"I think there is going to be a little more of a 'survival of the fittest' type approach," strength and conditioning coach Jose Vazquez said during the Rangers' first conditioning camp for pitchers. "In my job, you are always riding that line between pushing guys hard and crossing over to where somebody may get hurt. We've decided we aren't going to change much about the types of work we do, but we are going to change the intensity."

That was the message Vazquez also delivered at the start of the camp to the 10 pitchers who convened at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The 10 are mostly starters, and most at least had a taste of the major leagues last year.

Vazquez is simply carrying the message from club president Nolan Ryan, who questioned the pitching staff's conditioning during the season. Ryan and general manager Jon Daniels signed off on increasing the intensity of the program with the knowledge a pitcher or two might break down along the way. But, the Rangers feel, tougher pitchers will evolve from tougher work habits. And the club is likely to discover more capable big-league pitchers than it risks losing by pushing the pitchers harder.

During the weeklong camp, not a single pitcher will throw a baseball. Right now, it's all about building strength and explosiveness in the lower half of the body. That means a lot of squats and a lot of sprints. They have also met with a nutritionist to help improve eating habits.

"Everybody is counting on our pitching staff to be healthy and strong and improved next year," right-hander Scott Feldman said. "Jose has told us that things will be a little amped up next year, and so the focus is to get everybody on the same page, get a good feel of what is expected of us and make sure we are all ready to go from the start of camp."

But the entire staff is not on-hand. Two notable absences: Veteran starters Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla, neither of whom has pitched at least 180 innings in the past two seasons. While Daniels said the Rangers "need more" out of both pitchers in 2009, he said this camp was more about giving the next wave of Rangers pitching talent a full understanding of the fitness regimen. Both Padilla and Millwood could be free agents after 2009 and may not figure into the team's long-term plan.