Texas Rangers Notes (June 25)

Some quick hit notes for you:

• Josh Hamilton said he ran at “100 percent” today and then took batting practice on the field with his teammates.

“It’s a miracle,” Hamilton said of his speedy recovery while smiling.

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The Depot: Rangers-Diamondbacks Live Game Blog, News And Notes

8:35: Farrah Fawcett, first celebrity crush ever. Mom and Dad even let me stay up to watch Charlie’s Angels. So I’m more broken up about her passing. Michael Jackson’s death has had a pretty big impact in the Rangers clubhouse. Andruw Jones, a very devoted fan, brought out the classic Michael Jackson CD. Michael Young and Eddie Guardado were both pretty broken up. So the day of big celebrities dying was a major topic in the Rangers clubhouse.

“He made great music and awesome dance steps,” said manager Ron Washington.

My question: “So, Wash, did you ever try the moon walk.”

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Dark Day Homer Pool

On a shocking day of celebrity deaths, we’re not all that fired up about playing homer pool, but maybe it will lift our spirits a little. So here is your Rangers lineup tonight against RHP Jon Garland:

2B Ian Kinsler, SS Omar Vizquel, 3B Michael Young, LF Andruw Jones, CF Marlon Byrd, RF Nelson Cruz, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, 1B Chris Davis and RHP Scott Feldman.

Maybe Garland is the guy to break Chris Davis out of his slump. Davis is 3-for-5 in his career against Garland with a pair of homers.

Rangers Now Believe Josh Hamilton Could Be Back Before All-Star Game

Just got an email from GM Jon Daniels suggesting that there is a “reasonable” chance Hamilton could return to the playing field before the All-Star Game and, if elected, he’d like to participate in the game. The Home Run Derby is almost certainly out, however. Daniels said the Rangers would support Hamilton’s decision if he wants to play.

Hamilton has been among the leaders in votes for the AL outfield despite a subpar offensive year. But his time on the DL could discourage fans from voting for him, thinking he might not be back in time. Based on his current level of activity, Daniels believes its reasonable Hamilton could be activated before the first half ends.

Neftali Feliz Headed To St. Louis

Hah, and you thought it was a trade.

Sorry to do that to you. He’s been named the Rangers rep to the Futures Game (hat-tip to World of Anthony), a melange of prospect All-Stars, that takes place the Sunday before the All-Star Game in St. Louis. Now, I’m not sure what happens if he’s no longer in the minor leagues when its time for the game to be played.

Speaking of which, Feliz makes his first bullpen appearance tonight for Triple-A Oklahoma City. We’ll get you an update ASAP.

Viral Video: Rangers Starter Scott Feldman

Consider this a preview for tonight’s start by RHP Scott Feldman at Arizona. On the last homestand, he sat down with me and my belly to discuss his journey to the center of the starting rotation. As always, the direction, editing, lighting, cinematography and catering was provided by the multi-talented Ted Price.

About Last Night: Rangers Quick Hits

I’m caught in a vortex of confusion over a couple of things and could use your help. Do you want a “traditional” game story in this space in the a.m.? Do you want some kind of quick summary? Do you want what amounts to a morning column? For the last week, or so I’ve been conflicted. Not sure what does the greater reading public the most good, especially when we just have one little body at a game. You have the ability to help format our daily coverage. Please send along your thoughts.

Now on to some Rangers business from Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Arizona that broke a five-game losing streak:

• The Rangers may have finally found the best teaching tool for fixing Vicente Padilla: Waivers. Since clearing waivers, he has competed at a level, I’ve not seen in his three-plus seasons here. Most nights, Padilla has either been very good and breezed through a game or looked disinterested or distracted on the mound.

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Road To Arlington: Rangers Minor League Report (6/25)

Welcome back to the Road, where it’s all Julio, all the time these days.

Though the 35th overall selection in the 2007 draft tore up the Texas League in his first full pro season (.337 / .380 / .459 in 255 at-bats for Frisco last year), he drew just 29 walks while fanning 62 times in 546 at-bats split almost evenly between Bakersfield and Frisco.

The Rangers sent Borbon to the Arizona Fall League to work on taking pitchers deeper into counts and he met the challenge. Borbon drew 17 freebies in just 87 at-bats for Surprise in the AFL — virtually tripling his walk rate. The trade off was that he fanned 20 times in those 87 at-bats after striking out 32 times in 255 at-bats in the Texas League. This, I am sure, was the result of purposefully going deeper in counts. He didn’t see strike two very often in Frisco. But the net gain in OBP (.380 in Frisco & .404 in the AFL) may have proved to Borbon that being more patient can pay off.

Rangers batting coordinator Mike Boulanger has stated that he’s happy with Borbon’s greater command of the strike zone this year and that is reflected less in his walk rate than in his strikeout rate. While Borbon’s walk rate hasn’t actually risen that much this year, his contact rate has increased significantly by cutting his strikeout rate in half. After striking out slightly more than twice as often as he walked last year, Borbon has posted a BB/PA of 0.069 and a BB/K of 0.82 (22 / 27) this year, figures that are very much like CF Jacoby Ellsbury’s (0.068 / 0.77) for the Red Sox this season.

Borbon’s core numbers are also much like Ellsbury’s: .302 / .360 / .378 / .738 for Borbon and .307 / .356 / .401 / .757 for Ellsbury, who was Boston’s first round selection in the 2005 draft. Both are devastating on the bases, both are extremely rangy in center field and neither is blessed with a plus arm. Back in 2007, Ellsbury hit .298 / .360 / .380 in 363 at-bats for Triple-A Pawtucket before getting his callup to Boston for their stretch run to what would become a World Championship season. In 123 at-bats for Boston that year, he hit .353 / .394 / .509.

I’m not arguing that Borbon would do for Texas this year what Ellsbury did for Boston in 2007, but I’d be very interested in seeing him try. Not quite yet, but soon.

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Marlon Byrd Taking Supplements From Victor Conte’s Post-BALCO Company

Who knows where this will go? But as Yahoo Sports reports, Marlon Byrd has been purchasing supplements from the company started by Victor Conte, the man behind BALCO (the drug lab at the center of waves of performance-enhancing drugs scandals), for the past 18 months.

The story reminds folks that Conte supplied illegal PEDs to Marion Jones, Tim Montgomery, Bill Romanowski, Dwain Chambers, Kelli White and many other elite athletes. Byrd told Yahoo’s Steve Henson that he has never asked Conte if the powders and supplements could trigger a positive drug test.

“I didn’t need to,” Byrd is quoted as saying in the story. “From our conversations, there was no need to ask.”

Rangers GM Jon Daniels said the club encourages players to use only supplements that have been approved and certified by MLB’s testing agency to avoid the possibility of receiving tainted product that could cause a positive test. Byrd has presumably been tested multiple times under the MLB drug testing policy during the last 18 months and has never been suspended.