Texas Rangers Closer Breakdown

May 2, 2006 @ 14:29:34

By Matthew Scott Carr
Edited by KFFL Staff

In 2004, Texas Rangers closer Francisco Cordero was an All-Star, recording 49 saves, three wins and 79 strikeouts while sporting a staunch 2.13 ERA. He recorded 17 straight saves that season, a club record for the Rangers. In 2005, his numbers slid, but were still respectable as he managed 37 saves, three wins, 79 strikeouts and a 3.39 ERA.

In 2006, hopes were high. Cordero shot out of the gate, blowing five of his first eight save opportunities, including three consecutive, and set a major league record for the highest number of blown saves in the month of April. Fantasy owners and baseball fans were aghast.

Cordero does have three wins, but those aren't attributable to pitching, since he blew a save in two of those wins and is sporting a 10.50 ERA, rather because of late-game heroics, namely game-winning singles in the bottom of the ninth by the Rangers' corps of sluggers.

All in all, it's not the kind of start one would expect from a player who has the third highest total of saves (99) in the MLB from 2003 to 2005, right behind New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera (110) and St. Louis Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen (101).

Not surprisingly, Cordero was given a break from his closer duties and switched roles with set-up man Akinori Otsuka. Otsuka has paid off, allowing one hit, one walk and striking out two, while recording a save in two consecutive games.

Otsuka isn't a spring chicken, and actually entered the majors as a 31-year-old "rookie," becoming the third Japanese player signed to a major league contract. He turned 34 this season and since coming to the US has worked primarily as a set-up man/middle reliever.

In 2004, with the San Diego Padres, he had a record of 7-2 with two saves, an ERA of 1.75 and struck out 87, while walking only 26, in just over 77 innings pitched. Not only is this a very good strikeout to innings worked ratio, something fantasy managers like to see, but he also led the National League with 34 holds. Currently he ranks third in the American League this season with seven holds.

However, he's not new to being a team's primary closer. In 2003, with the Chunichi Dragons in Japan, Otsuka recorded 17 saves, which raised his career total then to 137. In 1998, he led the Pacific League with 35 saves with the Kinetsu Buffaloes and was named top reliever of the year.

At six feet, 210 pounds, Otsuka is a hurler - though he's primarily known for his unique windup where he double pumps the ball in his glove with his front foot lifted before striding forward, which has earned protests from oppossing managers. In 2004, New York Mets manager Art Howe protested a game against San Diego claiming Otsuka balked each time he pitched, but league officials didn't uphold the protest.

Otsuka's primarily a fastball pitcher, with his heater approaching the mid-90s. But his strikeout pitch is a weird slider that many coaches and managers say looks more like a splitter as it comes out of his hand.

In Japan, Otsuka's numbers were impressive: striking out four batters for every walk he issued and from 2002 to 2003, he fanned 110 batters faced while walking just eight. That pattern continued into 2004 with the Padres (87 strikeouts, 26 walks), before falling off some in 2005 where he struck out 60 while walking 34 in 66 innings of work. But so far this year, his power has prevailed as Otsuka has struck out 13 while only walking one in 12 innings pitched.

For now, the Rangers are satisfied that Otsuka can handle the role in the short-term. He did help Japan win the World Baseball Classic title this spring, recording the final out of the championship game in the 10-6 victory over Cuba. His numbers were solid during the tournament, recording one save, allowing one run on two hits in just over five innings worked. He also struck out eight and allowed just two walks.

But the nagging question is: what about Cordero?

The fact is, if Otsuka continues to pitch well, which he is capable of doing, then Cordero may not get the closer job back. Though, as mentioned, Otsuka played in the WBC this spring and many have felt that it's the pitchers who competed in the tournament that will suffer later in the season, having to throw so many hard pitches without a proper spring training. But that impact is yet to be seen.

The good news is that Cordero pitched a perfect eighth inning on Monday, May 1, paving the way for Otsuka to record his second consecutive save. Cordero faced three batters, striking out one, and it was the first outing in his last five appearances that he wasn't scored upon.

It's unlikely that Otsuka will keep the closer job all season and it's way too soon to discard Cordero into free agency as April just ended. Cordero has been too dominant a player, averaging 83 strikeouts and 33 saves per season over the last three years. The Rangers aren't paying him $4.125 million this season, almost three times that of Otsuka, to have him play as set-up man.

At the same time, don't sleep on Otsuka. If he hasn't been snagged yet, and you've got a spot to spare, snag him.

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Matthew Scott Carr

Matthew Scott Carr has been an avid football follower and fan for as long as he can remember. He became involved in fantasy sports in 1999, which transformed an already fanatical sports worship into a full-fledged psycho. Carr joined the KFFL team in 2004.

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