The Rangers are 1/3 of the way through the season and their record stands at 32-22 which means if they play like this the rest of the season they will finish 96-66. That record would be good enough to win the West and compete for the best record in the AL. This will be a 4-part series covering the Starting Pitchers, Relievers, Infielders, and Outfielders.
First, we evaluate the Pitchers:
Kevin Millwood's Stats: 12 Starts, 2 Complete Games, 85 IP, 5-4, 2.96 E.R.A.
He is finally starting to pitch like an Ace this season with 9 of his 12 starts going at least 7 innings including last night's start in Boston. Nolan has had an incredible impact on Millwood getting to go at least 1 more inning in each start. Millwood's grade: A
Vincente Padilla's Stats: 9 Starts, 53.1 IP, 3-3, 5.57 E.R.A.
Much has been said of Padilla on this website alone, so I won't bore you with repeating myself. If you look just at the stats I would give him a C, but you have to look at the whole picture.
Padilla's grade: F
Brandon McCarthy's Stats: 11 Stats, 1 Complete Game Shutout, 64 IP, 5-2, 4.92 E.R.A.
Much like Millwood, McCarthy is looking like he has turned a corner on his struggles. He had a rough start in New York, but that has more to do with the ballpark than his pitching. It is concerning that he is a fly-ball pitcher having to pitch in the Ballpark, but he has shown flashes of why the Rangers wanted him in the first place. Keep in mind that he is only 25 years old and is looking at finishing the season with 15 wins. The guy that the Rangers traded away for Brandon, John Danks, is 4-4 on the season with a 5.10 E.R.A. Give the edge so far in this season to McCarthy! McCarthy's grade: B-
Scott Feldman's Stats: 8 Starts, 54.2 IP, 5-0, 3.79 E.R.A.
Feldman has been consistent ever since he got into the rotation when Benson went on the DL. He is continuing to lower the E.R.A. with every start and he even beat the Yankees his last time out in New York. He is another young pitcher, 26, with a bright future.
Feldman's grade: A
Matt Harrison's Stats: 9 Starts, 2 Complete Games, 1 Shutout, 54.2 IP, 4-4, 5.43 E.R.A.
He is currently on the DL, but is looking to come off next week. The 23-year old pitcher has looked dominating at times this season with a complete game shutout under his belt already. But at other times he has struggled much like his age would suggest he would. In his last two starts, he has given up 12 runs in 10 innings.
Harrison's grade: C
Derek Holland's Stats: 2 Starts, 27 IP, 1-2, 6.33 E.R.A.
I have him listed as a starter because he is starting today in Boston (though he is headed for the bullpen) and he has been in the rotation the last few weeks. I watched his first start personally in Houston and he was brilliant except for the ball he left over the plate to Berkman in the 5th inning. His pitches have a lot of movement on them and he rountinely he throws his fastball between 93-95 mph. But like Harrison, he has flat-out struggled at times to get guys out. He is incredibly young, 22, and the sky is the limit. He is going to go through growing pains this season and the fans have to be patient.
Holland's grade: D
Would you have given any of these guys a different grade?
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