Enemy Lines

an opposing team's scout sizes up the Rangers

"Wow, they're going to score a lot of runs, and have a chance to give up a lot....

Clubhouse chemistry will be very important. How Juan Gonzalez fits in, how Ivan Rodriguez reacts to being underpaid, Gabe Kapler isn't happy about losing playing time—they have some funky elements....

I-Rod is the one to watch. His pitchers hate throwing to him. All he puts down with men on base is a 1. How his knee, his back and his psyche respond will be interesting. He's making about half of what some guys like Chan Ho Park are making. How does he feel going out to the mound to talk to a guy making more than him for being little better than a .500 pitcher?

... Carl Everett is happy now, and he's a productive player when he's happy, but we'll see how long that lasts....

Manager Jerry Narron is a classy professional, but he's been given a huge dog to walk. He'll be walking it some, and the dog will be walking him some....

The pitching staff is going to be interesting. To me, here's the key: They brought over a lot of NL guys to a small hitter's park with a jet stream to right center. The success or failure of all those guys will depend on how they adjust to the league and to The Ballpark in Arlington . You throw 93 mph in the NL and you can overpower most people. In the AL, with the deep lineups, they eat that like Twinkies . But if the bullpen can make the adjustment, this club will get better in a hurry....

I don't think they have enough to contend, and the fact they play in the league's toughest division works against them."