Back to the Texas Rangers Newsfeed

What is a 'bastard' pitch and how could it help Rangers' Sam Dyson keep closer's role?

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- For the second straight year, the Rangers have this situation on their hands: an incumbent closer with only one year on the job and a setup guy with even better stuff waiting in the wings.

Sam Dyson has been on both ends of that situation.

A year ago, he was the comer, a ginger-bearded ground ball demon who had the eighth inning locked down, but was maybe more suited to be a closer than Shawn Tolleson. Now: He's the closer with a filthy 95-mph sinking fastball, but Matt Bush is sitting there on the brink of triple digits.