Coming into this season, there wasn't much doubt in trying to figure out the Rangers' strength.
Sure, they have Cole Hamels and will soon have Yu Darvish atop the rotation. Sure, they have Prince Fielder and Adrian Beltre along with the quick-rising Rougned Odor.
But it's all about that bullpen, and the Rangers are absolutely loaded in their end-game.
The bullpen showed just how dominant it can be on Monday after starter Cole Hamels went seven innings, allowing two early runs with eight strikeouts. After 104 pitches, he turned the game over to his relievers, and he might as well have just gone to the showers because there wasn't much to watch after he left.
Jake Diekman, the fireballing lefty, came in in the eighth to throw to mainly righties, and Shawn Tolleson rebounded from an awful spring and some health issues to get three quick outs, including strikeouts of the two final batters he faced. In all, the duo fanned three in two innings and made quick work of the Mariners.
Oh, and think about this: They didn't use Keone Kela or Sam Dyson, or Tom Wilhelmsen or Tony Barnette.
The 'pen is loaded, and it showed on Monday.
