Texas placed Doug Brocail and 1B-L Brad Fullmer on the disabled list yesterday. Brocail has been battling a sore left hamstring and recently experienced soreness in his shoulder. Given his effectiveness has diminished this month and the Rangers were in need of roster spots, Texas moved the 37-year-old to the DL so he can take care of the hamstring problem before compensating causes him to seriously injury his arm.

Fullmer experienced back spasms early in the month, and pain in his right knee has bothered him periodically throughout the season, as he evidently failed to fully recover from the knee surgery he underwent last July. Although the 29-year-old performed fairly well in June, Fullmer's dismal production over the rest of the year caused the Rangers to consider releasing him if they couldn't work out a trade by the time CR-R Herbert Perry was ready to come off the DL. Consequently, I do not expect Texas to consider activating Fullmer from the disabled list before September.

In addition to those two DL moves, the Rangers also sent down RHP Rosman Garcia, designated RHP John Wasdin for assignment, called up LHP Erasmo Ramirez, and activated RHP Joaquin Benoit from the bereavement list as well as RHP Jeff Nelson and Herbert Perry from the disabled list yesterday. Benoit's time on the bereavement list began on July 20th following the death of his grandmother.

On July 23rd, the Rangers placed RHP Ricardo Rodriguez on the disabled list. CR-R Robb Quinlan hit a line drive up the middle, catching Rodriguez on the right elbow during the fourth inning of Texas' July 22nd game against Anaheim. Rodriguez fell to the ground in pain and then was removed from the game and taken for x-rays, which revealed a fracture. He underwent surgery to insert a pin into the elbow on the 23rd and will miss the remainder of the season. However, the Rangers believe he will be ready to pitch next spring.