The Rangers may have to consider finding a way to get OF/DH Andruw Jones on the field more regularly. Jones hit .500 through the first two weeks of the season with a .650 on-base percentage and a 1.650 OPS. The options would be to either move Jones to left field to split time more regularly with Marlon Byrd or to have him at DH with Hank Blalock taking some playing time from struggling 1B Chris Davis. Jones received an intentional walk in a key situation on Wednesday, shortly before RF Nelson Cruz hit a game-changing grand slam. It was the first intentional walk Jones received since late in the 2007 season. Afterward, several teammates said that opponents were once again respecting Jones as a hitter.
PLAYER NEWS: --CF Josh Hamilton struck out three times in four hitless at-bats Sunday to extend his frustrating slump. Hamilton is hitless in his last 11 at-bats and just one for his last 16. In that 16-at-bat stretch, he struck out 10 times.
--OF David Murphy remains the longest-tenured member of the "Oh-fer 2009" Club. Murphy was hitless in three at-bats Sunday to extend his season-opening slump to 0-for-18. He had more at-bats than any hitless player in the majors.
--1B Chris Davis was given the majority of the day off to try to help him get out of a season-long slump. Davis began Sunday hitting .158, but did single as a pinch-hitter in the eighth-inning rally. Davis struck out three times in four at-bats Saturday, including once with a runner on third and once to end the game.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Dustin Nippert (upper back soreness) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He began a rehab assignment with Class AA Frisco on April 11, but he strained a muscle in his side. He's not expected back before May 1.
RHP Joaquin Benoit (rotator cuff surgery in January 2009) went on the 60-day disabled list April 5. He is out for at least the first half of the season but could miss the entire year.
RHP Eric Hurley (rotator cuff surgery in January 2009) went on the 60-day disabled list April 5. He is out for the year.
ROTATION:
RHP Kevin Millwood
RHP Vicente Padilla
RHP Brandon McCarthy
RHP Kris Benson
LHP Matt Harrison
BULLPEN:
RHP Frank Francisco (closer)
LHP C.J. Wilson
LHP Eddie Guardado
RHP Scott Feldman
LHP Derek Holland
RHP Jason Jennings
RHP Willie Eyre
CATCHERS:
Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Taylor Teagarden
INFIELDERS:
1B Chris Davis
2B Ian Kinsler
SS Elvis Andrus
3B Michael Young
INF Omar Vizquel
OUTFIELDERS:
LF David Murphy
CF Josh Hamilton
RF Nelson Cruz
DH Hank Blalock
OF Andruw Jones
OF Marlon Byrd
