The Rangers, baseball's surprise team through the first five weeks, have money to spend again.

Owner Tom Hicks will consider adding to the roster if the Rangers find themselves in a pennant race this summer, but not at the expense of trading prospects and young stars such as Hank Blalock and Michael Young for veterans.

"Been there, done that," Hicks said. "If a club is dumping money, we'd be interested. But we're not going to give up our young prospects."

For a team that had one of the worst ERA's last season, pitching is not a concern. Neither are an offense and defense that have lost five All-Stars in two years.

Manager Buck Showalter's team, which averaged 90 losses the past four seasons, was second in the American League West with an 18-11 record through Friday. The Rangers also ranked first in the AL in team batting (.306), second in team pitching (4.06 ERA) and fourth in fielding (.986) through Friday.

"I can't say enough about what the players have done," Rangers general manager John Hart said. "They've gone out and done it as a team.

"This team has the stamp of Buck and the staff, in the way they've done the little things, the energy and passion and the way they've prepared themselves."

A TANGLED WEB: Fans ultimately deserve credit for forcing baseball to rethink its plan of allowing 6-by-6 inch Spider-Man 2 logos on the bases, pitching rubber and on-deck circles during interleague play in June.

Many players, including Indians first baseman Travis Hafner and Marlins pitcher A.J. Burnett, playfully poked fun at the notion.

"Maybe we can forget our uniforms and wear Spider-Man outfits," Hafner said. "It may help me steal a base. I can just shoot a web out of my sleeve in the direction of second base."

Added Burnett: "When the Hulk sequel comes out what are they going to do, have us all wear face paint and tight purple pants?"

CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM: With a 19-10 record through Friday, the Astros had matched their best start to a season.

The 1973 team and 1998 playoff team both started the season 19-10.

"The offense, the starting pitching, the bullpen, it's all there," Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker said. "Now it's just a matter of, can it stay together consistently for a long period of time to make something special happen this year?"

SPEED TO OFFER: Cowboys coach Bill Parcells stopped by the visitors' clubhouse at the Ballpark in Arlington, Texas, on Wednesday and chatted with longtime friend and Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella.

Left fielder Carl Crawford was summoned at one point during their 45-minute visit.

Crawford, who in high school was recruited to play quarterback at Nebraska, led the American League with 55 stolen bases last season.

"They were talking that I could run for (Parcells) during batting practice," Crawford said. "I said if he wanted to sign me and let me do a Deion Sanders I'd show him I could run (a 4.3-second, 40-yard dash)."

CLUBHOUSE VOODOO: Taking a cue from the movie Major League, in which character Pedro Cerrano tended a clubhouse altar for an idol named Joboo, Indians catcher Tim Laker sacrificed one of Omar Vizquel's old gloves Wednesday.

A nine time Gold Glove Award winner, Vizquel committed six errors in his first 24 games this season while using former teammate Zach Sorensen's glove.

Vizquel switched to a new glove Tuesday, allowing Laker to lay the old one before an altar decorated with a Buddha-like figure on a pedestal, 14 burning candles, burning incense and a baseball inscribed with "curse is killed." A roasted chicken also was suspended above the altar.

"I think it's going to work," said Vizquel, who entering Friday had not committed an error with his new glove.

ODDS AND ENDS: Injured pitcher Mark Prior will join the Cubs on Tuesday in Los Angeles to throw his third simulated game, and also to pick up his business degree from USC . . . The Rockies and White Sox have gone to four-man pitching rotations indefinitely . . . Boston's David Ortiz, who finished fifth in American League MVP voting last season, is one of 13 full-time designated hitters not on the AL All-Star ballot because this year's game is being played in Houston. Ortiz, however, ranked among the league leaders in doubles (11), home runs (7) and RBI (22) through Thursday.

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Compiled using information and notes submitted by other baseball writers.

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