Beltre will miss time

Big bat Adrian Beltre, who smashed 28 homers last year for the Sox and was picked up by the Rangers in the offseason, strained his calf in spring training and will miss anywhere from 10 to 20 days. Beltre was released by Boston following the season and will be replaced by Kevin Youkilis, a certainly worthy replacement. Luckily, X-rays and MRI scans showed that there was no internal bleeding or muscle tears, but the Rangers want to be cautious. I would agree with their caution, because they don't want an expensive acquisition injured before the season even starts! Even Beltre agrees with their caution. Though he must be restless, the 31-year-old slugger believes that he should be cautious. In his words, "Better now than during the season." Completely true. I mean, look at Boston last year. If those injuries occurred during the preseason, the Sox might have had a couple players back by September, when they faltered. Beltre put up great numbers in a comeback year, following an 8-homer year with 28 bombs and raising his batting average 56 points. He also set a career high in doubles while leading the league with 49. Adrian proved he was not through by finishing 6th in MVP voting and earning the Silver Slugger and an All-Star appearance.

Trivia
Beltre's 28 homers were the second-best in his career only to 2004, when he hit 48 and finished second in the MVP race.