The Rangers have taken control of the AL West, thanks to an unlikely cast of helpers.

Injuries in the outfielder prompted Rangers Executive Manager Riley Payton to trade AAA second baseman Doug Griffin to the Cardinals in exchange for center fielder Dave May. In addition to showing fine range in center field, may got off to huge start in his first game against the Royals, going 3 for 4 with a homer and 5 RBI's. He thus earned the nickname "Splash" with the Rangers, in...

Winny Watch: On April 27th, the Rangers elected to call up top rookie outfielder Dave Winfield, who was obliterating AAA pitching with a .289 average, 5 home runs and an 1.073 OPS. After a bit of a slow start, Winfield has provided sufficient help to the Rangers offense, hitting .289 with 4 homers and 14 RBI's in 26 games. He has also surprised the team with 2 triples. According to sources, the young outfielder is starting to be viewed as a cornerstone and an untouchable asset.

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The Rangers have won 7 of their last 9, reaching the .500 mark with a 18-18 in a tightly-contested AL West division. The Rangers are only 1 1/2 games out of first place. The last place team, California, is only 3 1/2 games out of first place.

Before the winning spurt, the Rangers also elected to trade OF Bobby Darwin, who started the season serving a 10-game suspension and then slumped badly, for young starting pitcher Jim Slaton, who's currently pitching well for Texas in AAA. Said...

Execute Manager Riley Payton offered the following commentary on the start of the 1973 season ...

"We're excited and optimistic about this season. I like the young core of players we've put together. Our fans might be a bit disappointed at the start of the season, because we're going to start out our two top draft picks in AAA. Dave Winfield hurt his wrist in the first spring training game and needs some to put his game together. And Randy Jones has given up a lot of hits...

Like other teams in the RRL, the Rangers had a busy offseason and open spring training with some significant changes on their roster. Here's a quick breakdown of the Rangers' hot stove activites:

- SS Maury Wills announced his retirement.

- Lost reliever Horacio Pina, SS Gene Michael and outfielder Cleo James to free agency.

- Re-signed catcher/outfielder Dick Billings to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $56,301.

- SP Steve Kline received...