John Rocker Relief Pitcher Texas Rangers Profile
	2001 SEASON STATISTICS GM W L Sv K ERA 68 5 9 23 79 4.32

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Although John Rocker was sent packing Tuesday for the second time in six months, the reliever with the strong arm and even stronger opinions doesn't think he's running out of chances.

Rocker prefers to view being traded to the Texas Rangers as going where he's really wanted -- by general manager John Hart, who as Cleveland GM acquired Rocker in June, and by manager Jerry Narron and pitching coach Oscar Acosta, who both lobbied for the deal.

"That's certainly a relaxing feeling," Rocker said via conference call from Puerto Rico, where he's pitching in a winter league.

"Being welcomed by John Hart for a second time and by Jerry Narron and Oscar, that probably does more to relax me than motivate me. I think a relaxed athlete, comfortable with a situation, is a lot better performer than one who knows the chips are down."

A fresh start?

DALLAS -- If the Texas Rangers are willing to give outspoken pitcher John Rocker another chance, so are some Ranger fans. But activists upset about his past racial slurs say they will be watching him closely. Rocker made headlines two years ago with his remarks on immigrants, gays and minorities. "Coming to Texas where it's racially diverse, I hope he will keep racial sensitivity in mind," Richard Gonzales of Arlington said after learning of the trade. "I think people shouldn't be condemned forever for remarks made in the past. He's got a career. He's a good baseball player. I wouldn't close the door on him ... If he was sincere, I accept his apology." Most fans questioned said they don't agree with the pitcher's remarks, but said Rocker should be forgiven since he apologized. They say he should be judged by his skills on the field and are optimistic that he can help the Rangers' pitching. Jennifer Li, president of the Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the Organization for Chinese Americans, has concerns about Rocker. "Why are they signing him?" Li said. "They really need to monitor what he's saying. We may give him one more chance, but if he makes one remark, we will not be forgiving. We will continue to monitor this person and will voice concern if he makes any remarks that hurt Asians." Rocker's remarks were published in a Sports Illustrated article in December 1999. In the story, he bashed immigrants, saying, "I'm not a very big fan of foreigners. ... How the hell did they get in this country?"

All the Rangers gave up was David Elder, a 26-year-old right-handed pitcher who's never made the majors. That's a bargain for a 27-year-old, hard-throwing lefty with 87 career saves and no earned runs in 20 2/3 postseason innings.

But Rocker's personality and the lingering damage done by his disparaging remarks about gays, minorities and others in a Sports Illustrated interview caused him to wear out his welcome in Cleveland, just as he did in Atlanta.

The Indians had until Thursday to offer him a new contract or let him go as a free agent. Getting Elder gives them something to show for the deal Hart made this past summer that sent Steve Karsay and Steve Reed to the Braves.

Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro also undid a move he never wanted his predecessor to make. Shapiro, who had been Hart's assistant, said Tuesday he was against the initial trade with Atlanta.

"My advice had nothing to do with the character issue or the ethical issue," Shapiro said. "We took a core, stable strength of our team and disrupted it. I felt it was not a wise move."

Hart knows the risk behind bringing Rocker to Texas, just like he knew the downside of last week's trade to get volatile outfielder Carl Everett from Boston.

Both times, Hart acquired more talent than he gave up and the economics of both deals make sense.

However, he's left with Rocker and Everett in the same locker room, which could be the ultimate test of his belief that collecting talent is a top priority.

"Part of what you do when you put together a championship club is at times you bring in emotional, intense, driven performers and at times you will have to deal with some issues," Hart said. "We feel our organization is prepared to accept those issues."

Hart said several key players were supportive of the Rocker deal "because they recognized the talent."

"This is a club that lost 90 games the last two years," Hart said. "These players know players and understand situations."

Rocker said he's excited about coming to Texas, although he might need a map. He kept referring to the team as being in Dallas instead of Arlington.

"I know they've got a really good offensive nucleus," Rocker said. "I'm really looking forward to going down there and helping them win."

He said hopes to win over fans by "giving my absolute best every time out." He plans to ignore anyone who holds a grudge over his past actions and comments.

"There's always going to people who don't like you and don't pull for you," he said. "You can't let that bother you. You've got to put that behind you and focus on the task at hand, which right now is coming to Texas, playing well and giving that team a chance to win."

	New faces everywhere
	Moves the Rangers have made this offseason: Players acquired via trade LHP John Rocker OF Carl Everett 3B Herbert Perry Players signed RHP Todd Van Poppel RHP Jay Powell

Hart said Rocker will go to spring training with a non-guaranteed contract. He'll have to earn a spot on the team, and at first it won't be as the closer.

That job belongs to Jeff Zimmerman, even though Hart began the offseason pursuing Jason Isringhausen and Karsay as potential replacements. He wound up getting Todd Van Poppel and Jay Powell to be setup men.

"Even some veteran closers, like Robb Nen or Mariano Rivera, if those guys were to hit tough times, they'd have to be considered for some setting up roles until they got back on track," Rocker said. "I think I'm sort of in that position, cruising along fine for about three years, then I hit a little snag last year. I'm down here shoring up some things."

Hart and Acosta will visit Rocker in Puerto Rico in early January. Acosta, who plans to make Rocker his personal project, said he may make several trips to begin developing their relationship.

"By the end of spring training, we'll have a grasp on him," Acosta said.

Hart thought Rocker would help Cleveland get its first World Series title since 1948 and immediately gave him the closer's job that had belonged to Bob Wickman.

Rocker gave it back by pitching poorly, going 3-7 with four saves and a 5.45 ERA in 38 games. He also had trouble fitting in with teammates and rarely granted interviews.

During the playoffs, he threw water on fans taunting him during Game 1 in Seattle, then clashed with Wickman over remarks he made.

The 26-year-old Elder, a right-hander, split last season between the Rangers' Tulsa (Double-A) and Oklahoma (Triple-A) affiliates. He went 9-10 in 28 games.

To clear a roster spot for Rocker, Texas designated for assignment lefty Justin Thompson, who has never thrown a pitch for the Rangers since being the key player acquired in the 1999 trade that sent Juan Gonzalez to Detroit. Hart said he hopes Thompson will sign a minor-league deal.