Ranger Reverse: Rocker Is Back

John Rocker was back with the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, even though the struggling reliever never reported for his minor league assignment.

The Rangers recalled Rocker because they are desperate for help in the bullpen. But there are no plans to use him in the closer role he held when he was sent down.

“For what we have with the problems we are facing in our bullpen, he gives us as good an opportunity as anybody to win games,” Ranger General Manager John Hart said. “It won’t be where the club has played nine or 10 innings and it’s up to him to make or break it.”

Rocker wasn’t in the clubhouse when reporters went in before the game with Toronto at Arlington, Texas. Rocker threw only one pitch, getting Eric Hinske to ground into an inning-ending double play in the seventh. He was 0-1 with one save and a 9.53 earned-run average in six previous appearances.

Rocker took the roster spot of 10-time All-Star catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who will miss at least four weeks with a herniated disk.

Rodriguez, who didn’t finish either of the last two seasons because of different injuries, hasn’t played since being scratched from the lineup April 15 because of back spasms. He was expected to miss only a couple games before an MRI exam revealed the disk problem.

Because Rocker is replacing an injured player on the roster, the Rangers weren’t bound by the rule requiring an optioned player to spend at least 10 days with his minor league team.

Rocker, 27, was optioned to triple-A Oklahoma on April 16 after blowing a save opportunity by giving up two runs in the 10th inning of a 6-5 loss to the Angels.

Instead of reporting to the RedHawks of the Pacific Coast League, Rocker stayed in California to work individually on his delivery mechanics with former Ranger pitching coach Tom House. Current Ranger pitching coach Oscar Acosta recommended that move, Hart said.

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Former Brewer star Paul Molitor has turned down a chance to interview for Milwaukee’s managerial job.

“He said the timing was not right for family reasons,” Milwaukee General Manager Dean Taylor said. “He said he needed to spend the summer in Minneapolis. He said he was flattered we asked him to interview.”

Taylor didn’t rule out contacting Molitor again in the event he takes the interim tag off Jerry Royster and renews his search for a full-time manager in the off-season.

“We didn’t talk about the off-season,” Taylor said. “The only thing we discussed was right now.”

Royster was selected interim manager when Davey Lopes was fired last week, and he’s a candidate for the full-time job.

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The Tampa Bay Devil Rays placed left-hander Tom Martin on the 60-day disabled list because of an injury to his throwing shoulder, and promoted pitcher Travis Harper from triple-A Durham.

Martin appeared in two games, giving up three runs in 12/3 innings.

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Florida Marlin pitcher Kevin Olsen has begun serving a three-game suspension for intentionally hitting Philadelphia’s Marlon Anderson earlier this month.

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The Minnesota Twins placed designated hitter David Ortiz on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 19, and recalled catcher Matthew LeCroy from triple-A Edmonton.

Ortiz, who has a sore left knee, is batting .236 with four home runs and 14 runs batted in.