================================== To join the free Newberg Report mailing list so you can get e-mail deliveries of every edition of the newsletter, daily minor league game recaps, and frequent Newberg Report News Flashes, go to www.newbergreport.com and click the "Mailing List" link on the top menu bar. (c) Jamey Newberg http://www.newbergreport.com Twitter @newbergreport