With the game on the line, Neftali Feliz will never have to stare into the opposing batter's eyes in the ninth inning any longer.
Unless he is going for the complete game.
In case you missed it, the Texas Rangers have quietly signed closer Joe Nathan to a two-year deal. Nathan, who has spent most of his career with the Minnesota Twins, has been a consistent closer. He missed the entire 2010 season with Tommy John surgery. He is the Twins' all time saves leader with 255. While at the old age of 37, Nathan should have a couple of good years left in him.
This means that Feliz will move to the starting rotation, barring any crazy spring training setback. Feliz flirted with the possibility of joining the rotation last season. However, a sub-par performance kept him out of it, paving the way for Alexi Ogando to join the rotation, which worked out well.
Feliz was a starting pitcher for most of his minor league career. When he was called up to the big leagues, it was mainly for relief appearances. He soon found himself in the closer's role, where he started a dominant stretch as the ninth inning guy.
But now, Feliz expects to be in the starting rotation for the 2012 season. I'm sure he will enjoy it, as long as he never has to close out a game again, especially after the Game 6 meltdown in the World Series. Adding that with a slightly disappointing 2011 campaign should allow Feliz to relish the role of a starter. Texas should need it, as CJ Wilson is not expected to re-sign with the Rangers.
But does that mean he will excel when the time comes?
We all know he has the velocity. Feliz regularly threw in the upper 90's, occasionally eclipsing 100 MPH. But what he will need to work on is his off-speed and breaking pitches. Sure, velocity is nice to have, but if you are going to be successful as a starter, you must throw the off-speed with precision. Case in point, Justin Verlander. He's got a cannon for an arm, and a variety of pitches to have a strong repertiore at his disposal. I may be wrong, but that may be why he won both the Cy Young and MVP.
Does Feliz have the ability to be the next Verlander? At this point, I can reply with a hell no. Verlander can get guys out with power and finesse. Most of the time, Feliz has to hope the opposition swings and misses, and when they swing and connect, it is usually trouble. Hash tag Game 6 heartbreak.
Feliz is and will be a work in progress for a while. But being in the starting rotation gives Feliz the chance to begin anew. This should help erase the pain of the blown save in the World Series, and help him have a new goal in mind: To accumulate wins and put the Texas Rangers in the best position possible to win.
That's the starter's creed, and hopefully, Feliz will live by that creed.
All opinions are solely those of Dustin McWilliams. McWilliams is a sports writer at the Denton Record-Chronicle. If you have any questions or feedback, please message McWilliams at dmcwilliams82@gmail.com
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