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In case you missed it earlier, ESPNDallas.com columnist Jim Reeves wrote about the relationship of general manager Jon Daniels and president Nolan Ryan.

There's also a video Q&A with Jon Daniels on there.

We continue our brief look at the outlook at each position heading into spring training. We'll have more on each position and player once spring training starts, of course. Click here for our first base outlook.

A quick glance at Ian Kinsler's numbers shows a mixed bag. His 31 homers and 86 RBIs were the most of his career (in fact, he had not shown this much power before in the majors with 20 homers in 2007 being his highest output). He had 31 stolen bases, also a career-high, and he had the memorable 6-hit cycle on April 15. But Kinsler also finished the season with a .253 batting average and a .327 on-base percentage. His OBP was ninth among the 10 AL second baseman who had at least 500 at-bats. And he was last in batting average among AL second baseman with at least 500 at-bats.

Kinsler started off the season red hot. He hit .322 in April with seven homers and 20 RBIs and looked like the guy that was an AL MVP candidate in 2008 before an injury prematurely ended his season. But things changed the next three months. Kinsler hit .243 in May, .245 in June and just .157 in July. He was moved from the top of the order in an effort to get him going again.

Kinsler's struggles were part of the entire offense, which had trouble getting much consistency. Kinsler could still hit for power at times, but wasn't collecting the singles and doubles like he was in April or in 2008.

Michael Young, as part of answering questions at The Newberg Report night last week, talked about Kinsler. He was asked who his favorite Ranger was and that was Young's answer. But in the course of talking about Kinsler, he mentioned that Ian told him his 2009 season "wasn't good enough" and that he knew he could be better than that.

Kinsler is focused on being a more productive and consistent player in 2010. We've talked before about the idea that Kinsler and Josh Hamilton may be the two biggest keys to this lineup. They must have better seasons for this offense to get going. (I think they will and that Kinsler will be a solid second baseman, as he has been since coming up to the Rangers, for a long time in Texas. But we'll get to that later this spring).

On defense, Kinsler was improved in 2009. Besides fewer errors -- 11 in 2009 after making 18 in 2008 -- Kinsler's UZR was better as well. Kinsler did a better job of making the routine plays in 2009 and looked comfortable in the field with new double-play partner Elvis Andrus.

It will be interesting to see how Kinsler does to start the season lower in the order. The plan is to have him bat fifth, behind Vladimir Guerrero. That way he's in a position to drive in more runs and it gives the Rangers some speed in the middle of the lineup (to go with speed at the top with Julio Borbon and the bottom with Andrus).

As we've stated before, we'll get to the predictions just before the season starts.

What are your thoughts on second base?

Now that the Super Bowl is over and we're at about the 10-day window before pitchers and catchers report to spring training, let's start to take a look at the positional outlooks. Shortly after the season ended, we reviewed each position and talked about what the club might do in the offseason. Well, the offseason has been a busy one and it's altered some of the positions. So here we go. We'll start with first base.

Chris Davis goes into spring training as the starter. That isn't to say Justin Smoak, who was red hot playing for Team USA in September of last year, won't make things interesting. But the club would prefer Smoak get some more seasoning in the minors and that Davis get back to the level he showed when he came up in 2008.

First base was a problem for the Rangers all season. They did not get the production they needed from the position. That should change in 2010.

Davis, a left-handed hitter, struggled for the first time in his career last season and he had to figure out how to deal with it, something he talked about last month. He hit just .200 in April and when things didn't get any better in May -- he batted .189 with a .238 on-base percentage -- the Rangers had to make a move and send him to the minors. Davis worked hard and fine-tuned his swing in Triple-A Oklahoma City. He played a few games in late July for the Rangers and some in August and started to hit the ball better. It culminated in a very good September. Davis batted .290 with four homers and 16 RBIs in 93 at-bats (and had a .814 OPS) in the final month of the season. That gave him some momentum heading into the offseason.

Davis' defensive play was solid all season long. It's what allowed him to stay in the majors as long as he did despite the poor hitting.

The switch-hitting Smoak, meanwhile, struggled at Triple-A after moving up from Frisco. He hit .244 in 197 at-bats. But his play for Team USA ended his season on a high note and has him heading into spring training with some confidence.

The Rangers have two young players with bright futures, it appears, at first base. Look for good things in 2010. We won't make any predictions yet. We'll save those for closer to the season.

Rangers pitcher Brandon McCarthy. He gets the award for the closest pick in the Super Bowl prediction game. McCarthy had the Saints winning 27-17. The final was 31-17.

Honorable mention goes to first baseman Chris Davis, who had the Saints winning 31-24. I gave the nod to McCarthy because he had the Saints winning by 10.

Ian Kinsler, Chuck Greenberg and Jarrod Saltalamacchia also had the Saints winning. Congrats to all.

I asked a few Rangers players and front office personnel for their Super Bowl predictions. Here they are (feel free to put yours in the comment section of this entry):

General manager Jon Daniels: Colts 38, Saints 27

Third baseman Michael Young: Colts 45, Saints 21

Second baseman Ian Kinsler: Saints 37, Colts 35

RHP Brandon McCarthy: Saints 27, Colts 17

First baseman Chris Davis: Saints 31, Colts 24

Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia: Saints 35, Colts 30

Assistant general manager Thad Levine: Colts 27, Saints 20

RHP Tommy Hunter: Colts 31, Saints 24

Current owner Tom Hicks: Colts 24, Saints 17 ("Manning is the man")

Future owner Chuck Greenberg: Saints 27, Colts 24

Catcher Taylor Teagarden: Colts 38, Saints 35 ("Too much Peyton")

You can check out all of our Q&As from this week, which include these videos (click on the name for the video you want): Rangers manager Ron Washington, starting pitcher Rich Harden, third baseman Michael Young, and Rangers president Nolan Ryan.

If you want to read some Q&As (no video), they include: Outfielder David Murphy, reliever Chris Ray, first baseman Chris Davis, starting pitcher Scott Feldman, and first baseman Justin Smoak.

Some quick Rangers notes before the weekend is upon us:

* The equipment truck was loaded and sent off to Surprise, Ariz., on Friday. It makes the long journey so everything is in place when the players arrive. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report for workouts on Feb. 18. The hitters will be in shortly thereafter.

* GM Jon Daniels confirmed that catching prospect Tomas Telis will likely miss all of 2010 after Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. Telis, 18, was converted from shortstop and was ranked No. 26 among Ranger prospects by Baseball America. He is a switch-hitter and had played well in Arizona last year, his first season in the United States.

* ESPNDallas.com will be bringing you updates from spring training. We'll be there as the players arrive and get things going leading into 2010.

Rangers outfielder David Murphy answered a few questions about his plans for the upcoming season and his thoughts on the offseason moves.

Q: What have you been up to since the season ended?

A: Just working and trying to stay consistent. Every year you have that opportunity and the potential to get stronger, faster, all of that. I think at this point in my career, I need to do that stuff to stay in shape, but the most important thing is to become more consistent on the field.

Q: Do you wonder what your role will be with the outfielders that this club has? Do you worry about it?

A: I think right now it would be the wrong thing to do to worry about it. They’ve shown me the past few years that they’ll get me on the field. It’s up to me to perform, for one. But also focus on the team. I’m not going to be an “I” guy and put myself before team success. I know that to be a great team, everybody on the 25-man roster is going to have to contribute. You are going to have to have depth at every position. We have depth in the outfield. I know that we have a lot of guys for only a few spots, but like I said, there’s no point in worrying about it right now. I should be excited about going into spring training and the potential this team has for 2010.

Q: What do you think of all the offseason moves?

A: I think they’ve done a great job with the budget that they have and used some things, like (Kevin) Millwood’s salary, to get a few different players. They helped us meet our needs in a lot of different ways. I could breakdown each player. What Darren Oliver’s done speaks for itself. What Vlad Guerrero’s done speaks for itself. Those guys have obviously proved themselves and will be winning parts of this team. I think every move has been a quality move and you can see the reasoning behind it. We’re going to be strong, we’re going to be deep and we’re going to be talented.

Chris Ray chatted briefly last week about coming to Texas and being a big part of the Rangers' bullpen in 2010.

Q: Talk about coming to Texas and the trade.

A: It really caught me by surprise. But we always dreaded facing this lineup. This is a heck of a team here. I’m really excited to get going with a new organization. This team was right there in the race until a few unfortunate injuries towards the end, so I’m looking forward to really playing on a team that’s going to compete.

Q: How confident are you that all the injury issues are behind you?

A: I feel really good. Last year was rough and I went with through some aches and pains. Toward the end of the season, I was getting my stuff back. With a full year under my belt after surgery, I feel confident that I’ll be able to return to form.

Q: What all do you throw and what are you working on in particular?

A: I primarily work off my fastball. I throw a slider and a split-finger. A slider mainly to right-handers and a splitter to lefties. I’ve been throwing out of the stretch this year, working on that. I tend to rush myself to the plate and I’m trying to work on staying back so I can get my arm up and be able to throw my off-speed pitches more effectively.

We continue our Q&As with Chris Davis, who talked last week about some of his thoughts as the season approaches. Here goes:

Q: How have you gone about preparing for the 2010 season?

A: Every since I was old enough to play baseball, I’ve played it year round. Last offseason, at the end of the 2008 season, I took until Jan. 1 off before swinging a bat. I think it really affected me getting that feeling back and getting comfortable. It took me a while to get it back. I think this offseason, I took two weeks off and picked up a bat and started swinging and doing a few things a couple of times a week. It helped me keep that feel I had at the end of the season. Plus, I was working on some new things, so I wanted to iron out the kinks and be ready to go for spring training. I think it’s going to be a big benefit for me going into the season.

Q: What lessons can you apply from last year for 2010?

A: The biggest thing for me is to keep a positive attitude and keep a clear head. That’s something I was able to do for the most part was to stay positive and not just totally get down on myself. It was hard coming in here every day knowing I was in a slump and knowing that I might not break out of it, that it might be two or three more weeks. I now know I’ve been through the struggles and learned how to adapt. I have a foundation and something to go back on. Before that, I hadn’t really struggled a lot in the minor leagues and didn’t really have any idea how to get myself out of it.

Q: Anything in particular you are working on?

A: Just my bat path. I think last year it got real up and down, like an uppercut swing, and I was missing pitches out over the plate that I don’t usually miss. I think lowering my hands has really helped me a lot. You saw the results of that when I came back. I think the thing is to keep my bat path level because when I do that, everything else works out. When I’m going right and I’m going good, I’m using all fields. I’m not trying to pull the ball. I know I have the power to hit home runs. The big thing is to make contact, put a good swing on the ball and hit it where it’s pitched. I want to be patient. It’s something I’m looking forward to doing in spring training and during the season.

For those of you, like me, who can't be at the Newberg Release Party, you can catch it all online here. Credit goes to Ted Price for putting that together.

Lots of fans asking some good questions of the panel, which includes Jake Krug, Chuck Greenberg and Michael Young.

UPDATE (7:50 p.m.): The silent auction is now over. And it was a good one. Greenberg, at the suggestion of some folks watching online, even auctioned off the Rangers pullover he was wearing and got $500 for it. All the money is going to charity, of course.

ANOTHER UPDATE (8:10 p.m.): Someone asked the panel to say who their all-time favorite Rangers was and Michael Young said Ian Kinsler. He said that Kinsler told him after the season that he could better than he was in 2009. And he's worked hard this offseason to make that happen. Young talked about all the things that Kinsler does that helps the team and it's clear he has a ton of respect for him.

Scott Feldman, the Rangers' 2009 pitcher of the year as selected by the BBWAA and a guy that managed to become the club's most reliable starter despite not beginning the season in the rotation, now has his contract signed and is ready to go. He has started his throwing program and he gets prepared for the 2010 season.

Q: Anything different about your approach this offseason as opposed to last?

A: I've pretty much been following my same program and sticking with that. I've been in here every day with a lot of these guys, getting stronger and make sure I'm in position to build up during spring training and be completely ready for the season. There's always things in your mechanics you can do to stay sound. I'm hammering that out. I'm starting to throw changeups and breaking balls, but nothing off the mound yet.

Q: Was there anything from last year in particular that you wanted to work on for 2010?

A: Yes, my breaking ball. It started getting better near the end of the year. But it's going to be an important pitch for me this year. When I can throw that where I want to consistently, that will help me get some more strikeouts and get ahead early in the count. It was just a matter of throwing it more, working on it in the bullpen and getting more comfortable. I've got my cutter, curve ball and changeup that I'm working on too. When I change speeds, sometimes I throw what looks like a slider.

Q: Talk about where your confidence is and I would imagine you go into this season feeling differently than you did in 2009?

A: It's just nice to see that you can actually succeed at this level. But you can't change anything as far as preparing. Everything is the same as far as that. It's nice to gain a little confidence.

Whenever left-handed pitcher Noah Lowry throws for teams -- and a session scheduled for Tuesday was pushed back at the pitcher's request -- Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said the club will have a representative on hand to watch.

Lowry's agent said Monday that his client is getting interest from a group of teams. Click here to read the entire story.

Part of the story:

The 29-year-old Lowry hasn't pitched since 2007 because of a variety of issues with his forearm and shoulder and is set to return in 2010. He had been prepared to pitch in front of about half the big league clubs Tuesday but that will now take place at a later date -- by the pitcher's choice.

Lowry had surgery for a rare neuromuscular problem in his left forearm, at the time diagnosed by the San Francisco Giants' medical staff as exertional compartment syndrome, on March 7, 2008, and then had an arthroscopic procedure to remove a bone spur from his left elbow in September that year.

But that was just the start of a complicated situation that led to a back and forth between Lowry's camp and the Giants about whether the team had misdiagnosed Lowry's original condition. The Giants denied any wrongdoing.

Lowry had been experiencing regular tingling in his forearm because of the nerve problem.

He was later diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome.

I can hear some of you thinking: Another Ranger with thoracic outlet syndrome? But as Daniels has said: You can never have enough pitching. And what does it hurt to see him throw and see what he's got? (Plus, he's a lefty).

Any interest in Lowry?

A story in SportsBusiness Journal on Monday asserted that key lenders weren't happy with the deal, according to sources. “It’s a train wreck,” one source said. “We will be better off in bankruptcy court.” The story says the agreement is structured so that Tom Hicks is paid for the real estate around park, MLB is repaid the loans it made to the club and the investment bankers get paid before the lenders.

The Chuck Greenberg-Nolan Ryan group considers the dispute between Hicks and the lenders and not with them. A source said Ryan and Greenberg will not be in attendance at a meeting in New York with the lenders Tuesday. The group is sending a representative, however.

BTW, Hicks is getting sued by an architectural firm and a construction company who claim Hicks hasn't $6.9 million for work done in a three-year period.

The Mariners added another piece to their lineup on Monday by agreeing to terms on a one-year, $550,000 deal with Ryan Garko.

He was one of the names tossed around as a possibility for the Rangers, seeing as he's a right-handed hitting first baseman.

I thought this contract was pretty good value, too. He'll make $1,075,000 if he has 600 plate appearances. According to the AP, he would get $25,000 for hitting plate appearance benchmarks of 325, 350 and 375. It jumps to $50,000 when he hits 400.

After he was traded by Cleveland to San Francisco last year, he had just 12 RBIs in 40 games. But he was a solid hitter in 2008, batting .273 with 14 homers and 90 RBIs.

It's a good move for Seattle, if you ask me. Are the Mariners the favorites in the AL West?