Projected: Bullpen

F. Francisco, Esq.

I read Sports Illustrated's baseball preview and they have the Texas Rangers finishing second behind the California Angels.

Right or wrong, I'm happy they didn't have the Rangers finishing behind Seattle or Oakland, two teams that I think stink, but will no doubt get quite a bit of support to take the division.

In the issue, they mention that the Rangers' team ERA dropped .99, which brought them from the gutter of the league to around the middle. Again, exponential improvement can not be depended upon. But subtle improvement can go a long way.

A key to that improvement was the bullpen. Despite losing Frank Francisco for an extended amount of time, dealing with unknowns (Darren O'Day) and rookies (Doug Mathis, Derek Holland), the bullpen was probably the strong point for the team. Hell, it was the team MVP starting with C.J. Wilson (now a starter) along with O'Day, Mathis and Neftali Feliz.

With the season a week out, here's your opening-day bullpen:

Frank Francisco
People bitch about C.J. Wilson being unpredictable. Give me Wilson just about any day over Francisco. Of course, I'm afraid to say too much lest Francisco toss a bullpen chair at my head. Francisco's had two good seasons. And 30 career saves. I read -- probably Jamey Newberg -- that Francisco is a free agent soon and the Rangers are liable to let him walk. Can't blame them. Should the opportunity arise and the Rangers fall on hard times, could we see the Rangers try to move him mid-season?

Neftali Feliz
There is not a more electrifying element in Dallas sports. A great sign hitting 101 the other day. Rangers are very much depending on him for 65 appearances this season.

Darren Oliver
Great story. Turned a so-so starting career into a fantastic, borderline dominant relief gig with the Angels and, now, the Rangers. A great spring. Should aptly step into the hole left by Wilson and if Holland makes it back, gives the Rangers two very different lefty options in the 'pen.

Chris Ray
With the nature of bullpens and relievers, I think its important for teams to have a decent amount of turnover in this area from year to year. Ray and Oliver are a part of this. Ray was had in the Kevin Millwood trade. Little has been said of his 7.27 ERA last season in Baltimore in hopes that he returns to his 2006 self when he had a 2.73 ERA.

Dustin Nippert
A so-so 2009 paired with a phenomenal Spring Training could prove advantageous for the lil' Rangers. Nippert is one of the few pitchers with a true out pitch. He's also one of the few that can put together a pretty good start or shut down a team for a couple of innings if the starter shits the sheets. A very important guy for the Rangers.

Doug Mathis
For a long stretch in 2009, big, dumb-looking Mathis was damn-near unhittable. I don't get it either. Still, I think he gets the nod here with any number of roles available.

Injuries: Darren O'Day.

Minors: Derek Holland, Willie Moscoso, Omar Beltre, Warner Madrigal, Pedro Strop, Ben Snyder, Brandon McCarthy, Alexi Ogando, Luis Mendoza, Zach Phillips.

(I think we see Strop, Moscoso, Holland, Beltre, Madrigal this season. Maybe Phillips, but only in case of emergency.)