Tuesday Morning Rangers Update: The Rise of Lowe

Ben Rowen spring update:

4.0 innings, 1 hit, 0 walks, 3 Ks, .077 AVG

It's happening.

Ron Matejko brings back the Rapid Reactions to provide you with a bunch of notes on the Rangers' 8-2 win over the Kansas City Royals last night.

Derek Lowe threw three scoreless innings in a spot start for Yu Darvish, and as Jeff Wilson writes, that's led some to ponder if the Rangers are looking at Lowe as a fifth starter candidate. However, both Lowe and Ron Washington provide quotes to dispel that notion for now.

T.R. Sullivan recaps the win and writes about Ian Kinsler coming out of a spring funk with a three-hit night - including a home run - and a particularly fine play in the field.

Wilson has a piece on Kinsler where he says he's starting to feel comfortable, has been working on a few little things, and all those things you say when you're hitting .154 and people start saying things like, "I know spring training stats don't matter, but..."

As far as Darvish goes, Gerry Fraley has a blog post up where he writes that Darvish had a stiff neck and the Rangers realized a game on March 18 doesn't mean a single thing and therefore it wasn't worth risking an actual injury.

Anthony Andro ranks the catchers in the American League West and once again has the Rangers in the top spot. Personally, I'm sort of dubious about that unless A.J. Pierzynski is 2012 A.J. Pierzynski again. Geovany Soto being 2010 Geovany Soto wouldn't hurt, either.

Because we can't go a day without a Rangers' Front Office article, MLB.com's Mike Bauman has a piece on the potential for the saga to be a distraction for the players. The thing I found most interesting, however, was Jon Daniels saying that he feels the dispute is more a storyline being kept alive by the media rather than an actual problem.

Barry Horn and Kevin Sherrington were on SportsDay On Air and were asked which player in camp has surprised the most this year. Joey Gallo is featured prominently in each person's answer.

Drew Davison has some notes on Darvish's neck, Lance Berkman in the field, and Kyle McClellan's decision to not opt out of his contract.

T.R. Sullivan's Notebook covers Josh Lindblom and Evan Meeks' improving chances of making the club, more on McClellan, an update on Colby Lewis' progress, and other items worth noting.

Lastly, check it out: Davison has video of Colby throwing a baseball.

Soon.