The disabled list is becoming a more realistic possibility for center fielder Josh Hamilton because his sore ribs have not healed much in the past week, despite aggressive treatment that included a cortisone injection.
Hamilton was out of the lineup for the third consecutive game Tuesday. Marlon Byrd played center field with Andruw Jones in left. Hamilton had X-rays in Baltimore, but they showed no breaks or fractures. After Hamilton was examined, Rangers GM Jon Daniels said the club would wait until at least Thursday to make a determination about Hamilton. The only thing that could force the Rangers to make a quicker decision would be an injury to another player.
"If I can't play, it's hurting," Hamilton said. "I can't even pick my kids up. It's that bad."
Until Hamilton is healthy, the key issue becomes who plays center field: Byrd, who started there for the third game in a row, or Jones, the 10-time Gold Glove winner.
For now, the answer is Byrd.
"I think it comes down to speed," outfield instructor Gary Pettis said. "Does Andruw have all the knowledge in the world to play center? Yes. Does he have an accurate arm? Yes, he does. At this point, I think Marlon is the better option, but that's not to say Andruw is not still a very good outfielder. As we get older, we tend to lose a step."
Jones just turned 32; Byrd turns 32 on Aug. 30. But the difference in their "baseball ages" may be the amount of time they've logged in center, the most physically demanding outfield position. Jones has 1,662 career starts there and ranks 10th all time in total center-field starts. Byrd has started 375 games there.
"I still would like to play center field," said Jones, whose start in left Monday was only his third career start there, and all of which have come this season. "I feel like I'm still a better center fielder than a left fielder. I felt good in center this spring. Marlon is solid; he's probably out there because he might be better than me (at the position) physically after the knee surgeries last year. But I still think I know how to make myself get to the ball."
RANGERS 5, A'S 4: Kevin Millwood went eight innings and threw 121 pitches -- the most he's thrown in nearly seven seasons -- as the Rangers won for the fourth time in five games and evened their record at 10-10. Millwood overcame a torn fingernail early in the game and stuck around long enough to get the benefit of a late run. Millwood has thrown at least 110 pitches in all five of his starts this season and has gone at least seven innings every time out. He and Toronto's Roy Halladay are the only pitchers in the majors to pitch seven innings five times this season. It's also the first time in Millwood's career that he has thrown at least 110 pitches in five consecutive starts.
