Bartolo Colon has made two starts for the Texas Rangers. He has gone six innings in one, seven-and-two-thirds in the other. In this day and age, that is about as complete a game as a pitcher can get.
He has allowed one earned run in both games. His ERA in the two games he has started is 1.35. Add in his two relief appearances, and it balloons to 1.45.
And, yet, Jeff Banister said he has no place in the Rangers rotation. When Doug Fister comes back, Colon goes to the bullpen.
Martin Perez’s ERA is 13.14. (According to the Dallas Morning News, that’s the sixth worst ERA after three starts since 1900.)
Matt Moore’s ERA is 5.59.
Cole Hamels’s ERA is 4.76.
Mike Minor’s ERA is 4.60.
Doug Fister’s ERA is 3.95.
Bartolo Colon’s is 1.45.
There’s no place in the rotation for a guy with a 1.45 ERA? If you doubled his earn run average, Colon’s would still be the best of the bunch. By a full run. And there’s no place in the rotation for a guy with a 1.45 ERA?
Colon has the ninth best ERA in the American League.
Also according to the Dallas Morning News, Rangers manager Jeff Banister said he would not commit to putting Colon in the rotation solely based on his performance.
So, if you don’t base a guy’s role on performance, what do you base it on?
The problem is, the Rangers had a plan at the beginning of spring training and don’t seem to want to come off it. Like Mike Tyson famously said, “Everyone has a plan until you get punched in the face.”
Being 7-13 is that punch in the face.
So, if you don’t base a guy’s role on performance, what do you base it on?
But, before the angry mob rushes the Ballpark, realize this is more idle blather from a manager. Realize that ninety-nine percent of what a manager says is hot air. The other one percent is just BS.
Banister is simply saying that to keep the status quo in the clubhouse. No reason to comment on anything that doesn’t need to be addressed today. Fister isn’t ready so what’s the point of making a decision?
It’s just comments like that makes him, and the organization, look foolish.
*****
TODAY’S GAME:
Felix Hernandez (2-2, 5.48) vs. Mike Minor (1-1, 4.60)
Game time: 7:05
How the Mariners hit against Minor
How the Rangers hit against Hernandez.