Hank Blalock homered in his fifth straight game to trigger a seven-run second inning against John Lackey and the Texas Rangers routed the AL West champion Los Angeles Angels 12-1 on Friday night. 

The Los Angeles Angels no doubt are more concerned with their first-round playoff opponent, the Boston Red Sox, than they were with the Texas Rangers. 

Hank Steinbrenner can have his whine. 

If there's ever one thing a fantasy owner is looking for, it's a bargain. 

The season's coming to an exciting close and Ken Rosenthal is here to tell you who deserves each of the big awards. 

When catcher Gerald Laird came off the field Wednesday at Rangers Ballpark, like the other veterans who were removed early, he was serenaded with a standing ovation. 

--1B Hank Blalock, who has homered in his last four games, has seven home runs and 21 RBIs for September. 

MEDICAL WATCH: OF Marlon Byrd (cartilage problem in left knee) is playing through the ailment, but he will have surgery the week after the season ends. 

John Lackey appears to have put a rough stretch behind him. 

MEDICAL WATCH: OF Marlon Byrd (cartilage problem in left knee) is playing through the ailment, but he will have surgery the week after the season ends. 

--OF Marlon Byrd said he would undergo left knee surgery next week to clean up the area around a piece of jagged cartilage that has bothered him all season. 

Rangers president Nolan Ryan said Wednesday that he anticipates both general manager Jon Daniels and manager Ron Washington will return for the 2009 season, but he stopped just short of making a full-scale announcement that one or both would be back. 

For Nolan Ryan, it has been a long rookie season as president of the Texas Rangers. 

For Nolan Ryan, it has been a long rookie season as president of the Texas Rangers. 

MEDICAL WATCH: RHP Brandon McCarthy (ligament damage in right middle finger) left the Sept.