M.A.S.H.: Surprise, AZ

Well, the Rangers problems with injuries just keep on piling up out in Arizona. Brandon McCarthy, trying to come back from a sore elbow problem that sidelined him earlier this spring, apparently re-tweaked his elbow in today's 9-8 loss the the Milwaulkee Brewers. 

Scheduled to go two innings and throw 30 pitches McCarthy came on in the 4th, but was pulled after just one inning and 19 pitches, after he apparently re-aggrivated his elbow, which has bothered him for the past three weeks.

McCarthy said it happened when he threw a curveball: "It happened on the third curveball I tried to throw. I felt good out there. My fastball was alive, and my curveball was good. Everything felt good mechanically, and [the elbow] just flared up on me."

Dr. Keith Meister, the team physcian, will examine McCarthy tomorrow, but this development likely nixes any chances of McCarthy recovering in time to be in the rotation on opening day. He is penciled in for just four more appearances this spring, and the Rangers to not believe he would be able to build up his pitch counts and arm strength enough, even if the problem where to dissipate with a minimum two weeks of rest.

As the #4 starter, McCarthy's first start of the year would have been against the Angels in their home opener in Anaheim on April 4th. But it now appears that Kason Gabbard will make that start, since the Rangers will be able to go with 4 starters until April 12th. If McCarthy isn't back by then, the Rangers will have to go with one of their younger pitchers, such as Luis Mendoza, AJ Murray, or possibly even top prospect Eric Hurley.

Mendoza, who is currently the leading candidate for the call, is a 23 year-old sinkerball pitcher, who appeared in 6 games for the Rangers last September (including three starts) and impressed, posting a 2.25 ERA. He was also 15-4 for the AA Frisco Roughriders last year, posting a 3.93 ERA in 26 games. He has struggled this spring, however, giving up 4 runs in 3.1 innings so far. He also surrendered 3 runs today in 3.0 innings during a "B" game against the Kansas City Royals.

The other options are AJ Murray, a soft-tossing left hander who will turn 26 on March 17th, and Eric Hurley, a 22 year old right hander who is one of the Rangers top pitching prospects. Murray appeared in 14 games last year for the Rangers, but only started two, as he was converted from reliever to starter late in the year (although he did have a 3.27 ERA in those two starts, as opposed to a 5.29 ERA as a releiver). That conversion is being continued this spring, but Murray has had his own troubles so far, walking 4 batters in three innings, and giving up 2 runs. It's likely Murray will stay at AAA early in the season as he continues to build up arm strength and stamina, as well as adjusting to the starters role.

Hurley, the Rangers top pitching prospect for the last couple seasons, is closing in on being ready for his Major League debut, but may not quite be there just yet. After going 7-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 15 games with Frisco last year, Hurley earned a mid-season promotion to AAA, and was 4-7 with a 4.91 ERA in 13 starts after the promotion. Hurley owns a lively fastball and a sharp slider, but could use some work on his changeup still and since the Rangers don't want to push him, the chances of him getting the call to replace McCarthy so soon are probably slim to none. However, it is expected he will be in Arlington sometime later this season, so if McCarthy is out for an extended period, Hurley would likely get the call eventually.

It's also worth noting that the Rangers are also currently looking at free agent pitcher Sidney Ponson for AAA depth, although you wouldn't think the Rangers are stupid enough to consider him an actual possibility for the rotatation: since his career year in 2003 (in which he won 17 games) Ponson's ERA has done nothing but rise yearly: 5.30 in 2004, 6.21 in '05, 6.25 in '06, to 6.93 (in just 7 games) last year with the Minnesota Twins. He also has had problems keeping his weight down - if the Rangers do sign him, you would have to think it would be purely for depth purposes. Right?

For my money, Mendoza or Murray is the way to go in replacing McCarthy for now, and hopefully they won't have to do it for too long. The good news is, the Rangers have plenty of options, albeit slighty inexperienced ones - if worse comes to worse, it's possible this could even pave the way for Kameron Loe or Robinson Tejeda getting second chances at the rotation (although neither of those are choices I would particularly endorse).