Yu Darvish vs. Neftali Feliz: Who Will Be the More Dominant First-Year Starter?

The Texas Rangers went from a team that was happy to finish above .500 to being back-to-back American League champions.

Their offense has always been thought of as pretty dominating, but pitching went from the worst in the league to one of the most formidable staffs in the majors.  The Rangers teams from the 2011 and 2012 will have one major thing in common—they both lost their No. 1 starter.  

In 2011 the Rangers lost a true, legitimate ace in Cliff Lee.  After acquiring Lee from the Seattle Mariners, the Rangers went on to win their first-ever playoff series and eventually go to the World Series.  

Lee was a workhorse and a machine in the postseason.  When he went to the Philadelphia Phillies, the Rangers were left with C.J. Wilson.  Wilson was a solid and serviceable No. 1, but his playoff record was nothing compared to Lee's.  

In fact, Wilson was the first pitcher in MLB history to lose a game in the ALDS, ALCS and the World Series all in the same year.  Not to mention, he lost the All-Star game.  After his stint as Texas' No. 1 starter, he went to the divisional rival Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.  

In 2012, the Rangers are again trotting out a new No. 1.  There is one big difference this year:  All eyes aren't on Colby Lewis to pick up the slack.  Everyone is looking for Yu Darvish and Neftali Feliz to pick up the slack. 

Both are first-time starters in the majors and both have major question marks.  Will either be successful?  Who will be more successful?  Can Feliz overcome one of the biggest meltdowns in major league history?  Will Darvish's game translate to America?  

They've both pitched this spring, and their stat lines are as follows:

Darvish—3 G, 9 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 10 SO, 7 BB, 0 HR, .207 AVG, 3.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP

Feliz—3 G, 8 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 7 SO, 2 BB, 1 HR, .290 AVG., 4.50 ERA, 1.38 WHIP

Clearly both have similar spring stat lines.  It also should be noted that spring stats aren't indicative of how a player will perform in the regular season.  

So who will be more successful?

A pitcher's arsenal and how they use it is one of the most important factors in determining success.  

Darvish is said to have around seven pitches and may have more in the tank.  Feliz has a devastating fastball and his change of speed can make major league players look silly.  Feliz also hits triple digits on the radar with ease.  

That being said, other clubs can catch up to it fast.  It'll be hard to sit on a pitch when the pitcher is offering up six or seven different variations every inning.  

Even though Feliz's blistering fastball is one of the best in the league, you have to give the arsenal nod to Darvish, who may throw close to 10 different pitches this year.

Neither has experience as a major league starter.  Darvish has been the best pitcher in the Japanese league for years.  He pitched in the World Baseball Classic and has had the spotlight on him his entire career.

Feliz has pitched in back-to-back World Series.  

The Japanese league doesn't compare to the majors; Feliz easily has more experience.  

Feliz has pitched in Texas for two-plus years now and has shown that he can handle the heat—for an inning or two at a time.  

Darvish has pitched in a climate-controlled dome for most of his career with more rest between starts than a typical starter in the majors.  He's also pitched a number of complete games and gone deep into games his entire career.  

With all things being equal basically on the fitness front, Darvish stands more of a chance to last as a starter.  He  depends on his secondary pitches when his fastball isn't working, and they are better than Feliz's.

When it's all said and done Darvish will be far more dominating.  He's been a starter his whole career.  He knows how to manage a game and he can handle adversity.  Darvish has shown a work ethic in his past that exceeds Feliz's, and he wants the ball in his hand. 

In last year's World Series, Texas manager Ron Washington didn't send the Rangers closer back into the game to seal the biggest game in franchise history because he was "upset." 

I know everyone says that athletes move on from things like that, but those guys haven't.  There is a fire inside of every one of them that wants to get a championship.  Feliz's mental makeup is definitely in question.  

Darvish carries himself like a winner.  He'll show in 2012 that he's the ace of the Rangers' future.