Darvish a bonus for Rangers

Japanese import looks like the real deal, but this team loaded regardless

OPINION

By Tony DeMarco

NBCSports.com contributor

updated 6:40 p.m. ET March 8, 2012

Tony DeMarco

PEORIA, Ariz. - Judging by the media contingent at Peoria Stadium on Wednesday, you'd think the fate of the Texas Rangers' season rests solely on Yu Darvish.

Here it was, March 7, and a postseason-sized gathering of cameras and notepads were on hand for Darvish's two-inning Cactus League debut on a day when only 2,190 fans braved windy, chilly-by-Arizona-standards weather.

Darvish didn't disappoint, and the Rangers have placed a $111 million bet that will continue. But given the circus-like atmosphere, it was easy to lose sight of the fact that this is a stacked team with more than enough talent to make a third consecutive World Series appearance ? no matter how well the Darvish-for-C.J. Wilson exchange in the rotation pans out.

But for now, the intrigue of Darvish's transition is center stage. If an intrasquad game and two scoreless innings against one of the weaker National League lineups have done anything, they've confirmed scouts' impressions about the transferability of Darvish's dominant numbers in Japan.

What we have is an American-sized power pitcher (6-foot-5, 216 pounds) with the quality assortment of secondary pitches associated with other Japanese League veterans who have successfully transitioned to the big leagues.

Darvish's fastball sits between 91 and 95 mph, and he throws so many other pitches that catcher Yorvit Torrealba joked he almost took off his catcher's mitt at one point to give Darvish signs. The list: 4-seam fastball, 2-seam fastball, cut-fastball, split-finger, slider, curveballs thrown at different speeds, changeup.

Against the Padres, Darvish had enough command to throw seven of eight first-pitch strikes, and 26 strikes in a 36-pitch, no-walk, three-strikeout effort.

All with baseball people in two countries watching intently. Not that the spotlight seems to faze Darvish. He's used to the rock-star attention, and there's definitely an air of celebrity about him.

Asked after the outing if he was nervous, Darvish, 25, said through interpreter Joe Furukawa, the Rangers' Pacific Rim scouting coordinator: "Some of the players were saying, 'You're probably nervous, right?' But I said, 'no'. But they said, 'yeah, you are.'"

Or maybe not. Rather than overthrow due to being too amped up, Darvish pitched out of the stretch even when runners weren't on base. He also made two nice defensive plays.

"He has pitched in big games," Michael Young said afterward. "I don't think this is a big deal to him at all."

Darvish's self-assurance even borders on cockiness. When asked about Will Venable's second-inning, 400-plus-feet blast high off a 30-foot-tall batters' eye in center field, Darvish talked about the wind blowing out and the dry Arizona air, and added, "to me, it didn't seem like it was hit that squarely."

Word of advice: Those kinds of comments won't sit well with opposing hitters. So let's just consider that part of the adjustment process. And as Rangers manager Ron Washington said: "I really believe this kid is going to make whatever adjustments he has to make."

But for now at least, this is an ace-less but very deep Rangers' rotation, with de factor leader Colby Lewis in the No. 1 spot. Most likely, Darvish will fit in the No. 3 spot, separating left-handers Derek Holland and Matt Harrison, and Neftali Feliz transitioning to the fifth spot.

Holland and Harrison will have to follow up on years when their increase in innings pitched pushed the limit ? as often is the case when a team's season stretches all the way to a World Series Game 7.

And Feliz will have to make good on pitching coach Mike Maddux's assessment that the converted closer has the necessary three-pitch assortment to succeed as a starter. The good news is Feliz is on-board with the move, and wants to make it work.

There also are quality fall-back options in Scott Feldman and Alexi Ogando ? and in any other camp, there would be much more attention paid to top left-handed prospects Martin Perez, 21, and Robbie Ross, 22.

Although other major questions surround the Rangers' AL pennant defense ? Josh Hamilton's ongoing saga, complicated by this being his free-agent-walk year; the gamble on Joe Nathan as an elite-level closer again; and the center-field playing time question, to name three ? all everybody wants to know is how good Darvish will be.

"He was successful where he came from; the biggest adjustment will be trusting that," Washington said. "Over here, you've got lineups that can hurt you up and down. He has to get used to that. Make your pitches, and you can get everybody out. But if you don't, they're going to hurt you."

Baseball Expert Tony DeMarco has been covering the big leagues since 1987, and been casting Hall of Fame ballots for the last 14 years. Follow Tony on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/demarconbc.

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Darvish a bonus for Rangers

??DeMarco: Given the circus-like atmosphere around Yu Darvish, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that this is a stacked team with more than enough talent to make a third consecutive World Series appearance.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/46671504/ns/sports-baseball/

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