Rangers Gameday: 3/10 Vs. SDP

Monday, March 10th Game Preview

Texas Rangers (5-6-1) vs. San Diego Padres (7-3-0)

Jamey Wright (0-0, 3.86 ERA) vs. Justin Germano (0-0, 6.75 ERA)

9:05 PM CST in Peoria, Arizona (Peoria Sports Complex)

TV: MLB.TV | Radio: MLB.com Gameday Audio (XPRS 1090 AM)

Rangers		Padres
Pos.	Player	Pos.	Player
SS	Ramon Vazquez	CF	Scott Hairston
2B	Ryan Roberts	2B	Tadahito Iguchi
CF	Josh Hamilton	3B	Kevin Kouzmanoff
3B	Hank Blalock	1B	Adrian Gonzalez
RF	Marlon Byrd	SS	Khalil Greene
1B	Ben Broussard	C	Michael Barrett
LF	David Murphy	LF	Chase Headley
C	Gerald Laird	RF	Jeff DaVanon
P	Jamey Wright	P	Justin Germano

Notes: The Texas Rangers have optioned Joaquin Arias (Triple-A Oklahoma), Julio Borbon (High-A Bakersfield), Thomas Diamond (Double-A Frisco) and Max Ramirez (Frisco) to minor league camp, while simultaneously re-assigning non-roster invitees Elvis Andrus, Chris Davis, German Duran, Kea Kometani, John Mayberry, Chris Stewart and Bill White to minor league camp. As a result, the Rangers now have 51 players on their spring roster.

None of these reassignments come as any great surprise, other than perhaps the Duran move. This effectively brings an end to the talk of Duran potentially making the club as a utility infielder coming out of spring training; granted, that was never much more than a long shot at best.

Right-hander Brandon McCarthy (elbow inflammation) was scheduled to return to Dallas today to receive what Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram described as "an injection of his [McCarthy's] own blood platelets into the inflamed area that will help promote recovery."

However, MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan reported on Monday afternoon that McCarthy was scheduled to undergo a second MRI on his right elbow this evening, taken from a different angle and performed by team physician Dr. Keith Meister, to confirm that the original diagnosis was indeed correct.

Dr. Meister remains confident that there is no damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in McCarthy's elbow, but the Rangers would rather be safe than sorry with their 24-year-old hurler. McCarthy, who is expected to be out anywhere from four to six weeks, will not resume a throwing program until he is pain-free. His setback on Friday afternoon was the catalyst behind right-hander Doug Mathis's transfer from minor league camp to major league camp yesterday.

Veteran right-hander Sidney Ponson, signed yesterday as a sort of insurance policy to enhance the club's minor league pitching depth, arrived in camp on Monday and threw a bullpen session. The Rangers aren't certain when he'll pitch in a game. His minor league contract includes an out clause, which allows him to become an unrestricted free agent if not added to the big league roster by May 1st.

Kevin Millwood (hamstring) tossed 51 pitches during his simulated game on Monday afternoon, while Joaquin Benoit (weak arm) fired 16 pitches; neither experienced any pain during their respective outings. Great news on both counts.

Southpaw C.J. Wilson (biceps tendinitis) reported no pain in his left shoulder after playing catch from flat ground on Saturday, and was scheduled to throw a bullpen session today. There's no immediate word on how he performed, but hey, as they say: no news is good news.

[10:00 PM CST Update: T.R. Sullivan reports that Wilson threw with no problems today, but that MRIs on Travis Metcalf and Taylor Teagarden have revealed a partial hamstring tear and bone bruise on the left wrist, respectively. Uh oh.]

Eddie Guardado, Jason Davis, Josh Rupe, Kameron Loe and Matt Harrison are all scheduled to pitch in relief of starter Jamey Wright tonight.

Rangers Notebook: Handicapping The Spring Competitions

Your beloved Texas Rangers square off against the San Diego Padres in Peoria, Arizona at 9:05 PM CST this evening, marking the 13th of 31 games on the Rangers' 2008 spring exhibition schedule.

It doesn't take a math genius to realize that equates to roughly 40% of the Rangers' spring training games now being officially in the books - still an infinitesimally small sample size, to be certain, but worthy of a closer examination.

Though we may not yet be able to definitively project the winners of many of the spring battles currently being fought in camp, certain players are beginning to stand out from the rest of their peers. We're starting to approach that point where the innings become just a bit more meaningful, the at-bats just a bit more fierce, and the clubhouse just a bit more tense.

Granted, plenty of time remains for most, if not all, of these competitions to be turned upside down - but hey, that doesn't mean we can't at least have fun trying to forecast the winners, right?

Catcher | Available Spots: Two

Gerald Laird: 16 AB, .250/.250/.500, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 0 BB, 2 K

Adam Melhuse: 10 AB, .300/.417/.300, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K

J. Saltalamacchia: 14 AB, .214/.267/.571, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 4 K

Taylor Teagarden: 3 AB, .667/.750/1.667, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 0 K

Notes: Ah yes, the "open" competition for the starting catcher job. Laird has received early marks for his "game-calling" ability and handling of the pitching staff, while Saltalamacchia, comparatively, seems to have done little behind the plate thus far defensively to give him a leg up over Laird. Additionally, Gerald has cut down three of five would-be basestealers this spring, while Jarrod has gunned down just one of three.

Manager Ron Washington told MLB.com this past weekend that he would have a better idea of which way he wanted to go, speaking purely in terms of the catching situation, by March 14th. As of right now, Laird is the unequivocal front-runner; it's remains unclear as to whether or not the loser of the battle would break camp as a Ranger regardless, or if they would head down to Triple-A Oklahoma to begin the year.

Indeed, the answer to that question appears to be reliant upon the resolution. If Saltalamacchia rallies to win the job, Laird would probably serve (unhappily) as his backup; Texas could also seek a trade partner. Conversely, Laird's acquisition of the job would probably relegate Saltalamacchia back to Oklahoma, as the club would almost certainly want their 22-year-old backstop playing everyday and further honing his plate patience, pitch recognition and defensive skills.

In the latter scenario, veteran backstop Adam Melhuse (who really has no arm to speak of, nor a bat to match, but is a long-time favorite of Washington's dating back to their days in Oakland) might serve as Laird's backup through the first several months of the season, until such time arrives when the club decides that Saltalamacchia is ready to reassume his catching duties at the big league level - or until Laird falters miserably, whichever happens to come first.

MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan suggested last Friday that the idea of top catching prospect Taylor Teagarden making the team as the backup catcher "might be batted around by club officials." However, that appears to be more wishful thinking than anything els.

Prognosis: Laird breaks camp as the starting catcher, with Melhuse serving as his backup, Saltalamacchia heading to Oklahoma to begin the year and Teagarden returning to Double-A Frisco. With the latter two pressing closer and closer to the majors, Laird is going to have to be dealt sooner rather than later - and a strong start to the 2008 season might be just the leverage that general manager Jon Daniels needs to make a trade happen.

Worst Case Scenario: Laird evolves into a Washington favorite and sticks as the starting catcher through the better half of the season on the strength of his defense, complete with his usual sub-replacement level offensive production. Texas fans march upon Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in angry protest, complete with torches and pitchforks.

First Base/Outfield | Available Spots: Two

Jason Botts: 18 AB: .389/.421/.556, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K

Nelson Cruz: 21 AB, .190/.227/.238, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 6 K

Kevin Mench: 19 AB, .263/.391/.632, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 4 BB, 1 K

David Murphy: 18 AB, .389/.368/.667, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 0 BB, 2 K

Chris Shelton: 11 AB, .182/.250/.273, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K

Notes: Ugh, don't make me talk about this anymore.

This looks to be boiling down to a pure competition between Jason Botts and Kevin Mench for one spot, as Nelson Cruz has failed to do much of anything (despite leading the club in spring at-bats), and Chris Shelton will almost certainly be shipped to Oklahoma as a result of Washington's horribly misguided decision to allow Ben Broussard, a lifetime .227/.290/.399 Major League hitter in 387 plate appearances against left-handed pitching, to play everyday at first base.

David Murphy, meanwhile, looks to be a cinch for the coveted fourth outfielder job. Just don't expect him to turn into the second coming of Rusty Greer anytime soon.

Prognosis: Cruz is designated for assignment before Opening Day and dealt for minimal return, as he is out of minor league options. Murphy makes the club and Shelton heads to the minors as insurance, while Kevin Mench and Jason Botts duel to the final day of spring training.

Washington has expressed early favoritism towards Mench, rendering him the front-runner for the last spot - despite the fact that Botts, like Cruz, is out of minor league options. Look for Daniels to lobby heavily for Botts; this could develop into a major point of contention between manager and general manager.

Worst Case Scenario: Botts and Cruz are axed in favor of the enigmatic Mench, and go on to finally unlock their untapped potential in rival organizations. Mench's offensive production continues to trend downward, leading to his release by mid-summer, if not sooner. Murphy falls back down to earth (think .750 OPS), crushing the unrealistic hopes of many delusional Ranger fans, while Broussard notches an OPS against southpaws somewhere around the .650 mark, helping to flatten his already mediocre trade value.

Utility Infielder | Available Spots: One

Edgardo Alfonzo: 12 AB, .333/.385/.333, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K

German Duran: 13 AB, .154/.250/.231, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 6 K

Ryan Roberts: 16 AB, .438/.450/.688, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K

Ramon Vazquez: 18 AB, .444/.474/.444, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 0 K

Notes: To a certain degree, Ryan Roberts strikes me as the 2008 version of Matt Kata. Kata set Surprise on fire last spring, going 18-for-48 at the plate while belting a pair of homers and inducing nearly everybody (including myself) to buy into the hype. Then he batted .186/.250/.300 in 70 AB during the regular season before his designation for assignment on June 5th. Good times.

All that being said, Roberts does have a respectable offensive r�sum� to his credit (.268/.370/.445 with 74 HR in 1,880 career minor league AB), and is capable of playing every position in the infield, so there is a certain amount of intrigue present here. Still, the job appears to be Vazquez's to lose.

Prognosis: Vazquez nails down the utility infielder job - though not before staving off an inspired effort by Roberts, who will likely head back to the minors - and German Duran returns to Oklahoma to resume his duties as the Redhawks' everyday second baseman. Edgardo Alfonzo, having failed in his latest attempt to resurrect his big league career, fades back into obscurity.

Worst Case Scenario: Erm, I guess Jon Daniels could have a brief fit of insanity and trade Duran, Roberts and Vazquez away for Chan Ho Park or something.

Starting Rotation | Available Spots: Two

Kason Gabbard: 7.2 IP, 9.39 ERA, 15 H, 4 BB, 2 HR, 5 K

Matt Harrison: 4.1 IP, 6.23 ERA, 7 H, 2 BB, 0 HR, 1 K

Eric Hurley: 7.2 IP, 4.70 ERA, 6 H, 5 BB, 0 HR, 5 K

Luis Mendoza: 3.1 IP, 10.80 ERA, 4 H, 2 BB, 0 HR, 1 K

A.J. Murray: 5.0 IP, 10.80 ERA, 8 H, 5 BB, 1 HR, 4 K

Sidney Ponson: Signed March 9th, arrived in camp today

Notes: Gabbard, acquired from the Boston Red Sox last July as part of a three-player package in exchange for closer Eric Gagne, has been pounded to the tune of .429/.500/.714 by Cactus League hitting this spring. Pitching coach Mark Connor, however, attributes that lack of success to the 25-year-old southpaw working extensively on his fastball to build up strength and endurance in his pitching arm, while simultaneously underutilizing his curve. That may be so, but sooner or later results have to arrive.

Harrison and Hurley are the future of this rotation, but neither looks to be ready quite just yet. Scott Lucas noted this afternoon that Harrison's inability to induce strikeouts (despite his above-average stuff) and Hurley's inconsistent fastball command should have both heading back to Oklahoma by March 31st. Murray will likely join them.

Mendoza, despite the lackluster ERA, has flashed impressive stuff (including a consistent 90-93 MPH heater) and quality command of the strike zone this spring, making him the leading candidate to fill in for fallen right-hander Brandon McCarthy while he resides on the disabled list through the early stretch of the 2008 season. Keep a watchful eye on Sidney Ponson, however.

Prognosis: Gabbard and Mendoza open the season in the Rangers' starting rotation, while the trio of Harrison, Hurley and Murray (hey, that's kinda catchy) head to AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City. Ponson doesn't show enough to make the club, strings together a few decent starts with the Redhawks, and exercises his May 1st out clause as part of his search for a new employer.

Worst Case Scenario: Sidney Ponson becomes Pedro Astacio, circa 2005. After a whirlwind finish to the spring that finds him winning the final spot in the starting rotation over Mendoza, he strings together several impressive starts, setting the baseball world ablaze with premature overreaction, before coming crashing back down to earth.

The Rangers, desperate to rekindle the lost flame, allow Ponson to spare up the starting rotation all the way through June, culminating in his release on July 1st - but not before his compiling of a 6.10 ERA over 14 starts.

And then I kill myself.

Bullpen | Available Spots: Four

Jason Davis: 4.2 IP, 9.64 ERA, 9 H, 3 BB, 1 HR, 4 K

Scott Feldman: 5.0 IP, 1.80 ERA, 3 H, 2 BB, 0 HR, 3 K

Frankie Francisco: 5.1 IP, 1.69 ERA, 6 H, 1 BB, 0 HR, 0 K

Kazuo Fukumori: 5.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 4 H, 0 BB, 0 HR, 5 K

Franklyn German: 3.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 3 H, 0 BB, 0 HR, 5 K

Wes Littleton: 2.0 IP, 4.50 ERA, 2 H, 0 BB, 0 HR, 1 K

Kameron Loe: 3.2 IP, 14.73 ERA, 7 H, 1 BB, 3 HR, 3 K

Elizardo Ramirez: 5.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 HR, 2 K

Josh Rupe: 4.2 IP, 7.71 ERA, 6 H, 3 BB, 1 HR, 2 K

Robinson Tejeda: 5.0 IP, 9.00 ERA, 6 H, 2 BB, 1 HR, 6 K

Jamey Wright: 4.2 IP, 3.86 ERA, 7 H, 3 BB, 0 HR, 1 K

Notes: C.J. Wilson, Joaquin Benoit and Eddie Guardado are all locks to make the Rangers' Opening Day seven-man bullpen unit (if healthy), which helps to explain their exclusion from this list. Fukumori and Francisco appear set to join them, though T.R. Sullivan suggests that the Rangers want to see more out of Frankie's once-devastating split-fingered fastball.

Prognosis: The aforementioned quintet makes the cut, leaving just two spots available to be divvied up between the remainder of the pack. My gut instinct tells me that Jamey Wright and Scott Feldman will make the squad, resulting in trips back to the minors or the waiver wire for everybody else.

Worst Case Scenario: Given the tumultuous and self-correcting nature of Major League bullpens, there's not much here worth getting overly worked up about, as underachieving relievers tend to be removed far more quickly than underachievers at other positions. I wouldn't be particularly pleased to see Jason Davis, Franklyn German or Elizardo Ramirez make the club, but none of the three strike me as much more than just another random guy to have lying around for depth purposes.

But boy, oh boy, just wait until the first time this bullpen costs the Rangers a game. Keep those torches and pitchforks at the ready, folks.

Rangers Gameday: 3/9 Vs. LAA

Sunday, March 9th Game Preview

Texas Rangers (5-5-1) vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (5-3-2)

Kason Gabbard (0-1, 11.25 ERA) vs. Ervin Santana (0-0, 7.71 ERA)

3:05 PM CST in Tempe, Arizona (Tempe Diablo Stadium)

TV: None | Radio: KRLD 1080 AM

Rangers		Angels
Pos.	Player	Pos.	Player
2B	Ian Kinsler	3B	Chone Figgins
LF	Kevin Mench	CF	Reggie Willits
SS	Michael Young	DH	Vladimir Guerrero
DH	Hank Blalock	2B	Howie Kendrick
RF	Marlon Byrd	LF	Robb Quinlan
1B	Ben Broussard	1B	Kendry Morales
CF	David Murphy	SS	Erick Aybar
C	Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C	Bobby Wilson
3B	German Duran	RF	Terry Evans

Notes: Richard Durrett of the Dallas Morning News reports that right-handers Eric Hurley and Wes Littleton are expected to pitch in relief of starter Kason Gabbard this afternoon, while Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram notes that Scott Feldman is also expected to receive work.

NEWSFLASH: Rangers Sign Ponson; McCarthy Out 4-6 Weeks

I'm beginning to think this is one of those days where I should have just laid in bed until mid-afternoon.

MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan is reporting that the Texas Rangers have inked veteran right-hander Sidney Ponson to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league spring training, as a sort of insurance policy to enhance the club's minor league pitching depth:

"He's thrown all winter, and we've seen him a few times," general manager Jon Daniels said of Ponson. "He's down 20 pounds from what he was when he struggled the past couple of years. We talked with him about our expectations, and he understands where he is at this point of his career. He feels he has something to prove."

The importance of that depth now looks to become magnified twofold through the first couple weeks of the 2008 season, as Daniels also noted on Sunday morning that right-hander Brandon McCarthy will likely be out anywhere from four to six weeks.

McCarthy is scheduled to fly back to Dallas today for the beginning stages of treatment to heal a nasty case of inflammation in his right forearm, which will almost certainly land the 24-year-old hurler on the 15-day disabled list to begin the year. Appears that my completely baseless prediction of a potential mid-to-late April return for Brandon was, in fact, right on target.

Club officials reportedly acknowledged that right-hander Luis Mendoza was still the leading candidate to fill the void left by McCarthy, but that top pitching prospect Eric Hurley and Ponson, who is expected to arrive in Surprise on Monday, were also clinging to the periphery.

The obvious fear, of course, is that Ponson impresses the coaching staff to such a degree over the next three weeks that they have no reservations about handing Sir Sidney a guaranteed rotation spot coming out of spring training.

Not only would that be a tremendous mistake, given Ponson's lack of results over the past four seasons (he hasn't posted an ERA+ north of 87, nor a WHIP south of 1.55, since 2003), but there is that smidgen of possibility, no matter how minuscule it might be, that Ponson comes aboard, lights things up for two or three starts, and then comes crashing back down to earth - but not before sparing the Rangers to death for another five starts, perhaps even more, before the club rightfully pulls the plug.

An unlikely scenario? Perhaps. But it wasn't even three years ago that this exact scenario unfolded before our very eyes - only with a man named Pedro Astacio taking the place of the rotund Sidney Ponson.

As you may recall, Astacio compiled three brilliant starts to begin the 2005 campaign, during the course of which he went 1-1 with a pristine 1.62 ERA and 0.91 WHIP. All of this prompted the great Peter Gammons to pen the following on April 22nd, 2005, just three days after Astacio tossed eight shutout innings to beat the Oakland Athletics in Arlington:

Credit John Hart with what early returns show to be one of the best free agent signings in Pedro Astacio, who in his first three starts allowed four runs in 22 innings. Astacio has come up with a nasty fastball that runs across the inside corner against lefties, and as Buck Showalter points out, "because he survived so well at Coors [he pitched 200 innings there three times, no one else did it twice], he is perfect for our park. He has the perfect makeup for a hitters' park."

The rest, of course, is history. Astacio's downward slide began almost immediately, and continued through mid-June. By the time Hart and the Rangers parted ways with Astacio on June 21st, Astacio had made 12 starts as a Ranger - the latter nine of which were marred by a horrific 8.20 ERA, bringing his final ERA as a Texas Ranger to 6.04. The entire experiment was doomed to failure from its inception.

Is there really any reason to believe that the Ponson situation won't unfold in a similar fashion? True, McCarthy could indeed return by mid-April, again forcing Sidney out of the picture. Luis Mendoza could render Ponson's presence irrelevant if he continues to throw strikes and effectively mow down opposing batters.

Or Ponson might ring up his third DUI arrest in three years, the most recent of which prompted the Baltimore Orioles to cut the 31-year-old and void his contract back in September 2005. The MLBPA filed a grievance on Ponson's behalf following that sequence of events; those familiar with baseball's front office bureaucracy will find it no great surprise that the grievance remains pending against the Orioles, almost 30 months later to the day.

But what if Brandon suffers a setback in his rehabilitation, or Kason Gabbard's well-documented history of elbow problems rears its ugly head yet again, or Luis Mendoza falters over the next couple of weeks, or some other freakish injury happens to take place? There are a ton of variables in play here, many of which could make the Ponson acquisition far more analogous to the Astacio signing than some might want to believe.

True, the preliminary scouting reports have been promising. During a spring workout on Thursday, Ponson flashed a 93-94 MPH fastball, a slider that grazed 88 MPH and a deceptive 84 MPH changeup. I'd be remiss in my journalistic duties to not mention that Ponson has purportedly sworn off alcohol and unhealthy eating, instead moving in favor of a healthier diet and better training in his quest to return to the big leagues.

Still, color me innately skeptic of the permanence of Ponson's alleged turnaround. Even if the Rangers fail to compete for an AL West division title in 2008, there remain plenty of ways that this signing could go horribly wrong for Texas.

Please, Brandon, get better soon. I say that with just the slightest pang of desperation in my voice.

Rangers Quote Of The Week: 3/9 Plus Edition

Tonight's - well, this morning's - Texas Rangers update will be a bizarre hybrid between your regularly scheduled programming (the Quote of the Week), and a smattering of assorted Rangers tidbits from Saturday's news wire.

Please bear with me as I attempt to knock out the following fifteen or so paragraphs before collapsing into unconsciousness.

Without any further ado, let us jump straight into this week's quote of choice:

"This is definitely something that is kind of depressing. I felt like I put in the work to come in healthy and only have to worry about pitching and not have to worry about how everything felt. To be going through this again is definitely tough."

Brandon McCarthy, expressing his frustration over his most recent spring training setback on Friday. The 24-year-old right-hander experienced a "flare-up" in his forearm after firing a curveball to Milwaukee's Gabe Gross during the bottom of the 4th inning of the Rangers' 9-8 loss to the Brewers on Friday afternoon - a disappointing step backwards not only for McCarthy, but for the entire organization as well.

Though the complete results of McCarthy's MRI - performed late Saturday by team physician Dr. Keith Meister - will not be known until sometime on Sunday, the initial diagnosis suggests that Brandon has severe inflammation, and accompanying fluid buildup, in the general vicinity of his right elbow.

The good news is that there does not appear to be any structural damage to the elbow ligament itself; such an injury would have required McCarthy to undergo season-ending Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery, which would have cost him the entirety of the 2008 season, while simultaneously hindering his overall effectiveness through a sizable portion of the 2009 season. On that count, the Rangers have come out ahead.

Unfortunately, the not-so-good news is that the Rangers do not yet know how long McCarthy will be on the shelf, or for that matter, which course of action they should take in order to properly rehabilitate their prized young hurler.

For Texas, a theoretical best-case scenario could have McCarthy returning to the starting rotation by mid-to-late April - but that's assuming he experiences no further setbacks in his recovery effort. A more conservative, and possibly more realistic estimate, might have him toiling away on the disabled list until early May. Quite frankly, the long and short of the situation right now is that nobody really knows what the immediate future holds for McCarthy.

And if there's anything big league pitchers fear, it's the unknown.

Do not miss Evan Grant's fantastic feature piece in the Sunday edition of the Dallas Morning News, wherein Grant describes, in unprecedented detail, the trials and tribulations endured by right-handed pitching prospects Omar Beltre and Alexi Ogando in their futile attempts to gain entry into the United States.

Both Beltre, 26, and Ogando, 24, have been unable to obtain a work visa to travel stateside as a direct result of their involvement in a marriage fraud scandal that rocked the baseball world just over three years ago. It's a sad, yet spellbinding tale of poor decisions and lost opportunities - and perhaps even a not-so-gentle reminder that a honest chance at redemption, even if rightfully deserved, is anything but guaranteed in this world.

Right-hander Joaquin Benoit, who remarked on Saturday that his arm was "80 percent better than it was a month ago" after coming into camp with less-than-desired velocity on his fastball, was among the players allegedly approached about participating in the marriage fraud scandal several years ago. Benoit politely declined the offer.

MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan is suggesting that second baseman Ian Kinsler has won the leadoff spot outright in the Rangers' tentative 2008 batting order, which would relegate designated hitter Frank Catalanotto to the #7 hole against right-handed pitching, and first baseman Ben Broussard to the #8 hole. Nothing we haven't already had an inkling about in recent days, certainly - but Sullivan's blurb on Broussard borders on downright odd:

8. Ben Broussard, 1B: Broussard has a career average of one RBI per 6.71 at-bats. That's the third highest ratio of anybody on the Rangers behind Hamilton (6.34) and Blalock (6.46). He has been platooned in his career against left-handed pitchers, but Washington isn't planning on that this season.

At-bats per RBI? Does this really have the slightest bit of relevance to anything whatsoever? On a brighter note, the latest edition of Poor Toby's Almanac over at "Postcards from Elysian Fields" does not include such useless stats, and is chock full of Sullivan's musings on the state of the club's pitching staff.

Southpaw C.J. Wilson told pitching coach Mark Connor on Friday that he was feeling better after throwing another session of catch from flat ground, but it remains unlikely that the blue-gloved lefty will participate in simulated games while attempting to recuperate from biceps tendinitis in his pitching shoulder. Wilson hopes to return to game action this week after just one or two bullpen sessions, but his status for Opening Day remains heavily shrouded in doubt.

Third baseman Hank Blalock, the central focus of Saturday morning's report, went 0-for-2 at the plate during Saturday afternoon's 9-5 loss to the San Diego Padres - his first live game action since February 29th. Stiffness continues to linger in his neck and back following last Monday's car accident, but Blalock said that he expects to serve as the club's designated hitter until he's completely back up to speed. So far, so good.

Left-hander A.J. Murray was rocked during Saturday's contest against the Padres, surrendering four earned runs on six hits and a walk in his two innings of work. Kazuo Fukumori (1 IP, 0 ER) and Frankie Francisco (2 IP, 0 ER) were impressive in relief, but Kameron Loe (1 IP, 2 ER), Eddie Guardado (1 IP, 2 ER) and the enigmatic Jason Davis (1 IP, 1 ER) failed to perform quite as well.

Kevin Mench went 1-for-2 with a three-run blast on Saturday, and is now hitting .250/.400/.625 on the spring - in 16 AB. I feel like my worst fears are being perpetually realized.

It's now 4:00 AM Central Standard Time in north Texas. Have I ever mentioned just how much I hate Daylight Savings Time?

Rangers Gameday: 3/8 Vs. SDP

Saturday, March 8th Game Preview

San Diego Padres (5-3-0) vs. Texas Rangers (5-4-1)

Greg Maddux (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. A.J. Murray (0-0, 6.00 ERA)

2:05 PM CST in Surprise, Arizona (Surprise Stadium)

TV: None | Radio: KRLD 1080 AM

Padres		Rangers
Pos.	Player	Pos.	Player
CF	Callix Crabbe	2B	Ian Kinsler
2B	Tadahito Iguchi	LF	Frank Catalanotto
C	Michael Barrett	SS	Michael Young
1B	Tony Clark	CF	Josh Hamilton
SS	Khalil Greene	RF	Marlon Byrd
DH	Robert Fick	DH	Hank Blalock
RF	Paul McAnulty	C	Jarrod Saltalamacchia
LF	Chase Headley	1B	Ben Broussard
3B	Oscar Robles	3B	German Duran

Notes: Richard Durrett of the Dallas Morning News reports that right-hander Brandon McCarthy will undergo an MRI on his aching right elbow this afternoon, to be performed by team physician Dr. Keith Meister. Keep your fingers crossed.

Rangers In Peril: Blalock, McCarthy Headline Injury List

Worried about the status of Hank Blalock's health yet? If not, you probably should be.

The Texas Rangers' starting third baseman has encountered his fair share of injury woes over the last 12 months, including right shoulder surgery on May 21st, 2007, to alleviate Thoracic Outlet Syndrome - a painful (and potentially fatal, if untreated) medical condition in which "a rib presses against a nerve, artery or both, leading to poor blood flow."

Though the post-surgical recovery period for Blalock spanned nearly four months in length (which was several weeks longer than originally anticipated, due to Hank's inability to comfortably throw from third to first base), he did manage to pick up right where he left off at the plate.

After hitting a respectable .285/.335/.493 with five home runs through his first 158 plate appearances of the season (leading up to May 16th, his final game before landing on the operating table), Hank made his grand return from the disabled list on September 2nd, crushing a game-winning eighth inning grand slam to beat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball.

From that point onward, Blalock was unstoppable offensively. The 27-year-old San Diego native slugged five home runs in just 74 PA the rest of the way, en route to a fantastic .313/.405/.656 batting line through the final month of the season.

Hoping to build off his strong finish to the 2007 campaign, Hank entered spring training in Surprise, Arizona last month re-energized and re-focused - and most importantly of all, completely healthy. Blalock had experienced some minor soreness in a muscle behind his surgically repaired shoulder in recent days, but it was, by all accounts, nothing worth getting terribly worked up over.

We may now have something worth getting worked up over.

On Monday afternoon, Blalock's Cadillac Escalade - carrying Hank, wife Misty, and three-year-old son Trey - was rammed from behind by an inattentive driver, as the trio waited at a stop light after having lunch at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant near Surprise, Arizona.

Misty and Trey reportedly checked out fine after undergoing a thorough medical examination, while Blalock sustained a mild case of whiplash in his neck and stiffness in his back - seemingly light consequences, considering that one eyewitness to the accident remarked that the offending party was traveling at 40 MPH at the time of the collision, and considering that the air bags in Hank's vehicle failed to deploy properly.

Nonetheless, Blalock's projected return date to the Rangers lineup has been anything but static. What was originally expected to be a Wednesday return quickly turned into a Friday return; indeed, the latest plan now calls for Blalock to serve as the club's designated hitter against the San Diego Padres on Saturday.

Unfortunately, a mere return to the lineup isn't necessarily an indicator of health - far from it, in fact. In the wake of Blalock's wreck, I asked for a second opinion from practicing vehicular accident attorney Mike Hindman, former contributor to the Newberg Report and current author of the fantastic "Rangers Farm Report."

Hindman generously obliged to my request, and what follows are his own personal thoughts pertaining to the potential long-term ramifications of the Blalock family being involved in such a serious accident:

The g-forces involved in a rear-end collision of that magnitude -- roughly 40 mph -- are astronomical. As a personal injury attorney, I've had many, many clients who have suffered major spine injuries in collisions of much less force than the one the Blalocks endured. The biggest concern I have right now is that Hank or Misty or possibly even Trey could have a suffered a herniated disc in the cervical spine (neck).

The disc is a sort of spongy material between the vertebrae which acts as a shock absorber. When the spine is snapped back and forth so violently, as Hank's probably was, that material can rupture very easily. When it does, it loses its shape and heals up as a harder, scar tissue. If it impinges upon the neural canal or the spine, it can cause not only long-term pain and stiffness in the neck or back, but it can cause numbness or tingling in the shoulders, arms and hands.

More often than not, physical therapy or chiropractic care for the duration of a month or two will get someone with these conditions almost back to normal, but in many cases the problem never really goes away. Surgery, as a last resort (discectomy, fusion) is a 50-50 proposition at best.

Every body is different, of course, and here we are talking about a professional athlete in tremendous shape, but there's really no way to tell how badly Hank was hurt at this early point. It's very possible that he'll suffer physically from this collision for several weeks and possibly all summer long.

If you've been paying attention up to this point, you've undoubtedly realized that Hindman has painted an accurate, yet horrifying, portrait of what the coming months may hold for Blalock. Hank may be out of the immediate "danger zone" (those 48 to 72 hours directly following the accident), but there's still plenty of time left for things to go terribly awry.

As always, stay tuned.

* * * * *

So as to not become completely ensnared within the throes of full-fledged writing burnout, here are some Rangers-related quick hits to take us out on this chilly north Texas Friday evening:

? Brandon McCarthy's troublesome right elbow has flared up again - this time, on the 19th pitch of his widely anticipated Friday afternoon return to the mound; he has been shut down indefinitely as a result. Team physician Dr. Keith Meister is expected to reevaluate McCarthy on Saturday.

The fact that the pain is occurring in the muscle, as opposed to the elbow itself, suggests that Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery wouldn't be required should the theoretical worst-case scenario come to pass. Nonetheless, his status for the start of the season is in serious jeopardy. To call this turn of events disheartening would be a serious understatement.

? Oh yeah, as for Friday's game itself? Right-hander Jason Jennings tossed 2.2 shutout innings during his second start of the spring, and center fielder Josh Hamilton launched a mammoth grand slam to right field during a six-run fourth inning, but the trio of Robinson Tejeda, Jamey Wright and Josh Rupe combined to surrender nine runs (eight earned) in just 3.1 innings, and Texas wound up losing, 9-8. Figures.

? Kevin Millwood (hamstring) and Joaquin Benoit (weak arm) are now expected to pitch simulated games on Monday, as the Rangers don't feel that either is ready to appear in a live game, and would rather have each pitch under controlled circumstances.

? MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan still believes that outfielder Kevin Mench "has the inside track for the last spot on the bench," and also thinks that the Rangers might appoint top catching prospect Taylor Teagarden - who has played just 29 games at Double-A Frisco, and none at Triple-A Oklahoma - as the backup catcher behind the winner of the Jarrod Saltalamacchia/Gerald Laird starting backstop competition.

These are both horrible ideas, of course. My vocal disdain towards Mench's return to the organization has been well documented in this space already, but as for the other point, Teagarden needs to be playing everyday in the minors - not rotting away on the bench behind the likes of Gerald Laird. I certainly hope the latter is more idle conjecture than anything else from Sullivan.

? Interested in checking out the Rangers' complete 2008 media guide online for free? Then click here to make all your wildest dreams come true.

? Right-hander Luis Mendoza, whose importance to the Rangers early on in the season may skyrocket depending on the outcome of McCarthy's medical evaluation on Saturday, surrendered three runs on five hits during his three-inning outing during Friday morning's "B" game against the Kansas City Royals. He did, however, strike out six, while flashing a fastball that sat consistently between 90-93 MPH.

? Fireballer Franklyn German was impressive in relief of Mendoza, retiring four straight hitters and flashing a 96-98 MPH fastball. Bullpen dark horse candidate, anybody?

And before anybody reminds me, yes, I'm well aware that I gave him a mere 1% chance of making the Opening Day bullpen back in mid-January. You can't win 'em all.

? And finally, a parting view of the Hollyview Apartments courtyard in Tyler, Texas at approximately 8:00 AM Friday morning:

Spring? Hah.

Rangers Gameday: 3/7 Vs. MIL

Friday, March 7th Game Preview

Texas Rangers (5-3-1) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (4-4-0)

Jason Jennings (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Chris Capuano (1-0, 9.00 ERA)

2:05 PM CST in Phoenix, Arizona (Maryvale Baseball Park)

TV: None | Radio: MLB.com Webcast

Rangers		Brewers
Pos.	Player	Pos.	Player
2B	Ian Kinsler	2B	Rickie Weeks
DH	Frank Catalanotto	SS	J.J. Hardy
SS	Michael Young	CF	Mike Cameron
CF	Josh Hamilton	LF	Ryan Braun
RF	Marlon Byrd	RF	Corey Hart
1B	Ben Broussard	3B	Bill Hall
LF	David Murphy	1B	Brad Nelson
C	Gerald Laird	DH	Gabe Gross
3B	Travis Metcalf	C	Jason Kendall

Notes: Right-handers Luis Mendoza and Wes Littleton were both scheduled to pitch in this morning's "B" game; results from said game have not yet been released.

There appears to be some disagreement between the Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram as to whether Jason Jennings or Brandon McCarthy will start this afternoon's contest in Phoenix, but I'm assuming Jennings will make the start at this juncture. Anthony Andro reports that Jennings will either go three innings or 45 to 50 pitches, whichever comes first, while Richard Durrett says that McCarthy will pitch two innings.

Durrett also has this miscellaneous note on the Rangers' purported interest in free agent right-hander Sidney Ponson:

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said today that the team watched free agent pitcher Sidney Ponson on Thursday when he pitched at the Cardinals' spring training facility in Jupiter, Fla. He said they have some interest for depth, probably at the Triple-A level.

It's the second time this year the Rangers have scouted Ponson. They saw him in the Dominican Republic in January. Texas also had an interest in Ponson before the 2004 and 2006 seasons.

I think I'm gonna be sick.

Rangers Knock Off White Sox, 6-1; C.J. Wilson Out Indefinitely?

The Texas Rangers' longest losing streak of the spring to date has mercifully been brought to a screeching halt.

Because, you know, it's those two-game losing skids that truly kill you.

Right-hander Vicente Padilla fired three solid innings against a White Sox lineup stacked with regulars on Thursday afternoon in Tucson, Arizona, and the Rangers maintained their above .500 record in the 2008 Cactus League standings, as Texas knocked off Chicago by a final score of 6-1.

Padilla became just the second Rangers hurler this spring to reach the three-inning threshold (Eric Hurley fired three shutout innings against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday), as the 30-year-old Nicaraguan native surrendered just one unearned run (the result of a Jason Ellison fielding error in center field in the bottom of the 2nd inning) on a walk and two hits, while punching out a pair.

Among the pitches observed being uncoiled from Vicente's $33.75 million arm were several hard, biting curveballs - a particularly nasty complement to his usual low-to-mid 90's heater. Catcher Gerald Laird restated his confidence in Padilla after the contest:

"I told him what I expect out of him," Laird said. "He has a live arm, great stuff and knows what he's doing. He just needs to put it together mentally and physically. He has tremendous stuff, and in my eyes he's a 15-game winner every year."

Speaking of the Rangers' catching situation, Baseball Prospectus's Jay Jaffe issued these two comments during his Thursday afternoon chat session:

Or (Dallas ): Where would Jarrod Saltalamacchia rank as a prospect if he were eligible?

Jay Jaffe: I'm not a prospect guy, but it sounds to me like the Rangers are vastly disappointed in his defense so far. PECOTA hates it as well, projecting him for like about -13 runs a year. Given his height and that information, I think it's likely they move him off C sooner or later.

[...]

Or (Dallas): In that case, Jay, would you move Broussard to first base? I know his offense would be less valuable there and Chris Davis is imminent, but Taylor Teagarden is looming on the horizon as well-and that guy's as natural a catcher as we've had since Pudge.

Jay Jaffe: IANOPG - I am not our prospects guy, Kevin Goldstein is. But from where I sit, I'd say that since the Rangers aren't about to threaten to win anything this year, their best shot is letting the kids develop. Salty looks as though he needs another year in the minors based on last season's performance; might as well make sure he gets 1B down while he's down there. Teagarden, though he rates highly as a defender, needs to show he can make it through a full season behind the plate. Davis, who just completed Double-A, certainly looks like a monster on paper, but besides his power he's got only marginal plate discipline (150/35 K/BB last year) and is a bad defender.

In other words, if I'm the GM it's time to meet your new stopgap 1B, Ben Broussard.

The height comment, of course, refers to Jarrod Saltalamacchia's sizable 6' 4" stature, and Joe Sheehan's 2004 article explaining why tall catchers encounter such physical difficulties behind the plate:

The reasons why tall catchers don't succeed would seem to come down to physics. Folding and unfolding a big body 150 times a night, 140 nights a year, takes a toll on the knees and the back, and a tall player already is putting a lot of stress on those areas. So either the tall player is a good enough hitter to move to another position, or he's not.

All that aside, however, BP's defensive statistics aren't exactly held in the highest regard by the sabermetric community. And I get the distinct impression from Jaffe's remarks that he has never actually witnessed Saltalamacchia in action - on either side of the ball.

Anybody blindly calling for Jarrod to be moved permanently to first base clearly didn't see the promise he showed at the backstop position defensively late last season, or for that matter, his all-around awkwardness trying to field balls at first base - a position on the diamond that he hadn't played since high school. Five or so years down the line, this might be a topic worth revisiting - but right now?

I don't think so.

Fellow right-hander Scott Feldman relieved Padilla of his duties - and did so in such fantastic fashion that he may have significantly improved his candidacy for a guaranteed spot in the Rangers' bullpen coming out of spring training. The former sidewinder, who incorporated a higher, three-quarters release point as part of his retooled delivery this past winter, allowed no runs on just a hit and a walk in three innings of work, while flashing "good movement" on his sinker.

Feldman's chances of breaking camp as a Ranger might be even further enhanced in the very near future, depending on the severity of the latest injury to strike the club. MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan reports that southpaw C.J. Wilson, who had previously been positioned to be the Rangers' everyday closer come Opening Day, has been shut down indefinitely with a case of biceps tendinitis in his left shoulder:

"He just came up with some tightness and we didn't want to push it," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He's an intelligent guy, but we don't want him going out there and pushing it when he's not comfortable. We want him to feel comfortable."

Though the organization insists that the condition is not serious (and in C.J.'s own words, is "no big deal"), nobody appears to have the faintest clue as to when C.J. will return; as it stands right now, he's unable to do anything more than play catch from flat ground. That's just ever so slightly unsettling.

And before anybody freely disregards this latest ailment to befall the Rangers' pitching staff as "no big deal," allow me to reference the unfortunate case of Baltimore Orioles left-hander Troy Patton, one of five players acquired from the Houston Astros last December in exchange for former All-Star shortstop Miguel Tejada:

Although he has only three games of major league experience, Patton was considered the top candidate for the final spot in Baltimore's five-man rotation.

But there were concerns about his arm. Patton developed left biceps tendinitis last September and stopped pitching after three starts. Andy MacPhail, who worked the trade with Houston, knew all along that there was a probability that Patton might not pitch this season because the Astros made no effort to hide his medical history.

The epilogue to this story is not a happy one; the 22-year-old southpaw has reportedly been diagnosed with a torn labrum (a potentially career-threatening injury for pitchers) in his left shoulder by Orioles team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens, and will likely not retake the mound until sometime in 2009 - assuming, of course, that he ever makes it back.

Now, that's not to say that Wilson's injury isn't relatively minor (such as the Rangers are suggesting), and something from which he can't recover in relatively short order. But biceps tendinitis is nothing to fool around with, and this apparent lack of public concern from the organization is, admittedly, rather worrisome. Keep a close eye on this situation over the coming days.

Also keep a close eye on right-hander Franklyn German, who has reportedly impressed the coaching staff with his three scoreless innings of work this spring. The 27-year-old fireballer produced a horrific 6.98 BB/9 ratio in 59.1 IP with Triple-A Oklahoma in 2007, but has yet to surrender a walk in Surprise, and is lighting up the radar gun to the tune of 97-99 MPH. Fellow reliever Elizardo Ramirez (5 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 ER) has been similarly impressive thus far.

Top first base prospect Chris Davis crushed a solo blast over the right field fence to lead off the top of the 8th inning against White Sox non-roster invitee Tomo Ohka on Thursday afternoon. Third baseman Travis Metcalf and outfielder David Murphy also went yard, while outfield prospect John Mayberry hammered an off-the-wall double and a single in his three plate appearances.

And finally, remember the sad tale of Noah Lowry, the Giants pitcher who not three days ago issued nine free passes to the Rangers in just a single inning of work? Turns out that the 27-year-old southpaw will require surgery to correct a medical condition known as "exertional compartment syndrome" in his left forearm, and will likely miss the first month of the 2008 season.

Luckily for both Lowry and the San Francisco organization, physical ailments are usually far easier to remedy than those of the mental variety.

That is, unless you're a Texas Ranger. Then all of the chips seem to be stacked against you - all the time.

Quick Hits: Third baseman Hank Blalock (whiplash) remains sidelined after being involved in a Monday afternoon car accident; it is still unclear whether he'll be available for DH duties this weekend...right-hander Frankie Francisco suffered no ill effects from his awkward stumble off the mound on Wednesday afternoon...the Rangers have no interest in free agent right-hander Kyle Lohse.

Rangers Gameday: 3/6 Vs. CWS

Thursday, March 6th Game Preview

Texas Rangers (4-3-1) vs. Chicago White Sox (5-4-0)

Vicente Padilla (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Charlie Haeger (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

2:05 PM CST in Tucson, Arizona (Tucson Electric Park)

TV: MLB.TV | Radio: None

Rangers		White Sox
Pos.	Player	Pos.	Player
CF	Jason Ellison	CF	Nick Swisher
2B	Ramon Vazquez	SS	Orlando Cabrera
LF	Kevin Mench	DH	Jim Thome
1B	Chris Shelton	1B	Paul Konerko
DH	David Murphy	RF	Jermaine Dye
RF	John Mayberry	3B	Joe Crede
C	Gerald Laird	LF	Brian Anderson
3B	Travis Metcalf	2B	Juan Uribe
SS	Elvis Andrus	C	Paul Phillip

Notes: Richard Durrett of the Dallas Morning News reports that left-hander C.J. Wilson, who has not pitched since last week, is suffering from biceps tendinitis in his left shoulder. Pitching coach Mark Connor isn't certain when the 27-year-old southpaw will return, but this is obviously not a good development in the wake of the injuries recently sustained by Kevin Millwood and Brandon McCarthy.

Scott Feldman, Bill White and Elizardo Ramirez are all expected to pitch today in relief of starter Vicente Padilla.

Brewers Rock Rangers, 12-6; Millwood On The Comeback Trail?

Matt Harrison: 2.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K.

Omar Poveda: 0.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 0 K.

Jason Davis: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K.

No, folks, those aren't typos. Your beloved Texas Rangers surrendered eight unearned runs to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday afternoon.

Behold the power of the almighty error.

[3:00 PM CST Update: Major League Baseball has since deemed all four of the runs allowed by Poveda as earned, meaning the Rangers actually surrendered just four unearned runs on the day. Thanks for ruining my lead-in, guys.]

Even though the Brewers' 12-6 thrashing of the Rangers at Surprise Stadium was, quite frankly, anything but memorable, there were nonetheless several notable items worth taking away from the day's diamond happenings:

? Right-handers Kazuo Fukumori and Frankie Francisco, both of whom are current front-runners for two available spots in the Rangers' crowded bullpen picture, combined to toss 2.1 hitless, walkless and scoreless innings in relief.

Granted, that snapshot fails to encompass Fukumori's fifth inning plunking of left fielder Ryan Braun with a pitch, or for that matter, Francisco's prompt issuance of a wild pitch upon inheriting a two-out, two-on jam from Jason Davis in the seventh. Fortunately for Davis (and perhaps Frankie as well), neither baserunner was on third at the time, and Francisco was able to safely work his way out of the inning.

Francisco did give the Rangers a brief scare with two outs in the top of the 8th inning after landing awkwardly on his left ankle during his followthrough, but a hurried visit to the mound from manager Ron Washington, pitching coach Mark Connor and trainer Jamie Reed yielded no disheartening news. After tossing several warmup pitches to ensure his health, Frankie settled back in and retired shortstop Ozzy Chavez to end the frame.

By the way, I was able to catch the second half of Wednesday afternoon's contest via MLB.tv - and just as Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News noted back on February 23rd, Fukumori doesn't have any type of hesitation or hitch in his delivery. Heck, I just barely noticed the hip twist; it's very subtle.

His deceptiveness will have to be generated almost solely through his repertoire of pitches, as opposed to any type of quirky foreign delivery (such as the one Akinori Otsuka possessed). That being said, there was none of that deceptiveness present on Wednesday - Fukumori said after the game that he didn't utilize his curveball or four-seam fastball during his one inning of work. Go figure.

? After going 0-for-2 at the plate against Brandon Webb and the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, second baseman Ian Kinsler began a new hitting streak on Wednesday, slapping a two-out single back through the box in the bottom of the 3rd inning. However, the same good fortune couldn't be said for designated hitter Josh Hamilton, whose own personal four-game spring hitting streak evaporated after an 0-for-2 offensive showing.

What, you honestly thought he could maintain a batting average north of .600 the whole season?

? Shortstop Ramon Vazquez had perhaps the most impressive day of any Ranger, lacing three singles in three plate appearances in three consecutive innings after replacing starter Michael Young before the onset of the top of the 6th inning. He also made a fine defensive play on a hard-hit ball up time that took a tricky hop, recovering in time to flip the ball to second baseman Edgardo Alfonzo and begin a 6-4-3 double play.

It's still hard to imagine anyone other than Vazquez (who is batting .500/.538/.500 through 12 spring at-bats) filling the utility infielder void when it's all said and done. That being said, there's still plenty of time left for Washington to fall in love with Alfonzo's "grittiness" and "veteran leadership," or some other random non-roster invitee who has no business making the club out of spring training.

? Southpaw Eric Cyr made his first appearance of the exhibition season on Wednesday, retiring right fielder Corey Hart on a popup to escape a bases-loaded jam in the top of the 3rd inning - although not before walking in one of the baserunners he inherited from Omar Poveda.

Why do I mention this seemingly irrelevant tidbit? Because a thought just occurred to me: if the Rangers brain trust is suddenly enamored so with the idea of only bringing "character players" into the fold, then why, precisely, did they sign Cyr last December - who pleaded guilty to a charge of misdemeanor sexual assault (and later served 30 days of jail time) after allegedly assaulting a 15-year-old girl in an airplane lavatory while aboard an international flight in January 2001? For that matter, why is he still collecting a paycheck from the Rangers?

From the outside looking in, that appears to be a fairly damning condemnation of this purported newborn organizational philosophy. In fact, it borders on downright hypocritical.

But, hey, that's just my take.

* * * * *

On a slightly more optimistic note, right-hander Kevin Millwood tossed a successful 38-pitch simulated game on Wednesday morning, during the course of which the 33-year-old veteran experienced no pain or discomfort in his tender right hamstring.

The latest plan calls for Millwood to throw a couple more bullpen sessions, and then participate in fielding drills on Sunday. Should everything go according to plan, Millwood would start next Monday against the San Diego Padres and pitch three innings.

Keep your fingers crossed.

Manager Ron Washington noted on Wednesday that though catchers Jarrod Saltalamacchia (.222/.300/.444 in 9 AB) and Gerald Laird (.375/.375/.875 in 8 AB) would continue to alternate starts behind the plate, they would also both get playing time in the same game for most of the 23 games left remaining on the spring exhibition schedule. Here's to hoping the former settles into a prolonged offensive groove at the plate - and soon.

MLB.com's Alan Eskew reports that outfielder Milton Bradley, coming off surgery last September to repair a torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee following a bizarre altercation with umpire Mike Winters, is slated to begin DHing in minor league games starting on March 12th. From that point, Bradley would be less than a week away from being able to DH in Major League games:

"Then we'll judge from there," Washington said. "That's about the timetable we're looking at. I'm OK with that timetable. There's nothing I want to rush with Milton. I want him to be right because if he's right, he's going to be productive. I don't want him coming in worried about anything. We're going to take our time and see where we go."

It doesn't particularly sound as though Bradley will be ready to play the outfield by Opening Day, which presents an added wrinkle to the ongoing roster battle. Should that scenario come to fruition, Frank Catalanotto would likely be forced into part-time service in left field (at least against right-handed pitching), with Marlon Byrd moving to right field indefinitely and David Murphy helping out wherever needed.

Make sure to check out the latest edition of Evan Grant's fantastic "Inside the Rangers" weekly newsletter, which leads with an brief discussion regarding how the front office's heavy reliance on both scouting and sabermetric information gives them a competitive edge over the opposition.

Grant also further expounds upon the potential swapping of Triple-A minor league affiliates between the Rangers and Houston Astros four years down the line, a possibility which he first mentioned back on February 21st:

Q: It's been reported that Texas' contracts with Oklahoma and Frisco will run out at the same time as Houston's contracts with Round Rock and Corpus Christi (the teams Nolan Ryan owns). If the Rangers decided to move one of their affiliates, how does that work? Do all the players and staff simply pack up and move to the new location or is there more involved? Also, why is there ever movement amongst minor league teams. Why don't major league teams simply sign lifetime contracts to keep control of an affiliate?

Matt, Mesquite

GRANT: Teams switch affiliations for a number of reasons, and don't think it's always the big-league club dictating the terms. Minor league clubs look for the best possible fit to help them sell tickets, since that is their sole purpose for being. They control nothing when it comes to player or staff assignments. The minor league teams want a club with good prospects, who aren't likely to yank those prospects out of the league in the middle of a pennant race, and preferably a team with a little big league cache and with a geographic tie-in. Easier to sell tickets to see Rangers prospects in Oklahoma City or Round Rock than perhaps in Richmond, Va., or Indianapolis.

Big league clubs look for the best facilities for their clubs and they also want a geographically attractive group of affiliates. With all the movement that goes on in a minor league season, it's most helpful if you can control some costs by cutting down on how much it costs to move a player from Double-A to Triple-A or from Triple-A to the majors. Currently, for the Rangers, it's no more than a three-hour drive from Frisco to Oklahoma City or from Oklahoma City to Arlington. The other thing that is a factor is proximity to the big league club for rehab assignments. Players love being able to work out with the big league club, then hop in the car for a 45-minute drive to play for Frisco. Nobody wants to pack up and get on those minor league buses if they can avoid it.

As for the Rangers and Oklahoma vs. Round Rock, that's still four years away, but there are reasons why a switch might make some sense. First, there is the Ryan tie-in. Second, there is the Rangers' desire to expand their fan base, and Central Texas has historically been Astros territory.

Make it so, Nolan.

Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News writes that team owner Tom Hicks is allegedly trying to fund a financial takeover of Liverpool FC "through efforts that would include adding new investors to his Hicks Sports Group, the parent organization of the Texas Rangers and Dallas Stars."

According to an anonymous source cited by the Associated Press, investment bank J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. will "seek to raise private equity through the sports group," which could mean selling an unknown percentage of the organization. On Tuesday, Hicks said that he had rejected an $800 million bid from Dubai International Capital to buy the storied soccer franchise, and was reportedly making a push to purchase co-owner George Gillett Jr.'s 50 percent share of the club.

What type of implications will these events carry for the Rangers? Probably none. All the same, it's fascinating to watch Hicks dig himself into a deeper and deeper hole - and in a foreign country, no less, where he is almost universally loathed and despised thanks to his horrid mismanagement of Liverpool to date.

And finally, Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus pegs the Rangers' resurgent farm system as the third best in all baseball, behind only the Tampa Bay Rays and the Oakland Athletics:

Why They're Up: Deadline deals filled the system with prospects, as six of Top 11 weren't with the organization at the beginning of year; Chris Davis turned into legitimate power-hitting prospect.

Strengths: Young power arms; high-tools prospects; catching.

Weaknesses: Left-handed pitching; outfielders.

Outlook for 2009 Ranking: Holding the line, if not going up, as only Eric Hurley might lose eligibility.

On February 14th, 2007, Goldstein penned the following on a farm system that, at the time, ranked just 22nd:

Some of their top pitching prospects have taken steps backwards of late, but Eric Hurley made up for it with a breakout performance in 2006. There is very little offensively, especially at the upper levels.

What a difference a year can make. Or perhaps more specifically, what a difference three quality trade deadline transactions and a fantastic June draft can make.

Quick Hits: Third baseman Hank Blalock (whiplash) did not participate in workouts on Wednesday following his Monday afternoon car accident, and is questionable to start at DH against the Brewers on Friday...right-hander Thomas Diamond is still throwing off a mound at 80-85%...shortstop Joaquin Arias hopes to be able to throw to first base by the weekend...right-hander Joaquin Benoit (weak arm) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Friday...catcher Taylor Teagarden (sore left wrist) didn't play Wednesday, but may be available on Friday...right-hander Wes Littleton returned to camp on Wednesday after tending to an illness in his family.

Rangers Gameday: 3/5 Vs. MIL

Wednesday, March 5th Game Preview

Milwaukee Brewers (3-3-0) vs. Texas Rangers (4-2-1)

Manny Parra (0-1, 4.50 ERA) vs. Matt Harrison (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

2:05 PM CST in Surprise, Arizona (Surprise Stadium)

TV: MLB.TV | Radio: MLB.com Webcast

Brewers		Rangers
Pos.	Player	Pos.	Player
2B	Craig Counsell	2B	Ian Kinsler
SS	J.J. Hardy	CF	Marlon Byrd
1B	Prince Fielder	SS	Michael Young
LF	Ryan Braun	DH	Josh Hamilton
RF	Corey Hart	LF	Jason Botts
3B	Bill Hall	C	Jarrod Saltalamacchia
CF	Gabe Kapler	1B	Chris Davis
DH	Eric Munson	RF	Nelson Cruz
C	Jason Kendall	3B	Travis Metcalf

Notes: Anthony Andro of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that third baseman Hank Blalock is absent from the lineup for a fifth consecutive game, and will not return until Friday at the earliest.

Gabbard, Loe Snakebitten In 9-4 Rangers Loss

In light of the Texas Rangers' frustrating 9-3 defeat at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks at Surprise Stadium on Tuesday afternoon, I feel it only proper to unveil the spring's first rendition of a segment that I like to call "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly":

The Good: Top pitching prospect Eric Hurley tossed three brilliant shutout innings in relief, surrendering just a harmless one-out single in the top of the 7th inning to catcher Ed Easley and no walks while punching out three.

Richard Durrett of the Dallas Morning News noted that the 22-year-old Hurley "threw strikes, had a nice breaking ball and looked confident" during his most impressive outing of the spring to date. It was a refreshing change of pace from his poor outing last Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Tempe, when the fireballing right-hander coughed up an earned run on three hits and two walks in 1.2 innings, while striking out just one:

"He pounded the zone, used his fastball and had a better breaking ball this time," [Ron] Washington said. "He threw it over for strikes and that made his fastball better. He was very aggressive."

Offensively, the only real highlights of the afternoon were generated by shortstop Michael Young, who collected just his second and third hits in 13 spring at-bats to date.

In his first time up versus 2007 NL Cy Young runner-up Brandon Webb, Young pegged a two-out single to center field. Two innings later, the face of the franchise launched a 2-0 fastball onto the grass hill in right-center field for his first home run of the spring. Not bad.

Durrett, coincidentally, writes that Young is looking to hit for more power in 2008 - something which I believe we would all heartily welcome, considering that his nine home runs and .418 slugging percentage last season marked his lowest totals in those categories since his sophomore 2002 campaign:

"I know that I'm capable of hitting balls out of the ballpark," Young said. "I don't focus on it, but I'm a run producer, and hitting homers produces runs. I go up there thinking that I want to hit balls farther, but not harder."

[...]

"I didn't think I was as consistent mechanically as I would have liked last season," he said. "If I get more consistent, the home runs will follow. I haven't changed a thing with what I'm doing at the plate, only focusing on doing it right every time."

Young's isolated power percentage (calculated by subtracting batting average from slugging percentage) last season, of course, was .103 - the worst of his seven-year career, when excluding his two at-bat cup of coffee in the big leagues in late September 2000. The problem is that even after Young turned his season around (from May 4th onward, Mike batted a stellar .343/.399/.443 in 569 PA), his power numbers clearly failed to reemerge.

For Young, the most pressing question now becomes whether or not he can regain his once-formidable power stroke by improving his mechanical consistency at the plate - or if, in fact, this is merely the unfortunate by-product of being on the wrong side of 30. Only time will tell on this front.

The Bad: Yes, yes, I know spring training statistics are virtually meaningless. Unfortunately, that truth still doesn't excuse left-hander Kason Gabbard and right-hander Kameron Loe from their most recent shoddy outings on Tuesday afternoon.

In his second start of the exhibition season, Gabbard gave up four earned runs on five hits and a walk in two innings, while striking out just one. Though the 25-year-old southpaw later proclaimed that he only threw "one or two bad pitches," Richard Durrett said that his struggles were the result of leaving far too many fastballs up in the strike zone:

"It wasn't my day," Gabbard said. "I thought I made some good pitches and some of the balls fell in. I think one of the only bad pitches I made was to Upton, but it was a 2-0 [count] and I was trying to challenge him. Its Spring Training and we're working on stuff. Obviously, you want to go out there and do your best, but it's baseball."

[...]

"Gabbard threw the ball over the plate and they just hit it," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "I'd much rather see that than him putting people all over the bags. He was throwing strikes and those guys swung the bat early today. You have to credit those guys. They didn't miss too much when we put it in the strike zone."

Hmmph. Well, at least Durrett and pitching coach Mark Connor felt that he had good movement on his breaking pitches. But even though Gabbard still resides as the front-runner for the fifth and final spot in the Rangers' starting rotation, he can ill afford to serve up another session of batting practice his next time out (which is tentatively scheduled for March 9th, against the Angels in Tempe).

Loe, meanwhile, allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits and a walk in 1.2 innings of work. All five runs came via the long ball, as catcher Chris Snyder drilled a solo blast with one out in the top of the 3rd inning, while first baseman Conor Jackson belted a one-out grand slam one inning later:

"I was rushing to the plate a little bit," Loe said. "I left a few balls up. The results didn't look good, but that's what spring is for. Make a few mistakes here, so that you can clean them up and go into the season strong. I'm out there throwing some new pitches, mainly a couple of different grips on my changeups, and throwing pitches in counts I probably normally wouldn't, just to get work in."

Connor suggested after the game that Loe's pitches were "flat." Not exactly the best way to position yourself for a guaranteed bullpen spot coming out of spring training.

The Ugly: Outfielder Nelson Cruz whacked a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the 9th inning to plate the Rangers' third and final run of the afternoon, but was cut down at home plate on a bizarre 4-5-2 putout to end the contest. Yeah, that just about sums up the Rangers' luck on Tuesday.

Let us not speak of this game again.

Quick Hits: Right-hander Kevin Millwood (hamstring) is scheduled to pitch a two-inning simulated game on Wednesday morning, during the course of which he will face John Mayberry, Julio Borbon, German Duran, Brandon Boggs and Max Ramirez...fellow right-handers Joaquin Benoit (weak arm) and Brandon McCarthy (elbow) both threw successful bullpen sessions on Tuesday; McCarthy, who is tentatively slated to start against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, was tutored by team president Nolan Ryan on how to further improve his curveball...third baseman Hank Blalock (whiplash) is doubtful to play on Wednesday after being involved in a car accident on Monday afternoon...guest instructors Pete O'Brien and Steve Buechele have arrived in camp, taking the place of Rusty Greer and Mark McLemore...the Cincinnati Reds inked Jerry Hairston Jr. and Corey Patterson to minor league deals on Monday...right-hander Wes Littleton, absent from camp for several days due to an illness in his family, is expected to return to Surprise on Wednesday.

Happy trails, Brett. I'll always love ya, but it was time.

Lowry Implodes In 8-6 Rangers Win Over Giants

Bittersweet.

It's an appropriate way to describe the Texas Rangers' narrow escape from Scottsdale, Arizona on Monday afternoon with an 8-6, 10-inning victory over the San Francisco Giants.

Although the win itself might have been cause for some half-hearted celebration among the visiting clubhouse contingent at Scottsdale Stadium, the immediate circumstances by which that win came to fruition weren't.

Left-hander Noah Lowry, making his second start of the exhibition season for the Giants, surrendered an eye-popping nine walks in just one inning of work against a less-than-formidable Rangers lineup - one which included the likes of center fielder Jason Ellison and third baseman Ryan Roberts, filling in for the absent Josh Hamilton and Hank Blalock, respectively.

To say that Lowry's start was an utter disaster would be something of an understatement. The 27-year-old opened up the game by issuing a four-pitch walk to second baseman Ian Kinsler; from there, according to Bruce Jenkins of the San Francisco Chronicle, the situation only deteriorated further:

He walked Jason Ellison on a 3-1 fastball that was 2 feet too high. He bounced a curveball for a wild pitch to Michael Young, then unleashed a fastball well up the screen - rebounding with such force that Kinsler wasn't able to score from third. There would be five more walks in the inning, Lowry not getting close to a favorable count, and two more fastballs thrown off the screen - giving him five such embarrassments in two outings.

Lowry's second inning began with a four-pitch walk to Ellison. Lowry tried a pickoff throw and air-mailed it way over Travis Ishikawa's head down toward the right-field line. Then Lowry walked Young, and manager Bruce Bochy could watch no longer. He summoned reliever Merkin Valdez, as an entire organization was left to wonder what happened.

Shades of Rick Ankiel, anybody? The comparison, though extreme, may not be entirely out of line. Lowry had already been exhibiting a disturbing lack of strike zone command dating back to last season (as indicated by this handy Fangraphs chart, which pegs his 2007 BB/9 ratio just above the 5.00 mark), and Monday afternoon's debacle offers little in the way of assurance to Lowry or the Giants - both of whom are undoubtedly in a state of bewilderment right now.

All in all, Lowry tossed 50 pitches on the afternoon. Just 12 of those pitches were called for strikes, and of those 12 strikes, only five were of the swinging variety. Of those five swinging strikes, only three were on balls put into play - all fly-ball outs, courtesy of first baseman Ben Broussard, outfielder David Murphy, and the aforementioned Ian Kinsler, who somewhat mercifully ended the top of the 1st inning.

And for those who are curious: yes, had this game taken place during the regular season, Lowry would have tied a National League record for most walks allowed in a single inning. Bob Ewing, George Keefe and Tony Mullane all issued seven walks in a single inning between 1889 and 1902; Dolly Gray, of the American League's Washingon Senators, issued eight walks against the Chicago White Sox on August 28th, 1909.

It goes without saying, of course, that few Rangers, if any, took pleasure in witnessing such a horrific, humiliating meltdown on the mound:

"I don't know if I even want to talk about it," said second baseman Ian Kinsler, who took a four-pitch walk to start the game. "You never want to see anyone struggle like that. I didn't think anything of it at first because I was just the first hitter. I just hope he's healthy."

Said Michael Young, who walked to load the bases in the first: "It's a difficult thing to go through. Even though you are trying to beat the other team, you want to beat them by executing. You don't like to see something like that happen."

Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News theorizes that Lowry's struggles had an adverse effect on the remainder of the game's pitchers, as 19 walks were eventually issued between the two teams.

Though Texas pitching was responsible for just four of those walks, two came from starter A.J. Murray - and one of those came with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 1st inning, allowing San Francisco to score a quick, cheap run.

The 25-year-old southpaw eventually coughed up another run (giving up two hits didn't exactly help matters, either), and wound up being yanked in favor of veteran reliever Jamey Wright before the bottom of the 2nd inning could commence. Murray later attributed a portion of his command struggles to the long top half of the 1st inning, which required him to languish on the bench for a lengthy period of time without being able to keep his pitching arm properly loose.

Right-handers Jamey Wright (2 IP, 0 ER), Warner Madrigal (1 IP, 0 ER), Kea Kometani (1 IP, 0 ER) and Doug Mathis (1 IP, 0 ER) all contributed scoreless relief work on the afternoon, as did left-hander Bill White (1 IP, 0 ER).

Unfortunately, Robinson Tejeda (2 IP, 2 ER) and 2007 supplemental-round selection Tommy Hunter (1 IP, 2 ER) did not fare quite as well. Ironically enough, Hunter collected the win after allowing the Giants to tie the game with two runs in the bottom of the 9th inning, as the Rangers retaliated with an eventual game-winning RBI single of their own in the top of the 10th inning, via the bat of outfield prospect Julio Borbon.

Since the hour hand on my trusty bedroom alarm clock is rapidly approaching the 3:00 position, I'll cut right to the final topic of the evening...erm, morning. Evan Grant writes that manager Ron Washington, as previously feared, will give Ben Broussard regular playing time against southpaws once Opening Day rolls around:

"I don't want him coming to the park every day wondering if he's going to play against a left-hander," Washington said. "He's going to play against them until he proves he can't."

Grant goes on to casually mention that the 31-year-old first baseman batted .362/.429/.652 against left-handers with the Cleveland Indians in 2004, before being relegated back to mostly platoon duties in subsequent years.

There are just two problems with the citation of those numbers. First, Broussard compiled that 1.081 OPS over just 78 plate apparances - in other words, a statistically insignificant sample size. Second, his BABIP over those 78 PA was a ridiculous .458. His lifetime mark, for comparison's sake, is .301 over 2,268 PA.

What's particularly frightening is that despite those 78 fantastic plate appearances against southpaws in 2004, Broussard is still a career .227/.290/.399 hitter in 387 PA against LHP - granted, still not a great sample size, but it's all we have to go off of:

"I feel like I'm in a movie scene where I've gained freedom," Broussard said. "It's like 'Wow, somebody believes in me.' I've been waiting for this my whole career. You ask any left-handed hitter and they will tell you that facing lefties is going to make them better against all pitching."

[...]

"It's been frustrating," said Broussard, who ranks 79th of 93 left-handed hitters with at least 250 plate appearances against lefties in batting average (.230) and on-base percentage (.296). "It's like I was always working against myself. I've just been in a very tough role the last couple of years. I kept thinking that one day, maybe I'd get that chance to play every day."

Would I like to see this experiment work out? Certainly. Should Rangers Ballpark in Arlington provide the rejuvenating jolt to Broussard's offensive production that the Rangers are hoping it will, he could make for a fairly enticing trade chip by mid-season - particularly if Chris Davis continues to progress at his current clip offensively and defensively, which would certainly force the issue from the perspective of general manager Jon Daniels and company. It'd be a nice problem to have.

But with the exception of Davis's continued emergence as a top first base prospect, don't bet too heavily on any of the above happening this coming season.

It'll be interesting to see just how far into the 2008 campaign Dr. Washington permits his experiment to go before the inevitable pulling of the plug takes place.

Quick Hits: Third baseman Hank Blalock is experiencing minor soreness in his left shoulder, though the Rangers insist it's nothing serious...MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan reports that Blalock is not expected to play against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday in Surprise...right-hander Kevin Millwood threw a successful 35-pitch bullpen session on Monday, and is currently slated to pitch a simulated game on Wednesday...Baseball America reports that the Rangers have loaned right-hander Francisco Cordova and third baseman Jaime Trejo to the Mexican League...right-hander Wes Littleton is still absent from camp due to a family illness.

Rangers Gameday: 3/4 Vs. ARI

Tuesday, March 4th Game Preview

Arizona Diamondbacks (2-3-1) vs. Texas Rangers (4-1-1)

Brandon Webb (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Kason Gabbard (0-0, 4.50 ERA)

2:05 PM CST in Surprise, Arizona (Surprise Stadium)

TV: None | Radio: None

Diamondbacks		Rangers
Pos.	Player	Pos.	Player
CF	Eric Byrnes	2B	Ian Kinsler
2B	Emilio Bonifacio	DH	Frank Catalanotto
1B	Conor Jackson	SS	Michael Young
3B	Mark Reynolds	CF	Josh Hamilton
C	Chris Snyder	LF	Marlon Byrd
RF	Justin Upton	1B	Ben Broussard
DH	Trot Nixon	RF	David Murphy
SS	Augie Ojeda	C	Gerald Laird
LF	Alex Romero	3B	Travis Metcalf

Notes: Richard Durrett of the Dallas Morning News reports that third baseman Hank Blalock will be absent from the Rangers lineup for a fourth consecutive game, as Blalock, his wife, Misty, and his three-year-old son, Trey, were rear-ended in their Cadillac Escalade at an intersection on Monday afternoon while coming back from lunch at Chuck E. Cheese.

Blalock says that he's merely "sore with a stiff neck," while his family thankfully checked out fine after undergoing a thorough medical examination. Hank noted that "it was a hard hit," with one eyewitness to the wreck believing that the offending party was traveling at 40 MPH at the time of the wreck.

Blalock had previously been battling soreness in a muscle behind his right shoulder, but likely would have played as designated hitter today had the accident not occurred. He's currently listed as day-to-day.

Meanwhile, Anthony Andro of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that Eric Hurley and Kameron Loe are expected to pitch in relief of starter A.J. Murray this afternoon, with C.J. Wilson, Franklyn German and Elizardo Ramirez also being possibilities.