Teams Taking Note Of CJ Wilson's Struggles

I know DP touched on this the other day, but I was reading reading an article earlier today, and couldn't help myself.

Wilson is winless in five postseason starts with a 6.08 ERA, that has lead many team to be very hesitant in how much they are going to offer him. There is no question he is still the #1 pitcher on the market (not including CC), but he really need to come out that last start and blow the doors off the Cardinals.

The Yankees are the obvious team that will have a lot of interest, and before the playoffs started it sounded as if they would be driving up the cost for Wilson. Now, Buster Olney explains why teams are starting to back off...

"I know of at least three teams that will tone down their interest in the lefthander in large part because of what they have seen this October -- the issues of fastball command. 'That doesn't get better as a pitcher gets older,' said one scout. 'It gets worse.'"

To add to that Wilson isn't as young as a lot of people think he is. He will be 31 next year (basically the same age as Beckett), and not that that's old or anything, but you don't want to get caught in a dog fight for this guy and shell out a 6 year deal.

Wilson will make his money, but I don't think the deal with be for as much or as long as we thought going into the postseason. If I was to venture a guess I would say he ends up stay with the Rangers.

CJ Wilson Needs To Pull A Derek Holland

DP already talked about what Derek Holland did last night... dominate. He turned around his postseason performances in one night. Before last night he had an ERA of over 8 in the series before, and yet was able to come out and change this season, and maybe his entire career.

Now comes CJ Wilson. He needs to do the same. If the Rangers win this I guarantee they win this series, but it goes even beyond that for Wilson. Wilson is a free agent after this season and is in line to be the #1 free agent SP. Nothing will change that (unless CC bolts NY), but I do feel there are millions of dollars on the line tonight. Wilson has an ERA over 7 so far this playoffs. He has basically choked. Whether he is getting rocked, or walking a bunch of guys like he did last time out he just isn't acting like an ace. Yet, if he pulls a Holland tonight all of that goes away. Suddenly, he is a big time pitcher.

So tonight for Wilson, there is a chance to put his team within 1 win of a World Series, make millions more money next season, and define his career. Holland was up for it, are you Mr. Wilson?