One Bone Down, Hank Blalock Hopes to Help the Rangers Get Back Up

"It was a huge blow to lose him so early last season," says shortstop Michael Young. "It's great to have him back because he's big for us. On our best offenses through the years, he's been right in the middle. We need that again."

Almost a rite of spring, the Rangers pitching staff is as overexposed as Britney's hoo-ha. Already wincing at Kevin Millwood's tweaked hamstring, Brandon McCarthy's sore elbow and C.J. Wilson's controversial blogging, the Rangers will have to win games 11-10 rather than 1-0. And in a lineup dependent upon physical and emotional rallies by outfielders Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley, Blalock needs to be a run-producing rock.

Batting cleanup in his first three exhibition games, he went 2-for-5 with a double and flawlessly handled his first four fielding chances.

"I'm not big into predictions," Blalock says. "But I think I'm a better player now than I was before the injury. Sitting out made me want to improve the little skills and be a better player."

If he retired today, the 27-year-old Blalock would already be the second-best third baseman in Rangers' history behind Buddy Bell. And a year in which his hot-corner play is closer to emulating the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez than Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria would result in more wins and a fatter wallet.

Blalock's contract expires after the season, with the Rangers able to option for an additional year at $6 million in 2009.

"I don't think about those things during the season," Blalock says. "If I play like I'm capable everything will take care of itself, and I'll stay a Ranger. I'm just ready to play baseball instead of worrying about what could happen or wondering about what already happened."

Why God would need one of Adam's bones to create woman remains one of the universe's unsolved mysteries. Two things, however, are certain: The McRib is back. And so is Hank Blalock.