2009 Season: For the purposes of this analysis, we'll take each starting spot individually and then head off to the bullpen.
And by No. 1 starter, I mean Kevin Millwood. Yes, Scott Feldman was this team's top starter in 2009. But the No. 1 designation belongs to Millwood. And it will stay that way as he will earn $12 million in 2010.
Millwood would be the first to tell you he was not pleased with his second half. He started the season great. Millwood was 8-7 with a 3.46 ERA before the All-Star break. He was going deep into games -- 12 of those first 19 starts before the break were quality starts and many went as deep as seven or eight innings. Millwood was so reliable that there was talk of a possible All-Star Game bid.
But the second half was a different story. Millwood didn't pitch as deep into games and ran into some mechanical issues. Things got bad enough in late August/early September that Millwood was pushed back, missing a series against the Angels, so he could fix his issues. Millwood and pitching coach Mike Maddux did figure things out, and Millwood finished the season on a better note. He gave up just four earned runs in his final three starts combined and went at least seven innings in those outings with one complete-game win.
The Rangers hope that gives Millwood some offseason momentum heading into spring training and the 2010 campaign.
2010 Outlook: Millwood turns 35 in December, and you do wonder if fatigue caught up with him late in the season. He pitched in some hot conditions and maybe that had a cumulative effect.
He pitched more than 180 innings this past season, meaning his contract for 2010 kicked in at $12 million. So he returns as one of this team's rotation leaders. It does mean that 2010 is a contract year for Millwood. That should provide added motivation.
Millwood isn't an overpowering pitcher. He gives up plenty of hits and asks his fielders to get outs for him. That kind of pitching can work if you have your location. It's why Millwood really struggled when his mechanics slipped.
Do you think Millwood can be more like the pitcher he was a few seasons ago or even the first part of last season? Your thoughts?
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Richard Durrett
Richard Durrett joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. He writes about colleges, the Dallas Stars and the Texas Rangers. Richard spent nine years at The Dallas Morning News covering the Rangers, Stars, colleges, motorsports and high schools.
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Ben Rogers joined ESPNDallas.com in November 2009. He is one half of the "GameNight with Ben & Skin" show, heard weekdays from 6p-9p on 103.3 FM ESPN.
