Spring Training has just started and the Rangers are already hurt, but this time it doesn’t hit their offense. According to multiple reports, ace pitcher, Yu Darvish, underwent an MRI that showed a sprained ligament in his throwing elbow. A second opinion will be given out this weekend, but most likely Tommy John Surgery will be needed, that obviously puts Darvish out for the season. Despite the Rangers adding a few good arms to the rotation to back up their ace, this loss is a decisive blow. Even with the health looking better for the rest of the squad, to have a Nolan Ryan look-alike atop the rotation fall, will create a large gap.
For the past 3 seasons, Darvish has been on the edge of jumping into the elite group of pitchers, and many have thought this was his year to do so. Not anymore. The former Japanese star has developed into arguably the best power pitchers in the game today, as he has racked up a total of 680 K’s in just 545.1 innings pitched in a short career. Because of the rest of the Texas rotation consisting of a bunch of 3’s and 4’s, not much should be expected of them, as Darvish will no longer be complimenting. When the ace starts the game, the Rangers win nearly 60% of the time (league averge 50%). Going into Spring Training, the Rangers were looking well upwards of 67 wins especially due to the additions of Ross Detwiler and Yovani Gallardo, but now the 2015 record might not be much different from 2014.
Some of the other starters might be able to put up good numbers, but longevity is key, as the bullpen is not good. Darvish pitched 10% of the Ranger’s innings last year, and the season before that he pitched close to 14%. That is a lot for just one pitcher compared to the other 15 pitchers or so on the roster. So, the question will be: can the offense upgrade from their 2014 average of .256 in order to support the pitching staff? Without Darvish, the Rangers will lose the face of their franchise, one of the most underrated players in the game, and the center point of their pitching staff. Can they move on to produce reinforcements at camp to be prepared for the challenging 2015 season?
