Bleacher Report - Articles by Patrick McClain

The Top Five Questions Facing the Texas Rangers in 2009

Patrick McClain — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 01:30:29 -0500

With all the talk of A-Rod taking steroids his entire career in Texas, people are overlooking the fact that the Rangers have a chance to compete for the AL West division in 2009 (a feat they never accomplished with the highest paid player in baseball). As the 2009 season begins, there are many challenges that face the Rangers. Texas has consistently had some of the worst pitchers in baseball, while having some of the best hitters. Will this change in 2009? Texas has also had great success in producing young successful infielders, but their farm system has lacked outfielders and pitchers. When they do get quality pitchers, they are usually traded away to provide success to other teams (Chris Young (SD), Edinson Volquez (CIN), and John Danks (CHW) to name a few). Can their young pitchers produce for Texas this season? Texas has also made many quiet off-season moves. They didn't sign Mark Teixeira, C. C. Sabathia, or A. J. Burnett, but they did sign Omar Vizquel and Andruw Jones to minor league contracts. How will that pan out for them. These are just a few of the questions that the Rangers face in 2009. And here are the Top 5 Questions Facing the Rangers as Spring Training approaches:

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Who Feels the Most Pressure in Sports?

Patrick McClain — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:20:53 -0500

Is it the closer in the ninth inning of Game Seven of the World Series, three outs away from reaching his dreams? Or is it the kicker as he attempts a 50-yard field goal in overtime of the Super Bowl?

Perhaps it's the basketball star who needs to make two free throws to tie the game with two seconds left? Or would it be the goalie staring down the kicker in the World Cup shootout?

The most intense moment in all of sports will probably boil down to what sport you're playing. Whether you're playing for the World Series, the Super Bowl, or the World Cup, it WILL be the most intense moment of your life.

But, what about throughout a given season: Who feels the most pressure?

To answer this questions, my friends and I composed a list of why a given player feels more pressure. We focused mainly on kickers and closers.

The Case for Kickers

1) You only get one shot: Kickers come into a game and they only have one option: perfection. Anything less and they will turn the ball over and, in the most intense situations, lose the game. Closers can make a bad pitch and not see any consequences.

2) It's 90 percent mental: Kickers in the NFL have already proven that they are physically capable of making a 50+ yard kick...But have they proven that they can do it with the game on the line? Can the kicker move on from the last time he missed a kick to lose the game for his team?

3) One loss is so much greater: Losing a football game on a kick during the regular season is more devastating than blowing a save. In 2008, the Angels' Francisco Rodriguez blew seven saves, but his team still finished with the best record in baseball.

Losing seven games as a kicker would at best put your team at (9-7) (In 2008, Arizona and San Diego were the only teams to make the playoffs with this record or worse).

4) One bad kick can ruin a career: In 2003, Mike Vanderjagt of Indianapolis had one of the best seasons a kicker has ever had: he never missed a field goal or a PAT. Two years later, he missed an important kick that ended up eliminating the Colts from the playoffs.

After that kick, he played one more subpar season for the Cowboys but never returned to his previous form.

In the 2005 NLCS, Houston's Brad Lidge gave up a three-run home run to Albert Pujols to give the Cardinals the win. The Astros did make it to the World Series, but Lidge pitched poorly (0-2 with a 4.91 ERA). After two more poor seasons in Houston, he was traded to Philadelphia.

In 2008, he was not only a perfect 41-41 in save opportunities, but he helped the Phillies win their first World Series in almost 30 years.

The Case for Closers

1) It's a marathon vs. a sprint: Kickers need to come into the game and make one perfect kick. The closer, on the other hand, needs to come into the game and pitch one perfect inning, which could last anywhere from three to 30 pitches or more. Closers need to consistently stay perfect in each of their outings.

2) The closer has more to think about: Kickers aren't the only players who have to keep their wits in check when they're on the field. But, for the closer, there are so many more things to think about: should he throw a fastball, changeup, slider, high and tight, low and away, walk this batter?

A kicker needs to know what yard line he's on and the wind speed. Closer can get much more frustrated in their situations.

3) The closer needs to rely on more than just himself: The pitcher has many more problems to run into. He needs to be confident that his defense is capable of making the play. He needs to be sure that they are ready and that their minds aren't elsewhere. He needs to have faith in his catcher to call the right pitches.

4) The closer has to face another human being: In football, it is just the kicker vs. himself (and possibly the weather). In baseball, the closer needs to outperform a batter who is paid millions of dollars to hit the ball.

It isn't as simple as throwing a pitch that the hitter can't hit because at this level, every hitter can hit all of his pitches. He needs to throw the batter off-balance and keep him guessing so that the hitter won't make solid contact.

The Verdict

Although it is still up for discussion, and I strongly urge people to post comments with their thoughts, my friends and I came to a conclusion:

A kicker feels more pressure when the game is on the line.

He has less breathing room than a closer. And although he doesn't have to rely on his teammates as much as a closer does, this fact actually puts MORE pressure on the kicker because it is all up to him.

What it really boils down to is when the kicker needs to make a kick, nothing less than perfection will suffice.

Michael Young Asked For Trade Out Of Texas

Patrick McClain — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 23:23:28 -0500

Last month, Texas Rangers shortstop Michael Young asked to be traded out of Texas after the team asked him to move to third base.

With Elvis Andrus projected to be a better defensive shortstop than Young, it makes sense for Young to move to third base.

Young did, however, just win a Golden Glove at the position in 2008. It might be a little insulting to ask him to move positions—again.

In 2001, the Rangers converted Young into a second basemen to make room for Alex Rodriguez. Then again, in the 2003-2004 offseason, they moved Young back to shortstop after Texas swapped Alex Rodriguez for Alfonso Soriano (then a 2B).

Young is still very capable of playing quality SS, but is his price tag too high for teams to go after him? Michael is owed $80 million over five5 seasons (through age 37).

In order to trade Young, the Rangers would likely have to take on another bad contract.

Will Frank Francisco Make an Effective Closer For Texas?

Patrick McClain — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:04:21 -0500

Frank Francisco ended his 2008 season by going a respectable 5-for-5 in save opportunities. Although this does not guarantee him the job in 2009, he is the front-runner to close games for the Rangers.

But will he be effective in 2009?

To be effective, a closer needs to hold leads late in games when the pressure becomes unbearable for most.

One stat that can be used to measure how well a pitcher performs in pressure situations is his K/BB ratio. If a closer can keep this stat high, he'll be able to keep players off the basepaths and decrease the other teams ability to manufacture runs.

In 2008, Frankie had a K/BB ratio of 3.19 in 63.1 IP.

Compared to closers with at least 30 saves he would rank between Joakim Soria and Brad Lidge (putting him ahead of Major League saves leader Francisco Rodriguez).

If Frank Francisco can keep his strikeouts high and limit the number of walks he allows, he will enjoy success as the Rangers closer in 2009.