The home runs in Rangers games are coming in record amounts. The Rangers have hit 39 home runs in their first 19 games, going into Monday’s affair with the Baltimore Orioles, and they have given up 31 to the opposition. The 69 home runs combined are the most by a team in their first 18 games in Major League history. The Reds had 66 in their first 18 games in 2006. “We’re getting the ball up on our side and the opposition is getting it up to us,” manager Ron Washington said. “When they do that, we’re not missing it.” The Rangers’ 38 home runs are already their third highest in the month of April with four games left to play. They hit 47 in 26 games in 2003 and 41 in 25 games in 2001. The Rangers will play 22 games this month. The Rangers also have a .517 slugging percentage so far in April. That would be the sixth highest in April in Major League history. The Cardinals had a .568 slugging percentage in April 2000. Despite that, the Rangers are seventh in the league in batting average and their .329 on-base percentage is the fifth lowest. They have the most strikeouts of any American League team and the second-fewest walks. “When we get our offense consistent, that all-or-nothing approach will go away,” Washington said. “Right now we’ve got some guys who are still trying to find their way. They’ve also got big swings. Once they get some at-bats and get comfortable, that will go away.” Chris Davis went into Monday’s game leading the AL with 30 strikeouts. He was eight ahead of anybody else. Jarrod Saltalamacchia was tied for fifth with 20.

 Marlon Byrd says the Rangers will wear whatever colored hat, red, green, if it means wins. But with the Rangers, there’s always been something about red. The Rangers flashed back to the 1990s on Thursday — when red was in vogue in Arlington — pounding the Indians, 12-8, to finish off a season-opening sweep at Rangers Ballpark. For the Rangers, it was their first sweep of a series to start a season since they did it to the Red Sox in 1996, a historic year for the franchise. The Rangers won their first seven games that season and made the playoffs for the first time. They started a postseason run of three appearances in four years, also making it in ’98 and ’99, the only three seasons Texas has made the playoffs. The theme back then was “Hunt for Red October.” It may be too early for the October part, but red, that seems to be the theme right now.  The Rangers decided at the last minute Thursday to wear the red caps they wore in their first two games — they’re only supposed to be worn with their red tops, and the Rangers wore their home whites in the series finale. “I love the red,” Byrd said. “Wins.” Texas did in Cleveland with offense. The Rangers are supposed to hit, and they’ve done that so far this season, scoring 29 runs in three games. They scored nine runs in the first two innings Thursday. Byrd had the big blow in the bottom of the first, a three-run home run to center field to cap a five-run frame. “Pitchers are getting up there with the wind blowing [out] and Ian Kinsler, Michael Young and Josh Hamilton coming up, and that makes it difficult,” Byrd said. “That’s a tough lineup to handle, [from the four-spot] all the way down.”

The Rangers have now scored four runs in the second inning of three consecutive games. Kinsler had a two-run home run Thursday to make it 7-0. Andruw Jones, playing his first game with the Rangers after making the team late in Spring Training, had a run-scoring single in the inning before finishing the day 3-for-5. Texas has 18 extra-base hits already — 37 hits for the season — but it’s more the way the team is scoring runs, also using the sacrifice fly and timely hitting, that’s impressive. The Indians actually had five home runs to the Rangers’ two Thursday. “We’re taking a consistent approach,” said third baseman Michael Young, who had two hits Thursday. “If we continue to do that, we’re going to be successful.” The question with Texas has always been pitching, and through the first series, the hurlers received pretty high marks. Rangers starters have a 3.57 ERA as they head for their first road trip in Detroit. Brandon McCarthy, who had an injury-plagued 2008, wasn’t electric, but he did strike out seven Indians. He relaxed his grip on his slider, and that also helped his fastball, which he said he struggled with most of the game.

They have a 25-man roster that unexpectedly includes some high-profile veterans, they have a winning record in the desert, they have been swinging the bats as good as ever and they have a reasonably healthy pitching staff. That overlooks the pre-spring loss of Eric Hurley and Joaquin Benoit, but those injuries pre-date the new emphasis on conditioning implemented by Nolan Ryan and pitching coach Mike Maddux. Why fret over past problems when the spring pitching went smoother than ever even though Willie Eyre and Dustin Nippert are down? Overall the Rangers are up — physically, mentally and spiritually — as they spring forth from Arizona and get ready to play 162 games. After what they’ve seen over seven weeks, they believe they are ready to compete for — and win — the American League West. “No doubt about it,” second baseman Ian Kinsler said. “If we pitch, we do [have a chance],” Kevin Millwood said. “If we pitch and play defense, we can beat anybody out there.” “Without a doubt,” third baseman Michael Young added. “We’ve talked it over in the clubhouse, and nobody here doubts it. It’s a matter of everybody staying healthy and contributing. I think our pitching will be better. If guys stay healthy, they’ll be as good as anybody and win ballgames.

“We also need to play better defense and take pride in the little things that don’t show up in boxscores. We need to be the best at those things. That’s been the point of emphasis this spring.” The Rangers did not pitch and play defense last year. They were last in the league in both; they led the league in errors and unearned runs and went through their eighth losing season in nine years. But they also won 79 games and finished in second place in the American League West. Both are unacceptable in the long run, but together it suggests that with just moderate improvement in both pitching and defense, the Rangers might be on to something. “We need to clean that up, and I believe we will,” Kinsler said. “Regardless of what outsiders are saying or whatever anybody’s take is, inside the clubhouse, we believe in ourselves. If we can clean up our pitching and defense, we can have a good season, a really fun season.” Sure there are concerns and questions. Deep ones. Two of the starters — Kris Benson and Brandon McCarthy — hardly pitched at all last year, Millwood has had a five-plus ERA for the past two years and Matt Harrison has made just 15 starts at the big league level. Closer Frank Francisco has done that job for all of five weeks in the regular season, and C.J. Wilson and Jason Jennings — the two best relievers in Spring Training — are coming back from injuries. Eddie Guardado’s numbers in the Cactus League weren’t good.  The Rangers did lead the world in offense last year, but catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, shortstop Elvis Andrus, outfielder Nelson Cruz and first baseman Chris Davis will be in the Opening Day lineup for the first time in their careers. None of them have played a full season in the Major Leagues. Hank Blalock, switched to designated hitter, is trying to remain injury-free for the first time since 2006. He’ll platoon at designated hitter with Andruw Jones, who is coming off a rough season with the Dodgers. That’s a long list of concerns for a team hoping to contend. “It doesn’t matter,” manager Ron Washington said. “Mind over matter. That’s baseball. All that stuff doesn’t matter. It’s all about catching the baseball, throwing the baseball and hitting the baseball. It’s not about the best team winning, but the team that plays the best that day. We know what we’ve got, and attitude is a big part of it. “I like my team. I think we have a group that complements each other. I don’t think there are any egos out there. All they want to do is be successful. They are a group that will do whatever they need to win ballgames, and they’re willing to play baseball in the right way.” As far as pitching, the Rangers believe that health in 2009 will outweigh past performance. Regardless of track record, they’ll take their chances under Maddux’s program if they don’t have to put as many as 14 pitchers on the disabled list.”The excitement I have is there was a lot of learning that went on in Spring Training,” Maddux said. “You come in with a philosophy and sell it every day, and watching from the first game, you see guys actually applying it. That’s a big deal — applying it and continuing to apply it. “They are establishing their fastball down in the zone, pitching to contact and getting guys out. Pitch to your strengths and pitch with conviction. That’s what I’ve been happy with.” The Rangers believe that if the pitchers throw more strikes and walk less batters, it will keep the defense sharp. That’s one reason why the Rangers believe their league-worst defense will be better — that and using Andrus at short while moving Young to third.

Kris Benson has made a convincing case for
why manager Ron Washington believes he should be in the
Rangers rotation. Josh Rupe has made a convincing case for
why he has clinched a spot in the bullpen. Fate has also been
on their side. While Benson and Rupe were impressing
Washington in a 7-5 victory over the Giants at Scottsdale
Stadium, the Rangers bullpen took two more hits back in
Surprise. Derrick Turnbow, who can take his release if he’s
not added to the Major League roster this week, was scratched
from a scheduled appearance against the Giants because of
some swelling in his right knee. Willie Eyre was scratched
from an appearance in a Minor League game because of more
tightness in his right groin muscle. There is no word when
either one of them will be able to pitch in a game, but the
odds are increasing that Eyre could join Dustin Nippert on
the disabled list to start the season. Nippert is sidelined
with a strained muscle in the back of his right shoulder and
is scheduled to throw batting practice Wednesday. Their
injuries have never been considered serious, but Nippert has
not pitched in a Cactus League game since March 19 and Eyre
has been out since March 21. Their absence leaves a gaping
hole for the Rangers in middle relief and will likely be
filled by Scott Feldman and/or Jason Jennings. Feldman
entered camp with a secure spot in the rotation but
everything has changed because of Benson and the increasing
problems in middle relief. The Rangers have reached the point
where they are looking for relief help from other teams.
Benson allowed three runs on six hits in six innings against
the Giants on Monday. He struck out two and did not walk a
batter. He gave up a two-run home run to Juan Uribe in the
third and a triple to Nate Schierholtz to start the fourth,
then retired the final nine hitters he faced. “Same as
always. … I always said he could throw the ball,”
Washington said. “He pounds the strike zone and he doesn’t
walk anybody. He stands out there and throws strikes.”
Washington was asked if Benson was going to be one of the
Rangers’ five starters. “He’s one of mine,” Washington said.
A final decision hasn’t been made. Benson has a 4.76 ERA for
the spring and opponents are hitting .238 off him. His
breaking ball has been erratic but his sinker and
cut-fastball have been effective enough to where he thinks
he’s ready to be in the Rangers rotation. “I definitely think
so,” Benson said. “I’ve done everything they’ve asked me to
do. I’ve built up my pitch count to 100 pitches, I’ve made my
starts … my arm feels great and my velocity is up. I can’t
do much more than that. It’s up to them to decide where I’m
going to be next week.” He is in camp on a Minor League
contract and his out date isn’t until May 5. That means he
has to report to Triple-A Oklahoma for at least a month if he
doesn’t make the club before he can ask for his release. That
doesn’t appear to be the case. “He was good out there, wasn’t
he?” Washington said.

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels has made it clear that the Rangers will take the best 25 players out of camp. Players must make the team on their own merit. Contract status still comes into play at the end of Spring Training, throughout the season and going into the next offseason. Here is what the Rangers are dealing with among various players still in Major League camp: • The Rangers have 39 players on the 40-man roster. Eric Hurley and Joaquin Benoit, both out for the season because of shoulder surgery, will be taken off at some point and put on the 60-day disabled list. That will give the Rangers three open spots, when they start adding non-roster players at the end of the spring. • Among the non-roster players who could be added include Elvis Andrus, Adam Melhuse, Omar Vizquel and Andruw Jones. Among the pitchers, the list includes Eddie Guardado, Jason Jennings, Brendan Donnelly, Derrick Turnbow, Kris Benson and Jimmy Gobble. • Technically, Neftali Feliz and Derek Holland are on that list, too, but the plan is for them to start the season at Triple-A Oklahoma.

• If the Rangers want to add more than three non-roster players — which is highly likely — they will have to take players off the roster by either putting them through outright waivers or releasing them. • Benson can become a free agent if he’s not added to the Major League roster by May 5. • Donnelly can ask for his release if he’s not added to the Major League roster between Friday and April 27.  • Other “out” dates: Turnbow (March 31), Jennings (April 1), Vizquel (April 2), Gobble (April 3) and Guardado (April 3). • Melhuse does not have an “out” date, but the Rangers will assign him to Triple-A only if he consents. Otherwise, they will give him the freedom of looking for a Major League job elsewhere. • Jones has passed on his window to become a free agent. • Josh Rupe and Dustin Nippert are out of options, meaning they must pass through outright waivers before they are sent to the Minor Leagues. Warner Madrigal and Willie Eyre both have options. Nippert however has been outrighted before once in his career. That gives him the right to refuse any future outright assignment and take his free agency. • Kevin Millwood, who is signed this year for $11 million, and for $12 million next year, must pitch at least 180 innings this season or the Rangers can void the final year of his contract. If he falls short, the Rangers could still choose to bring him back in 2010.  • Vicente Padilla, who is signed for $12 million in 2009, has a $12 million option for 2010, with a $1.75 million buyout. • Frank Catalanotto has a $5 million option for 2010, with a $2 million buyout. He is getting paid $4 million this year, meaning the Rangers still owe him $6 million if he is released at the end of Spring Training to make room for Jones. • Hank Blalock, Marlon Byrd and Benoit can become free agents at the end of the season.

The Rangers’ history of left-handed starting
pitchers comes down to this: There is Kenny Rogers, and there
is everybody else. In a home ballpark that supposedly favors
left-handed pitching because of the dimensions and wind
conditions, Rogers is the only lefty to have a sustained run
of success while with the Rangers. He did so over three
different tours of duty with the Rangers in 1989-95, 2000-02
and 2004-05. The rest of the Rangers history is littered with
left-handed pitchers who flopped, flamed out or just escaped
their grasp. It’s a negative trend that Matt Harrison is
trying to reverse as he cements his spot as the only
left-hander in the Rangers’ season-opening rotation.
Harrison, a nine-game winner as a rookie in 2008, allowed two
runs in five innings in an 11-5 victory over the Rockies on
Friday, and he continues to progress in his symbolic status
as the Rangers’ next best great left-handed hope. “There are
a lot of teams that have mostly right-handed starters, so I
guess it does help to give a team a different look,” Harrison
said. “I just want to try and keep low key, do my job and
hopefully give my team a win.” There have been occasional
pockets of left-handed success for the Rangers, including a
14-win season by Darren Oliver in 1996 that was quite
instrumental in winning their first division title. But their
1998-99 division-winning teams led by Rick Helling, Aaron
Sele and John Burkett had a dearth of southpaw starters.
Since then, the Rangers have run through Doug Davis, John
Koronka, Matt Perisho, Kason Gabbard, Tony Mounce, John
Rheinecker, Dennys Reyes, Ben Kozlowski, Mario Ramos, Nick
Bierbrodt and others without finding a left-handed pitcher
with any staying power within their rotation. Obviously it
didn’t help that the Rangers let John Danks get away. But in
this decade alone, there have been 71 15-win seasons by a
left-hander in the Major Leagues. Rogers was the only one to
do it for the Rangers, when he won 18 in 2004. “It’s not
where we need to be or where we would like it to be,
especially considering how our ballpark plays,” Texas general
manager Jon Daniels said. Conventional wisdom suggests The
Ballpark in Arlington favors left-handed
pitchers.

 Rangers first baseman Justin Smoak and infielder German Duran are no longer in Major League camp. Top pitching prospects Neftali Feliz and Derek Holland still are after the latest rounds of cuts by the Rangers on Thursday morning. Smoak, the Rangers’ first-round pick (11th overall) in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, and Duran were among seven players who were sent to the Minor Leagues. Also sent down were pitchers John Bannister, Joe Torres and Elizardo Ramirez, and outfielders Greg Golson and Julio Borbon. Feliz and Holland are still here because the Rangers like the experience they are gaining in big league camp. There is still no feeling that they have a chance of being on the Opening Day roster. Feliz has pitched eight innings and allowed five earned runs on 10 hits and five walks, striking out 11. Holland has 7 1/3 innings and allowed four runs on 10 hits and three walks, striking out seven. “They’re continuing to gain experience, and they’re continuing to learn,” manager Ron Washington said. “They are going to be a part of this as long as we have innings to give them.” Duran was up with the Rangers for much of last season as a utility player, hitting .231 with three home runs and 16 RBIs in 60 games and 143 at-bats. But the Rangers want him to play regularly at Triple-A Oklahoma at multiple positions. He’ll play second, short, third and some outfield. “We want him to keep his versatility and get at-bats daily,” Washington said. “He needs to play. It doesn’t do him any good to be up here getting an at-bat here, an at-bat there, playing two or three innings. He needs to get his repetitions.” Smoak played in 19 games (mostly as a late-inning replacement) for the Rangers, the most on the team to this point, and ended up going 6-for-23 with a home run and four RBIs. The Rangers haven’t decided yet if he’ll play at Double-A Frisco or start the season at Class A Bakersfield. But the Rangers were impressed with what he showed in camp, especially with the bat. “He’s got a very refined idea of what he’s doing,” Washington said. “He very easily gets the bat head to the ball. He’s not intimidated. All our young kids were impressive. They handled themselves very professionally.” Bannister developed some forearm problems early, and Torres has been bothered by a bad back. That kept them from competing for a spot in the bullpen. Golson and Borbon are expected to be part of the Triple-A Oklahoma outfield. With Brandon Boggs possibly joining them, the Rangers could have one of the fastest outfields in the Minor Leagues.

Hank Blalock is starting to take ground
balls at third base again in preparation for a possible
backup role at his former position. The Rangers need somebody
to be able to give Michael Young a day off at third base and
it’s not likely to be Omar Vizquel or Joaquin Arias. “Mike
will be there for 156 games,” manager Ron Washington said.
“Maybe 162.” Young certainly is one of the most reliable
players in the game. Only Ichiro Suzuki has appeared in more
Major League games since the beginning of the 2002 season.
Young was in 155 games last year and that was his fewest ever
for a full season in the Major Leagues. But it’s those seven
or so games that have the Rangers concerned, plus the other
occasions when Washington wants to use Young as his
designated hitter. Washington — actually most managers –
prefer to have a utility infielder who can play third, short
and second base. Ramon Vazquez served the Rangers well in
that role the past two seasons. Vizquel was signed as a
utility infielder but it’s obvious that he doesn’t have the
arm strength to play third base. “I want to keep him in the
middle,” Washington said. Arias may not have the arm strength
to play shortstop, much less third base. He is still
recovering from his shoulder injury of two years ago and the
Rangers are still undecided how strong and reliable his arm
is. He has made the routine play in camp, but the tough plays
in the hole or on the run are still big question marks. “He’s
not all the way there,” Washington said. “We’re going to find
out. Last year he couldn’t even throw from [shortstop], this
year he can at least throw it. We’ll see how it
goes.”

Manager Ron Washington found himself in a very peculiar position, to say the least, in the Rangers clubhouse on Tuesday. Radical Reality, a Christian-based group of strongmen from California, were giving a motivational demonstration and speech for the players before the game against the Indians. Washington had seen Radical Reality in Oakland when he was with the Athletics, but did not know beforehand that he was going to part of the show. The next thing Washington knew, he was stretched out on his back with cement blocks on his chest and a man standing over him with a sledge hammer. “You can’t back down,” Washington said. “I’ve got to trust him, mind over matter.” Washington said the gist of the motivational speech was, “Mind over matter: Whatever you believe, you can achieve.”

Washington had a dental appointment for some bridge work Monday on the Rangers’ off-day. So what was worse, the sledge hammer or the dentist? “The dental chair,” Washington said. “I trust those guys that laid me across the blocks. I’ve seen them do it before. The dentist, I trust him, but it hurts. You’ve got to sit there and can’t open your eyes. Your face feels like it is out here [puffed up] and you’re crying. You look in the mirror and have got stuff all over your face. I was in the chair from about 8:30 to 11:30.”The Radical Reality speech might have helped. The Rangers scored 10 runs in the first three innings off Cliff Lee en route to an 11-5 victory over the Indians.