Wilhelmsen in deep bullpen gives Rangers an edge
Tom Wilhelmsen met the media Wednesday afternoon at Globe Life Park, where he is expected to be part of one of the best bullpens in baseball in 2016 and be part of the group that will set the Texas Rangers apart from the also-rans.
The theory is that the bullpen is so good that the starters need to give only five or six quality innings and the lineup needs to simply put the Rangers in a lead, any lead, and Wilhelmsen and the other six relievers will bring home the victory.
That’s what happened in Kansas City in 2014 and 2015, when the Royals were World Series runners-up and then champs as their overpowering bullpen arms took a lead and ran with it.
That happens with almost every World Series winner, save for the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks and Byung-hyun Kim. Mariano Rivera is going to ride his postseason track record to the Hall of Fame, the 2001 Game 7 loss to the D’backs notwithstanding.
And, on paper, the 2016 Rangers are going to ride their bullpen to another shot at the title.
What could possibly go wrong?
Plenty, of course, as the Rangers know. That’s one reason they added Wilhelmsen from Seattle in exchange for Leonys Martin, to have quality depth if and when a reliever goes on the disabled list or coughs up too many leads.
As the bullpen lines up less than a month from the start of spring training, Shawn Tolleson is the closer, Sam Dyson and Jake Diekman are the primary set-up guys, and Keone Kela, Wilhelmsen and another newcomer, Tony Barnette, will bridge the sixth and seventh innings.
If Tolleson falters or is injured, Wilhelmsen could find himself saving games. He has 67 career saves in the majors, far more than any of the other Rangers relievers, though Barnette was a star closer in Japan.
“I’m honored to be a new addition to this,” Wilhelmsen said. “I’m going to come in and let these guys continue to do their thing, because it’s working.”
I love closing. I’ve had some success there. I feel very comfortable closing. But we’re a team here, and I’m not in any competition. I’m fully aware of what’s down in the bullpen, and I’ll gladly take whatever spot.
Right-handed reliever Tom Wilhelmsen
A second lefty, Sam Freeman or Andrew Faulkner, seems to fit as the seventh reliever unless the Rangers opt for a true long man.
That looks like a solid relief corps. Based on the stretch run last season, when the Rangers led the majors with a 2.05 September ERA and .197 opponents average, it arguably is the American League’s best relief corps.
The rotation, once late May rolls around, could be one of the league’s best with a Cole Hamels-Yu Darvish 1-2 punch. Derek Holland and Martin Perez are going to be healthy all season. Colby Lewis is healthy after winning most of his 17 games on one good knee.
The lineup returns to a man after last season’s torrid finish. Adrian Beltre’s thumb and back woes are things of the past. Prince Fielder has more power in the tank. Rougned Odor won’t flop in April. Shin-Soo Choo is in his mental happy place.
Josh Hamilton, well, is Josh Hamilton, and the Rangers are OK with that.
What could possibly go wrong?
Plenty, of course, and the Rangers know there will be bumps on along the way. It’s not like they enjoyed smooth sailing last season. Before the July 31 trade deadline — when Hamels, Dyson and Diekman came aboard and as Beltre and Choo’s bats were waking up — the preceding 15 months had been baseball hell.
The previous season was an unmitigated disaster, doomed by injuries and a lack of depth, and 2015 started with Darvish lost in spring training to Tommy John surgery, Holland gone for four months after pitching one inning of the home opener, and the offense producing an MLB-worst .210 batting average and a 7-14 April record.
Depending on how folks digested Game 5 of the AL Division Series three months ago, hell is where the Rangers found themselves at the end of last season. Toronto fans showed their “national pride,” as it was explained to me by multiple defensive Blue Jays faithful, and shortstop Elvis Andrus and Jose Bautista did the devil’s work in the seventh inning.
But that’s all in the past, down on paper for posterity. Just about everything on paper for 2016 is certain to change, but the theory is that the Rangers’ bullpen is going to separate them from the also-rans.
“My first thought right when I was traded was, ‘Postseason,’ ” Wilhelmsen said. “I’ve been playing against the Rangers for four or five years, so I know what they have and what kind of ballclub they are. They’ve been to the postseason just about every year, so I’m looking forward to that.”
Jeff Wilson: 817-390-7760, @JeffWilson_FWST
This story was originally published January 27, 2016 at 6:07 PM with the headline "Wilhelmsen in deep bullpen gives Rangers an edge."