Rangers Takeaways: Chris Woodward On Thin Ice?

The Oakland Athletics took two out of three from the Texas Rangers in a three-game sequence that ended on Sunday. Listed here are three takeaways from the sequence.

How Skinny is the Ice Below Chris Woodward?

I awoke on Sunday morning, received on Twitter and noticed that Chris Woodward was trending. Rangers followers have been venting about Saturday’s 3-1 loss, and let’s simply say the vast majority of them have had sufficient.

Sunday’s 11-8 win over Oakland improved Woodward’s document with the Rangers to 203-275.

Rangers followers are pissed off after that great Might — the Rangers had a successful month for the primary time in almost three years — there’s been an enormous fall. Might teased them, frankly. The plan for final offseason was to work on the batting lineup. The Rangers did that with Corey Seager and Marcus Semien. The plan this offseason is to work on the pitching, by way of free company. Hey, Clayton Kershaw, wanna come residence?

Watch this workforce day-after-day and also you see a whole lot of hope, and never simply with the Main League membership. When you have a look at the farm system, there’s a bushel of expertise that could possibly be prepared within the subsequent two to 3 seasons to enhance Seager, Semien and the remaining.

The query the Rangers must ask themselves the remainder of this season is whether or not Woodward is the RIGHT supervisor to get essentially the most out of that expertise. I believe it’s truthful to say it’s audition time for Woodward, who signed an extension in 2021 that dedicated the Rangers to him by means of the 2023 season, with a membership choice in 2024.

However everyone knows how a lot managerial contracts are actually price. It is a franchise that after had 4 managers in 10 days. If the Rangers wish to make a transfer, they’ll make it. And it is going to be as a result of they consider Woodward is now not the supervisor that may get essentially the most out of this workforce. And it is going to be an important resolution, given the upward trajectory this franchise hopes to absorb 2023 and past.

Is that this Matt Bush-Taylor Hearn Factor Actually Going to Work?

The old-school baseball fan in me doesn’t notably look after the “opener” idea. However in the event you’re attempting to get essentially the most out of your expertise, you’re attempting to do no matter doable to do this, proper?

Enter Matt Bush and Taylor Hearn.

The Rangers love Hearn’s stuff. However they hate his inconsistency. He throws too many pitches and doesn’t find persistently sufficient but. He has long-term starter potential, however he can’t get into binds the place he throws too many pitches and might’t get out of the fifth inning (which is what despatched him to the minors).

On Saturday, for the second straight time, the Rangers used Bush within the first inning after which introduced in Hearn to mainly get so far as he might get.

Actually? Hearn regarded stable. He threw 3 1/3 innings. He threw 60 pitches, gave up three hits and a stroll and struck out three. Most significantly, he didn’t hand over a run.

Juxtapose that with July 15 — in 4 innings he gave up 4 runs (two earned), 5 hits and two walks, however he struck out seven.

So, in two video games on this association with Bush, Hearn has allowed eight hits, 4 runs, three walks and has a 2.45 ERA with 10 strikeouts. Throw in his final recreation earlier than the demotion, on June 25 towards Washington, and Hearn has a 1.59 ERA. Oh, by the best way, THAT was an opener scenario, too. Brett Martin began the sport.

So … is that this really working? For Hearn, I believe so. For the remainder of the bullpen, I’m not so positive. Hearn exited sooner than I believe the Rangers have been hoping, and that put the bullpen in a bind. If Hearn can get deeper into the sport, like a starter, then this association has some actual utility for each his future and the Rangers rotation.

The Bullpen is in Bother

Right here’s the bullpen’s numbers within the three video games in Oakland:

Friday: 3 1/3 innings, three hits, one run (earned), two walks, three strikeouts.

Saturday: 3 2/3 innings, three hits, three runs (one earned), three walks, two strikeouts (doesn’t embrace Bush and Hearn opening the sport).

Sunday: Two innings, eight hits, seven runs (all earned), one stroll, one strikeout.

The outcome on Sunday skews this, clearly. However the bullpen, which regarded exhausted on the finish of the primary half, hasn’t bounced again. The factor that’s worrisome is that the bullpen’s most dependable relievers — Matt Moore, Dennis Santana and Martin — have been concerned in Saturday’s and Sunday’s outcomes.

And with younger starters set for Monday’s and Tuesday’s recreation, the bullpen wants some assist.

You will discover Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard

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