Tearing it Up
SPEAKING OF THE DRAFT ... This weekend's early ESPN "average draft results" placed Rangers as the top two position players in the game; Alex Rodriguez is going second overall behind Pedro Martinez with Pudge Rodriguez going fourth after Randy Johnson. That's about right. Bizarrely, A-Rod was going first overall in AL-only leagues, but that will change. A-Rod, Pudge and Rafael Palmeiro are the only "undroppable" Rangers, with Raffy going #50 overall; that actually seems a shade high with the talent surplus at 1B.

Slumping
A LONG WAIT ... After Palmeiro, the next Ranger draftee is Andres Galarraga at #130 (again, probably higher than necessary), with a glut of Texans coming shortly thereafter. Ken Caminiti, Crabtree, Wetteland, Rick Helling, Rusty Greer, and Gabe Kapler (in that order) are bunched between picks 171 and 185 in universe leagues. You'll want to take Kapler before Greer, and Caminiti will be a steal that late. Other "slumps" belong to those AL-only owners still taking Wetteland well ahead of Crabtree and A-Rod himself, who needs to win a ring before taking shots at fellow future Hall of Famer Derek Jeter.

At the Plate
OH MY GOD! THEY KILLED KENNY! ... In this week's "Short Hops," Sam Reid says Caminiti "has only averaged 69 games over the last two seasons, [but] could make a fantasy impact ... hit 20 bombs and knock in 70 runs in 100 or so games." Actually, Cammy looks terrific and could crank out 140 games and 30/110. With Greer signing a three-year $22 million deal and utilitymen Frank Catalanotto and Scott Sheldon joining SS prospect Mike Young in OF workouts, it appears a Ledee deal may in fact be in the works. In Saturday’s spring opener, perennial SS prospect Kelly Dransfeldt homered. Nobody noticed.

Probable Starters April 1, Helling vs. TOR (@PR) April 3, Rogers vs. ANA April 4, Glynn vs. ANA April 5, Davis vs. ANA April 6, Helling vs. SEA

From the Rubber
IGNORING "BLOWN SAVES" ... Worried about Crabtree's career and 2000 numbers in blown saves (5/25 and 2/9)? Don't be. Middle relievers always rack up BS stats that truly are "BS" because their conditions differ from those of a closer. Last year, Ranger pitchers other than Wetteland were five-for-23 in so-called "save situations." Even so, Jeff Brantley is going at #232 in universe drafts, and that's about right in case Crabtree actually does implode. Doug Davis threw two shutout innings against Boston Saturday; Ranger offseason target David Cone gave up five runs including two gopher balls.

On the Mend
ACHES AND PAINS ... Bill Haselman still can't throw, earning NRI Luis Tavares a longer look this spring as a potential Pudge backup; the 23-year-old has a career .236 average in six professional seasons but a reputation as a pitchers' favorite. Francisco Cordero has a possible stress fracture in his lower back and will be out for another 10-14 days. Lefty reliever Mike Munoz, who missed all of 2000, threw two shutout innings Saturday. And 26-year-old NRI Jayson Durocher, another NRI, tore the pronator muscle in his right forearm; he was around mostly for his famous relative's name, anyway.