Easily the most intriguing story to unfold in the 2011 season is the shape of the pitching staff (no the Michael Young "tantrums" and trade demands do not count as intriguing). Jon Daniels and Nolan Ryan knew there were very real concerns surrounding the starting rotation and the noticeable lack of a true "Top of the Rotation Pitcher", herein referred to as TORP, and made aggressive attempts to land such talents as Cliff Lee, Zach Greinke, and in what I can conclude as a shear desperation attempt in Matt Garza. Though some would claim that any price tag was worth the return on investment we would receive in a season that should without question be tagged as "Win Now", the Rangers front office ultimately passed on each option determining that the asking price and the long-term implications it could have on the franchises resources were simply too steep. The debate will surely flare up at any point during this season if the starting pitching stumbles but hindsight will always be in perfect clarity and what's done is done.
Which leaves us to where we are now. As it stands, the regular rotations for this year's squad will likely end up being CJ Wilson, Colby Lewis, Matt Harrison, Derek Holland, and Tommy Hunter with Alexi Ogando ultimately moving back into the bullpen that is desperate for an 8th inning RH stopper. It doesn't take Buster Olney to see that this group possesses a ton of question marks. We still aren't sure exactly what we have in CJ and Colby as each have only 2010 results as evidence to support their standings. Tommy Hunter is solid but lacks true upside and without dominating raw "stuff" will at times get knocked around if his command falters even a bit. Matt Harrison looks fantastic now, but we've seen this bit before where he will shut down opposing teams for 3-4 starts and then just completely lose it. The champagne for Holland's breakout party has been on ice for several years now and despite flashing true brilliance, he has yet to find the sort of consistency in both performance and health to make him a true TORP. When looking at the group as a whole you certainly see a staff that despite its questions, has immense potential if they are ever able to put it all together. Though the potential for great things exist, in a season in which the window to win a championship is as wide as it may ever be, you can see why the front office would have liked to have acquired at least one "sure-thing" to put somewhere into the rotation.
However, the truth is that just about every team has these same concerns, and because of that it isn't as if there are a dozen TORP flooding the Free Agent market every season allowing every potential contender to acquire one. It is because of this that it becomes so important for a team to build from within and develop their own talents, and if you know anything about the "Jon Daniels Strategy" over the past few years you will know that the Ranger's have made this an essential part of their overall player personnel strategy. We're already seeing the dividends of this on the major league club with players like Feliz and Andrus amongst others. The excitement that goes hand in hand with a young talent ascending from a prospect to a producer certainly is compelling, but again this is a "Win-Now" squad. There is alot of risk involved with relying on young players making the adjustments to succeed at the Major League level. Jon Daniels knew this when formulating his plan and certainly recognized it going into the 2011 season. And with the Ranger's being unable to land the sort of talent like Cliff Lee that can stabilize and give credibility to any rotation, Daniels focused on the one area that he could make an impact at... Defense.
It's importance is an oft debated topic and there are numerous metrics used in these discussions to support or dismiss its value. But in a common sense approach, its hard to deny that "Runs Saved" are equally important as "Runs Scored". And with this in mind, the Rangers have assembled what looks to not only be good, but a potentially great defensive unit. Though casual fans, some national media members, and Michael Young's ego were oblivious to it, the fact simply exists that Young's defense at 3B (and really anywhere in the field at this point) is substandard. The defensive metrics support this just as much as the eye-ball test supports it. He has become a liability at what is a very essential defensive position and his offensive output simply is not substantial enough to justify remaining status quo. So with the market being dearth of TORP options, Jon Daniels went out and acquired the only premium 3B Free Agent available in Adrian Beltre. Without crapping too much on Michael Young (who I do, as a fan, like very much) its hard to emphasize enough just how vast of an upgrade Adrian Beltre will be over Young at 3B for the next 3 years. In just 8 games this season we have already witnessed arguably 2-3 plays that Beltre has made on balls that would have found a way past Young and pro-longed innings for our pitchers. Just to further emphasize this point in case it wasn't clear, but Adrian Beltre is one of (if not THE) best defensive 3B in the game over the past decade and it is those sort of plays that he is able to make that are going to be a huge asset in allowing our SP to go deeper into games more consistently.
So when you combine Beltre's elite range at 3B with Andrus' freakish range and every improving consistency at SS you have arguably the best Left Side of an infield that exists in the Big Leagues. Combine that with an outfield of Hamilton, Borbon, and Cruz and Torreabla behind the dish and you have a strong overall defensive unit that creates a very comforting environment for a young pitcher to flourish in, and success breeds confidence which is essential for young talented arms to trust their respective ability and reach their true potential. The defense has the potential to be so good, in fact, that we may see breakout season's from both Derek Holland and Matt Harrison which would be an incredible boon to the Rangers' short and long term ability to contend.
So when watching, please give the defense its due when it makes a routine out, because what is a routine play for talents like Beltre and Andrus could be a seeing eye single for other teams... and if we are to lay to rest the questions and concerns to currently exist regarding our starting rotation, the quality of the defense this season is going to be essential in alleviating those concerns.
P.S. Michael Young will be the first player in MLB History to win a Gold Glove at DH... just so ya know.
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