Frankie " F'ing" Fransisco

There are 3 things a major league baseball wants to have to truly consider itself a contender.
First off, a solid rotation. Check
Next, a solid lineup. Check
Finally, a good bullpen with a good closer. Check, No check.

The Texas Rangers starting pitching has been great to start the season. The lineup has been good enough to win, and the bullpen has done its job. That is, until you get to their closer. Frank Fransisco has been a total bust to start the season.
The closer is much more important than a position player. Why? I will tell you.
If Nelson Cruz has a great game the team can still lose. If Cruz has a bad game, the team can still win. If the closer has a bad game, then you lose.
This team has seen Fransisco blow leads in 2 games they had won. CJ Wilson and Matt Harrison pitched great games only to see the closer blow it.

So what should the Rangers do?
The change has already happened. For the time being, Neftali Feliz will be closing games. This move reminds me a lot of what The Red Sox did with Jonathan Papelbon. They both have great stuff, and were supposed to be starters.
With the way the starters have been pitching, Feliz becomes much more valuable in the bullpen.
I am not saying keep him there forever, but right now, the team needs someone it can trust to close games out.

If the offense doesn't trust the closer, then they think that they have to score more runs, which makes them press, and ultimately, they fail.
If they trust the pitching, then you have games like Sunday's, where they relaxed, and put up 9 runs.

I don't think Feliz's future is as the closer. I think that distinction goes to Tanner Scheppers. But right now, if Feliz can start closing out games, this team is gonna go on a run.

I don't think Fransisco is totally useless. He was a solid setup man for Fransisco Cordero. Right now, he has to get his confidence back and help this team win games. If not, I have no use for him.

I will scoot over and let more people jump on the Feliz as closer bandwagon. It is a shot that I don't think he fails at. As for Fransisco, rub some dirt on it and get back in the game.

As always, I would love to hear from you. Send it to john@bigbadsportsdaddy.com.

Peace out.