ARLINGTON — The Rangers handed out sleek, glittery World Series replica rings to fans before Tuesday night's game against Cleveland. And as society is, there was already an active resale market online at the time.
In other words, after Jack Leiter made his home debut.
Perhaps one day there might be a memorabilia market for tickets to Leiter's debut at Globe Life Field, as if they were still in print. But for now, the only ticket to talk about is probably a one-way job back to Triple-A Round Rock for further refinement. The Rangers have no other choice. His three MLB starts gradually deteriorated. The story of Cleveland's 7-4 win Tuesday was that it knocked out Leiter before the end of two painful innings.
The Rangers lost five games in a row, and their batting average fell to .500. This will put a huge strain on a fragile bullpen and may require additional pitching reinforcements to get through the weekend. The only healthy pitcher on the 40-man roster is left-hander Antwon Kelly, who has never pitched in the majors. There are other options beyond 40 players, but that would require a more significant roster shuffle.
I can't be a writer. not now. Not now. He's just not ready. He scattered his fastballs, hitting the strike zone only 45% of the time. Even when he got ahead in the count, he couldn't finish off the batter. When he fell back, he couldn't get the count back. He hit the leadoff batter in the second inning he started after the team was down 0-2. He went on to hit a home run on 0-for-2 pitching, ensuring his ejection.
If anything, things appear to have gone backwards for Leiter since his April 18 debut in Detroit. Perhaps he worked harder and harder to control his fastball, and maybe even got wilder with it.
“I think his start was similar,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “It's just that there's not quite the stability that he should have here. He's getting close. These are teaching moments.”
Reiter threw 16 pitches before getting the out. He went up 0-2 against Tyler Freeman and he hit him with a bad fastball. Andres Jimenez negated seven foul balls, then grounded out on a fielder's choice and walked Josh Naylor on five pitches.
His attacks were of no use to him. When it comes to giving the seemingly overamped writers a break, they only saw the first nine pitches and time to make adjustments should have been a priority. Instead, he went to the mound for the second time in every condition except hyperventilating. The offensive line hit three home runs, but that was long after Reiter had left.
Reiter allowed another walk, a second steal, a run-scoring single to Jimenez, and the best of all, an 0-2 home run to Josh Naylor, before Bochy came to get him. The manager was leaving the dugout before the ball dropped.
“The only thing left to do is execute him,” Reiter said. “I didn't execute like I knew I could. I feel bad that I let my team down. It sucks. But you have to live with it. We have to wake up the next morning and make this right. No.”
It's been a hectic three weeks. He was called up as a spot starter against Detroit on April 18 and returned to the minors the next day. Two weeks later, he was recalled as the 27th man to start the second game of a doubleheader against Oakland. And, per the rules, he had to be returned to the minors. He rejoined the Rangers on Monday.
Leiter started three games and allowed 19 runs (17 earned) in just 9.1 innings. He has a 16.39 ERA. He allowed six walks and three home runs, both signs of his lack of command. His misses outside the zone are uncompetitive and his misses inside the zone get hammered into the seat too often. In his minor league career, Reiter averaged five walks and allowed 1.5 home runs per nine innings.
Leiter started three games and allowed 19 runs (17 earned) in just 9.1 innings. He has a 16.39 ERA. He allowed six walks and three home runs, both signs of his lack of command. His misses outside the zone are uncompetitive and his misses inside the zone get hammered into the seat too often. In his minor league career, Reiter averaged five walks and allowed 1.5 home runs per nine innings.
This total is the second-most allowed by a Rangers pitcher in the first three games of his career. Silver lining: The top five includes Tommy Hunter, Edinson Volquez, and Matt Harrison, all successful pitchers in the major leagues. It was in time.
Reiter did not use the frenetic stretch as an excuse for his performance. He was more focused on what needed to be done to solve the problem.
“This is part of it. It comes with the territory,” he said. “I'm really disappointed that I wasn't able to help the team to the best of my ability. I just want to do what I have to do to get better.”
Easy or not, the Rangers are world champions and handed out replica rings to prove it, but the bar is even higher when it comes to calling up players. They gave the writers three chances. The situation is not getting better, it is actually getting worse.
If the club needs a fifth starter again in the short term, they'll likely look in another direction, albeit with fewer options.
The writer isn't ready yet.
twitter: @Evan_P_Grant
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