"A ball soars a little farther in the dry desert air of Arizona than one normally does in Arlington, Seattle, Oakland or just about any other American League outpost.

That hardly qualifies as breaking news for Ian Kinsler, who grew up in Tucson and played two years of college ball in Arizona. He calls towering fly balls here that just sneak over the wall "Arizona homers."

Kinsler says that maybe one of his four homers this spring has been of the Arizona variety. The other three, though, have been no-doubters that were driven out of the ballpark.

He has homered in four consecutive games after launching a leadoff shot Saturday at the brand-new Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, and now leads the majors in home runs.

But the swing that is generating all the power isn't the one that produced 31 homers in 2009, while also producing more popups and flyouts. Kinsler believes he's more like the walk-drawing, homer-hitting player he was as the Texas Rangers charged through the postseason last year.

"That's what I'm trying to do," said Kinsler, who hit three homers and took eight walks in the 2010 postseason.

"Today's home run was the type of ball flight that I want off my bat. It was a line drive, it was in the gap, and it happened to carry over the fence. Right now, balls are flying out of the yard."

Neither Kinsler nor the Rangers are concerned about him becoming homer happy. His swing is short and quick through the strike zone now, which leads to penetrating line drives with plenty of backspin.

He found that swing last year, a departure from the one that helped him into the 30-30 club in 2009 but also hit a career-low .253.

Kinsler's power returned late last year after coming off the disabled list for a second time. He was fresh when the playoffs arrived, and he started with three homers in five games against Tampa Bay."