Tearing it Up
ON THE MARK ... And it was a great selection, as Georgia Tech 3B Mark Teixeira was, according to ESPN.com's John Sickels (and many other analysts), "the consensus best hitter in the draft." If the Scott Boras client signs quickly, says Sickels, he could be in the Texas lineup as early as 2002. Rangers minor league pundit Jamey Newberg was a huge fan of the Teixeira choice, writing "Teixeira ... is 21 years old, while Alex Rodriguez is still just 25. Those two could man the left side of the Texas infield until Erica is a teenager." Signifigance? Newberg's readers know that Erica Newberg just turned one this week.

Slumping
LET'S HOPE HISTORY REPEATS ... Local news outlets reported that Texas owner Tom Hicks had ordered the Ranger braintrust to take a pitcher with the fifth pick, perhaps UCLA RHP Josh Karp, who went to Montreal in the sixth slot. Newberg, about whom ESPN.com columnist Rob Neyer recently wrote, "[he] knows more about the Rangers' farm system than just about anyone," compared this decision to the agonizing choice Anaheim had to make a few years ago between stud pitching prospect Jason Grilli and a young college 3B named Troy Glaus. It's no coincidence that Sickels has compared Teixeira to a switch-hitting Glaus.

At the Plate
HOT CORNERING THE MARKET ... Of course, third base is an organizational strength for the Rangers. Even if Ken Caminiti is released before his 2002 contract vesting date (Aug. 15), capable stopgaps Frank Catalanotto and Scooter Sheldon are in Arlington, 2000 starter Mike Lamb is playing well in AAA, and Hank Blalock is only hitting around .370 in Class A. The most likely scenario has Blalock trying 2B or LF, with Lamb dealt for pitching help. Baltimore is reportedly offering Sidney Ponson for Lamb, or a three-way deal sending Lamb to Montreal, ex-Ranger Fernando Tatis to the Orioles, and Ponson to Texas.

Probable Starters June 9, Helling vs. HOU (Bottenfield) June 10, Davis vs. HOU (Miller) June 11, Oliver @ LA (Prokopec) June 12, Judd @ LA (Dreifort) June 13, Rogers @ LA (Park)

From the Rubber
QUANTITY, LET'S HOPE QUALITY ... After taking Teixeira, the Rangers made 36 of their next 47 picks pitchers, including a redraft of 2000 selection Andy Myette, younger brother of Aaron Myette, who was recently bounced from the Ranger rotation to AAA Oklahoma. Local favorite Chris Bradshaw, an all-WAC righty from Texas Christian, was taken in the fourteenth round. Ironically, the second player Texas took on draft day was fourth-round pick Josh Baker, a right-handed high school pitcher from Houston and brother-in-law to Astros CF Lance Berkman; maybe this is one young arm Houston will regret passing on.

On the Mend
HISTORY LESSONS ... In the 1990s, Texas drafted six pitchers -- five of them collegians like Karp -- in the first round or as "sandwich" picks; only 1992 selection Rick Helling panned out. The 1996 draft was particularly painful as R.A. Dickey turned out to lack an ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow and is bouncing around the organization, while sandwich pick Corey Lee is recovering from injury in AA ball. The seventh overall selection in 1995, Jonathan Johnson was finally dealt to Arizona for cash this year. And who remembers Sam Marsnek or Dan Smith? Great pick, that power-hitting third baseman!