It’s no wonder that Josh Hamilton had a relapse last season as his manager was a crackhead. He certainly looks like a crackhead but until last summer when he tested positive for cocaine he proved that sometimes looks don’t deceive. Ron Washington led the Rangers to a 87-75 (53.7%) record last season which was impressive and it’s probably the one reason he wasn’t fired. Washington now has a 241-245 (49.6%) record in three years with the Rangers. He won’t see a fourth season if he has a relapse or the Rangers don’t get off to a good start in 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE MANAGER IN 2010: C

The Rangers have acquired 25-year old switch hitting Andres Blanco from the Cubs for a player to be named later. Blanco played in 53 games for the Cubs last season and he was 31 of 123 (.252 avg, .644 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 1 homer and 12 RBIs. He has now played in 131 games in his major league career and he is 88 of 349 (.252 avg, .619 OPS) with 39 runs scored, 1 homer and 31 RBIs. Blanco is the same kind of player that Omar Vizquel is so he should be able to help out Elvis Andrus in 2010.

The Texas Rangers will be bringing a lot of heat out of the pen in 2010. It all starts with 30-year old righty closer Frank Francisco. Francisco pitched in 51 games (0 starts) for the Rangers last season in which he was 2-3 with 25 saves, a 3.83 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. Francisco only allowed 40 hits in 49 1/3 innings last season while whiffing 57 batters showing what kind of stuff he has. The Rangers need Francisco to stay healthy all year in 2010 with C.J. Wilson in the starting rotation.

21-year old righty Neftali Feliz will likely be the top set up man for the Rangers in 2010. Feliz burst onto the scene for the Rangers in 2010 when he pitched in 20 games (0 starts) in which he was 1-0 with 2 saves, a 1.74 ERA and a 0.68 WHIP. Feliz only gave up 13 hits in 31 innings for the Rangers last season while whiffing 39 batters showing just how nasty his stuff is.

39-year old Darren Oliver will be the Rangers’ top lefty reliever in 2010. Oliver pitched in 63 games (1 start) for the Angels last year and he was 5-1 with a 2.71 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. In his last three years pitching almost exclusively out of the pen Oliver has pitched well. He has pitched in 178 games (1 start) in his last three years in which he was 15-3 with a 3.10 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP.

27-year old righty Darren O’Day was really solid for the Rangers in 2009. He pitched in 64 games (0 starts) for the Rangers last season in which he was 2-1 with 2 saves, a 1.94 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP. O’Day only gave up 36 hits in 55 2/3 innings for the Rangers last season while whiffing 54 batters. O’Day is a little short on stuff but he has a ton of know how on the mound.

28-year old righty Chris Ray has a big time arm and closing experience but he’s coming off a tough year. Ray pitched in 46 games (0 starts) for the Orioles last year in which he is 0-4 with a 7.27 ERA and a 2.01 WHIP. Ray gave up a stunning 64 hits in 43 1/3 innings last season but he is much better than that. Ray has now pitched in 191 games (0 starts) in his major league career in which he is 10-17 with 49 saves, a 4.11 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP.

26-year old righty Doug Mathis really looked good for the Rangers last season and he will likely be one of their long men in 2010. Mathis pitched in 24 games (2 starts) for the Rangers last season in which he was 0-1 with 1 save, a 3.16 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. The Rangers hope his 2009 wasn’t a mirage.

33-year old righty Geoff Geary had a rough year with the Astros in 2009. He pitched in 16 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 1-3 with a 8.10 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. Geary has now pitched in 287 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 16-10 with 1 save, a 3.92 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. If healthy Geary can help the Rangers in 2010 in middle relief.

29-year old lefty Clay Rapada could win the job as the Rangers’ second lefty out of the pen in 2010. Rapada pitched in 3 games (0 starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.80 WHIP. Rapada also pitched in 42 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last season in which he was 4-2 with 5 saves, a 2.76 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP.

26-year old righty Guillermo Moscoso could help the Rangers in 2010. He pitched in 10 games (0 starts) for the Rangers last season and he was 0-0 with a 3.21 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. Moscoso also pitched in 21 games (18 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year in which he was 8-5 with a 3.12 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP.

26-year old righty Warner Madrigal was blasted in the majors last season but he has potential. Madrigal pitched in 13 games (0 starts) for the Rangers last season and he was 0-0 with a 9.95 ERA and a 2.37 WHIP. He also pitched in 42 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year in which he was 2-2 with 17 saves, a 2.57 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP.

24-year old righty Pedro Strop also has a nice upside. He pitched in 7 games (0 starts) for the Rangers last season and he was 0-0 with a 7.71 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. Strop also pitched in 47 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year in which he was 6-6 with 5 saves, a 5.06 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP.

26-year old righty Luis Mendoza pitched in 1 game (0 starts) for the Rangers last season and he was 0-0 with a 36.00 ERA and a 3.00 WHIP. He also pitched in 25 games (18 starts) in AAA-ball in which he was 6-7 with a 4.53 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. Mendoza is a big longshot to help the Rangers in 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BULLPEN IN 2010: A

The Rangers have acquired 25-year old righty swinging 2B/SS Gregorio Petit from the A’s for 27-year old righty reliever Edwar Ramirez. Petit played in 11 games for the A’s last season in which he was 7 of 31 (.226 avg, .484 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI. He also played in 98 games in AAA-ball last season in which he was 87 of 357 (.244 avg, .628 OPS) with 45 runs scored, 5 homers and 32 RBIs. Petit has now played in 25 games in his major league career in which he is 15 of 54 (.278 avg, .637 OPS) with 5 runs scored and 1 RBI. He will get a chance to make the Rangers as a utility man. Ramirez was just recently acquired by the Rangers from the Yankees so they won’t miss him.

The Rangers have acquired 34-year old righty swinging catcher Matt Treanor from the Brewers in return for 28-year old switch hitting infielder Ray Olmedo who was going to start the year in the minors. Treanor played in 4 games for the Tigers last season and he was 0 for 13 (.000 avg, .071 OPS). He has now played in 278 games in his major league career and he is 171 of 736 (.232 avg, .629 OPS) with 63 runs scored, 8 homers, 70 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Treanor will likely start the season in AAA-ball but he could get a call to Arlington if needed.