SURPRISE, Ariz. – While Texas right-hander Koji Uehara has had a solid start to spring training, he doesn't think he's pitching any differently than he did last season.
"It's pretty much the same," said Uehara. "It's nothing new I am aware of. I'm feeling good."
Uehara, who was the subject of trade speculation coming into spring training, doesn't appear to be going anywhere now. The Rangers haven't had any conversations over the last several days about dealing him and general manager Jon Daniels said Tuesday that he expected Uehara to be with the club this season.
Manager Ron Washington has been impressed with the movement Uehara has on his fastball, something that was missing in 2011. Uehara had a 1.72 ERA in 43 appearances with Baltimore last year but was 1-2 with a 4.00 ERA with the Rangers and was left off the World Series roster after posting a 33.75 ERA in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
ANDRUS TAKING IT EASY
Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus was on the field for part of the team's practice Saturday but isn't expected to participate in every drill when the club begins full-squad workouts Sunday.
Andrus had a wart removed from his right heel Thursday.
"It's getting better for sure but it's going to be sore
for the next few days," Andrus said. "Monday or Tuesday I'll be ready to go. It was exactly the same thing I had last year. It wasn't that bad like last year."
Andrus has been in Surprise for nearly a week and doesn't expect the wart to be an issue.
"I've really worked hard and back home (in Venezuela) too," he said. "It's not going to be a problem missing a couple of days."
ALL ACCOUNTED FOR
Michael Young was in camp Saturday and just like everyone else, he was asked about the addition of Yu Darvish.
His thoughts?
"We're excited about him being here," Young said. "We know how good he's capable of being. Anything that comes with that we're all for that. It's another great pitcher to add to the group we already have. We know the success he's had in Japan and we're going to welcome him with open arms."
Spring training for the Rangers has become a breeding ground for distractions in the last few years, with Darvish being a huge story this year and the uncertainty surrounding Young the big story last year.
Young doesn't think any of those things deter the team from getting its job done.
"It's about baseball," he said. "It's always about baseball. Those other things are just small things that everyone always says is a distraction. They're not going to distract us one bit."
READY FOR THE SPEECH
Texas manager Ron Washington said he hadn't thought about whether or not he'll talk to his team about Game 6 of the World Series when he talks to them Sunday morning.
Staying healthy this spring will be one of the priorities for Washington.
"Stay healthy as usual," Washington said. "Our focus should be going out here and getting prepared to play the 2012 season. That's going to be the message."
