Monday Morning Open Thread: Four Questions

Michael Young is now. Michael Young is forever.1. In light of the way that things have transpired this season, how do you see things playing out with Neftali Feliz through the remainder of this season and onward into 2012? Will his retain his ninth-inning responsibilities in spite of his continued issues, or will the coaching staff finally reach its breaking point? Will the Rangers push ahead with another attempted bullpen-to-rotation conversion next spring? I realize this is fairly open-ended, but pretty much anything is at least conceivable at this point.

2. Mike Napoli went into last night's game hitting a robust .290/.385/.608 and boasting the fifth-highest wRC+ (170) of all players in baseball with at least 250 plate appearances this season; however, he has started only 32 games as the Rangers' catcher this season, with his career high as far as games started behind the plate being only 84 games, and he hit a more pedestrian .238/.316/.468 last season. At this point, are you (a) satisfied with merely retaining Napoli for one more season via arbitration, (b) non-tendering him out of concern for his potential $8-9 million price tag in 2012, or (c) striving to sign him to a multi-year extension -- and if so, just how far are you willing to go?

3. Let's suppose that Michael Young plays on for another 4-5 years, finishes up with around 2,700-2,800 career hits and around 40-45 career wins above replacement, and actually does secure a World Series ring. How high would you set the likelihood of Young, on the merits of both his accomplishments and a potentially sympathetic BBWAA electorate, actually being elected to the Hall of Fame if that scenario were to pass?

4. Peer into your crystal ball and take a shot at predicting who will compose the Rangers' starting rotation next April. Get creative, if you're so inclined (e.g. Yu Darvish, John Danks, etc.), but don't get too carried away with nigh-impossible adds.