Notes: Dominguez finds focus

02/22/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Juan Dominguez was 4-4 with a 4.03 ERA in 10 starts last year for the Rangers, numbers that are often considered strong enough to put someone in a rotation for good.
Dominguez has not earned that right. Coming into Spring Training, Dominguez finds himself in a battle for the fifth spot in the rotation. The Rangers are considering a number of others, including Josh Rupe, C.J. Wilson and R.A. Dickey.
"I don't think about other pitchers," Dominguez said Wednesday. "I need to pitch the best I can. I know they are not going to give me a job for free, but I can win a job if I earn it. I am working hard for that. They have seen what I can do on the mound."
The Rangers have liked what they have seen from the 25-year-old right-hander. The issue has never been talent.
It's been maturity, and it didn't help his cause that he came to camp overweight and had his first workout cut short by high blood pressure. That has since been brought under control, but the Rangers still watch him carefully.
"I am feeling stronger every day," Dominguez said. "Every day I am weighing myself and I am losing weight."
A native of the Dominican Republic, Dominguez has brought his wife with him and will have her with him in Texas. He said that helps him feel happier and more comfortable.
"I can be better than last year," Dominguez said. "That is my goal right now and what I am focused on."
Cordero throws off mound: Closer Francisco Cordero threw off the mound for seven minutes Wednesday and said he did not feel the "twinge" in his right shoulder that had concerned him earlier in the camp.
"It felt good," Cordero said. "I didn't feel anything at all."
Cordero still isn't ready to decide if he'll pitch in the World Baseball Classic.
"I've got to throw to hitters in batting practice, something like that," Cordero said. "Something more simulated to a game and see where I'm at."
Snake's alive: Angel made her first appearance in the Rangers clubhouse this spring.
Angel is pitcher Kameron Loe's 7-foot Columbian red-tailed boa constrictor. He has had her for about six years and she's a big hit among the Rangers, almost becoming their unofficial mascot.
"I'd like to watch her eat a Rally Monkey," Loe said.
Loe wraps up Angel in a bag and keeps her in his locker when he brings her to the ballpark. Otherwise she stays at his apartment.
"I let her run around the backyard," Loe said. "But I can't take her out for a walk on a leash."
Angel's debut immediately brought the television cameras around Loe's locker.
"Anybody want to do a story on my Yorkie dog?" Rupe asked.
Young impressed by Nevin: One of the things that has caught shortstop Michael Young's eye this spring is the power display Phil Nevin has been putting on in batting practice.
He has smashed a number shots well over the left-field wall of Nolan Ryan Field and onto the top of the indoor batting cages beyond.
"He's been very impressive," Young said. "Everybody knows Nev has been extremely productive, he just didn't get a chance to get locked in last year. But that's the kind of player we've been expecting.
"There are a lot of keys to this team with Nev being one of them. It would be great to have another bat in the lineup and he hits the bill perfectly."
Briefly: Now that pitcher Joaquin Benoit finally seems to have a secure spot on the staff, manager Buck Showalter said he has seen a change. "He comes in knowing people like him and he has something to offer," Showalter said. "I haven't seen this look in his eye before, he feels like he belongs here." ... Showalter is having one-on-one conversations with his outfielders about where they'll play. Brad Wilkerson, Kevin Mench, Laynce Nix and Gary Matthews Jr. can all play multiple positions. ... Showalter said reliever Nick Regilio is 100 percent healthy again after missing the last three months of the 2005 season with flexor tendon injury and is officially competing for a job in the bullpen.

Source: http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/