SURPRISE, Ariz. -- While Alfonso Soriano is at ease in the
Texas Rangers clubhouse this spring, he's off to a slow start on
the field.
Soriano had to overcome the shock last spring of being
unexpectedly traded from the New York Yankees in the Alex Rodriguez
deal. This year, he's coming off a lost offseason because of a left
hamstring injury.
"I have my winter in the Dominican, I do nothing, just think
about my leg," Soriano said Friday. "Just nothing. I was running
like three days, got scared, so I said I'm going to stop because I
don't want to hurt myself."
So there were no running or workouts for the All-Star second
baseman until just before he arrived in Arizona for spring training
3½ weeks ago.
After being held out of the first two exhibition games, Soriano
is hitless in his first 16 at-bats with eight strikeouts in five
games. He went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in a 6-4 loss against the
Los Angeles Angels on Friday, when he also made his first error.
"I'm not worried about it, because it's more important for me
to try to be healthy and think about my leg," Soriano said. "I
have plenty of time, three more weeks. I have plenty of time to get
ready. ... I feel so great, I'm running every day."
Soriano missed the final 16 games last season after getting hurt
Sept. 16 when he slid into third base on a stolen base at Oakland.
The team called the injury a strained hamstring, and it didn't
require surgery.
Despite the slow start this spring, Soriano says he's not in
pain. He insists that he'll be 100 percent by the season opener
April 5 at the Los Angeles Angels.
The Rangers have no reason to think otherwise.
"I'd be concerned if he was having any pain," manager Buck
Showalter said. "When he's through in the game, plays five or six
inning ... he's running hard full speed down the line. It's more
just kind of mentally getting over it, and getting over any
residual effects of it."
Soriano wants to play every day, while Showalter is trying to
rest his regulars a couple of games a week.
That may be exactly what Soriano needs to getting going
offensively. He hit .280 with 28 home runs and 91 RBIss last season.
"I don't know if he's behind. He was the same way last year,"
hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo said. "He just has to keep swinging,
get his timing down and go from there. He doesn't look maybe like
he's capable, but it's just timing."
At least Soriano is beyond adjusting to a new team in last
place. Last spring, he suddenly went from a World Series team to
one coming off four last-place finishes -- before its improbable
pennant chase.
"I feel now a big difference this year," Soriano said. "Last
year, I came in a new guy, like a rookie. I now know the players,
and we played together last year. I feel more comfortable."
Game notes
Pedro Astacio gave up three runs (two earned) on five
singles over three innings in a `B' game Friday, a 5-0 loss to
Kansas City. Astacio is expected to be in the Texas rotation after
making just one start since shoulder surgery in 2003. ... No. 2
starter Ryan Drese gave up a run on four hits over four innings in
that game. ... The Rangers will have an intrasquad game Saturday,
along with an exhibition game against Seattle in nearby Peoria.