Francisco nearing return to Rangers
Reliever Frank Francisco could be just a few days away from rejoining the Rangers. It could take a little longer before he resumes his role as the Rangers closer. ”We’re going to ease him back in,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said before Wednesday’s game with the Houston Astros. “We’re not going to just drop him back in there. But if he’s healthy, he’ll eventually get back in there.” Francisco, on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder, is scheduled to pitch one inning on a medical rehabilitation assignment for Double-A Frisco on Thursday night. If that goes well, he could join the Rangers this weekend in San Francisco. “That will be determined by how it goes,” Washington said. “We expect one would be enough. Frank is confident. He’s kept his body and arm in shape, he just needs to face hitters. The key is getting in there and feeling good. If he does, everything will be fine.” The Rangers don’t need to rush Francisco back as the closer. C.J. Wilson has handled the role well while Francisco has been sidelined. Wilson went into Wednesday night’s game with a 1.06 ERA in his past 18 games and was 6-for-7 in save opportunities. Opponents were hitting .207 off him. “It’s fun,” Wilson said about returning to his old role. “You’re always on alert even though you always don’t get to work. It’s the same as the eighth inning, but it’s just fun being out there when everybody is high-fiving.” Wilson was the Rangers’ closer last year and was 24-for-28 but with a 6.02 ERA before undergoing elbow surgery at the beginning of August that sidelined him for the remainder of the year. Eddie Guardado took over but was traded to the Twins on Aug. 25. That’s when Francisco took over as the closer, and in 30 appearances since that point, he is 2-1 with a 0.29 ERA and 17-for-17 in save opportunities. That’s why he’ll eventually be back as the Rangers’ closer at some point, if not right away. Wilson understands that. ”I’m just worried about Frankie being healthy for his own sake,” Wilson said. “I can go pitch and do my thing in any role. I can’t control that. I learned that in Spring Training. There’s nothing I can do except help my team win by doing my job. That’s what I’m trying to do. Winning is more fun. It makes driving to the ballpark a lot more fun.”


Kinsler, Millwood power Rangers to victory
The Rangers clinched the 2009 Silver Boot with a 6-1 victory over the Astros on Tuesday. Ian Kinsler provided two solo home runs. This game was the fifth multihomer game of his career and the first since May 15. He is now tied with Alfonso Soriano for the most multihomer games for a Rangers second baseman. Kevin Millwood pitched seven excellent innings, throwing 115 pitches. He allowed one run on four hits and three walks and struck out six. Former Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez tied Carlton Fisk, who also went by the nickname Pudge, for first in all-time games caught at 2,226. Rodriguez belted a homer in the fifth inning off Millwood. Rodriguez is expected to play Wednesday to break the record. The Silver Boot is given to the winner of the annual Rangers-Astros series. The Rangers have won the award six of the nine times it has been given. They are now 27-25 all-time against the Astros.
Harrah, Sierra in Rangers Hall of Fame
Toby Harrah, the first Ranger ever selected to an All-Star Game, and Ruben Sierra, a four-time Rangers Player of the Year, have been selected as the 2009 class of the Rangers Hall of Fame. They will be inducted on Aug. 1 before the Rangers’ game with the Mariners at the Ballpark in Arlington, becoming the 11th and 12th members of that distinguished group. “This means a lot,” Sierra said. “I just want to say thank you to God and thank you to the Rangers for being a part of the history of Rangers baseball. I’m not a guy to say much, but right now I feel so great to be inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Rangers.” Harrah, originally signed by the Phillies and taken by the Washington Senators in the Minor League draft, came west with the franchise in the 1971 move to Texas and was one of the Rangers’ best players in their first decade. “It’s an honor. This is great news for me, my wife and my family,” Harrah said. “Coming from Washington, being an original Texas Ranger, makes it even more special to me. I’ve always been a Texas Ranger at heart and always will be. I’m very thrilled.” Harrah was selected to play in the All-Star Game in 1972 as a shortstop but missed the game because of injury. He went on to be selected again in 1975 and 1976. He was also the Rangers’ Player of the Year in 1975, when he hit .293 with 20 home runs and a career-high 93 RBIs. He moved to third base in 1977 after the Rangers signed free-agent shortstop Bert Campaneris, and he hit .263 with a career-high 27 home runs plus 87 RBIs. He slipped to .229 with 12 home runs and 59 RBIs in 1978 and was then traded to the Cleveland Indians.
Harrah returned to the Rangers in 1985 and had one more good year at second base, hitting .270 with nine home runs, 44 RBIs and 113 walks. He also had a .432 on-base percentage, which stood as the club record until Milton Bradley broke it last year with a .436 mark. Harrah retired after the 1986 season and went on to manage at Triple-A Oklahoma City in 1987-88 before joining the Rangers’ coaching staff in 1989. He managed the team for 76 games at the end of the 1992 season. He has spent the past six years as the Detroit Tigers’ Minor League hitting instructor, but he still lives in Fort Worth. He is among the Rangers’ all-time leaders in several categories, with 1,220 games (fifth), 4,188 at-bats (seventh), 582 runs (seventh), 1,086 hits (eighth), 176 doubles (seventh), 546 RBIs (seventh), 668 walks (second), 143 stolen bases (second) and .361 on-base percentage (fifth). “The big thing, when [fans] came to watch me play the game of baseball, I did everything to help the team win,” Harrah said. “Whether it was bunt for a base hit, break up a double play, make a diving catch, make a good relay throw or hit a home run, I feel like I could do all these things to help us win a game.” Sierra made his debut for the Rangers on June 1, 1986, in Kansas City and hit a home run off Charlie Leibrandt in his second at-bat. For the next six years, he was the Rangers’ best player, a switch-hitting combination of power and speed He was the Rangers’ Player of the Year from 1987-89 and again in 1991. In his first full season, he hit .263 with 97 runs scored, 30 home runs and 109 RBIs, and he followed that by hitting .254 with 23 home runs and 91 RBIs. But his best year was in 1989, when he hit .306 with 29 home runs and a league-leading 119 RBIs. He also led the league with 14 triples, a .543 slugging percentage and 344 total bases. He was selected to the All-Star team and the Silver Slugger team, but he finished second to Milwaukee outfielder Robin Yount in the Most Valuable Player voting. The Sporting News selected him as the American League Player of the Year. In 1991, Sierra hit .307 with a career-high 110 runs scored along with 25 home runs and 116 RBIs while being named to the All-Star team for a second time. He was also selected again in 1992, but he was traded along with Jeff Russell and Bobby Witt to the Oakland Athletics for outfielder Jose Canseco. “I would have liked to have played with the Rangers for my whole career,” Sierra said. “I was upset about that, but I learned it was a business. I would have liked to have stayed with the Rangers and had more years like 1989 and 1991 and all those All-Star Games, have a super career and have a big statue of me in front of the stadium. But it always doesn’t happen like that. God always has something for you, and now I’m being inducted into the Rangers Hall of Fame.” He returned to play for the Rangers in 2000-01 and again in 2003. He still holds the Rangers’ career record with 44 triples. He is also fifth with 645 runs and 1,281 hits, and fourth with 180 home runs and 742 RBIs. The Rangers selected Ruben Sierra Jr. with their sixth-round pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, and they have already signed him. “I feel very proud that my son has signed with the team that I started with,” Sierra said. “I hope he has a great career with the Rangers — like me or better.” Harrah and Sierra join pitchers Nolan Ryan, Ferguson Jenkins, Charlie Hough and John Wetteland; third baseman Buddy Bell; catcher Jim Sundberg; outfielder Rusty Greer; and manager Johnny Oates as uniformed members of the Rangers Hall of Fame. Also inducted are former Arlington mayor Tom Vandergriff and the late broadcaster Mark Holtz.
Rangers’ Kinsler maintains All-Star lead
For the fourth straight week, Ian Kinsler is still leading American League second baseman in fan voting for the All-Star Game. If Kinsler can continue to maintain this lead over Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox, he will be the American League’s starting second baseman at the All-Star Game on July 14 in St. Louis. “If I get voted in because of the fans … I don’t know what to say,” Kinsler said. “That would be a heart-felt awesome. Just to have fan recognition no matter where you play is gratifying.” Josh Hamilton is also still in the running for a spot in the American League outfield. He continues to sit second among outfielders behind Jason Bay and in front of Ichiro Suzuki. Hamilton, who underwent surgery to repair a partially torn abdominal muscle last week, wants to play during the All-Star festivities and repeat his appearance in the Home Run Derby, but that is doubtful at best. He is sidelined four to six weeks and has yet to resume baseball activities. Fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times with the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Online Ballot at MLB.com and all 30 club sites until July 2 at 10:59 p.m. CT. Starting rosters will be announced during the 2009 All-Star Game Selection Show presented by Chevrolet on TBS on July 5. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote at MLB.com. The voting doesn’t end there. Fans will have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet at the Midsummer Classic via the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint MVP Vote at MLB.com. The All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX and around the world by Major League Baseball International. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio play-by-play, while MLB.com will offer extensive online coverage. Among other Rangers, shortstop Elvis Andrus and third baseman Michael Young are third at their positions, catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia is fourth and first baseman Chris Davis is fifth. Nelson Cruz is seventh among outfielders. Kinsler and Hamilton are trying to make the team for the second straight year. Hamilton started last season in the American League’s 3-2 victory in 15 innings while Kinsler went as a reserve. Young is trying to make the team for the sixth straight season, all as a reserve.
Millwood launches ballpark facility
Eleven-year-old Zackary Calhoun has a new favorite baseball player. “I used to like Alex Rodriguez, but I think he’s moved to a different team,” Calhoun said. The former Rangers star was traded to the Yankees in early 2004. Calhoun’s favorite player is now Rangers ace Kevin Millwood, who helped fund and open the Kevin Millwood Texas Rangers Ballpark on Monday. Millwood threw the first pitch at the field to Calhoun, a fellow pitcher. “I throw fastballs and curveballs,” Calhoun said. Millwood also throws both of those pitches. After the first pitch, Millwood threw batting practice to a few of the kids. “It’s nice to see the park finally coming together,” Millwood said. “Hopefully all the kids can have a great time playing on this field.” This opportunity presented itself when he was looking for a charity to donate to during the last offseason. Millwood and the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation covered the cost of the entire project. “It doesn’t matter how long it takes,” Millwood said. “I think it’s great for kids to have a place to play ball.” The new park is the 10th field built with help from the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation and the first in Arlington. It is located at 2011 Wynn Terrace in the eastern part of Arlington and is part of the National Semiconductor Sports Complex. Grace Temple Missionary Baptist Church donated some of the land for the field, which is also on a vacant lot previously owned by the Arlington Water Department. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Arlington will receive primary use of the field. They hope to have 120 kids play in their Rookie League, which features ages 6-12. Play begins July 29. “Before the summer’s over, you’ll see a really nice baseball field,” said Steve Wurm, the president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Arlington. “It’s an opportunity for kids to play and have structured sports. We approached Kevin Millwood and the Texas Rangers and they graciously wanted to help us out.”
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Right place, time for pudge’s moment
In the middle of his 2,225th game behind the plate, Ivan Rodriguez defined himself. That’s a little late in a life spent behind the mask for a revelation. Yet a career perhaps misunderstood, and certainly underappreciated, suddenly came into focus. With an 0-and-2 count on Arizona’s Felipe Lopez in the fifth inning on Sunday, Houston right-hander Brian Moehler snapped off a breaking pitch that bounced in front of the plate and short-hopped under Rodriguez’s spread legs. It would have taken typical men the rest of the weekend to recover from that ding. Within moments, Rodriguez was back in his catcher’s crouch. And then he called for the same pitch again. Seeing Moehler’s offering again tumble into the dirt and bounce between his legs, most men would’ve simply passed out. Rodriguez calmly short-hopped the ball with his mitt — after Lopez had missed it for strike three — and started to whip it around the infield. There it was: The reason Pudge is one of the most brilliant and competitive catchers in baseball’s long history, and also the reason he has survived to soon catch more Major League games than anyone else. Lopez was set up for that sinking breaking ball, so bring it on. As for relenting to injury … Rodriguez has been facing it for 17 years, and hasn’t yet blinked. “I’m proud of everything I’ve been able to accomplish in this game, but especially to be able to play with very little injuries,” Rodriguez said on his way out of Phoenix and to Arlington and a date with history.”I’ve always worked hard. I’m still working hard. I’m very pleased with my career.” The pride was a virtual ember in his eyes as Pudge added: ”A lot of people know the name ‘Pudge Rodriguez.’ Pretty much everyone knows me. I’m a player who has proven to be ready and play the game hard. I’ve earned a lot of respect from teammates and coaches and fans. “I have no complaints.” And now he is about to receive confirmation. In Tuesday’s opener of an Interleague Series against the Texas Rangers, he will catch for the 2,226th time, tying Carlton Fisk’s all-time record at the position. The next day, he will break the record that helped usher the original Pudge into the Hall of Fame. “I congratulate the other Pudge on achieving this amazing milestone, as I know the endurance and strength it takes to get there,” said Fisk. “Congrats!” ”To be able to get to that level is a great accomplishment,” said Pudge II. “I’ve always taken care of myself, do everything needed to keep doing things in this game and to be able to reach that record. It’s an honor.” And to have it happen in Arlington is poetic. That is where Rodriguez played the first 12 of his 19 seasons, beginning as an 18-year-old in 1991. That is where he earned the first 10 of his 14 All-Star laurels, the first 10 of his 13 Gold Glove Awards. Where he chalked up the majority of the imminent record, catching 1,426 games as a a member of the Rangers. “Being able to do that will be nice,” Rodriguez said. “It will be nice for my family, my friends and the fans. They’re great fans, and I think they look forward to it, too.”
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Rangers come up short in finale
Derek Holland’s afternoon began with a five-pitch walk to Dodgers leadoff hitter Juan Pierre. It was the beginning of a five-inning struggle. “It was just a bad day,” Holland said after the Rangers lost to the Dodgers, 6-3, for the second time in three games. The Rangers’ offense began the afternoon by scoring two runs in the first on a walk, two singles and a botched double play by the Dodgers. That was the pinnacle of the Rangers’ offensive performance on an afternoon in which their June hitting slump only grew worse. “No, it’s not very good,” Kinsler said after the Rangers finished with six hits against Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley and two relievers on Sunday afternoon at Rangers Ballpark. Everybody’s day ended with Andruw Jones being called out on strikes in the bottom of the ninth, then turning and yelling at home plate umpire Sam Holbrook before being led away in the 92-degree heat by third-base coach Dave Anderson. It was just not a good afternoon for the Rangers overall as they lost for the eighth time in the past 13 games and are now just 2 1/2 games ahead of the Angels in the American League West. Holland allowed four runs in five innings while giving up five hits and four walks. The big blow was a three-run home run by Casey Blake in the third inning, but Holland was most disturbed by the four walks. Two of them came around to score.
“Four walks … that’s high,” Holland said. “That’s not good enough. That shows I didn’t go after hitters. I was falling behind in the count. I’ve got to go after hitters. I’m really hard on myself and this just wasn’t very good. I was doing a very good job of locating the ball. I just didn’t attack the zone enough.” Instead, he lost his third straight start and is now 0-3 with a 7.08 ERA in four starts since going into the rotation. He has an 8.54 ERA in his past seven games overall to raise his ERA from 1.74 to 6.63. ”It’s a learning process,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said. “He’ll get there. He’s learning. He’s facing professional hitters. He understands that when you get into trouble, you’ve got to continue to pitch. You can’t give in. He’ll continue to get better. When he left the game, we were still in it. We were only down, 4-3.” Rangers pitchers overall walked seven on the afternoon. The Rangers are now 2-7 this season in games in which their pitchers walk at least six batters. “They made Derek work from his first pitch,” Washington said. “They made every single one of our pitchers work. They are a good contact-hitting team, they’ve got a little speed and they’ve got a little pop.” The Rangers didn’t work the Dodgers pitchers quite as hard. They drew just one walk, the 29th time this season they’ve walked two or fewer times in a game. The Rangers are 14-15 when that happens. The Dodgers, who have the best record in in baseball, have just 14 games with two or fewer walks. ”We’ll just keep working,” Washington said. “They haven’t lost confidence. We just went through a bad week. In the game of baseball, that happens.”
Davis gets day of rest for Rangers
Chris Davis was looking forward to being in the Rangers’ lineup on Sunday with right-hander Chad Billingsley on the mound for the Dodgers. Manager Ron Washington had other ideas. He decided to get Davis a day off, deciding instead to go with both Hank Blalock at first base and Andruw Jones at designated hitter. “I’m just giving him a day,” Washington said, pointing out that Davis had started 11 straight games against the Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Dodgers. “He’s played 11 days in a row, and the last five days here, the heat has been tremendous. The kid has worked his tail off, and I thought he needed a day off. That’s a pretty good stretch of facing some pretty good pitchers.” Davis batted .270 in those 11 games but without a home run and just four RBIs. He went into Sunday’s game hitting .208 with 12 home runs, 27 RBIs and a league-leading 92 strikeouts in 59 games. “I feel much better,” Davis said. “The last few days I have been swinging the bat well. With a right-hander pitching, I feel like I should be in there but … I want to be in the lineup. I hate sitting on the bench, but if Wash thinks I need a day, that’s fine.” The Rangers have been waiting for Davis to get going all season, but he has yet to take off. He was up to .240 in middle of May but then hit .160 with two home runs and six RBIs in 25 games since then. Both those home runs came in one game against the Yankees on May 26. His defense is keeping him in the lineup regularly and probably in the Major Leagues as well. His defense has been outstanding at first base, and the Rangers don’t want to lose that even though Davis is struggling at the plate. “When you’re struggling, defense is a big factor,” Washington said. “It’s hard to take a guy off the field when he can play defense like that, even when he’s struggling offensively, especially if you have confidence that he can make a difference on offense with one swing of the bat. Chris has been outstanding defensively. Every night he makes plays.”

Rangers put closer Francisco on DL
The Rangers have finally put closer Frank Francisco on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder. Warner Madrigal was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma on Sunday to take his place.
Francisco hasn’t pitched since June 3, and the move was made retroactive to June 4. That means he is eligible to come off the disabled list on Friday when the Rangers open a three-game series with the Giants in San Francisco. But it’s unlikely that Francisco will be ready by then. The Rangers want him to make at least one or two appearances on a medical rehabilitation assignment at Double-A Frisco before they activate him again. “This time, we’re going to be a little more cautious,” assistant general manager Thad Levine said. Francisco was on the disabled list from May 7-21 with a strained right shoulder and was activated without going on a rehab assignment. This time, he’ll likely pitch for Frisco on Thursday and at least one more time before the Rangers decide if he’s ready to pitch in the Majors. “It’s possible he could join us in San Francisco, but it’s not the plan for him to be there on the first day,” Levine said. Francisco, who has a 0.46 ERA and is 12-for-12 in save opportunities, threw both long toss and in the bullpen on Sunday without any problem. “I feel good,” Francisco said. “I think I can go, but we’ll see.” Francisco will throw another bullpen session on Tuesday and possible live batting practice to hitters. A rehab assignment will be the next step. This time, the Rangers want to make sure he’s completely healthy. The Rangers had held off putting Francisco on the disabled list because they kept thinking he was a few days away from being able to pitch. But he hasn’t been in a game since saving the Rangers’ 4-2 victory over the Yankees on June 3. That’s almost two weeks ago, and it’s no longer realistic that Francisco is close to being ready to pitch in a game. Putting him on the disabled list allows the Rangers to send him out on a medical rehabilitation assignment.
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Rangers tripped up by delay, Dodgers
Rangers starter Scott Feldman was on a roll and wasn’t really worried about what was going on — or not coming on — high above the ballpark. ”I didn’t have any complaints,” Feldman said with a smile. He would have preferred to keep on pitching. The Rangers wanted him to continue, even after the game was delayed by light problems. But, ultimately, Rangers manager Ron Washington had to turn it over to his bullpen, and Jason Grilli gave up a two-run home run to Matt Kemp that gave the Dodgers a 3-1 victory at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Saturday night. Feldman and Dodgers pitcher Randy Wolf both pitched five scoreless innings before the game was delayed for one hour and 41 minutes because of a breaker malfunction in a light bank at the top of the ballpark between home and first base. The bank was out at the start of the game, but there was more than enough sunlight to begin play. Neither team wanted a postponement and a doubleheader on Sunday. But by the fifth inning, crew chief umpire Charlie Reliford decided that the lack of visibility was a safety hazard. The light-bank malfunction was leaving a shadow of darkness around home plate and neither team was eager to continue in the gloaming. “No way,” Washington said. “No way. The outfielders weren’t picking up the ball off the bat and the hitters were beginning to complain that they couldn’t see the ball out of the pitcher’s hand.” Said third baseman Michael Young, “My second at-bat in the third inning, I was fine. But by the fifth inning, we were just spinning our wheels and wasting time.” The Rangers were hoping for a quick fix so that Feldman could go back out on the mound. The Dodgers felt the same with Wolf. That didn’t prove to be the case. “They didn’t know how long it would take to fix the problem,” Washington said. “It could have been five minutes or it could have been an hour.” An hour delay was the over/under for Feldman, who was trying to stay loose during the delay by playing catch. But once the delay went well beyond that, Washington decided he had to go to the bullpen. “An hour and 40 minutes, that’s too long for Scotty,” Washington said. Feldman had allowed just three hits. He did not walk a batter, struck out one and had thrown 57 pitches. He had extended the Rangers’ streak of consecutive scoreless innings to 24 and appeared ready to pitch at least seven innings for the first time this season. Instead, he was forced out with his shortest start since the first one against the Orioles on April 24 that was Day One of the Rangers’ turnaround. “It would have been nice to let Feldman get back out there and keep pitching, but I’m sure they feel the same way about their pitcher,” Young said. Eddie Guardado took over in the sixth, and Juan Pierre, hitting in the No. 1 spot, led off with a single to left. Pierre, who has been a big boost to the Dodgers’ offense in the absence of Manny Ramirez, then stole second and kept on going when catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s throw ended up in center field. He scored on a ground ball by Rafael Furcal. Andruw Jones, getting his first start against the Dodgers, tied it in the bottom of the sixth with a home run off reliever Cory Wade, his sixth of the season. But Grilli couldn’t keep it tied after taking over for Guardado in the seventh. Grilli walked Mark Loretta with one out and, after Russell Martin struck out, he left a fastball up and in against Kemp, who hit it over the left-center wall for a two-run home run. The Rangers had two on and two out in the bottom of the seventh when Washington sent Hank Blalock up to pinch-hit for Elvis Andrus against reliever Ramon Troncoso. Blalock hit it hard but not hard enough, and Kemp ran it down in right-center for the third out. “I got it off the end of the bat,” Blalock said.
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