The OFFICIAL 2011 Texas Rangers' Season Thread

[LonghornDub]

Originally Posted by Murphy3

Here's the thing about the Rangers.. They do have a couple of guys that can be legit #2's on a very good team. Wilson and Lewis have stuff good enough for that and they have a bit of a track record as a starter (all of one year). What they need is for some of these younger/less experienced guys to step up consistently and get to the #3 type starter level. If you've got a group of 4 guys that are legit top 3 starters, then you've got a shot. They need Wilson and Lewis to be at least at the level that they were at last year, and they need some guys to step up.

The Rangers have alot of young guys with stuff good enough to be top 3 rotation pitchers. Ogando certainly does. Holland is often viewed as a guy that can top out as a #2. Many have looked at Harrison as a guy that can top out as a #3. Personally, I think his stuff could move that up to a #2 if all worked out. Obviously, you don't know what to expect out of Webb. Personally, I don't expect much, but we know that his top side before his injury was a #1. With Hunter..well, I think he tops out as a #3-4 with him being a #4-5 guy much more likely. I also think he'll have some trouble getting his rotation spot back.

Ideally, you'd like for guys to step up from within. And yeah, they have that ability. Perhaps they don't have alot of ace type pitchers in the majors right now, but there may be one on the way here in a year or two.

So would your assessment be that having a real "#1 ace" type isn't necessary if you have a really strong top 3-4?

[Murphy3]

Originally Posted by LonghornDub

So would your assessment be that having a real "#1 ace" type isn't necessary if you have a really strong top 3-4?

Obviously, you'd like to have an ace. But, there's something to be said for having 3-4 guys that are capable of shutting another team down at any time.

[LonghornDub]

Originally Posted by Murphy3

Obviously, you'd like to have an ace. But, there's something to be said for having 3-4 guys that are capable of shutting another team down at any time.

Yeah, and I don't want to sound like I'm underselling the guys on the staff right now. I'm kinda wondering what the philosophy will be from management going forward if, say as thiggy noted, an ace became available later in the season.