Webb, Wilson, and Lewis all walk into a bar...

Wait, have you heard this one already? Darn. Anyways, as you could've probably guessed, today we're taking a look into the Ranger's rotation, with returning club leader C.J. Wilson, who had fifteen wins last year, injured Cy Young award winner Webb, who is looking better and better everyday, and possible wild card Neftali Feliz, who walked away with Rookie of the Year last year for his forty saves as Rangers' closer all playing huge factors. And, since the departure of He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Name (I refuse to say his name, damn it!), there is no true number one on the pitching staff. Yet, that is.

The true question here is whether or not Webb is going to return to his Cy Young form, and if he can stay there. I think we can all agree that, before his injury, he was at the top of his game. The Rangers have already made it clear that they won't rush him back, to protect that shoulder he had surgery on. If he does, he'll easily be the number one pitcher in the Ranger rotation. But until then, there's a huge question mark hovering over Webb's head.

C.J. Wilson made the transition from bull pen pitcher to full on starter last year, and from the moment he stepped on the mound, he took the bull by the horns, so to say. He led the club with fifteen wins, and had a 3.35 ERA by the end of the regular season. Not bad for your first season as a starter. Now, the question is whether or not the lefty can repeat, or even improve, his stellar pitching from last year. He did struggle a little in the play offs, but he still is one of the best pitchers the Rangers have. I personally think that C.J. Wilson is even better than he was last year.

Colby Lewis electrified Rangers fans last year in the play offs, being the only pitcher to snatch a win from the San Francisco Giants, pitched like a mad genius against the Yankees. Seems like that time spent in the Japanese League did some good for him. Now, he's back for a second season, and hopefully he'll be able to carry over his post season success into the start of the 2011 regular season. He had a 3.72 ERA, which is higher than most pitching coaches want. We'll just have to see with Lewis, as he's the only other pitcher to be guaranteed a spot in the starting rotation. People may be quick to defend Lewis, but let's not forget the Scott Feldman fiasco from last year.

Which brings us to the next segment of today's article; who's going to fill the other 2/3 spots on the rotation (remember, Webb is probably not going to be ready by the time the regular season rolls around)?

There's a lot of talk about transforming electrifying closer Neftali Feliz into a starting pitcher. He's got a triple digit fast ball, as well as a mean curve ball, yet lacks that coveted third pitch that starters are almost required to have. He struggle a bit last year with his accuracy (especially when shooting to break 100 mph), but as soon as he began controlling his speed, his accuracy picked up. He does tend to hang his fast balls sometimes, leading to ugly home runs or long fly balls. But, forty saves is nothing to scoff at. He did win AL Rookie of the Year, after all.

Now, the only thing standing in Feliz's way is long reliever Alexi Ogando, another kid with a pair of strong pitches but lacking a good third one. To me, when comparing Ogando to Feliz, I see two of the same kind of pitchers. Ogando commands a high ninety's fastball, and his slider has some ridiculous movement on it. While he did make some knuckle headed plays during the 2010 regular season (cough, Red Sox, cough, cough), he did settle down some as the season went on. In my opinion, we're going to see either Feliz or Ogando in the starting rotation during the 2011 regular season, and whoever loses will take over as closer. I'm making the prediction that that person is Ogando, not Feliz, simply because Feliz was so good closing last season.

The rest of the spots on the rotation are a toss up, really. I see Tommy "Big Game" Hunter making the rotation again, since he had thirteen wins last season (but did not meet expectations in the play offs). The pitcher who is awarded the fifth spot on the rotation, or the "Webbed" spot as I like to call it, will act like more of a custodian taking care of it until Webb is healthy. It's most likely going to come down to Matt Harrison, Derrik Holland, and Kirkman. My money's on Holland, as the Rangers still like what they see in the young pitcher.

This year, there are a lot of holes to fill, thanks to you-know-who, but the Rangers (in my opinion) sport some of the best young talent in the American League, and have a solid shot at being able to repeat and head back to the World Series. They just have to handle it right.

Texas Rangers Watch: Thoughts on Michael Young

The Texas Rangers Watch is a blog that will review games, report news, and give my perspective on matters concerning the Texas Rangers organization. I'm simply a life time fan of the team who wants to share his enthusiasm with other baseball fans, in hopes to help them see just what makes this team so great to watch.

Let's start this off with a little information about myself. I'm eighteen going on nineteen, and have been watching the Rangers play ever since I can remember. I've been to many games, and seen many players come and go over the years.

My greatest ambition is to become a successful novelist, and to become as successful as my idol, Stephen King. I do believe that starting a blog (even if nobody reads or likes it) is a crucial part of achieving my dream, since being able to write constructively every day is very important to someone who wants to follow that particular career path.

As we all know, the words "trade" and "misled" along with the name "Michael Young", has been widely reported the past few weeks. For those who don't know, Michael Young requested a trade after being moved to a DH/Super Utility position after the team signed Ex-Red Sox Third Baseman Adrian Beltre, and then acquired Mike Napoli, a catcher who has some experience playing first base, as well, after promising Michael Young plenty of at bats and playing time in the infield.

Now, Young is in Surprise, Arizona for Spring Training, and it appears everything is all honky-dory with the team now, but that hasn't stopped the ever widening chasm that's splitting between huge fans of Michael Young, and fans of the success of the team.

Here's my position; I've brought along a pair of stilts and have found the middle ground in this whole fiasco. After all the "he-said-she-saids", after all the attempts by Michael to hide the dirty laundry, to the news (especially ESPN) trying to bring as much "mud" to the light as possible, I have found a way to respect both the decision of Jon Daniels to move Michael yet again, to Young's request for a trade.

What's my big thought, you might ask; here it is. As a true Rangers fan, I don't condone Jon Daniels for moving Michael Young again, because it makes room for a superior player. I also don't have a problem with Young wanting a trade because of it, because, again as a fan, I would rather see a player like him play full time for another team in the infield than waste away at DH. If he does get his trade during the regular season, then I'm fine with it, though I will be sad to see him go.

So, fellow fans of the Rangers, don't allow these events to split our faithfuls from each other. Simply accept the flow of the game, and get ready to watch our guys kick some serious butt in the American League West.