The Texas Rangers have probably about had it with Scott Feldman being a starting pitcher in 2012. After winning 17 games for the Rangers back in 2009 and netting a big contract out of it, Feldman has been nothing more than a long man out of the bullpen and an occasional spot starter since.
On Thursday night, making his fifth straight start as part of the regular rotation since Neftali Feliz went on the disabled list, Feldman went five innings, allowing six runs (four earned) and saw his record go to 0-6 on the season while his ERA climbed to 6.50.
Much like in his awful 1 2/3-inning outing against the Oakland A's last week, Feldman was great in the first inning on Thursday, striking out the side against the Arizona Diamondbacks before coming back and struggling for the rest of his four innings of work.
"The last couple of games, I thought I threw the ball pretty well," Feldman told reporters after the game. "Obviously tonight, I didn't make some pitches with two outs or two strikes. I feel like I'm very close to being good. ... I didn't think it would take me this long to start clicking and stuff, but I just feel like I'm so close to getting there."
The Rangers might not have the patience to let him "get there" but they might not have another choice. His starts don't line up with Roy Oswalt's for Oswalt to replace him in the rotation right now, and Oswalt hasn't shown he's ready yet in his three minor-league starts.
