Ogando moving back into starting rotation
Manager’s decision could leave gaping hole in the bullpen.
SURPRISE, ARIz. — As the Texas Rangers map out their pitching, they lean toward the “rob Peter to pay Paul” approach.
Take from the bullpen to firm up the rotation.
Manager Ron Washington declared Wednesday that righthander Alexi Ogando is the fourth starter. Ogando again lacked command of the fastball but showed a better slider in striking out six and allowing one run during a three-inning appearance against the Chicago Cubs.
Left-hander Robbie Ross is a legitimate candidate for the fifth spot, Washington said. Ross threw strikes and allowed one run and four hits in four innings against the Cubs.
Ogando and Ross combined for 128 innings in 115 relief appearances last season. They were a collective 8-0 with three saves and 21 “holds” — preserved save opportunities. They appeared regularly in the sixth and seventh innings when the Rangers led.
What would a bullpen be without them this season? Is robbing Peter to pay Paul the ideal way to go?
“I’m not thinking about Peter or Paul,” Washington said. “We’re going to put a bullpen together. If Robbie ends up taking the fifth spot, someone else has to take that spot in that bullpen.
“We’ll be filling holes all season.”
The Rangers did not have that problem last season.
The bullpen was deep and defined. Righthanders Mike Adams and Koji Uehara, both of whom departed in the off-season as free agents, joined Ogando and Ross in getting leads to closer Joe Nathan. The bullpen had the third-best record (21-14) and second-fewest blown saves (nine) in the American League.
As Washington said, there are bullpen holes this season.
“I have more concern about the bullpen right now than I do the rotation,” general manager Jon Daniels said. “I’m paid to worry about everything, but I feel better about where the rotation is on paper.”
That rotation will include Ogando, Washington vowed. Washington acknowledged Ogando performed well as a reliever last season but pointed to his success as a starter in 2011.
Ogando was 13-8 with a 3.51 ERA in 29 starts. He went 9-3 with a 2.92 ERA in the first half to make the American League AllStar team.
He also took a nosedive in the second half. Opponents picked up on his fastball-slider combination, and Ogando went 4-5 with a 4.62 ERA after the All-Star Game. The Rangers reached the World Series with him in the bullpen during the playoffs.
“He went through that experience and knows what it takes,” Washington said.
To make it in his second try at starting, Ogando needs an off-speed pitch and better command of the fastball against lefthanded hitters. The Cubs’ left-handed hitters were 1-for-3 with a walk against Ogando. He threw five changeups, three for strikes.
The fastball again was inconsistent. Ogando had only 17 strikes on 31 fastballs. He twice walked the first hitter in an inning.