havent been around much lately, new job clerking at law firm has my capping time down significantly(that sucks) but will still try to post info that could be valuable. this article on new bp man kolb for rangers. their bullpen is so disgusting so watch his progress he could get a lot of work. i mean with those starters he will get a lot of work.
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TORONTO ? Rangers manager Jerry Narron found a newfangled toy to play with Sunday afternoon.
He unwrapped a real working bullpen and found all the pieces there.
In an 8-4 win over Toronto at SkyDome, Narron was able to set up late pitching matchups just as he pleased. When that toy is properly assembled, it can provide hours and hours of enjoyment for a manager.
After six innings, young starter Aaron Myette handed off a lead to young Dan Kolb, who was making his much-anticipated season debut after 4? months on the disabled list and then in the minors. Kolb got four impressive outs before turning the ball to lefty Mike Venafro for a matchup against a left-handed hitter.
And in the ninth, when Venafro walked the leadoff hitter, Narron was able to go to closer Jeff Zimmerman to finish off the game.
It's how a bullpen should work. All too often for them this year, the Rangers have seen what happens when there is a broken link between the starting rotation and the final two innings. It has been a disaster.
AP
Rangers players celebrate Sunday's win.
"When we're successful, that's how we have to do it," Narron said. "We need a starter to give us some innings and a guy to bridge to the guys at the end of the game."
The Rangers have tried a long list of seventh-inning relievers this year with awful results. One-by-one Mark Petkovsek, Tim Crabtree, Jeff Brantley (remember him?), Pat Mahomes and J.D. Smart have assumed the role. One-by-one they have failed.
That's why Kolb, whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Oklahoma late Saturday night, so intrigues the team. He has always had a powerful arm, one that can now throw a fastball between 95 and 98 mph with some regularity, but his career has been marked by one injury after another.
During his only appearance for the Rangers last year, he tore the ligament in his elbow, requiring surgery. This spring he was set back further by an elbow strain. Once healthy, though, he dominated at Triple-A Oklahoma. In 19 innings he allowed just three runs. He struck out 21 and walked just four.
The Rangers, however, wanting to ensure that he'd be around long term, waited as long as possible before calling him up. After a rash of bullpen blowups in the last week, they finally decided to take the plunge. Kolb's first appearance justified their faith.
Throwing sinking fastballs, he came on to protect a 7-4 lead in the seventh. He overpowered Jose Cruz Jr. After walking Alex Gonzalez, Kolb got two routine outs. He also got right-handed Raul Mondesi to start the eighth, rather than forcing Narron to use the lefty Venafro in an unfavorable matchup.
"He came in and was aggressive with the fastball," said catcher Bill Haselman, who said Kolb's arm was as powerful as anybody he's caught this year. "He went right after guys. He did exactly what he was supposed to. He's got the arm for this job, and I think he's got the makeup, too."
Said Kolb, "I want to show them that I'm healthy, and I want to show them what I can do when I'm healthy. I have stuff to prove to them and stuff to prove to myself. There is a lot to be proved at this point."
He took the first step on Sunday. All that lies in front of him is opportunity after opportunity.
.............
TORONTO ? Rangers manager Jerry Narron found a newfangled toy to play with Sunday afternoon.
He unwrapped a real working bullpen and found all the pieces there.
In an 8-4 win over Toronto at SkyDome, Narron was able to set up late pitching matchups just as he pleased. When that toy is properly assembled, it can provide hours and hours of enjoyment for a manager.
After six innings, young starter Aaron Myette handed off a lead to young Dan Kolb, who was making his much-anticipated season debut after 4? months on the disabled list and then in the minors. Kolb got four impressive outs before turning the ball to lefty Mike Venafro for a matchup against a left-handed hitter.
And in the ninth, when Venafro walked the leadoff hitter, Narron was able to go to closer Jeff Zimmerman to finish off the game.
It's how a bullpen should work. All too often for them this year, the Rangers have seen what happens when there is a broken link between the starting rotation and the final two innings. It has been a disaster.
AP
Rangers players celebrate Sunday's win.
"When we're successful, that's how we have to do it," Narron said. "We need a starter to give us some innings and a guy to bridge to the guys at the end of the game."
The Rangers have tried a long list of seventh-inning relievers this year with awful results. One-by-one Mark Petkovsek, Tim Crabtree, Jeff Brantley (remember him?), Pat Mahomes and J.D. Smart have assumed the role. One-by-one they have failed.
That's why Kolb, whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Oklahoma late Saturday night, so intrigues the team. He has always had a powerful arm, one that can now throw a fastball between 95 and 98 mph with some regularity, but his career has been marked by one injury after another.
During his only appearance for the Rangers last year, he tore the ligament in his elbow, requiring surgery. This spring he was set back further by an elbow strain. Once healthy, though, he dominated at Triple-A Oklahoma. In 19 innings he allowed just three runs. He struck out 21 and walked just four.
The Rangers, however, wanting to ensure that he'd be around long term, waited as long as possible before calling him up. After a rash of bullpen blowups in the last week, they finally decided to take the plunge. Kolb's first appearance justified their faith.
Throwing sinking fastballs, he came on to protect a 7-4 lead in the seventh. He overpowered Jose Cruz Jr. After walking Alex Gonzalez, Kolb got two routine outs. He also got right-handed Raul Mondesi to start the eighth, rather than forcing Narron to use the lefty Venafro in an unfavorable matchup.
"He came in and was aggressive with the fastball," said catcher Bill Haselman, who said Kolb's arm was as powerful as anybody he's caught this year. "He went right after guys. He did exactly what he was supposed to. He's got the arm for this job, and I think he's got the makeup, too."
Said Kolb, "I want to show them that I'm healthy, and I want to show them what I can do when I'm healthy. I have stuff to prove to them and stuff to prove to myself. There is a lot to be proved at this point."
He took the first step on Sunday. All that lies in front of him is opportunity after opportunity.
