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Welcome Your New InsideCorner Overlords

Hello, Zac Crain here. You may remember me from such Mavericks playoff game live blogs as this one. I’m here today to talk to you about the future of InsideCorner, a scary, post-Evan Grant land filled with basketball, hockey, and Bob Sturm. I’m here today to tell you everything is going to be just fine.

First off, yes, Evan was certainly our star attraction during his six months handling the Rangers beat for us. But, arguably, what has made this blog so strong is you, the community that lives in the comments. We aim to continue that in the coming months as our focus shifts to other sports and other people writing about those other sports. We are hoping you remain our Lost-style constant.

Why should you stick around? For one, Bob Sturm and his big sports brain. You’ve already read and enjoyed his Cowboys coverage, as he breaks down each game like a fraction, before and after. He’s still here, and he’ll continue chiming in on everything from Dallas’ pro teams to UFC to  maybe even the English Premier League (though he follows the wrong team from Liverpool, if you ask me).

Also, we’re just about to embark on the NBA and NHL seasons, and there is plenty to talk about there. Jeff Miller is in the crease for Stars coverage, and Eric Celeste and I will be the glue guys keeping you up on the Mavs’ end. What to expect: week-by-week previews, live blogs for big games, and plenty of game books. Among other things — top-secret, ineffably awesome things, that we are currently working hard to make happen for you.

Plus, we will have some new players joining the roster in the coming weeks. They’re not going to replicate what Evan did, and we’re not asking them to. They’ll be conversation starters, ready to mix it up in the comments with you guys. Hopefully, it’ll be like watching games with friends, if one of your friends has a dashing salt-and-pepper beard and is fond of yelling “I see you big German!”

More as events warrant. And never forget: I loved you, even when no one else did.

Rangers Send INF Jose Vallejo to Houston

Don’t really have much more than that. Vallejo cleared trade waivers and will join the Houston organization. The Rangers sent RHP Matt Nevarez to Houston earlier in the week.

Revisiting Rangers-Red Swap Of Edinson Volquez (And Danny Ray Herrera) For Josh Hamilton

SI.com’s Jonah Keri takes a look back at the monumental swap that sent Volquez to Cincinnati for Hamilton following the 2007 winter meetings. It’s good reading – right up until the point Keri talks about Hamilton hitting home runs at “Ameriquest Field.”

Note to Mr. Keri: While your baseball thoughts are good and all thatt,  the stadium still stands, but Ameriquest doesn’t.

Houston Astros Claim German Duran Off Unconditional Waivers

The Astros, dealing with a lack of depth in the minor league system, have claimed INF German Duran off unconditional waivers. So, he has been lost to the Astros.

Rangers Friday Afternoon Transactions

ARLINGTON - Righty reliever Willie Eyre has been activated, OF Brandon Boggs was sent to Oklahoma City and RedHawks INF German Duran was placed on outright release waivers.

“After last night, we needed to get an extra arm down there,” manager Ron Washington said. “He can give us some length, can give us two innings.”

Washington wouldn’t specify which relievers won’t be available tonight but admitted C.J. Wilson and Frank Francisco would be “candidates’ to sit out.

Duran, from Fort Worth and Weatherford College, hit .149 in 25 games this season with the RedHawks with 13 hits and 17 strikeouts. In 60 games with the Rangers last season, he hit .231 with 33 hits and 32K’s.

Travis Metcalf Is Odd Man Out In Rangers’ 40-Man Roster Shuffle

The Rangers completed their opening day roster today and all the moves except one were pretty laid out ahead of time

• The contracts of RHP Kris Benson, LHP Eddie Guardado, RHP Jason Jennings, IF Omar Vizquel, OF Andruw Jones and SS Elvis Andrus were all purchased.

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Cat Nipped: Frank Catalanotto On His Release

Spoke with released Frank Catalanotto a little while ago. Catalanotto, you should know, was fully prepared for the decision. We spoke briefly after Wednesday’s game and he acknowledged the more he thought about the situation, the more he felt like Andruw Jones would make the team over him.

The Rangers tried to trade Catalanotto but found little intereste because it would have cost teams at least a token portion of the $6 million owed him plus a warm body. The Marlins were interested at one point, but elected to go after Ross Gload. Instead, Catalanotto will head home this weekend and wait by the phone for a club needing a left-handed hitter and extraordinary pinch-hitter to call.  Catalanotto would love a chance to play near his home in New York. The Mets, with Marlon Anderson as their last man on the roster, might be a decent fit. The Red Sox might also consider him now that there is no price to pay. (Completely personal note: Catalanotto has been such a pro during his two stays with the Rangers I’d really like to see him get a chance to go to the playoffs since he’s played 11 seasons and 1,163 games without ever experiencing that feeling).

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The Gobbler Gets The Axe

LHP Jimmy Gobble, signed to a minor league contract just last week, has been released. Gobble didn’t do himself any favors by walking a left-handed Alex Gordon on Saturday in what amounted to his auditon for the roster. Gobble, 27, pitched 2.1 innings in three games for the Rangers this spring.

That pretty much eliminates any possibility the Rangers would carry three lefties in the bullpen to start the regular season. Gobble was the only lefty other than C.J. Wilson and Eddie Guardado remaining in major league camp. Kasey Kiker is on the travel squad today and may pitch if the Rangers pitchers can’t get through their prescribed work. But I asked if there was any outside chance that Kiker might get an audition as a lefty reliever this year and was given an emphatic “no.” Probably for the best. You’d hate to see a first-round pick turned into a lefty reliever three years after being selected out of high school.

Rangers Claim Joe Koshansky Off Waivers From Colorado

The Rangers, apparently seeking to beef up their supply of left-handed hitting first baseman, claimed Joe Koshansky off waivers from Colorado on Sunday. He has already been optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma, where he is expected to be the starting first baseman in an infield that could include German Duran (second), Joaquin Arias (shortstop) and Travis Metcalf (third base).

Koshansky, 26, has been a September callup each of the last two years with Colorado. He has a .180 (9-for-50) batting average in 35 major league games. He has averaged more than 30 homers and 100 RBIs in each of his four full minor league seasons in the Rockies system.

The move gives the Rangers a full 40-man roster and may make it more difficult to trim the roster to make room for veteran non-roster players who will make the Opening Day roster.

Happy Birthday, Adam Melhuse: You Aren’t Going To Make The Rangers

The Rangers told Adam Melhuse he wouldn’t make the Opening Day roster on Friday, which just happened to be his 37th birthday. He told them he didn’t have much interest in going to Triple-A. There was no anymosity. The Rangers made it clear to Melhuse coming to camp that Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Taylor Teagarden would likely be the team’s 1-2 combination behind the plate.

Melhuse did not participate in Friday’s pre-game workout, but has not yet been given his official release.

Brendan Donnelly Released From Minor League Contract And Daily Advisory

Last night, we wrote this about RHP Brendan Donnelly:

10:13: Brendan Donnelly has replaced Padilla. Big night for Donnelly. The “out” date in his minor league contract is Friday. I don’t expect the Rangers to pick it up. Now, he’s not pitching to make the Rangers roster, per se, but perhaps pitching to attract attention from the other 29 teams. And believe me, the Rangers aren’t the only ones with bullpen issues.

And this:

The bad: After RHP Vicente Padilla pitched six solid innings and threw more than 100 pitches, RHP Brendan Donnelly allowed a game-tying run on three hits for a blown save. The Rangers must either add Donnelly to the 40-man roster by Friday or allow him to explore free agency. Batters are hitting .464 against him this spring. That’s not likely to get him added.

Well, this morning, it got him released from his minor league contract. And now on to some daily business.

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Rangers Gobble Up Pitcher

The Rangers signed LHP Jimmy Gobble, who was released by Kansas City Friday, to a minor league contract late Saturday. Gobble, 27, will report to major league spring training Sunday morning and will have about two weeks to prove to the Rangers he could be a viable bullpen option.

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