Tearing it Up
TURN IT UP ... In Tuesday's no-decision, Helling became the first Ranger to pitch nine innings this season; since Cuellar's promotion, Little Ricky's ERA has dropped from 7.19 to 5.55 ... Davis has a 2.79 ERA in six starts since returning from AAA Oklahoma (kudos to RedHawk pitching coach Lee Tunnell) and is at 2.54 since Cuellar took over ... Oliver was a miraculous 5-1 with an ERA near 8.00 at one point this season, but has turned in several recent gems and is now at 7-2, 5.64 ... Relievers Juan Moreno (1.59 ERA, 1.24 WHIP) and closer Jeff Zimmerman (10 saves, 0.96 WHIP) look good on any fantasy roster.

Slumping
THE GAMBLER GETS HIS BELL RUNG ... On Saturday, Kenny Rogers (3-6, 6.37) made the second-shortest start of his career and surrendered eight earned runs in just 1.1 IP as Oakland hammered the Rangers, 15-4, so Cuellar isn't working miracles all the way around. Rogers' June ERA topped 8.00, and as noted here last week, he has been consistently mediocre. If you're still hanging on to the one-time 17-game winner with a perfect game to his credit, it's time to let go. And if you moved early on recent acquisition Rob Bell (1-0, 8.79), pay close attention to that 2.02 WHIP and consider other options.

At the Plate
EL CABALLO ... Unbelievable. If Rafael Palmeiro hadn't been thrown out at the plate twice in the past week, Ruben Sierra would have tied the team record for RBI in June (30) -- set, ironically, by Palmeiro. If El Caballo is still on your league's waiver wire, don't waste any more time; I'm a believer ... The leadoff spot has been an experiment for Texas all season. Rusty Greer is hardly a prototypical leadoff man, and his recent DL stint has left the role to Bo Porter (.255), Ricky Ledee (.254) and the only player to help his own cause in the team’s eyes, Frank Catalanotto (.299). Greer returns Monday.

Probable Starters July 1, Helling vs. OAK (Mulder) July 2, Davis vs. SEA (Abbott) July 3, Oliver vs. SEA (Sele) July 4, Bell vs. SEA (Moyer) July 5, Rogers vs. SEA (Stark)

From the Rubber
CUCKOO FOR COCO'S STUFF ... Every Texas fan knows that Francisco "Coco" Cordero throws extremely hard. Most know that he's the "closer of the future," and that he was the key to the Juan Gonzalez deal after the 1999 season. And fantasy baseball owners know he was so dominant in AAA this year that there was a rush to pick him up off the waiver wire when he was recalled two weeks ago. Unfortunately for "save prospectors," Coco was placed on the 15-day DL this week due to recurring lower back pain, and now team doctors have ruled out even light workouts for six weeks. He'll be shut down until 2002.

On the Mend
FEELING RANDY ... Word out of the Ballpark is that Randy Velarde has lost his starting job at 2B to Mike Young, whose defense has offset inconsistency (.221/1/9/1) at the plate. Velarde will be used as a utility infielder when he comes off the DL, where he has spent the last month. Designating Velarde to the utility infielder role -- meaning that, like Catalanotto and Scooter Sheldon, he would be available to play 3B if Mike Lamb struggles -- is another clue that the Rangers intend to dump Ken Caminiti when he comes off the DL; he is eligible to be activated on Monday, when he could be traded or released.