News and Notes for Monday, June 27th

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Alexi Ogando – Alexi is still scheduled to make his next start on Friday. Ogando, through a translator said he does not feel like he is tiring out or losing his edge. The Rangers may move him back to Saturday to give him an extra day of rest, but we will not know that probably until Thursday or maybe Friday. I say this is a make or break start for Alexi, he needs to prove that he is the starter that began the season on a tear and not the guy who has gone 0-3 with a 9.31 ERA in his last 3 starts. I am hopeful that he can turn back into dominate Alexi again Friday or Saturday.

Darren O’Day – O’Day has been pitching on a rehab assignment, and pitching well so far. The Rangers do not think it will be long before he will be ready to rejoin the club and pitch for them again. O’Day, in case you forgot, had hip surgery, and says he feels good. His last 3 innings pitched in the minors have all been scoreless ones. “We’ll see how [Monday] goes and make a call after that,” Washington said. I look forward to O’Day returning. I think he will be a big boost to the pen.

Elvis Andrus – Elvis is not expected to play at all during the Astros series coming up over the next 3 days. He says his wrist is still very stiff and he is afraid that it will effect his swing. Blanco has done a good job backing him up so far this season, and It hink since the Rangers are playing the Astros, it will be better to be safe and let Elvis have a few more days to rest the wrist before he comes back. There are no plans to use Michael Young at shortstop, even though they cannot have a DH in Houston.

Mike Naopli – Napoli has begun swinging the bat again and says he hopes to go on a rehab assignment Thursday and be back with the team soon after that. The Rangers could use his bat back to full strength right now. Teagarden has caught very well, but his bat is not quite as strong as Napoli’s is. I hope to see Napoli back by Monday.

Others – Scott Feldman is scheduled to start for the Express on Friday and Brandon Webb is expected to start on Saturday. If all goes well, the Rangers have a decision to make at least on Feldman. Depending on how Alexi does on Friday/Saturday will probably tell the Rangers what they need to do with Feldman. I do not think Webb is ready to come back yet, but his progress is encouraging. Hunter is also getting close to being ready. He has been pitching out of the bull pen but the Rangers have still not made an official decision on what they will do with him when he is ready. I think it will be the pen for him, but we will have to wait and see.

The Rangers face off against the Astros for three in Houston next, and it would be a good thing if they could bounce back from the weekend series against the Mets and sweep the Astros. I think they can, but I do not expect them too. The Rangers still hold 1st in the West by a slight margin over both Seattle and the Angels.