Rangers News

"The Rangers decided to cut the cord on the Ben Broussard experiment Thursday, designating him for assignment just before the Rangers faced Seattle. The Rangers have 10 days to trade or release Broussard, if he clears waivers. Since a team would have to pick up the rest of Broussard's $3.85 million contract, it's unlikely he will be claimed. "

"A friendly community service reminder: The Rangers host Seattle for three games starting Monday. For those who can't land Stars tickets and want to see a fight, plenty of good seats are available in Arlington. They could be three action-packed days. The benches – and bullpens – spilled onto the field Thursday during the Rangers' 5-0 victory to close out a four-game series in Seattle. The Rangers won three of the four games, including the last two by shutouts, and escaped last place in the AL West."

"The Rangers finished a winning road trip through the AL West on Thursday night. That came on the heels of a winning homestand. And still general manager Jon Daniels couldn't escape the issue of manager Ron Washington's job security. In response to a blog post on the Dallas Observer's Web site that, citing unnamed sources, said the Rangers have already decided to change managers, Daniels said the topic is not an "active conversation." He said it wouldn't be revisited until the All-Star break – at the earliest. "

"Welcome not only to last place in the American League West, but to the worst record in the American League, courtesy of a 2-0 loss to Texas on Wednesday night. The Mariners are 14-21. That's 7 1/2 games out of first place, further from the top of the division than any team in the AL. They have lost seven of their past eight."

"As Bedard was handcuffing the Texas Rangers, his team's anemic offense was mustering just two hits of their own off opposing starter Vicente Padilla. The end result was a 2-0 defeat on Wednesday night for Bedard and a Mariners squad that just can't seem to notch a hit when it truly matters. "I pitched great, but it doesn't really matter," Bedard said. "We needed the win.""

"Jason Botts did not get his wish. He remains a member of the Texas Rangers organization. Botts cleared waivers Wednesday and was assigned outright to Triple-A Oklahoma. When he was designated for assignment a week ago, Botts said he hoped to go somewhere new after spending more than eight years in the Rangers organization. "I think I've been here for a pretty long time, and I deserve a fresh start somewhere else," Botts told reporters last week."

"The Texas Rangers still aren’t scoring many runs against left-handed starters. But, when you get the kind of starting pitching they’ve received from Vicente Padilla, you don’t need many. Padilla made his third consecutive impressive start Wednesday. It allowed the Rangers to overcome nemesis Erik Bedard, their own struggles against left-handed pitching and the premature departure of Michael Young due to a sore hip in a 2-0 win. "

"Baseball is a nine-inning game. But not the way the Mariners and Rangers play it. With them, three innings is plenty. Mariners starter Miguel Batista couldn't find the strike zone with a global positioning system and was out of Tuesday's 10-1 loss to the Rangers one out into the third after allowing six walks and six runs."

"The descent for Ben Broussard has taken only five weeks. He's gone from everyday first baseman to a platoon and now to the bench. The only step left might be a ticket out of the Rangers organization. And it's possible that might not be far off. On Tuesday, manager Ron Washington moved Frank Catalanotto to first base, partly because there was no room in the outfield for Catalanotto and partly to try to spark some kind of production from first. The move leaves Broussard, hitting .159, a man without a position. "

"Once upon a time, the Texas Rangers believed they had a handshake agreement with Sidney Ponson to add depth to their pitching staff. It may be five years later, but Ponson seems to be honoring the commitment. The rotation's most surprising addition provided his third consecutive impressive start in the two weeks since he was purchased from Triple-A to beat Seattle, 10-1, Tuesday night. "

"Mariners pitcher Jarrod Washburn can't count the number of times teammates have come to him to apologize for not scoring more runs on his behalf. Since the start of the 2005 season, a period that includes his last year with the Los Angeles Angels, Washburn has received the worst run support in the American League. So it was a little startling to see the Mariners offense erupt for seven runs in the first three innings en route to handing Washburn his second win of the season, a 7-3 victory over Texas."

"Ponson, who declined to talk with the Seattle P-I before Monday's game, will make his third start for Texas on Tuesday night against the Mariners, having claimed he is a changed pitcher after rediscovering his sinkerball, once considered one of the best in the American League. It was that sinker that stymied the Kansas City Royals on May 1. Ponson reverted to those days where he tantalized scouts with his dominance, allowing just one run in eight innings to collect his first win in nearly a year."

"Hamilton, 26, who has seemingly lived seven baseball lives, is thoroughly enjoying his success after drug use not only nearly cost him a chance to play in the majors, but his life. "He's still a little kid," Washington said. "What, he's been playing four years? The darkness that he's been in, he's loving every minute he can come to a baseball ballpark. He's just a little kid. He smiles every day. He's a good guy.""

"Wladimir Balentien and Richie Sexson homered to back starter Jarrod Washburn and the Seattle Mariners beat the Texas Rangers 7-3 on Monday night to end a five-game losing streak. Washburn had a 7-0 lead and had allowed just one hit entering the seventh. He gave up three consecutive hits then left with tightness in his right calf. Washburn (2-4) beat Texas for the first time in three years, a run of 10 starts."

"Before Monday's game, Mariners manager John McLaren gave a soliloquy on the team's offensive woes, which have been vast and undeniable. But he concluded on an upbeat note: "Hitting's contagious," he said. "We get some guys hitting, and it will take pressure off other guys, and kind of trickle on down. That's what we're looking for." The trickle turned into a torrent on Monday in a 7-3 victory at Safeco Field — for one-third of the game, at least."

"While they wait for internal options to heal their wounds and fix their mechanics, the Rockies are actively pursuing depth for their rotation, discussing trades with the Reds for Josh Fogg and the Red Sox for Julian Tavarez. The Rockies also have kicked the tires on Oakland's Rich Harden and Joe Blanton and Texas' Kevin Millwood. Harden is hurt, limiting interest; Blanton is currently not available. And while the Rangers will listen on Millwood, they want the right players in return, not salary relief. The Rockies' motivation is shaped by their need."

"And on Monday, he rested. Manager Ron Washington had promised over the weekend he'd find a night off for outfielder Josh Hamilton, the only Ranger to start each of the first 32 games. Washington forced himself to give Hamilton a rest Monday. Hamilton, who made a game-saving catch in the first game of the Oakland series, was 1-for-12 in the series and struck out three times in four at-bats Sunday. He also lost a fly ball in the sun that turned into a double. "

"Based on the way Kevin Millwood has pitched this season, it was just one of those nights. Based on the way the Rangers have attacked left-handed pitching this season, it was another one of those nights. Making his eighth start, Millwood was ineffective for the first time in a 7-3 loss to Seattle that once again saddled the Rangers with sole possession of the AL's worst record (13-20). "

"Hot streaks come and go without much explanation for Jack Cust. So when times are tough at the plate, the A's slugger takes heart that a breakthrough may be just around the corner. It appears now is one of those prosperous times. Cust's two-run homer in the seventh inning Sunday awoke a slumbering offense and powered the A's to a 3-1 victory over the Texas Rangers that helped the home team avoid a three-game sweep at McAfee Coliseum."

"To best describe how A's starter Greg Smith pitched Sunday, let's listen in on the sixth-inning call by A's radio voice Ken Korach: "He has eviscerated the heart of the Texas order." Eviscerated? Sounds like a word we missed on the SAT. Our trusty online dictionary defines that verb as, (1) to disembowel, or, (2) to remove an organ from (a patient). That's basically what Smith did in his six innings of work, without all the yucky blood and guts. Not only did he post 10 strikeouts -- the most in a game by an A's pitcher this year -- but eight K's came against the Texas Rangers' 3-4-5 hitters."

"Texas had a chance to be the first team this season to sweep the A's in a three-game series, but Greg Smith and Jack Cust had other ideas Sunday afternoon at McAfee Coliseum. Smith turned in a dominating performance on the mound and Cust continued to swing a hot bat, belting a game-winning two-run homer in the seventh. The result was a 3-1 Oakland win that left everybody feeling good, especially the two guys who were already feeling good at the start of the day."

"Update: The Mariners have cut ties with OF Brad Wilkerson, who was designated for assignment last week. OF Wladimir Balentien replaced Wilkerson, who was hitting .232 without a homer. Balentien had two hits, including a homer, in his first game, but he is 1-for-14 with seven strikeouts in his last four games."

"A day after picking up his first save of the season, Joaquin Benoit acknowledged that he may not have been ready to help the bullpen when the season began. After Benoit reported to camp with some weakness in his arm, the Rangers went slowly with him, and he ended up pitching only four innings in "A" games. In April, he struggled with command and velocity. He issued 12 walks in 10? innings and compiled a 7.84 ERA. In two May appearances, he's been unscored upon."

"Trying to extend their winning streak to five games, the Texas Rangers left themselves no room for error Sunday. This team simply can't do that. A fly ball lost in the sunshine. A sinking fastball that didn't sink. Continued inability to solve left-handed starters. In a 3-1 loss to Oakland, the Rangers combined all three. "

"Texas Rangers left-hander Kason Gabbard retired the first nine batters and made it through four innings without any back problems in his medical rehab start for Double A Frisco on Saturday night. Gabbard, who made his lone rehab start since leaving an April 21 game in Boston with back stiffness, is scheduled to start for the Rangers on Thursday at Seattle."

"The one on Saturday was mildly concerning, because it was the continuation of a not-so-positive trend that could throw a grease spot in the middle of the A's road. They were shut down long enough by a left-hander with only 14 previous major league appearances to drop a 6-3 decision to the Texas Rangers at McAfee Coliseum. This time, it was a Utah kid named Arlington James Murray, and yes, he heads into the starting rotation for 2008's all-name team."

"The A's did nothing terribly bad on Saturday night at the Coliseum, nor did they do a whole lot that was good. Oakland just lost 6-3 to Texas, without much fuss or muss. Chad Gaudin gave up a three-run homer to David Murphy in the first inning, and any drama disappeared right about then, as the A's dropped their first series in more than two weeks. They have not been swept in a three-game series this season"

"The Rangers' sloppy April performance did not diminish the luster on Josh Hamilton's stunning first month. Hamilton was recognized Saturday as the American League Player of the Month for April after hitting .330 with 32 RBIs during the month. It was the second-most RBIs in April in club history behind Juan Gonzalez's 35 in 1998. "

"When Ramon Vazquez is in the Rangers' lineup, they are a winning team. On Saturday, the Rangers won their fourth consecutive game, beating Oakland, 6-3, to tie Seattle for third place in the AL West. Vazquez has started three of them. Saturday, the role player played a huge factor in the Rangers' win. He had a hand in the two innings in which the Rangers scored five of their runs."

"A's starting pitcher Joe Blanton was falling backward. Texas Rangers outfielder Milton Bradley was two-thirds of the way toward first base. It was a moment that screamed for somebody to scream, "Hold it!" But Blanton threw it anyway. Talk about summing up a forgettable night for the home team in nice tidy fashion. The A's fell 4-3 to the Rangers in their return to McAfee Coliseum, because their defense went haywire. And since they already had committed more errors than any American League team except Friday's opponent, haywire for this bunch has its own unique look."

"Sometimes when a manager or player returns to a ballpark in which he spent a number of years, he can feel uneasy. Not so for Washington in Oakland. "I spent 11 years here and I've never gotten anything but love," Washington said. "It's always easy for me to walk into the Coliseum. Everybody from the security guards to the people working the concession stands, they know me. So, it's easy.""

"Because of several plays the A's didn't make and one brilliant one the Rangers did, Texas took the opener of a three-game series at the Coliseum on Friday night. Oakland committed four errors, two of which led to unearned runs in the Rangers' 4-3 victory. Vicente Padilla got the win and C.J. Wilson picked up his seventh save, but the save truly belonged to Texas center fielder Josh Hamilton."

"The only Ranger to start each of the team's 30 games is one Ranger who entered the season supposedly needing significant monitoring of various ailments. So far, so good for Josh Hamilton. "I think I learned a lot about preparation from last year," said Hamilton, who twice went on the disabled list during his rookie season with Cincinnati after cramming to prepare following 3½ years out of the game with drug abuse problems. "I learned how to pace myself.""

"Errors once again played a key role in a Texas Rangers game. For a change, it was the Rangers who benefited from them. In a 4-3 win over Oakland on Friday night, the Athletics made four of them, and the Rangers actually took advantage to win their third consecutive game. "

"The Royals had the entire flight Thursday evening to Cleveland to ponder what, exactly, was the worst part of Thursday’s 2-1 loss the Texas Rangers. There was simply losing to the Rangers, of course. Texas entered the day with baseball’s worst record and in crisis mode with rumors continuing to circulate that manager Ron Washington is about to be fired."

"The last time Padilla faced the A's, he lasted 10 pitches before plunking Nick Swisher in the ribs. Swisher charged the mound and tackled Padilla as both benches emptied. Padilla was ejected in the Rangers' 11-9 win on Sept. 16, 2007."

"Center fielder Josh Hamilton voiced support for manager Ron Washington on Thursday. Hamilton has read the stories and knows there's chatter about the manager's job status. "I love playing for him," Hamilton said. "That's got to be a stressful situation to be in. He's doing everything he can to put the best team out there and come out with victories. He can't play for us. It's sad that the blame goes directly to the manager.""

"Sidney Ponson talks about as quickly as he pitches. And he hit the fast-forward button Thursday. Ponson wasted little time, recording nine strikeouts and 12 ground-ball outs while pitching eight innings in a 2-1 victory against Kansas City and starter Zach Grienke. The game lasted 2 hours and 10 minutes, the shortest game at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington since May 29, 2006."

"Brian Bannister warned about this during earlier starts when he seemed to dominate opposing hitters with ease. He was a streaky pitcher who pitched to contact and, on occasion, the randomness attached to balls in play was going to jump up and bite him. Throw in a stiff 30-mph wind and, well, Bannister knew it was going to be ugly Wednesday night at Rangers Ballpark. And, boy, was it. Bannister surrendered three homers and seven runs in the first two innings as the Royals fell 11-9 to the Texas Rangers."

"Pretty soon, the Texas Rangers might have two starting rotations. One on the active roster and one on the disabled list. The list of pitchers on the DL will grow to three by this weekend, when Jason Jennings joins Kason Gabbard and Luis Mendoza. Jennings left Tuesday's game with forearm soreness. He was examined Wednesday by team orthopedist Dr. Keith Meister, who concluded the soreness was part of Jennings' recovery from last year's flexor tendon surgery and not a new injury. "

"Winds approaching 30 mph gusted through Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Wednesday night, leaving behind a swirling mess of hot dog wrappers and unused All-Star ballots. The Rangers can only hope it was as successful at blowing away the team's April troubles as it was at blowing out one home run after another. On the way to an 11-9 win over Kansas City to finish the month, the Rangers scored all of their runs on five homers. "

"Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington will probably have a lot of memories about his 56th birthday. Not many of them will be good, though. Washington's bash in front of 16,472 at Rangers Ballpark came to an end with a 9-5 loss to the Kansas City Royals."

"The Royals scored five times against Jason Jennings before he exited in the third inning with an irritated ulnar nerve, and the Rangers' bats fell silent after the fourth inning. Jennings, who fell to 0-5 this season, will be evaluated today. "

"The ending Jason Botts expected to receive in spring training unfolded a month later when the Texas Rangers designated him for assignment Tuesday."

"The result was a 9-5 victory at Rangers Ballpark at Arlington. The nine runs marked a season high. The Royals’ previous best came last Friday in an 8-4 victory over Toronto."

"RHP Brian Bannister (3-2, 2.48 ERA): Bannister has pitched at least 6 2/3 innings in four of his five starts this season, including one complete game against Minnesota on April 13."

"The Texas Rangers' roster shuffling Tuesday brought to an end Jason Botts' fourth stint in the majors with Texas. He said he wants to leave the organization."

" The day ended with a 9-5 loss to the Royals, dropping his club to 9-18, the worst record in the majors. It began with breakfast at Cracker Barrel with general manager Jon Daniels to talk about how to improve the reeling Rangers."

" An MRI exam on Blalock's right hamstring Monday revealed a partial tear, and he is heading to the disabled list. Blalock received an injection of anti-inflammatory medication but is expected to miss at least three to four weeks."

"An MRI revealed a slight tear in Hank Blalock's left hamstring, and the Texas Rangers are expected to place the third baseman on the disabled list today."