Just consider the 2010 World Series a tune-up for tonight's exhibition game as the Rangers take on the Giants with their eyes on sweet, sweet revenge after the Giants dispatched Texas in five games to clinch the World Championship in Arlington.
That's how it works right? NOW, we mean business.
OK, maybe not, but this game tonight against the Giants does have a lot of intrigue with it. Yes, it is two good teams. But, yes, it's just spring. Anyhow, the game will be one both teams are looking forward to and most notably, the Rangers will send 27-year-old Alexi Ogando to the bump for his first chance to show he can move to the starting rotation from his 7th-8th inning role in the bullpen last year after a late call-up.
Ogando was almost unhittable last year in that role. In 44 appearances, he struck out 39 batters and walked just 16 with a miniscule 1.30 ERA. In many ways, he's actually better suited to start than AL Rookie of the Year/closer sensei Neftali Feliz. Ogando has a better array of pitches at his disposal at this point than Feliz does. He throws almost as hard but has better off-speed stuff.
Rangers GM Jon Daniels told The Ticket's Norm Hitzges on Monday morning that Ogando has expressed more of an "outward desire" to get a shot at starting than Feliz has, which has long been my question about Feliz. I don't think he really wants to start. Not like C.J. Wilson did, and apparently, not like Ogando does.
The game tonight can be seen on MLB.TV at 8:05 CT. It'll be interesting to see what Ogando can do.
