Rangers power hitters predicted to win division
by Nick Nance, reporter

    Spring training has ended, and this year’s Texas Rangers are a #1 powerhouse in the American League, again.

   This time the Rangers will surprise all the prognosticators. The Rangers will win their division this year, no problem.

   With the return of slugger Juan Gonzalez and the signing of free agent Carl Everett, the Rangers added even more power to an already lethal line-up.

   All-Star veterans Alex Rodriguez, Pudge Rodriguez, and the under-rated Rafael Palmeiro solidify the power in the offense of this year’s team.

   Each year there are rookies who surface and have an immediate impact in the league. This year the Rangers may have one.

   Hank Blalock was the talk of spring training this year.

   He has taken over the starting third base job from Mike Lamb. Lamb will likely see playing time in a back-up role this season.

   After having knee surgery last season, catcher Pudge Rodriguez returned this year.

   He will reportedly play every other game at catcher splitting time with Bill Haselman and play some as the designated hitter.

   Not to be forgotten is Frank Catalanotto. He led the Rangers last season with a .330 batting average and is a lock to play everyday.

   What position he will play has yet to be decided.

   Because of these huge offensive additions, the changes to the pitching staff of this year’s Rangers are easy to overlook.

   The much needed revamping of the bullpen has taken place, and this year’s staff will be a good one.

   Last year the Rangers had one of the worst pitching staffs in the major leagues.

   They hope to have changed that this year.

   In the off-season this year, the Rangers went after a reliable number-one starter.

   So they acquired Chan Ho Park. Park, who spent his first eight years with the Dodgers, has been one of the league’s most consistent pitchers in the past five seasons.

   Park has recorded at least 13 wins in each of the last five seasons, pitched in almost 200 innings a season and started at least 30 games a year.

   Veteran Kenny Rogers returns from injury this year and is looking better than ever.

   Rogers, who missed most of last season due to injury, returns as the team’s number-two starter.

   Rogers has never been known for being a power pitcher.

   He has great control over his pitches and is expected to have his best year ever.

   This year the number-three spot in the rotation belongs to Ismael Valdes.

   Valdes started for the Anaheim Angels last season and did not get much run support while there. Valdes has been a reliable starter and should do well this year behind the offense of the Rangers.

   Doug Davis, who was arguably the Rangers’ best starter last year, will be this year’s number four starter.

   If Davis pitches the way he did last year, he will easily be a 15-game winner.

   Now, the number five spot in the rotation.

   Originally a four-way tie, the number-five spot in the pitching rotation has been won by reliable veteran Dave Burba.

   Burba, despite struggling last year pitching for the Cleveland Indians, will benefit greatly from the Rangers’ high-powered offense this year.

   Burba has a career record of 105-80 in 408 games and has won at least 10 games in eight of his 11 seasons.

   Having struggled late in the season, Jeff Zimmerman, last year’s closer, starts this year on the disabled list.

   Newly acquired John Rocker will begin the season as the team’s closing pitcher. Rocker, who was at one time considered one of the best closers in the league, has struggled in recent years.

   Rocker will benefit greatly from being with a new team and will show the league he is still a great relief pitcher.

   When Zimmerman returns, both may split pitching time, but it is very likely Rocker will become the main closer for the Rangers before the All-Star break.

   The team’s pitching staff this year may have an unfair advantage. Hall-of-Fame Pitcher Nolan Ryan has agreed to be an advisor for this year’s staff.

   Ryan, 55, was working with the team much of the spring. He is reportedly going to be a permanent advisor for the Rangers.

   Fans will not be disappointed by the performance of this year’s Texas Rangers.