David Bush and Alexi Ogando get new roles with the Texas Rangers as options close out
Manager, Ron Washington has a long testing tenure ahead of him in the 2011 Major League Baseball campaign. The skipper has the hard task of rotation beforehand. With Brandon Webb out of the picture till May, and no comfortable replacements on the mound for
a closer’s position, Washington has two slots vacant in the starting cast, with some open space in the bullpen.
Much to the expectation of the fans, Alexi Ogando is given the green light on a starter’s role, while David Bush is looking to jolt his minor league contract with an effective role in the bullpen. Neftali Feliz will have to remain a closer for the Texans,
and while Tommy Hunter recovers from a groin muscle injury, a fourth starter will have to be brought in.
The decision was announced by Washington who is still in Surprise, Arizona, searching for answers. Ogando is an excellent reliever and is considered the club’s best set up man for the eighth inning. Replacing him on the mound will be indeed difficult, and
has led the club to consider other options in the squad. Brett Tomko, Eric Hurley, and Michael Kirkman are options in the team but it is believed they will offer little competition to the rivals.
Kirkman is going to be heading to Triple A Round Rock, while the rest will need to be given a thorough evaluation. Washington talked about Ogando as he informed him of his new role.
"Everything is a possibility at this point," Washington said. "We just told him we're going to get him stretched out. But we haven't told him he's a starter. We're not ready to say that yet."
Bush is another man who is happy to make an impression. He was able to talk of his new role with the club.
"I said I'll pitch in whatever role is necessary," Bush said. "I have no issues with that at all. Coming in on a Minor League contract, odds weren't necessarily in my favour. I had to work hard this spring and pitch as well as I could. I'll try to bear that
out when the season starts."
If the Rangers want to be the best, they will need their stars to come back to the lineup soon. Otherwise, a post season spot will be hardly foreseeable.
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