What if the Rangers start the season with him at AAA to finish getting him ready as a starter. Then call him up when he is ready. Then put him back to the Closer role in sept. to limit his innings and have our best guy closing with CJ Colby Webb and Holland in the rotation for the playoffs i think that would maximize his value and give the Rangers the best chance to succeed without risking Feliz to get injured. Then next year let him loose in the rotation with out limiting his innings.

and maybe by the ASB the Rangers trade for an Ace too

Very interesting idea. Of course you could move him back to closer, assuming you have 4 better options to start late in the season, whether or not you started him at AAA. I think that if this were to happen it would be mainly because our closers struggled to establish themselves while Nefty closes.

while Nefty starts I meant.

That doesnt HAVE to happen. Maybe who ever is closing games is good (Not as good as Feliz though) but lets say Ron would be more comfortable with Feliz closing in the playoffs because he probably would be the Rangers fifth starter this year. And im not saying it has to be Webb and Holland maybe Hurley Harrison Kirkman Bush Tommy or they trade for someone to be the Ace or something but i doubt Feliz will be good enough THIS YEAR to be a starter in the playoffs and could move who ever is closing to set up and would have a badass bullpen.

What if Neftali matures into an ACE, by the ASB turn?

Feliz is going to give us a bumpy ride as a starter - maybe not at first, but by midseason when teams have more film on him. There are times when he comes in the 9th and throws 20 out of 21 pitches fastballs - he can't do that as a starter. If he can learn how to mix pitches, improve his command & control - then yeah, he could be very special. But you guys who are counting on that happening on day 1 are setting yourself up for a big disappointment.

What's going to make me really sick is when he's got a 5.80 era with a losing record in June, and Texas fans will be calling him a washout, talking about waiving him, etc. That's what we do best.

Ok well duh if he is an Ace by the ASB leave him in the rotation just skip some of his starts i dont care if the Rangers are in a tight race with the A's or Angels do not make him throw any where near 170 Innings. I hope the Padres didnt mess up Matt Latos last year.

It's not an oh well duh, if there is no chance for him to start. Maybe I am the only one that believes
the Rangers need to take a proactive stance on making Feliz a starter now. Trevor Hoffman had
NINE 40+ save seasons, with San Diego... where did that get them? Hoorah for Hoffman, closer.

Martin,

God I hope you are kidding. If not you should be embarrassed. Break camp with arguably one of your top 3 players at AAA. OMG!!

The Rangers Org & others close, are throwing spin after spin on Feliz.
All the time watching Hunter, Holland and Kirkman flail at a short ladder
climb, to one of three bunk beds waiting above, as comfy starter slots.

What am I missing here. We're talking a mix of 50/50 MLB and farms hitters
keeping our young arms short of the climb to fame, fortune and the Majors?
Tonight the dark horse Harrison goes against a soft Seattle offensive lineup.
Offensive is very underlined and the M's haven't gotten much better in spring.
Feliz starts against a young, talented KC Royals team saturday. Breeze on NF.

Even though side talks of Feliz return to Closer seems likely, whispers still say
Starter. For what it's worth, one man close to org happenings, *Mark McLemore
has Feliz, as one of the five to break spring, as a Starter.

Oops, sorry ... Harrison v. CLE, Friday ... Feliz v. SEA, Saturday
Both games pivotal test in the Ranger Starter role