Texas Rangers: Pitchers Need a Plan

Ok, if you watch baseball you know what components are key to winning a quality game: smart pitching, smart hitting, smart baserunning, and, yes, even smart coaching.

Your Texas Rangers have definitely got smart baserunning and hitting.

They work the count almost every at bat against some of the best pitchers in the game, and they capitalize on run-scoring opportunities by not making mistakes on the base path.

If the game consisted only of offense, the Rangers would be sitting pretty atop the American League, but since it doesn't, they are struggling to stay above .500.

To get to the point, our pitching kills us.

I'm not saying that the pitchers are bad, because they all have their shining moments (C.J. closing out two against the Yankees, for example). What they lack is consistency, and possibly helpful coaching.

Too often the Rangers hurlers are walking opponents in key situations. And, even worse, throwing fastballs down the pipe to proven sluggers.

So what I propose is a plan.

What I mean is a pitching plan against each batter - don't throw low fastballs to Ortiz, nothing inside to Carlos Quentin, etc.

This kind of "plan" for each hitter would require pre-game preparation in the form of reviewing stats and looking at tapes. This would provide an edge that any pitcher could utilize, even when they don't have their best stuff.

The catcher, of course, would have to be well rehearsed in the "plan" as well. I don't imagine it would be too difficult to do either, since teams play each other three times in a row and several more times throughout the season.

So this is what I think would most benefit the Rangers pitching staff: preparation.

Because to succeed, you don't necessarily need the best stuff, just the right stuff.

Just look at "Everyday" Eddie Guardado.