The Texas Rangers and Alexi Ogando

Aug 2, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Texas Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux (31) visits the mound to speak with starting pitcher Alexi Ogando (41) during the first inning at O.Co Colisuem. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Alexi Ogando got his first Cactus League action on Friday, and it did not go well at all for him. Alexi went the standard two innings and gave up four runs of four hits in what turned out to be a bad day for Texas Rangers pitching in general. Ogando is a strange case in my opinion. He is a dominate reliever, but his job at the back end of the bull pen has been taken over by guys like Joakim Soria, Tanner Scheppers and Neal Cotts. He has been a pretty successful starter, but his health has been a serious concern every time the Texas Rangers put him into the rotation.

You cannot infer that he is going to have an awful season from two innings in one spring training game, but what you can take away from a start like Alexi Ogando had is worry. It has to have Texas Rangers fans worried about yet another spot in the rotation the they are already very worried about with Derek Holland being out, the uncertainty of Matt Harrison, Tommy Hanson, Colby Lewis, and now Alexi Ogando. Best case scenario right now would be that Alexi Ogando gets it together, stays healthy and has a great season. My problem is that Alexi has never done that for a full season as a starter.

The fact that the Texas Rangers are going to be stretching out a guy like Robbie Ross is a good thing right now, because there is no one in that Rotation behind Yu Darvish that I have the least bit of confidence in right now. The Texas Rangers don’t know what they are going to get from Martin Perez or any of the other guys that I have already mentioned. The good news is that Colby Lewis and Tommy Hanson have looked pretty good so far.

My feeling on Alexi Ogando is that he should be a bull pen guy, because I think that is where he is best. What do you think? Let us know on out Facebook page, Twitter or below in the comments section.