Tuesday a.m. Ranger things

Shame we didn’t bring someone in on an NRI who has an outside shot to make for a good backup CFer if Byrd needs more time to recover…

“I was stunned a little bit at first when they told me I was playing DH,” Blalock said. "I like playing [defense]. But as the offseason was going along, I felt the organization made a decision trying to make us better. I’m going at this with a positive attitude and if they want me to be the DH, I’m going to be prepared.

but I’m really starting to warm up to him, and the idea of our bullpen

Scott Feldman grew up here where I write, in Burlingame, CA, and went to the public school Burlingame HS where not surprisingly he played baseball. Strange…he wasn’t a standout player in high school. I’d say that he was above average but nowhere near to being the best player on the team, and this wasn’t exactly a sports mecca. That he was drafted was a nice story, but the news of his eventual call-up was completely unexpected. It’s nice to see that the kid stuck with it and to see that he obviously improved at every step along his way to the majors.

Contrasting Feldman’s suiccess is another Burlingame resident Chuck Lofgren of the Indians organization. This was the kid who received all the fanfare, the press, and eventually the bonus money in the June Draft. And while Chuck probably has the better stuff, Scott Feldman was the guy who made it to the big show. I guess it just takes more than a big arm to make it in this game.

Congrats on making it on to a big league rotation, kid.

why you’re linking the Dallas News web versions of shared stories, for example the Andro article on Feldman?

A lean-looking Andruw Jones is in uniform this morning after making the long drive from Georgia to Surprise. Jones knows he has to earn a roster spot and feels like he needs to prove himself after a season with the Los Angeles Dodgers he’d rather forget.

Among his talking points was the health of his right knee (it’s stronger and feels fine), his weight (he said he has lost 20 pounds) and his relationship with Rudy Jaramillo (they clicked right away).

“I’ve been full bore for three or four months,” Jones said. “I think I might be in better shape than I was in ’05.”

Jones hit 51 homers that season and finished second in the National League MVP race. He admits, though, that was four years ago and he has to overcome the reputation of being overweight and no longer a good player that he was tagged with in Los Angeles.

Michael Young, who also arrived in camp this morning, said he has no doubt that Jones will make the Opening Day roster.

“Andruw’s going to have a monster year,” Young said. “There’s no doubt in my mind.”

<>Only two players — infielders Omar Vizquel and Jose Vallejo — aren’t in camp. Another infielder, Joaquin Arias, arrived today and declared his arm strong enough to play shortstop and third base. He was limited to second base last season while recovering from a shoulder injury.

— Jeff Wilson

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no less than 4 of what I refer to as the “G6” (Eddie, Turnbow, Donnelly, Jones, Vizquel, and Jennings) will play key roles on this team this year, and it is quite possible that all six will have some sort of impact. I think the most immediate impact will be felt in the bullpen, where it sounds like (at least in this very early stage) all three arms will be kept on to start the year. This is the best possible way to build a bullpen. Chances are good that Vizquel starts the year as the starting SS and ends up with around 300 ABs, and with these injuries in the OF, I would imagine Jones has a decent chance to be an impact player as well. Jennings is probably the longest shot, but with the attrition this team usually sees among starters, there is a pretty good chance he’ll get his shot as well. What a bizarre offseason to end up with a situation like this…

is really good. I sometimes forget that crazy night in Oakland with the chair throw. Reeves did a really good job of talking about how scared and lonely Francisco was after that happened. Just my 2 cents.

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For the last 4 or 5 months, the inside of the future Rangers Retail/Ticket Office has been bare. It is located next to the Razzoo’s (corner of Main and 3rd St)

I walked by there at lunch today, and saw some people in there milling about with blueprints. It’s about time.

According to a Star Telegram article I saw, they expect to have it open by late February/early March. I’m not going to hold my breath…because no one obsesses about the Rangers.

There was no watching Alex Rodriguez on TV in the Texas clubhouse Tuesday. Veteran reliever Eddie Guardado turned the TV off and said no one wanted to watch it. At the time of the press conference, there were only three or four Rangers in the clubhouse. Michael Young said he hasn’t talked to Rodriguez since his steroids admission, but has exchanged text messages. He supports his former teammate. “I support Alex 100 percent. He admitted he made a mistake. Obviously I don’t condone anything like that but as far as I’m concerned, he’s still my friend and I’m going to show support in good times and in bad.”

    The Rangers pitchers are wrapping up their day in a new way. After they throw their bullpens and batting practice sessions, they’re heading to the half field to work on fielding bunts. That wasn’t a strong suit last year. “Those things sort of hurt us defensively and we want to make sure we get as much game action as we possibly can,” manager Ron Washington said.

    Jason Jennings and Kason Gabbard each threw pain-free bullpens Tuesday. They are the only two pitchers yet to get clearance from the team to start throwing live batting practice. Jennings said he ended his bullpen by throwing about 90 percent of full strength. Gabbard threw 40 pitches in his bullpen and was able to throw all of his pitches.

    Only Jose Vallejo and Omar Vizquel have yet to make it to camp yet. Wednesday is the report day with full workouts Thursday.

    - Anthony Andro