That is what I got from his comments in the off season. You have to have the heart for the fight and it doesn't appear that he has it. He has had success in a lesser role and now he is content with the lesser role. That is a shame, but without him fighting to get it, it won't come. I wonder if his agent has sat down with him to show him the difference in the money he could get as an ace versus a premier closer.

Some would rather take the easier road. That is one of the gambles the club took when they put him in the bullpen. They gambled and lost. I don't think they will ever find out what kind of a starter he could have been. On the other hand, if he is this easily content then he would have never had the hunger to be an ace to begin with. Oh well, one more prospect who fails to deliver on the promise of being a top of the rotation starter. Next!!! What do yall think?

>.< F%$K!!

I think it's a little too premature to assume anything, however when I was 22 years old I did not know where i was going to be 10 years down the road. We will just have to wait and see what happens the rest of Spring Training.

Does he not want to be a starter like Soria? With Soria its not that he doesnt have the desire. He desires not to be a starter. I was hoping this wouldnt happen I was really looking forward to watching the dominican Nolan Ryan or something. Come on Perez be the next Johan Santana

I agree Martin, and Feliz has the physical appearance to be an ace 6ft3, 215 lbs

Are there multiple Garretts or is he just bipolar?

Anyways, I think to tag the kid with "lack of heart" is a bit strong for a 22 year old who saved 40 games, won the ROY and blew away the heart of the Yankee's order with a 1-2-3 9th to clinch the franchise's first pennant.

I totally agree with the lack of heart statement. Sounds like a kid who wants to grow up to be a backup QB. It's the best job in football, but anyone who would prefer it to starting is not worth having on your team. I would strongly consider trading Feliz now to a team that wants him to start, as the lead in a larger package to bring a real young #1 starter back (Josh Johnson?). Closers are a dime a dozen and not very valuable at all.

Imagine Soria as a SP. That wouldve been something. Guy has like four quality pitches.

JD says they are still going to stretch him out as a starter.

I think everyone is blowing this out of proportion. What I've read makes it sound more like Neffy just isn't comfortable starting because he doesn't know the routine yet. He said he's used to the routine out of the bullpen, and he knows how to get himself ready for games. Really ithink that's all the kid is getting at. He just doesn't know how to get himself prepared correctly to start a game and go 7 or more innings.

I really think we should all just drop the notion of him starting for us in the rotation this year. His secondary stuff just isn't anywhere close to where it needs to be. He hasn't thrown a good changeup yet.

Anyone notice that Ogando went 3 innings last night?

@ TheNatural:

His changeup will never get there if he's closing. You have to make him throw it, which means as a starter. His slider is just about there. He's ready. It's Time.

He's a Kid in a big world. Closer works for him now. His maturity level will grow with challenge. He's a Star within his piers. He's not ready to make the big jump to starter. but when he does, he'll be great.

The espndallas article by durrett says it was through a translator. Perhaps this is all the translator's doing, the means to his selfish ends. Is the translator harrison?

He will throw the last 3 innings, which is not a good ndication that "they" want him as a starter.
I do want to give a shout-out to Scooby, I agree with him on Feliz, and I like his passion about the subject :)

If Feliz is going to become a starter, I think he needs to log at least 5 starts in AAA first and see how that goes. I'm kinda scared that the guy will get eaten up over his first month or so in the rotation and then get thrown back in the bullpen.

I don't know, I just don't like this.

is that the same Garrett with two different statements?

I think you are going into conclusions too quickly...he doesnt have lack of heart.. He didnt save 40 games and stroke out an MVP in the ninth to clinch the AL pennant with lack of heart. He just stated that he is comfortable with being the closer at this time. He said he will do whats best for the Rangers.

Feliz is 23 Wilson is like 29 or 30, he has enough time to better define his secondary pitches as he will need to become a top tier starter. Another year or 2 in the bullpen don't necesarely mean he is not willing to be a starter. There's plenty of time people, plus having a Mariano type closer is not a bad situation.

If he spends 2 more years in the bullpen before starting, he moves into his Arb 1 year.

If he then has an effective year starting, the Rangers will likely be reluctant to commit too much money to a long term deal at SP prices- after all, lots of guys have 1 good year.

If he then posts a second good year as a starter, the Rangers will be ready to give him a long-term deal as a starter. Except now, he's only 1 year from FA, and his agent probably tells him to test the market and go to the Yankees/Red Sox for more money.

This is what happened with CJ. It took too long (in terms of service time) to get into the rotation. By the time he establishes himself as a long-term anchor for your rotation, he's eligible for Free Agency and he leaves for big-time riches in the Northeast.

Age is not the issue with Feliz. The comparison between Feliz and Wilson is in terms of controlable service time. Another couple of years in the pen, and he'll never be a long-term Ace for this team.

I like you observation. I think the Rangers will give him every opportunity to be a starter and he will embrace it. I just think he needs to polish his secondary pitches, so the move to the staff goes smoother and he wont have much setbacks.

In my opinion he should close this year and establish the cutter and the other secondary pitches. So next year he would be better fit and comfortable for the rotation.

Nolan Ryan needs to take him in his office, give him the Ol' nudge nudge.
Walk facing his big window then turn around, look Feliz square in the eyes
and say: "Mr. Feliz, your first start will be in Seattle, heads up against...
King Felix... you're gonna win too". A shot of Tequila, in toast, follows.