Notes: Volquez gets an extended look

03/04/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Edison Volquez is going prime time again, which could add further intrigue to the Rangers' fifth starter competition.
The Rangers are going to start Volquez on Wednesday against the Oakland Athletics at Surprise Stadium. That's Kevin Millwood's spot in the rotation, but the veteran will do his throwing on the back fields.
"It was between him and another guy," pitching coach Mark Connor said. "I think the experience for Volquez is more valuable to him."
Volquez made three starts for the Rangers last year, and was 0-3 with an 11.81 ERA. But the Rangers are starting to see some of the talent that has made him one of their top prospects, and he had another productive bullpen session under Connor's prodding Saturday.
"I had him get after it," Connor said. "I'm just trying to make him concentrate more in every situation, have a purpose for everything. I was giving him certain outs, counts, scores, to see what he would do with it."
Rick Bauer started in Millwood's spot last Friday, but the Rangers are becoming more intrigued by what they're seeing from Volquez.
The Rangers are also going to give Juan Dominguez his first start of the spring. Kameron Loe is scheduled to pitch on Monday against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Tucson, but he'll likely start a "B" game in Surprise, which would allow Dominguez to start against Diamondbacks.
Thomas Diamond is also going to pitch against the Diamondbacks.
Ramirez starts strong: The Rangers can no longer take advantage of left-hander Erasmo Ramirez. This time, he either makes the club or gets exposed to waivers.
"Eraser is going to make it tough on us," manager Buck Showalter said, after Ramirez pitched a scoreless inning in a 9-8 victory over the Kansas City Royals Saturday. Ramirez struck out two of the three batters he faced.
Ramirez enters camp out of options. In the past, the Rangers took advantage of Ramirez having options by calling him up and down from the Minors nine different times over three years. Overall, he was 8-4 with a 4.01 ERA in 84 games, holding opponents to a .256 batting average. Right-handers, often flummoxed by his superb changeup, batted .233 against him.
Ramirez made it clear he wants to stay with the Rangers, but a left-handed reliever on waivers at the end of spring is a tempting target.
"I'm not going to put any more pressure on myself," Ramirez said. "I know I'm out of options; they know I'm out of options. They made it clear it will be a tough decision if I pitch well."
Barajas praises Alfonseca: Right-handed reliever Antonio Alfonseca had a 4.94 ERA for the Florida Marlins last year, missed half the season with a bad elbow and was a last-minute addition to the Spring Training roster.
But he also had a 2.57 ERA for the Braves in 2004 and 45 saves for the Florida Marlins in 2000, and catcher Rod Barajas said the Rangers are starting to see that version of Alfonseca.
"From what I've seen him throw, and talking to other guys who have faced him the last couple of years, he's back to the level he was with Florida," Barajas said. "He looks incredible. He definitely could help us in the pen."
Morning work pays: The Rangers spent the morning working on team defense, including defense against double steals with runners on first and third.
The work paid off immediately in the game against the Royals that afternoon. The Royals tried a delayed double steal against Adam Eaton in the second inning, and the Rangers executed nicely.
Eaton stepped off the mound, started for Andres Blanco for second, then turned and caught Esteban German in a rundown between third and home.
"We've worked on that a few times," Eaton said. "I heard a whistle from their dugout, and decided to step off and do a first-and-third move to see what happens. The runner from first had his head down ... the runner on third got caught too far off."
Briefly: Designated hitter candidate Erubiel Durazo has left the team to join Mexico for the World Baseball Classic. Mexico is training in Tucson, and the Rangers are planning on Durazo playing for them on Monday against the Diamondbacks down there. ... Catcher Keith McDonald is sidelined with a sore right knee that required a cortisone injection. ... Second baseman Aarom Baldiris made several good defensive plays after taking over for Mark DeRosa in Saturday's game. ... Eaton pitched 2 1/3 innings, going back out to the mound in the third before the Rangers realized it. He got Mark Grudzielanek to ground out in two pitches, before the Rangers brought in Ron Mahay.

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