MVN - Most Valuable Network

NEWSFLASH: Blalock Suffers Minor Setback; Broussard Placed On Release Waivers

Because you just knew that the Texas Rangers, even on their first off-day since April 28th, would find some way to stir up the news wires.

Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram is reporting that third baseman Hank Blalock (partially torn left hamstring) was scratched from his Thursday evening rehab start for the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders at Midland, Texas after feeling a twinge of stiffness in his injured hamstring during pre-game warm-ups.

Earlier in the day, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram had reported that Blalock’s minor league rehab assignment was expected to last just one game, which would have placed the 27-year-old corner infielder in line to rejoin the Rangers in time for Friday evening’s interleague opener against the Houston Astros.

Blalock was first assigned to the 15-day disabled list on April 28th, and was initially expected to miss “at least three to four weeks.” With that being the case, it’s a tad surprising he was able to rehabilitate his ailing hamstring to the brink of imminent activation so quickly, and therefore it’s not particularly alarming that his return to the active roster will likely be delayed several additional days. He’ll be re-evaluated on Friday.

Meanwhile, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News notes that the Rangers, unable to find a willing taker for Ben Broussard’s $3.85 million contract, have placed the 31-year-old first baseman on release waivers for the purpose of granting him his unconditional release within the next couple days.

Despite accumulating just 82 AB in a Texas uniform before his designation for assignment on May 9th, Broussard will unarguably go down as one of the worst - if not the worst - Opening Day first basemen in franchise history. Broussard hit just .159/.225/.268 (37 OPS+ and .164 EqA) with three extra-base hits (all three of which were home runs) in his short time with the Rangers.

Good riddance.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 15th, 2008 at 7:49 pm and is filed under NEWSFLASH, The Season. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.