Texas Rangers

Power outage?

Fans who have become accustomed to seeing the fireworks that accompany a Texas home run at Rangers Ballpark could be in for a rude awakening in 2008.

The Rangers’ projected starting lineup has exactly one player who has hit 30 home runs in a season: third baseman Hank Blalock hit 32 in 2004. There are signs this lineup could produce some power if players are able to match some career numbers, but the days of the 260 home-run season of 2005 don’t figure to be returning anytime soon.

Here’s a look at the Rangers’ projected Opening Day lineup along with their career-best power season and their power potential:

C Jarrod Saltalamacchia MLB best: 11 HRs in 2007

1B Ben Broussard/Chris Shelton MLB best: Broussard (21 HRs in 2006); Shelton (18 in 2005)2B Ian Kinsler MLB best: 20 HRs in 2007

SS Michael Young MLB best: 24 HRs in 2005

3B Hank Blalock MLB best: 32 HRs in 2004

LF Frank Catalanotto MLB best: 13 HRs in 2003

CF Marlon Byrd MLB best: 10 HRs in 2007

RF David Murphy MLB best: 2 HRs in 2007

DH Milton Bradley MLB best: 19 HRs in 2004

Rangers spring training broadcast schedule

For the Rangers fan who needs to know where and when they can see what's happening in spring training, here's the Rangers radio and television schedule for the spring.

2008 TEXAS RANGERS SPRING TRAINING SCHEDULE

(Subject to change, all times listed as Arizona time unless noted)

Date                                                       Opponent             Location                Time

Wednesday, Feb. 27 (Charity Game)   KC                           SURPRISE             1:05 PM   

Thursday, Feb. 28                                  LAA                         Tempe                     1:05 PM

Friday, Feb. 29                                       LAA                         SURPRISE             1:05 PM   KRLD

Saturday, March 1                                  KC                           Surprise                  1:05 PM   KRLD

Sunday, March 2                                     KC                           SURPRISE             1:05 PM   KRLD

Monday, March 3                                   SF                            Scottsdale              1:05 PM   texasrangers.com Gameday Audio

Tuesday, March 4                                   ARI                          SURPRISE             1:05 PM

Wednesday, March 5                             MIL                          SURPRISE             1:05 PM   texasrangers.com Gameday Audio

Thursday, March 6                                 CWS                        Tucson                    1:05 PM

Friday, March 7                                      MIL                          Maryvale                 1:05 PM   texasrangers.com Gameday Audio

Saturday, March 8                                  SD                           SURPRISE             1:05 PM   KRLD

Sunday, March 9                                     LAA                         Tempe                     1:05 PM   KRLD

Monday, March 10                                 SD                           Peoria                     1:05 PM   texasrangers.com Gameday Audio

Tuesday, March 11                                 CWS                        SURPRISE             1:05 PM

Wednesday, March 12                           CHI                          SURPRISE             1:05 PM   texasrangers.com Gameday Audio

Thursday, March 13                               COL                         Tucson                    1:05 PM

Friday, March 14                                    KC                           Surprise                  1:05 PM   texasrangers.com Gameday Audio

Saturday, March 15                                COL                         SURPRISE             1:05 PM   KRLD

Sunday, March 16                                   OAK                         Phoenix                   1:05 PM   KRLD

Monday, March 17                                 SEA                          SURPRISE             1:05 PM   texasrangers.com Gameday Audio

Tuesday, March 18                                 OAK                         SURPRISE             1:05 PM

Thursday, March 20                               ARI                          Tucson                    1:05 PM

Friday, March 21                                    LAA                         SURPRISE             6:05 PM   KRLD

Saturday, March 22                                SEA                          Peoria                     1:05 PM   KRLD and FSN Southwest

Sunday, March 23                                   SF                            SURPRISE             1:05 PM   KRLD and FSN Southwest

Monday, March 24                                 CHI                          Mesa                       1:05 PM

Tuesday, March 25                                 SEA                          SURPRISE             7:05 PM   KRLD

Wednesday, March 26                           SD                           Peoria                     1:05 PM

Thursday, March 27                               KC                           SURPRISE             12:05 PM

Friday, March 28                                    CWS                        Oklahoma City, Okla.     7:05 PM

Saturday, March 29                                TBA                         Frisco, Texas          1:05 PM   KRLD

Where will Cameron go?

The Cardinals have traded oft-injured and aging center fielder Jim Edmonds to the Padres, who had been in negotiations to bring back free-agent center fielder Mike Cameron.

Cameron might seem like an attractive option for Rangers general manager Jon Daniels, who said he would still like to add to the outfield this off-season to go with the recently signed Milton Bradley. Cameron has played in the AL West (Seattle), he's a former Gold Glove winner, and he can hit for power.

But he also is a strikeout machine who will miss the first 25 games of the season while serving a suspension for using a banned substance. The soon-to-be 35-year-old also wants more than a one-year contract, something the Rangers have said they would be hesitant to do this off-season.

Cameron will play somehwere in 2008, but for now it looks like he won't be in Arlington.

Breaking down Fukumori

New Rangers reliever Kazuo Fukumori was introduced to the media Friday at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The media contingent had a strong international flair with many Japanese reporters on hand for the signing. Among things we learned about the 31-year-old right-hander were:

His last name is pronounced foo-koo-MORE-ee

He goes by Kaz

He's learning English but spoke through interpretors

He's a fastball, forkball pitcher

He's throwing from the mound already after having elbow surgery this year and expects to be ready for Opening Day

His preferred role is whatever role manager Ron Washington wants to put him in

He was 4-2 with 17 saves and a 4.75 ERA before the elbow surgery in 2007 while pitching for the Tohuku Rakuten

The contract is for two years with a club option for 2010

- Anthony Andro

Rangers sign Alfonso

Infielder Edgardo Alfonso has signed a minor-league deal with the Rangers, general manager Jon Daniels said. Alfonso, a career .284 hitter, played with the Mets from 1995-2002. In 2007, he played for the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League, batting .266 with 56 RBI and 23 doubles while playing shortstop and third base.

Tejada to Astros?

The Houston Chronicle and Baltimore Sun are reporting on their Web sites, citing sources, that Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada has been traded to the Houston Astros. The Sun says in return for Tejada the Orioles will get outfielder Luke Scott, pitchers Matt Albers, Troy Patton and Dennis Sarfate, and third baseman Michael Costanzo. If the trade is announced, one Texas major-league team will have seriously accelerated its rebuilding plans.

-- Vince Langford

Late night in Nashville

Rangers brass continued to pursue additions to its bullpen and outfield late Tuesday, meeting with agent Scott Boras about free-agent closer Eric Gagne and free-agent outfielder Corey Patterson. General manager Jon Daniels said earlier Tuesday that his preference would be to sign them to one-year contracts.

That's probably less of an issue for Gagne than Patterson, who could command more years and dollars because of the demand this off-season for center fielders. One outfielder the Rangers could land is Milton Bradley, who saw his season with the Padres come to a strange end when he injured his knee during an argument with umpire Mike Winters.

A major-league source said the Rangers have asked Bradley's agents, the Levinson brothers, for his medical records.

-- Jeff Wilson

It all started in Fort Worth

Former manager Dick Williams appeared before the media Tuesday at the winter meetings, about 24 hours after he was elected for enshrinement in the Hall of Fame.

The past few days have been a time of reflection for the 78-year-old, who had 21-year managerial career that featured two World Series wins with the Athletics and more than 1,500 victories.

He said the foundation for his success was laid in the 1950s as a player for the Fort Worth Cats.

“Fort Worth is where it all happened for me,” said Williams, who lives in Las Vegas with wife and Fort Worth native Norma. “I went from there to the major leagues.”

Williams, who remains close to Fort Worth baseball icon Bobby Bragan, said it would have been unrealistic to imagine becoming a Hall of Famer while with the Cats.

"You always hoped," he said. "I played hard enough that I got a major-league contract. I knew how the game was supposed to be played, and exercising that and being at the right place at the right time gave me my chance."

-- Jeff Wilson

Rolen for Blalock? No deal.

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said he isn't the type of guy who responds to rumors floating around about his team. But on making the rounds Monday at the Winter Meetings caused a minor change in character.

There is no truth to the rumor that the Rangers are talking with the Cardinals about a swap of third basemen, Daniels said. Scott Rolen won't be playing in Arlington in 2008, and Hank Blalock will as things stand today.

Daniels did say that the Rangers will listen to other clubs' interest about any player. But he said Blalock is the Rangers' biggest bat on the 40-man roster, and a team starving for offense would be unwise to deal that away.

Strange sightings

Among the things seen that weren't expected to be seen Monday during the first day of the Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tenn.:

Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis, who is at the Gaylord Opryland mega-complex and is the lone pro athlete the Star-Telegram has seen so far. Lots of former baseball pros, though.

ESPN analyst Peter Gammons, a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, working out harder and longer before 8 a.m. than anyone else in the fitness center at the Airport Marriott. Not bad for a 62-year-old who suffered a brain aneurysm fewer than 18 months ago.

No wait for a lunchtime table at Rusty's, a hotel sports bar and restaurant that serves a mean southwestern fried-chicken salad and sweet tea.