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Saturday, March 29, 1997

Rangers ready to defend first title

By MICHAEL A. LUTZ

AP Sports Writer

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) - The Texas Rangers are traveling into new territory this season. Before last year, they'd never won a title. Now that they have, their goals have been set even higher.

"I think it's going to be a tough race," shortstop Benji Gil said. "Not to take anything from them (Mariners), they're a great team but I think we're a very complete team.

"We're excited and everybody's hungry about going out and winning the division and going to the World Series. We want the division but our goal is going to the World Series."

The Rangers aren't the same team that was eliminated from the playoffs by the World Series champion New York Yankees last season. They have a revamped bullpen and they've added former Yankee closer John Wetteland to battle the Mariners in the AL West.

Gil will be a key to the Rangers return to the playoffs. The Rangers lost the heart of their up-the-middle lineup when center fielder Darryl Hamilton and shortstop Kevin Elster signed free agent contracts elsewhere. Damon Buford will be the center fielder.

The Rangers also will begin the year without power-hitting Juan Gonzalez, who has been out all spring recovering from a broken thumb.

Until Gonzalez returns, manager Johnny Oates will put third baseman Dean Palmer in the cleanup spot.

"I think we're strong, maybe a little off because of the year Elster had," Palmer said. "Juan will be missing for awhile and that will definitely take power out of the lineup but when he comes back we'll be fine."

Elster hit .252 with 24 home runs and 99 RBIs last season, all career bests. Gil had surgery to repair a herniated disc in March 1996 and spent the entire season in the minor leagues.

Will Clark returns to first base, pain-free after off-season surgery to remove bone chips from his shoulder. He missed 45 games because of the injury and still hit .284, the second lowest of his career. He drove in 72 runs, also a career low.

"Every now and then you have a down year so some guys did a good job of picking me up last year," Clark said. "Now, it's my turn this year. Juan is missing for awhile so we've got to do well as a team."

The Rangers will have a powerful lineup with Ivan Rodriguez catching, Palmer, Mark McLemore at second, and Rusty Greer, Buford and eventually Gonzalez in the outfield.

The Rangers may not have the offensive power they had last season with Elster and Hamilton gone but they still have plenty offense.

"I don't think we've lost power," Rodriguez said. "I've been talking with different pitchers on the other clubs and they say the Rangers lineup is always dangerous because of the power in the lineup."

Ken Hill will be the Rangers' opening day starter on a veteran staff that includes John Burkett, Roger Pavlik, Darren Oliver and Bobby Witt. Ed Vosberg, Xavier Hernandez and Danny Patterson are expected to get the setups for Wetteland.

The Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals were the only teams in the major leagues with five pitchers that won 10 or more games last season.

Pavlik got off to a 10-1 start and earned a spot on the All-Star team, but he struggled with mechanics the rest of the season and finished 15-8.

"He was very helpful in getting us off to a good start last year," general manager Doug Melvin said. "He pitches innings (201 last season). I've seen him pitch the bases loaded one inning and suddenly he's okay the rest of the game."

The Rangers were in first place all but four days of last season, although they almost blew a 9-game lead on Sept. 11. By Sept. 20 the lead was down to one game before they held on to win the title by 4-1/2 games.

"I don't see how anyone could think last year was a fluke," Palmer said. "We led from start to finish. I don't know what else you could ask but we're not thinking about last year. We've got plenty to look forward to this season." Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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