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.

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

“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.

• 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.

• RHPs JoaquinBenoit and Eric Hurley, both recovering from shoulder surgery, were both moved to the 60-day DL (and thus don’t count against the 40-man roster).

• RHPs Dustin Nippert (back strain) and Willie Eyre (groin) were placed on the 15-day DL, retroactive to March 27 (the earliest that a DL assignment could be made retroactive).

• And 3B Travis Metcalf was designated for assignment. The Rangers now have 10 days to either trade or send Metcalf to the minors outright (if he clears waivers). Expect the club to wait a day or two to put him on waivers in hopes that other clubs’ will all have full 40-man rosters and will be unable to put in a claim on him. If Metcalf clears waivers, he’d go to Triple-A Oklahoma. As you may remember, MJH and I had a couple of arguments about who to take off the 40. I suggested RHP Luis Mendoza be the first to go. MJH went with Metcalf. As usual, MJH wins.

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).

“Look they wanted to go in a different direction,” Catalanotto said. “Even though I don’t agree with the decision, I respect it. I’m not angry about it. In fact, I’m happy they released me rather than trade me. This may help me out in terms of getting to a team that has a better shot at the plyoffs than a team they might have traded me to.”

Incidentally, 37-year-old C Adam Melhuse told me he plans to retire if nobody calls him with an offer to join a major league roster. The Rangers told Melhuse last week that he would not make the team, but he stayed with the club in hopes of receiving from another club. It has not surfaced even though he hit .650 in 20 at-bats this spring.

“Hey, if this is it, it’s not a bad way to go out: hitting .650,” Melhuse said.

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.

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.

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