Feldman Gets Wash's Support After Loss

By Adam Boedeker

| Monday, Aug 27, 2012 | Updated 12:40 PM CDT

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Is it time for Scott Feldman to leave the rotation?

This isn't advocating a manager ripping a player after every bad outing. That's just not realistic, or productive.

But when Ron Washington makes it a point to defend a pitcher after taking his fourth straight loss while giving up six runs (five earned) on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings, it's a little annoying.

Scott Feldman was the Texas Rangers' player of the month in July after posting a sub-2.00 ERA but over his past four starts he's regressed to his early-season form, when he lost his first six decisions of the year. Over his past four, Feldman has allowed 16 runs in 22 1/3 innings. That's nothing to defend.

Unless you're Washington, apparently, who is famous/notorious for being loyal to a fault to his players.

"We have no issues with Feldman in the rotation right now," Washington told ESPN Dallas. "Other than the triple [Ben] Revere hit and the single that [Joe] Mauer got, I thought they found holes. And we messed up some things in the third. That's a run that probably wouldn't have been on the board."

The Rangers' lead in the AL West seems relatively safe with a month to play in the regular season, and Feldman won't be in the rotation come playoff time, so I suppose there really isn't much reason to take issue. But every fifth day you can't go out expecting to lose, and that's what Feldman has given you for all but a month and a half of the season.