Texas Rangers still working on Bullpen mix
While the Texas Rangers overwhelmingly took care of the Los Angeles Angels on April 18, 2011, with a 7–1 victory, manager, Ron Washington, took the opportunity to talk about other important issues related to the team’s roster.
The main focus was on the bullpen and after seeing what problems can come up in low leading games, it was important to address the situation.
The Rangers lost to the New York Yankees 5–6 on April 17, 2011. The final concession on the pivotal run came in the eighth and that led many to believe that the current order of relievers in the mix does not stand.
Mark Lowe is still trying to put a lot of turn on his pitch and that has landed him with Triple A Round Rock. In his stead, Michael Kirkman is in.
Pedro Strop is another ace in the pack and he showed his prowess in the game when he availed a crucial bases-loaded out. Mason Tobin is another hurler in the mix, who has pitched two scoreless innings so far.
Washington is looking to relieve some pressure off Arthur Rhodes and Darren Oliver, who are more than 40.
"The key is to take some wear and tear off of Arthur and Ollie", Washington said. "Those two guys can do that".
While speaking on Lowe, Washington gave a vague reason, as to his descent into the Minor League. His one outing with the club against Detroit, last week, saw him allow two runs in an innings.
"What he needs is to see more hitters and make adjustments according to that", Washington said. "All the stuff will take care of itself if he gets consistent work".
The player is optimistic about his situation though. He has been working with pitching coach, Mike Maddux, on his mechanical adjustment. He wants to be back to his form from 2009 when he posted an earning runs average of 3.28 with the Seattle Mariners.
"It's a good starting stone for us", Lowe said. "I feel pretty close to where I was in '09. I just have to get some repetitions in and I'll be fine".
With time, fans will hope the Rangers can sort out their bullpen concerns soon.
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