Last week Oakland made broad changes to their roster, switching out three players prior to trading Jeremy Giambi. This week the Rangers are the team making the sweeping alterations, though while the A's primarily remade their offense, Texas focused on their pitching staff.

Texas called up RHP Rob Bell, LHP Juan Alvarez, and RHP Anthony Telford, demoted Doug Davis, and designated LHP Chris Michalak and RHP Steve Woodard for assignment.

Doug Davis' command has disappointed the Rangers this season. In 59.2 IP spread over 10 starts, he compiled a 28:22 K:BB with 67 H and 7 HR allowed. All of the other Texas pitchers have pitched better than this, but Davis still hasn't pitched extremely poorly. If in Toronto, he'd probably be the Blue Jays' #3 starter right now.

However, Rob Bell deserves a rotation spot and will likely pitch better for the team. At AAA this season, he's compiled a 38:14 K:BB with 46 H and 5 HR in 52.1 IP. In his earlier call-up he accumulated a 14:7 K:BB with 16 H and 3 HR in 17 IP over 3 starts. It seems a waste not to use Davis, but it's very nice for the Rangers to have the depth to make this kind of a change. They're much more prepared than most teams if one of their starters suffers an injury.

I can see the appeal of Telford as he's only allowed 19 H and 2 HR in 30 IP with a 20:10 K:BB at AAA this season. However, I don't think that Texas should have designated Woodard for assignment. He's pitched fairly well this season with a 14:8 K:BB, 20 H, and 4 HR in 17.2 IP. Unless they find a good trade, they'll likely lose him on waivers or to free agency as I highly doubt he'll accept a minor league assignment.

This move appears to be punishment for poor performances in his last two outings, and therefore seems rash and overly harsh. Woodard walked two and struck out none while allowing 3 H and a home run in a 1.1 IP appearance in his second to last outing, and most recently allowed 3 H and a homer in a 2 inning appearance with one strikeout and one walk.

Chris Michalak clearly earned his removal from the roster with a 5:10 K:BB, 20 H, and 1 HR in 14.1 IP. With Michalak's departure, Alvarez and Randy Flores now will be the Rangers' lefties out of the pen. Alvarez received brief major league promotions in 1999 and 2000 but has otherwise spent most of the last four seasons in AAA aside from some AA innings. At AAA this season, he has a 13:9 K:BB with 19 H and 1 HR in 17.1 IP. He also spent an uneventful 1.2 IP in AA this year in which he allowed one hit with no strikeouts, walks, or homers. If he can make the adjustment to major league hitting, he should be no worse than Michalak.

Flores replaced John Rocker on the roster when the Rangers demoted the former closer last week. Rocker accepted his demotion without commotion this time and has already reported to AAA.

Frank Catalanotto's combined back and groin injuries forced him onto the DL May 17th. Juan Gonzalez returned from the DL at that time and took Catalanotto's roster spot. The Rangers currently expect Catalanotto to have recovered from both injuries by next week, enabling him to return to the team.

Gonzalez's first series back was in his least favorite locale, as the Rangers were on the road in Detroit. Consequently, he went 0-13 with a 0:4 BB:K in his first three games back. He's since had 9 H, 1 2B, and 1 HR in 24 AB with a 2:5 BB:K. I expect his power to be zapped enough by his hand injury to keep his SLG closer to last season's levels than to the level of his 1996-99 seasons with Texas. However, his production should begin to climb over the next few weeks. The Rangers have a fairly nice schedule in June and the first half of July.

Texas demoted Kevin Mench last week when they activated Carl Everett from the DL. I really disapprove of the way the Rangers have pulled Mench up and down this season. He has significant potential but really needed at least a full season at AAA, if not even more time at AA. These regular promotions and demotions are preventing him from receiving consistent playing time at any level. The quality plate discipline he displayed at A+ Charlotte in the Florida State League in 2000 declined sharply at AA Tulsa in the Texas League last year, and the Rangers could seriously disrupt his development by jerking him around this season. While I realize that the team has been affected by injuries this season, GM John Hart has made poor decisions in using his unprepared prospects as replacement players.

While he was still struggling with playing centerfield when he returned, Everett's bat seems to be in order. He's had a hit in every game since rejoining the team, for a total of 9 H, including 2 2B, in 25 AB with a 0:4 BB:K.

The Rangers have attempted to improve their catching situation while they wait for Ivan Rodriguez to return from the DL. Fortunately, IRod's back has improved over the last week, and he may be able to start a rehab assignment very soon.

In the meantime, Texas has replaced Hector Ortiz with free agent Todd Greene. When he signed his minor league contract with the Dodgers shortly after the season began, Greene included a clause that would make him a free agent if LA didn't promote him before May 15th. The Dodgers chose to leave him in the minors, and he chose to find work elsewhere. Greene should provide the Rangers with more production than Ortiz. Texas also signed Danny Ardoin to a minor league contract for further catching depth at AAA.