When I bought the ticket, probably about a month and a half ago or so, I asked my old roommate if he wanted to go. Knowing he is a pretty good Rangers fan and that he lived in Abilene, I knew that he would pony up some cash to get pretty good seats. So I checked the hub and got tickets for section 15, row 2 for 40 bucks each after all was said and done and we were very pleased with the selection.
I was also excited to find out last week that Nefty would be going up against fellow Irving, Tx product Blake Beavan. That kid looks like he is going to have a great career, and will go far as long as he gets away from the Mariners. I really want to see Justin Smoak do well. I have a soft spot for him, I think just because he was supposed to be our saving grace from Chris Davis. He was exciting two years ago to watch, especially with his first homer in the all you can eat seats, but never really got his BA high enough to be deadly. He will be good one day.
Anyways, Neftali came out of the gate with stuff that reminded me of the previous night with a walk to start off the game. Nefty quickly was able to gain control of his fastball and get it over the plate. He walked Ichiro, putting Figgins on second. But soon after Smoak got the GIDP and ended the inning. He then sat down the next 8 batters in order. He good.
I think I read somewhere that he threw his fastball something like 70% the first time through the order, then only threw it 40% after that. I'm not going to bore you with numbers from the game, but I find this facinating. Feliz's goto pitch when he was a closer was of course his fastball. He relied on it because he could blow it by the batters at 98 or higher consistently. My worry going into this season with Neftali starting was his secondary pitches. The fact that he started mixing in more changeups and his slider is fantastic. Shows his versitility.
Another fact about the game that got me floored with Feliz is that he threw 108 pitches. Being a closer last year he would throw 1 inning for normally around 15 pitches, give or take. Be able in 4 months to build your stamina to handle the work load of a seasoned starter is very impressive. I am aware that Neftali did start in the minors, and was damn good. But I heard a few writers say how difficult it could be moving from throwing a ton of pitches, to closing, then going back to starting. Another thing I take away from this pitch count is that Wash has faith. I think that may be huge for Neftali's confidence. When Nolan came into this organization, he said that this team will no longer put pitchers on a pitch limit, and that they were done when they were finished. Seems like everyone is on board with that philosophy, which shows with letting Nefty, and Darvish for that matter, go as long as he did.
Aaaaand finally, to talk about the other performing portions of the game real quick. The only run was scored by Mike Young on a Murph hit. Mike got a double with Beltre already on base. Beltre got caught in the run down going from second to third, allowing Young to get on second. Young moved over to third on a wild pitch. Then Murph did what he's done more than half the time this season, get a hit. I've always viewed him as clutch, but he has really stepped it up to another level this year it seems. And speaking of another level, there is our bullpen. Adams, one of my two favorite Ranger's (Beltre's the other), came in and shut down 3 in order. Joe Nathan did the same. So far in this season, Nathan is the only pitcher to give up any earned runs, just the one homer. This gives the Texas Ranger bullpen a .63 ERA. They good.
This team looks complete, and I am very pleased with it. They have the same goal, with the same intensity. Things are working.
FYR
No comments:
Post a Comment