The Rangers' efforts to patch the hole in their outfield have once again been stymied as Todd Hollandsworth hit the disabled list with a strained quadriceps muscle on Tuesday. Hollandsworth incurred the injury while running out a single in the fifth inning of the Rangers August 3rd game against the Red Sox. The team has not indicated how long Hollandsworth will need to recover from his injury, but he likely won't return until September.

Texas promoted Travis Hafner to fill Hollandsworth's roster spot. Hafner made his major league debut pinch hitting for Michael Young in the ninth inning of the Rangers' August 6th game in Detroit. Unfortunately, Steve Sparks marred the moment, striking Hafner out swinging to end the game. Hafner was a draft-and-follow out of Kansas' Cowley County Community College in the 31st round of the 1996 draft. After he signed in June of 1997, the Rangers placed him in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. Texas promoted Hafner to A Savannah in the South Atlantic League in 1998 and he stayed there through the 1999 season. In 2000, Hafner moved up to A+ Charlotte in the Florida State League. He then spent all of last season at AA Tulsa in the Texas League.

The 25-year-old lefty hitting first baseman has always shown good power, but this season at AAA Oklahoma in the Pacific Coast League his plate discipline, which has been steadily improving, shot up to impressive levels. In 382 AB, Hafner had 129 H, 20 2B, 1 3B, and 19 HR with a 74:73 BB:K and 2/2 SB% for a .338 BA, .458 OBP, and .545 SLG. While the PCL is a hitter-friendly environment, Hafner certainly appears ready for his major league call-up. I certainly hope the Rangers allow him to stay on the roster through the end of the year rather than demoting him at some point prior to a September recall.

Rafael Palmeiro will continue to play first base, so unless he takes a rest day, Hafner will find his at-bats as a pinch hitter and DH. Given Texas' unwillingness to play Carl Everett in center, Ruben Rivera will now receive the majority of centerfield at-bats.

Everett rejoined the Rangers in early July, but Texas both doesn't want to risk him re-injuring himself and doesn't like his defense in center. The team demoted Ryan Ludwick to make room for Everett on the roster.

Rusty Greer was off the DL for four days before a sore elbow combined with lower back and hip pain to force him back to the disabled list. He's now out for the season due to a bulging disc in his neck, as well as a calcium deposit and strained ligament in his elbow. Texas demoted Todd Greene upon Greer's activation.

Juan Gonzalez has also returned to the disabled list. The Rangers placed Gonzalez on the DL on August 2nd with a strained ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb. He tore muscles between his thumb and index finger on the same hand earlier this year, causing him to spend over a month on the DL. He injured the thumb in a different place in late June and again in early July. Prior to going on the disabled list, he reportedly had the thumb put in a small cast, though that was only supposed to last a few days. While the Rangers originally thought about leaving Gonzalez active, it's now uncertain whether he'll return this season or choose to rest up for next year.

Texas recalled Donnie Sadler to fill Gonzalez's roster spot. The Rangers claimed Sadler off waivers from Kansas City in early July and then successfully sent him to AAA through waivers less than a week later. In order to make room for Sadler on the roster after he was claimed, they demoted Jason Romano, who later went to the Rockies in the Hollandsworth trade. While Sadler offers them appealing defensive flexibility, he lacks offensive skills aside from a bit of speed.

When Sadler was placed on waivers, the Rangers activated Rich Rodriguez from the disabled list to fill his roster spot. After extended rehab, Rodriguez appears to have recovered from surgery to repair a circulatory problem in his left shoulder.

The Rangers injury problems continue to extend to their pitching staff as well as their offense. Chan Ho Park returned to the DL yesterday with a blister on the middle finger of his right hand. If he were performing at the level the Rangers' are paying him to pitch, they might have tried to just skip his turn in the rotation. However, both his walks and home runs have increased this season, leading him to be significantly less effective than the Texas had hoped. I expect he'll let the blister heal and return in a little less than three weeks.

Texas recalled LHP Juan Alvarez to fill Park's roster spot, so the Rangers are now carrying three left-handed relievers with Rich Rodriguez and Dennys Reyes. Alvarez had been sent down when the Rangers' acquired Reyes.

In the bullpen, John Rocker and Hideki Irabu both went on the DL in mid-July. Irabu complained of shortness of breath and chest pains in mid-July and was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs. He's now taking blood thinners to clear up the condition, so hopefully he'll be able to avoid more serious problems. However, doctors reportedly want him to avoid baseball activities for another five weeks and competitive pitching for six months. According to an article by Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News, "Doctors believe the clots formed after Irabu banged his leg shortly before the Rangers' charter departed Minneapolis for Kansas City on July 14. Air travel and a sedentary lifestyle can cause blood clots."

Rocker was merely suffering from shoulder inflammation and is scheduled to start a rehab assignment today. He should be able to return to the Rangers in a week if they want him back that soon.

With Irabu and Rocker on the DL, Texas has used Francisco Cordero to close out games since his return from the disabled list in late July. However, the Rangers haven't had many save opportunities and they are still spreading them throughout the bullpen to some extent.

Additionally, doctors finally decided that Jeff Zimmerman needed Tommy John surgery to repair his elbow problem. Consequently, the Rangers likely can't expect him back from his late July surgery much before the 2003 All-Star break at the earliest.

Ruben Rivera filled Rocker's roster spot while the Rangers recalled Rob Bell when they placed Irabu on the DL. After his previous call-up, Texas had sent Bell down for Randy Flores. The Rangers later attempted to send Flores to the minors when they activated the now traded Kapler from the disabled list in mid-July, but Flores was claimed by Colorado and is now in the Rockies' minors.

The Rangers demoted Reynaldo Garcia when they activated Cordero from the DL. Texas had called up Garcia a week earlier when they demoted Anthony Telford. Garcia hadn't played above A+ Charlotte in the Florida State League before this season. Texas signed him as a nondrafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 1996. After two seasons with their Dominican Summer League team, the Rangers placed him with their Rookie-level GCL team in 1999. In 2000, he moved from starting to relief at A Savannah. After spending last season in A+, Garcia began this season at AA Tulsa where he compiled a 54:30 K:BB in 68.1 IP with 63 H and 11 HR allowed. The 24-year-old spent a brief time in AAA before his major league debut and has now returned to Oklahoma. However, his skills don't indicate he'll be prepared for the majors any time soon.

Texas sent down Colby Lewis in mid-July in order to recall Aaron Myette, who has joined the rotation with Bell and Joaquin Benoit. Benoit returned to the majors for a day when the Rangers replaced Greer on the DL, but Texas then replaced Benoit with Danny Kolb. He's currently with the team after taking the roster spot of Dave Burba, who Texas released at the end of July. Burba has since signed a minor league contract with the Indians and should join their rotation after making a few minor league starts to get back into the rhythm of pitching.