Add Dustin Nippert To The Growing Injury Report

RHP Dustin Nippert left Thursday’s outing early with stiffness in his right rhomboid (shoulder blade) muscle. He’ll be re-evaluated tomorrow.

We can only say this: Any missed time by relievers right now is going to significantly dim their chances of making the club. The Rangers have probably three spots open in the bullpen and RHP Willie Eyre may be closing in on one of those. Where Nippert is concerned, a sore shoulder might actually help the Rangers. Since he is out of minor league options, the club could place him on the DL to start the year and not immediately have to face making a possibly irrevocable decision.

Rangers Won’t Add Andruw Jones to 40-Man Roster By Friday

SURPRISE, Ariz.  – Rangers general manager Jon Daniels acknowledged the team is likely to decline to add non-roster outfielder Andruw Jones to the 40-man roster by Friday, thus giving the 10-time Gold Glove winner a chance to take free agency.

Daniels said the Rangers would like to keep Jones in camp if he elects not to exercise the escape clause in his contract, but it’s clear he does not have a role on the major league team. He has not started an “A” game in a week.  Jones has been playing primarily in minor league games this week.

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Hank Blalock Not Having Much Fun At Third Base

After missing two-plus games because of a sore left quadriceps, Hank Blalock, the Rangers’ intended backup option at third base, made his debut at his old position Thursday.

It has not gone well. Blalock bobbled the first ball hit to him for an error. Moments ago, he went chasing after a foul pop and ended up crashing against the railing in front of the Oakland dugout. His momentum sent him tumbling into the dugout where he appeared to hit head. Blalock got up, but left the game, dabbing at his forehead with a towel. Couldn’t tell if he opened a gash or not.

The Rangers aren’t the only club interested in finding out if Blalock can still play the position. The New York Yankees could be in the market for a replacement for Alex Rodriguez while he recovers from shoulder surgery. The Houston Astros could use somebody to replace Aaron Boone, who underwent open heart surgery this week. Both clubs have had scouts around the Rangers this week.

Michael Young Is A Hero, But Carson Leslie Is A Super Hero

There are plenty of X’s and O’s baseball to discuss this afternoon.  Kris Benson got lit up by Oakland, essentially eliminating any slim chance he had at making the Opening Day roster. Hank Blalock couldn’t handle the first ball hit to him upon his return to third base. There is a lot to talk about, but in the Rangers dugout today there are topics much more important.

Everybody wants to get up close and personal with Carson Leslie.

Sometimes baseball takes a backseat, even in the dugout. Today is one of those days. Carson is a 16-year-old Covenant School sophomore, who also just happens to be engaged in the kind of fight nobody deserves in their lifetime. Much less twice in two years.  But Carson Leslie soldiers on. He was at spring training Thursday, courtesy of Young, with whom he’s struck up a friendship through their connection with the Wipe Out Kids Cancer charity. It’s the charity work that helped make Young the MLB Players Association’s Marvin Miller Man of the Year for 2008.

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Rangers Position Previews: Infield & DH

The penultimate entry in our Position Previews series (I’m putting off writing about the bullpen sort of like I’m putting off my colonoscopy) isn’t filled with much intrigue. You can probably count on at least 150 games apiece from Chris Davis, Ian Kinsler, Michael Young and Elvis Andrus.

The major questions here seem to be whether Joaquin Arias or Omar Vizquel will be the opening-day utility man, and whether Justin Smoak will force the issue at first base in May or August.

After the jump, we’ll break down the infield position by position and I’ll take a couple of positions that probably won’t be real popular with some of you.

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Answering The Ol’ Email: What Do Rangers Do In Case Of Injuries?

So, we have no official Inside the InsideCorner newsletter yet, but we’re working on it. I suppose a great plea (in the form of lots of comments) from across the land asking for the return of said newsletter couldn’t hurt. Until that returns, I’ll try to post answers to some questions as they land in my inbox.

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Beer, Beer, Get Your Ice Cold Beer

Hey March Madness maniacs, guess what I got cha? Another prize for the pool. I’m not talking this, I’m talking brewski. My newest favorite beer, Duvel. The fine folks at Duvel just donated a case for one of our prizes. Check out my award-winning video below.

Morning Notes: Minor League Cuts And Other Stuff

The Rangers made these cuts today:

Optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma: OF Greg Golson, OF Julio Borbon and INF German Duran;  Optioned to Double-A Frisco: RHP John Bannister; Re-assigned to minor league camp (because they are not on the 40-man roster): 1B Justin Smoak, LHP Joe Torres and RHP Elizardo Ramirez.

This pretty much means that everybody in camp – with two notable exceptions – is a contender for the Opening Day roster. Those exceptions: RHP Neftali Feliz and LHP Derek Holland. Manager Ron Washington said the two prized prospects have not and will not wrangle their way into contention for a big league roster spot.

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NCAA Tourney Is Full

We’ve got 500 teams, which is apparently all Yahoo can handle.

Given the huge number of participants, I’m going to see if we can get some more prizes for 2nd and 3rd place. Maybe a gag gift for last place. Hold, please.

Random Thursday Questions: How Many Wins?

I’m hopped up on Sweet Tea (man can’t live on Dr Pepper alone) this a.m. and I’m full of questions, even before I get into the Rangers clubhouse. So, here goes:

1. In exactly two weeks, the Rangers leave Arizona and they should have a pretty good idea of what kind of team they have on their hands. I’m trying to put together my own list of plusses and minuses to come up with some kind of prediction for the year. It would be great if I could be a little more accurate than I was in 2007 when I went 90-72 and they went 75-87. But I want input from the masses. Give me your mid-March pick.

2.  March Madness question: Sorry if you didn’t get in the D March Madness pool (but thanks to the 500 of you who did, thus maxing out Yahoo’s technology), but please tell me the one tournament team that is a #9 seed or lower likely to go deepest into the tournament.

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Stars: On The Road And Weary

A banged-up and tired looking team managed only one even-strength goal in as many nights on Wednesday, giving up a third-period score to lose at Calgary 2-1. The Stars are still a point out of eighth place, but now they have one more loss than Minnesota and dropped to 10th. After spending the night in Calgary, it’s on to San Jose, where one of the league’s best teams is worked up over its play of late.

According to KulasKorner, the Stars travel the third-most miles among NHL teams. Since they play in a division with three California teams and Phoenix (Arizona doesn’t observe daylight saving time), they probably play the most games two time zones away. But most of the players who came through major junior hockey, especially the Western Hockey League, have earned their spurs in the most rugged of travel in terms of miles and winter weather. I talked to a couple of WHL alums on the Stars about it before they hit the road this week.

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Inside The Rangers: Josh Hamilton Tries To Bring Back A Lost Art; Is He Crazy?

PEORIA, Ariz. – Josh Hamilton spent six weeks this winter at the Athletes Performance Institute in Tempe, Ariz., honing and toning his body to be in the best shape of his professional life.

Wednesday, he showed off some of what he learned in that six week strength and conditioning course.

He dribbled a ball down the third base line. He did it on purpose.

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