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Texas Rangers

Texas Rangers Set Opening Day Pitching Staff and Who the Heck is Mason Tobin?

By Richie Whitt Wed., Mar. 30 2011 at 9:47 AM

Categories: Texas Rangers

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Don't laugh, we'll actually see this jersey on the mound for the Rangers this season

A year ago today we were dissecting the depth of a Texas Rangers' pitching staff anchored by No. 1 and 2 starters named Scott Feldman and Rich Harden. Hopefully that perspective will soften the blow of a 2011 rotation that includes Alexi Ogando and a bullpen that features Mark Lowe, Dave Bush and somebody named Mason Tobin.

Somehow the Rangers absorbed horrible years by Feldman (still recovering from microfracture surgery on his knee) and Harden (now hurt -- surprise! -- with the Oakland A's) and won the American League.

Can they repeat this year with this staff? Mike Maddux, prepare to work your magic.

In front of former CEO Chuck Greenberg in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, last night Ogando looked solid, allowing one run in six innings in a 6-2 victory over Coastal Carolina University. The Rangers finish their exhibition schedule tonight in Round Rock before Friday's opener against the Boston Red Sox at Rangers Ballpark.

Ogando, who will pitch the fourth regular-season game against the Seattle Mariners, allowed three hits but walked four. Neftali Feliz, yo-yo'd back to the bullpen as the closer, gave up a run on two hits and a walk in the ninth.

Earlier in the day the club announced former AL MVP Jeff Burroughs and all-time franchise pitching wins leader Charlie Hough will throw out the ceremonial first pitches Friday. Maybe Hough and his dancing, darting knuckleball should suit up.

Otherwise, the Rangers may have to actually rely on Tobin. Who?

The starting rotation is set with C.J. Wilson, followed by Colby Lewis, Derek Holland, Ogando and Matt Harrison. The bullpen will include Lowe, Bush, Tobin and Pedro Strop in long relief, set-up men Darren Oliver, Arthur Rhodes and Darren O'Day and Feliz as the closer.

Saw all those guys throw out in Surprise a couple weeks ago -- except for Tobin, a right-hander with a pedigree as rare as his path to Texas. He has a unique sports upbringing in Montana of all places and is apparently a Rule 5 draft choice from the Anaheim Angels (via a trade from the Chicago Cubs). Tobin hasn't pitched in two years because of Tommy John surgery in 2009. And he's never thrown above Class A.

Said manager Ron Washington of Tobin last weekend in Surprise, "We'll have to pick his fights."

Chaaaaaarrrrrrrge?

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Tags:

Alexi Ogando, Baseball, Colby Lewis, Mike Maddux, Nolan Ryan, Ron Washington

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Fear the chicken.....
Damn kid!! Get off your dad's computer and go do your damn homework!
The Hungry Huggster was at the game last night on the beach.....freakin' cold, it was. But, it was watching my Rangers, even if they were playing the Chanticleers.....what is a Chanticleer, you ask? Apparently, it's a big ol' chicken.....or rooster....I just didn't want to say rooster, because of.....you know.....Rooster. Thought he might get upset that I used his name.
What's everyones beef with Richie saying what the what? I think its cute.
Richie, I don't expect you to know too much. Hell, you and Greggo had never heard of Caltech when you were reporting that they had broken their 26 year conference losing streak in basketball. You guys were actually mocking them.
Got a bad feeling about this year's Ranger squad. Like .500 and miss the playoffs bad. Would love to be wrong, but just about every single decision this franchise made since the World Series has been failed.
He's this year's O'Day, came from the same team too..littlest of tickets have been talking about him competing for one of the last spots for 3-4 weeks..
I know, Frisco chicks is A/OK. Beltre=Meh.
Everything is so right, especially about opening day. Don't forget the Chris Chris' that tailgate all morning and get blasted ass drunk that they're puking during the game.
that was for non work related activities. Arizona is great with all its spas and rehab facilities.
Kerg, Beltre isn't a spare. He's better than the defensive colander that Young was at third, plus he can hit his fair share. I'm calling 88 wins myself. And there's nothing wrong with Frisco wives. They like having their fake jugs and pilates-toned asses looked at because hubbie is tired of paying her bills and making her feel special for her lack of education and job skills.
Hey kergs, all the jackass mf'ers who bitch about driving to arlington and say they dont go bc its not in Dallas are the same mf'ers casuing you and I to miss opening day bc the Rangers are winners now. Anyhow, a last place finish this year and ill be able to get opening day next year. On a side note, who at the MLB offices or Rangers front office owns or is invested in a ticket broker business. I mean opening day sells out always, then you add in a WS appearance, then you have us open against the Bosox. These damn secondary market tickets are more expensive than the World Series tickets were. I smell something fishy, oh wait thats the chick in the cubicle next to me
Who is Mason Tobin? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mason_Tobin Plus, if you've paid attention at all this Spring Training, you'd know. Hell, you spent a week in Arizona, didn't you?
This thing is getting worse and worse as it progresses. It started with Clee bailing, followed by Mike not wanting to be here. Then you add two spares (Beltre and fatbutt Napoli) and delete Frankie, followed by Chuck walking, and injuries.......methinks this thing is in trouble! I know that the A's and Coach Big Mike are not scared. I really fear this thing now is good for, ummm, 85 wins. I can't wait until this thing recorrects itself next year and I can go to opening day again; I've only missed like 5 of these in 30 years. But Mike in Frisco has to take his whole family, including his painted, high heeled toting wife who couldn't give two hoots about being at the Temple. She's rather be at Stonebriar or driving that montrous SUV around, texting about banal bullsh%t. Why would you ever take the wife to a baseball game if she REALLY didn't want to go? On a happy note, the Sox are good for 101 and another championship:
I hope the Rangers can prove all the doubters wrong, including myself. I'm as big a Rangers fan as anybody, but the Rangers don't get by Tampa Bay in the 1st round of the playoffs last year without CLee, and probably not the Yankees either. I still think they would have won the division without him and they hopefully can win the division again this year. But if the Rangers fail to get another TORP (top of the rotation pitcher) by the trade deadline - even if they win the division again - it will be a first round exit for my favorite baseball team. The only way this changes is if Holland suddenly puts it all together and develops into the TORP this team desperately needs or if Ogando shocks us all. I'm not holding my breath.
Scruff, you are correct, he had to make the 40 man or the Rangers lost the rights to him. And who gives a shit who or what his name is, as long as he can pitch then I dont care if the name on the jersey says chingchanghasso. Sank You
At least you didn't say "What The What?!>!"
If the last guy in the bullpen is the biggest beef, doesn't that mean it's a pretty decent pen? I'm far more concerned with O'Day leaving everything up and getting his fastballs transformed into little Rawlings satellites in orbit by batters during spring training than what a kid named Tobin will do. Plus I think his Rule 5 status meant they had to put him on the 40 man or lose him, but I'm by no means an expert on that. I'm not loving this staff, but it could be worse. I am jealous of the A's starters though.
Our pitching this year makes me want to vomit, but I think I have felt that way the beginning of every season since I became a fan as a little kid. I want to put my trust in Nolan, but even he doesn't seem optimistic about it. On the Hardline yesterday (I had to switch from the Fan b/c they feel the need to talk nascar now) they were saying that if the Rangers have a poor year, everyone will think that CLee is the only reason we made the World Series last year; and that many people in MLB think that already. I hope they prove everyone wrong, but with the pitching Nolan and JD put together this year...I don't feel great about it. I drove by a billboard yesterday and I guess this year's slogan is 'My Texas. My Rangers'. They should have gone with 'It's Still Time'...to remind Nolan and JD that we enjoyed having a great team last year and we don't want to be a one year wonder. I think they may have forgotten. Looks like they are still going to be wearing the awful uniforms they had last year. They need to stick with the blue and get a jersey that actually says 'Rangers' on it...what a concept. The new video boards look great and were way overdue. 2 days left!
I'm going to take a huge chug of Ranger coolaid and proclaim this is finally going to be the puts-it-all-together year for Dutch. 13 wins, 175 innings and a sub 3.80 ERA. And Ogando is going to be the toast of AL pitchers thru May. 5-6 wins to start the year I'm thinking, which will force the Rangers to keep him in the rotation. Mmmm delicious Ranger red coolaid...