--GM Jon Daniels acknowledged that he was not happy with Venezuela's usage of prospect C Max Ramirez in the first round of the World Baseball Classic. The Rangers had been told Ramirez would start all games in the first round. He started none. Ramon Hernandez started three and Henry Blanco one. Ramirez got five at-bats in the first round.
--1B-DH Hank Blalock will start being at his more natural position, third base, on occasion in the next week, manager Ron Washington said. The Rangers think Blalock could play enough third to occasionally spell 3B Michael Young. Another possibility: The Rangers could be showcasing him for other clubs, particularly the third base-deprived New York Yankees. --INF Joaquin Arias returned to the team after a week's absence to be with his dying father. Arias could mount a challenge to be the team's utility infielder. Veteran INF Omar Vizquel is expected to win that job.
--The Rangers made an offer to RHP Chad Cordero to join them and be a setup man upon his recuperation from offseason shoulder problems, but Cordero opted to sign with Seattle, where he could potentially become the closer.
--LHP Joe Torres has returned to the mound after missing a week with a stiff back. He had mixed results in his first outing, walking three, but he did not allow anybody to score.
--Five Rangers minor-leaguers are among the 42 Dominican players whose entry into the U.S. has been delayed by investigations into age discrepancies from the time they signed. The Rangers are hopeful all five will arrive in camp shortly.
BY THE NUMBERS: 94 -- Percentage of Rangers pitchers in the Ballpark Era (1994-present) who have finished at .500 or better when reaching 200 innings or more. The average for the rest of the league is 78 percent. The problem: The Rangers have had only 18 200-inning seasons in that stretch.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "If we stay on the program we're on, we'll absolutely be ready to go. It wasn't his day, but he went out there and executed and kept extending himself. That's the most important thing." -- Pitching coach Mike Maddux after RHP Kevin Millwood gave up 10 runs in three innings last week. The Rangers were pleased that Millwood made the start -- his third straight "A" game start -- and threw 63 pitches. Millwood has pitched sparingly in "A" games the last two springs.
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