Fort Worth Star-Telegram from Fort Worth, Texas • 44

Star-Telegram I Thursday March 1 200 1 II) www star telegram com I)A TO OPENING DV) RS IN SURPRISE He said it "Any time you're left-handed and you have a heartbeat they're going to give you a look" Rangers left-hander Ryan Snare Who they are Although left-handed reliever Erasmo Ramirez 27 appeared in 34 games for the Rangers last season and had a 3 86 ERA this is his first major league spring training "I always put up good numbers in the minor leagues" Ramirez said "but 1 never got invited This is great just being here" urn RANGERS NOTES Healthy Brocail rebuilding career Doug Brocail is I trying to returf) the major leagues after a STAR TELEGRAMAUSON WOODWORTH Rangers infielders Hank Blalock left and Michael Young get in the swing of spring training as they wait for Mark Teixeira to finish batting practice Wednesday Michael Young signs 1-year deal By KATHLEEN STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER 8URPRI8E Ariz Doug Brocail just believe time to give up on his big league career So not going to Even though he pitched in a major league game since 2000 Even though 36 and coming off a pair of surgeries Even though he knows a long shot to make the Rangers feel pretty good about Brocail said know going to have to pitch my rear end off not afraid of Brocail has a career 387 ERA over nine seasons If healthy he could be a key addition to the pitching staff a big if The right-handed reliever underwent (ligament transplant) surgery for the first time in spring 2001 As he was throwing against live hitting in preparation for his return for the Astros in 2002 he heard a snap in his arm A few weeks later when he underwent an MRI exam he discovered he had fractured his elbow and would need another surgery which he underwent in late summer 2002 Now nearly three years after his first surgery he is nearing game readiness He pitched in the intrasquad game Tuesday and is trying to earn the right to pitch in regular-season games organization wants to get lucky on a guy that maybe flew under the radar screen and has a track Rangers general manager John Hart said an asset to the ballclub right Brocail realizes that there are lots of players competing for a handful of spots He may have more of a proven track record than some but knows he will have to show his current value to wind up on the 40-man roster shown good things Hart said in the game realizes that Doug for a number of years there was just a real solid set-up guy The decision is where is he in his The recovery from the second surgery has gone far more smoothly for Brocail than the first After the initial operation he suffered significant pain swelling and bruising This time none of that has been a problem had to take a single Brocail said He is no longer concerned simply about his health His preoccupation now is with returning to big league pitching form In intrasquad game Brocail said he felt very rusty He expected that after such a long layoff as did manager Buck Showalter hope we underplay this Showalter said had two and 2 years of inactivity You love to see the hard work and the time put in pay Brocail believes his bullpen outings this spring have been among the best of his career That makes him optimistic that he can return to top condition And if his own goals enough motivation for recovery Brocail is hopeful to return to the majors so his children can see him pitch He and his wife Lisa who live in Houston have five daughters ages 3 to 13 The youngest two girls remember their baseball career If he make the squad he expects to seek an opportunity elsewhere think if other teams showed interest Brocail said not then I guess it would be time to wrap it up But I feel like time to wrap it up yet Major league baseball the teams out there will let me know" if time If no interest obviously no interest and you hang your hat up and say hey you had a great career not to that point ONLINE: wwwtexasrangerscom Kathleen (817) 390-7760 kobrienstar-telegram com By KATHLEEN O'BRIEN STAR TELEGRAM STAFF WRjTER SURPRISE Ariz Michael Young played near-Gold Glove defense at second base in 2003 -j- Today he will have his first test at shortstop in the first spring training game against the Royals be a Young said really look forward to it I really welcome it and I think going to be something that will benefit me and the team It been a difficult transition at Young split time in the minor leagues between the two positions but he played shortstop regularly since 1999 After the Alex Rodriguez-Alfonso Soriano trade Young went into manager Buck office and said he would make the switch to benefit the team and allow Soriano to stay at second base performance in workouts at shortstop since spring training began has been impressive gives himself the chance to have success in it because he use it as an excuse for Showalter said think holding their breath every time Perry could DH today Herbert Perry could see his first game action today in more than nine months Perry played in just nine major league games last season before undergoing surgery on his right rotator cuff June 18 and arthroscopic surgery on both knees Aug 11 He is still developing his arm strength to be able to play third base But Buck Showalter said he might use Perry as a designated hitter today not pushing it real hard to begin Perry said my knees and shoulder and everything you just want to go out there and see what you can take because when you find out what you take then too Perry said he expects to be 100 percent by Opening Day April 5 For now he is pleased to contribute any way he can year was a rough Perry said glad behind me and I hope to never go through I go through another one like Briefly Right-hander Rosman Garcia who has been bothered this week by tendinitis in his pitching shoulder expects to be back in action any day feels better than Garcia said think going to be a Outfielder Brian Jordan and designated hitter Brad Fullmer both coming off July knee surgery will not play today Jordan is near 100 percent and Fullmer is ready to go but the Rangers want to rush them feel Fullmer said knee I was expecting it to be worse I have any Expected to start in game are Michael Young at shortstop Alfonso Soriano at second base Mark Teixeira at first Hank Blalock at third Einar Diaz at catcher Eric Young in center or left field and Kevin Mench in left or right field Buck Showalter was still deciding on the third outfield spot Wednesday afternoon The Rangers renewed the contract Wednesday of outfielder Laynce Nix for $300000 He was the last player on the 40-man major league roster left unsigned a ball hit to Michael Since Young shifted positions the club has begun talks with his agent Dan Lozano on a multiyear contract They agree to terms by Wednesday the deadline for one-year deals to be signed So Young who will be arbitration eligible after this season signed a $450000 contract Based on his 2003 performance (306 average 106 runs scored 72 RBI) Young would earn a big pay boost in arbitration next winter if he and the Rangers cannot agree on a deal ball is really in the Lozano said understand what concerned with and really up to them whether or not they want to agree to the structure of the Rangers officials declined to comment on the negotiations However a source involved in the talks said the main sticking point is the inclusion of a fifth-year team option which the Rangers want and Young does not Lozano and the Rangers plan to talk again next week SEBALL Selig: Skip the questions about NOT ES Robinson Day cance of Jackie legacy never be Selig said in a conference call Current recipients of scholarships from the Jackie Robinson Foundation will throw out the first pitch at each game think it is very important that we pause to celebrate my father and his said daughter Sharon we all have to carry that legacy Kathleen postgame workouts in ballparks Joe Torre and Yankees general partner Stephen Swindal have started talks about a two-year contract extension and the sides could complete a deal before opening day The Cincinnati Reds honored former owner Marge Schott yho died Tuesday by flying their team pennant at half-staff in Sarasota Fla and steroids holding a moment of silence before an intrasquad game Left-hander Ted Lilly acquired by Toronto from Oakland in a winter deal injured his left wrist last month while moving a television set at his home and has thrown only from flat ground this spring The Houston Astros will use Roy Oswalt Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens as their starting pitchers in their first three exhibition games Friday through Sunday Each will be limited to two innings or 40 pitches whichever comes first JD Drew homered in his first game for the Atlanta Braves who routed the University of Georgia 11-3 in their spring training opener in Kissimmee Fla The Braves have never lost in 18 games with Georgia or Georgia Tech their traditional opponents in the first game of spring Jolbert Cabrera homered twice and Juan Encarnacion had three hits and three RBI as the Los Angeles Dodgers routed the New York Mets JJ-4 to open the exhibition season in Vero Beach Fla FROM WIRE REPORTS Bud Selig wants to put baseball's focus back on the field To do that the commissioner has an idea: limit talk about steroids Selig recently sent a directive to all 30 teams telling them to decline comment on the BALCO case and performance enhancing drugs While the memo was not sent to players some liked the move think a good pitcher Russ Ortiz Atlanta's union representative said Wednesday a lot of comments out there It's not just the players It's other people too But all speculation now no one is reporting on baseball reporting on all this other stuff focus on baseball and let the other stuff take care of itself" Said Braves manager Bobby Cox: not heard about it I wash I had gotten that yesterday rather not address it JThe subject of steroids has been a daily topic at New York S'lt Yankees manager Joe April 15 to be Beginning this year April 15 will be Jackie Robinson Day at all major league ballparks hosting games in honor of Robinson becoming the first player to break the major league color barrier in 1947 Baseball commissioner Bud Selig and family will host a national celebration at Shea Stadium for the Mets-Braves game and other celebrations will occur around the country is vital that the signifi press briefings The first question Tuesday was about steroids and Torre politely said Briefly The Yankees rehire Jason personal trainer meaning Bobby Alejo cannot travehon team charters this season and supervise pregame and STAR TELEGRAMALISON WOODWORTH The Rangers are hoping relief pitcher Dout Brocail Is one of these finds who "flew In under the radar general manager John Hart said E4.