Righty reliever/starter Steve Comer hit the ground running as a rookie in 1978 for the Rangers. He pitched in 30 games (11 starts) for the Rangers in 1978 and he was 11-5 with a 2.30 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. Comer followed up a solid rookie season by pitching in 36 games (all starts) for the Rangers in 1979 and he was 17-12 with a 3.68 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. Comer was never the same after 1979, as his career started to fade. Comer pitched in 151 games (62 starts) in his five years with the Rangers and he was 39-29 with 13 saves, a 3.80 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Comer is #4 in win/loss percentage (57.4%) in Rangers’ history.

The Rangers have signed 34-year old righty starting pitcher Roy Oswalt to a 1-year, $5 million dollar guaranteed contract. Oswalt will start 2-3 games in AA-ball for the Rangers before they call him up to the show. Oswalt pitched in 23 games (all starts) for the Phillies last year and he was 9-10 with a 3.69 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. Oswalt has now pitched in 339 games (326 starts) in his first 11 years in the majors and he is 159-93 with a 3.21 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. This was an excellent move for the Rangers as Oswalt is a front line starting pitcher.

26-year old lefty swinging 1B/OF Mitch Moreland has been on fire with the bat so far in May for the Texas Rangers. Moreland played in 17 games in April for the Rangers and he was 12 for 52 (.231 avg, .753 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 3 homers and 6 RBIs. But, in May, Moreland has been swinging a big stick. Moreland has played in 20 games so far this month and he is 22 for 58 (.379 avg, 1.120 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 5 homers, 13 RBIs and only 4 whiffs, as he is locked in at the plate right now. Moreland has now played in 37 games overall this year for the Rangers and he is 34 for 110 (.309 avg, .945 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 8 homers and 19 RBIs. The Rangers hope that Moreland keeps rolling with the bat.

37-year old righty closer Joe Nathan got off to a slow start in his first couple of weeks with the Rangers, but he’s on fire now. Nathan has pitched in 19 games (0 starts) so far this year for the Rangers and he is 0-2 with 10 saves, a 2.41 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. He has only given up 16 hits in 18 2/3 innings so far this year, while whiffing 23 batters and only walking 2. The Rangers appeared to make a shrewd move in signing up Nathan to close last winter.

The Rangers have claimed 27-year old lefty reliever John Gaub off waivers from the Rays. Gaub has pitched in 16 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball so far this year and he is 0-1 with 1 save, a 4.32 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Gaub’s only major league experience came last season with the Cubs. He pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. The Rangers need help from the left side of the pen, so Gaub might get a shot to show what he can do at some point in 2012.

UPDATE: (6/7/2012) - The Rangers have designated John Gaub for assignment. Gaub pitched in 5 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Rangers and he was 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. If Gaub clears waivers, the Rangers hope he will accept an outright assignment to AAA.

UPDATE: (6/12/2012) - The Rangers have lost John Gaub on waivers to the Cardinals.

The Texas Rangers have placed 24-year old righty starting pitcher Neftali Feliz on the 15-day disabled list due to a right elbow injury. Feliz has pitched in 8 games (7 starts) so far this year for the Rangers and he is 3-1 with a 3.16 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Feliz has only given up 28 hits while whiffing 37 batters in his first 42 2/3 innings this year, but, he has also walked 28 batters which is way too many. 29-year old righty Scott Feldman is going to step into Feliz’ rotation spot. Feldman has pitched in 7 games (2 starts) for the Rangers so far this year and he is 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. The Rangers expect that Feldman will do a solid job until Feliz is ready to return to action. The Rangers have called up 36-year old righty reliever Yoshinori Tateyama to replace Feliz on the roster and Feldman in the bullpen. Tateyama has pitched in 12 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball this year and he was 1-0 with 1 save, a 1.54 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. He pitched in 39 games (0 starts) for the Rangers last year and he was 2-0 with 1 save, a 4.50 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP.

UPDATE: (5/22/2012) - Neftali Feliz is likely going to be out until at least the All-Star Break. He might switch to the bullpen when he returns to action to save wear and tear on his elbow.

25-year old righty starting pitcher Yu Darvish had a rough go in his first two starts of the 2012 season, but he has been dominant since then. In his last six starts, Darvish is 5-1 with a 1.99 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. Darvish has now started 8 games for the Rangers this year and he is 6-1 with a 2.60 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Darvish has only given up 43 hits and he has whiffed 58 batters in his first 52 innings for the Rangers this year, but he has also walked 26 batters. Look out if Darvish tightens up his control, because he’s a bulldog on the mound with outstanding stuff.

The Texas Rangers could really use a lockdown lefty reliever in the pen. Sure, rookie Robbie Ross has been impressive so far this year, but the Rangers could use a second lefty in the pen. The Oakland A’s could be enticed to deal Brian Fuentes to the Rangers if Texas is willing to give up outfielder Joey Butler. This is a deal the Rangers would have to make, providing that the A’s picked up a nice chunk of Fuentes’ salary. This would truly be a deal that would help both teams.

26-year old righty swinging outfielder Joey Butler is really hitting the ball well so far this year in AAA. Butler has played in 35 games in AAA-ball so far this year and he is 43 for 130 (.331 avg, 1.004 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 6 homers, 23 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He has walked 23 times so far this year as he has been showing a good eye at the plate. Butler played in 489 games in his first five years in the minors and he is 547 for 1,864 (.293 avg, .813 OPS) with 299 runs scored, 46 homers, 249 RBIs and 40 stolen bases. He could get his first shot at the show in 2012 for the Rangers, if the need arises.

Lefty swinging outfielder Josh Hamilton had a night to remember last night. In the Rangers 10-3 win over the Orioles in Baltimore last night, Hamilton went 5 for 5 with 4 runs scored, a double, 4 homers and 8 RBIs! He became only the 16th hitter in major league history to whack four homers in one game. He is the first guy to achieve that feat since 2003, when Carlos Delgado did it. None of the HRs were cheap ones either with two coming off Orioles’ starter Jake Arrieta and one of of Zach Phillips and Hamilton’s ex-Ranger teammate Darren O’Day. Hamilton has now played in 27 games for the Rangers so far this year and he is 43 for 106 (.406 avg, 1.298 OPS) with 25 runs scored, 14 homers, 36 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.