Tejeda decision
The Rangers think hard about Robinson Tejeda as the second long man in the bullpen. The Rangers love his arm and are hoping that he can make the same transition to relief as Jamey Wright did last year. He is out of options and the Rangers don't want somebody picking him off on waivers. Looks like he's going to get one of the last spots in the bullpen. Franklyn German appears to have an edge for the other spot but Wes Littleton is still hanging around.
One week to go.
Kudos IF the Ranger "braintrust" decides to keep Robinson Tejeda, even if it be in the bullpen. I readily remember a year ago, on a 30 degree evening at the Ballpark, and Robinson Tejeda 2-hit the mighty (and World Series-winning) Boston Red Sox.
Tejeda obviously has "the stuff" and it is obvious to anyone with their eyesight that his stuff is not in question. I think Robinson should get a "Mulligan" on his starting role from last season. All along, I've suggested that Fergie Jenkins is uniquely qualified to help Robinson (and all others on this light-weight staff) to teach these hurlers to 1)Bend, but not break, 2)to pick up the pace of the game and help your fielders so they aren't back on their heels (Watching Padilla is mind-numbing), 3)teaching the pitchers to be around the plate, 4)Like Fergie, to have a great "out pitch"--Fergie's slider was nasty, 5)to be around the plate and not walk people, 6)to shake off adversity, like a solo homerun, and get to the business of the batter, 7)to not over-worry about a runner at first (Fergie could have cared less), and concentrate on the batter, 8)prepare mentally to throw 9 innings (or at least in this lame era of baseball pitchers not being able to pitch over 5 innings) to at least go 6, hopefully 7 innings without them looking over their shoulder to the bullpen to bail them out after 5 "quality" innings (This is rubbish)....and the list goes on and on. Why management couldn't, wouldn't or won't hire Fergie is beyond belief, as Fergie can teach the mental part of the game to a staff sorely in need of being more "mental."
Anyway, Tejeda, I believe will show his true stuff in the pen, and eventually will re-gain his spot in the rotation. I hope so. Now, if only JD would hire Fergie, but he might consider it a threat, since we've already signed Nolan. To have 2 quality, proven veterans in the organization, would likely be deemed a threat to JD. JD's improving day by day, but to keep improving the team, especially the starting staff, he needs to hire Fergie Jenkins.
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