Tearing it Up
A SHUTOUT!!! ... Narron is certainly well-connected -- he once caught Ranger GM Doug Melvin in Class A ball -- and apparently can even call on the supernatural; down 6-0 early in his managerial debut Friday, Tlaloc (the Aztec god of rain) stepped in and wiped the slate clean. Then Saturday, Ryan Glynn returned to the rotation and turned in the first legitimately great start by a Texas pitcher this season: 91 pitches, eight innings of three-hit shutout ball against the White Sox. So Narron's a miracle worker? Not exactly -- Sunday was business as usual as Kenny Rogers and the bullpen gave up 10 runs to Chicago.

Slumping
ALL OR NOTHING ... With Pudge Rodriguez on the DL for another week, Doug Mirabelli is htting .083 with just two hits in 12 games -- both homers. Recent callup Mike Hubbard hit .319 with 16 RBI in AAA, but he's a 30-year-old rookie for a reason. Look outside Arlington for catching help. Ken Caminiti is one-for-18 and at .178/2/8 may be headed to the DL. Ruben Mateo (.259/0/10) has shown no power at all this year, and should be on your bench, but is worth keeping. Both Mirabelli and veteran OF Ruben Sierra are on the Top 20 Most Added list in AL-only leagues, proving it's never too early to be desperate.

At the Plate
TIP OF THE KAP ... With Pudge out of the lineup, Narron moved the white-hot Kapler (.375/2/7 and 3 SB in 40 AB) to the six-hole, meaning more RBI opportunities, but fewer SB attempts ... Narron has said Andres Galarraga will see more time at 1B, meaning more DH time for Raffy Palmeiro ... Alex Rodriguez (.316/10/27) is in a milestone groove; he collected his 1,000th career hit Saturday, and is one HR shy of 200 ... Just like last year, Frank Catalonotto's numbers (.271/2/7) have plummeted with regular playing time; he's best as a utilityman/PH ... Rusty Greer is on pace for 76 doubles.

Probable Starters May 7, Oliver vs. CWS (Garland) May 8, Helling @ DET (Holt) May 9, Davis @ DET (Mlicki) May 10, Glynn @ DET (Weaver) May 11, Rogers @ CWS (D. Wells)

From the Rubber
OUCH ... Don't get too excited about Glynn; he shut out LA for eight innings last year on the way to 5-7/5.58. Saturday's gem lowered his 2001 mark to 7.76, which is actually middle of the pack on a Texas staff featuring Kenny Rogers (6.08), Doug Davis (6.49), Darren Oliver (7.88) and Rick Helling (8.01). The best ERA for a Ranger with at least 20 IP is Pat Mahomes’ 4.87. No wonder ESPN Fantasy Shrink Erik Karabell laid the ultimate insult on Texas this week, writing "I look to see who is playing in Coors Field [and] who is facing the Rangers' pitching." Texas is now on pace to allow 1,091 runs this season.

On the Mend
TIM TIME? ... Tim Crabtree made two rehab starts at Tulsa over the weekend, working a total of three innings and allowing one run. He could return to the active roster as soon as tomorrow. Oates had indicated he would return to the closer's role "when ready," but it remains to be seen what Narron will do with him. Crabtree's WHIP is a Ranger-worst 2.14, while fill-in closer Jeff Zimmerman is sitting on a staff-best 0.98 ... Chad Curtis (.318/3/9, 5 SB) doesn't figure to get much playing time when he returns from the DL; Ricky Ledee should return around the same time, relegating Curtis to the fifth OF role.