Filed Under » Texas Rangers

The San Francisco Giants engaged in bit of old-fashioned gamesmanship today by trying to get inside the head of their World Series opponent Texas Rangers before the series officially opens.

"We sent a big box full of cocaine and champagne to their locker room, addressed to Ron Washington and Josh Hamilton," said Giants outfielder Pat Burrell. "It was hilarious."

Thanks to Alex Rodriguez's .133 batting average through four games of the ALCS, a performance that has helped the Texas Rangers take a three-games-to-one lead in the series, the Rangers are working with the third baseman on a lucrative contract extension that would keep him on their payroll through the end of his career.

"We have a young and talented team — one we expect to be in playoff contention for several more years," said Rangers team president Nolan Ryan. "And the Yankees are a perennial playoff team that we will likely face again. So it makes sense to keep Alex Rodriguez on our side."

Rodriguez broke through last year with a great postseason performance as the Yankees won the World Series, but Ryan is happy to see he remembers who is paying his salary.

"People criticize Alex a lot," said Ryan. "But this series he has showed he is a man of honor and integrity. For the amount of money we're paying him, it's only right that he's doing absolutely nothing to help the Yankees beat us. He's a good man."

SportsPickle is previewing each MLB team in the lead up to Opening Day 2010. Today:Texas Rangers (2009: 87-75, 2nd in AL West).

Something called Scott Feldman is 17-5 with a 3.62 ERA for the Texas Rangers. He is receiving serious Cy Young consideration. Who is this guy? Here are some facts about Scott Feldman.

Scott Feldman was born February 7, 1983, in Kailua, Hawaii. Many consider Feldman to be the greatest Kenyan-born pitcher of all-time.

Feldman is 6-foot-5 and was big from his youth. In fact, his father told the San Francisco Chronicle "His second-grade teacher made a comment to my wife that it was like 'Alice in Wonderland' becauseScott was always too big for his seat." We can't be sure, but Feldman probably nailed his second-grade teacher. Well done, Scott.

Feldman was also overweight as a youth, hitting 265 pounds, and lost 40 pounds before walking on to the baseball team as a freshman at the College of San Mateo. Despite the physical transformation, Feldman was not able to get any interest in his proposed reality show with Scott Haim.

Feldman went 25-2 at San Mateo with a 1.30 ERA and was drafted in the 30th round of the 2003 draft by the Rangers, but he underwent Tommy John surgery later that year. The Rangers said that had they known Feldman was injured, they would not have drafted him until at least the 31st round.

After working his way up through the Rangers system as a reliever, Feldman was converted to a starter in 2008 and went 6-8 with a 5.29 ERA. With a sub-6.00 ERA in their starting rotation, the conversion was considered a complete success by the Rangers.

Feldman is featured in the MLB-licensed Jewish Major Leaguers Baseball Cards set, commemorating Jewish major leaguers from 1871-2008. Collect all six!

Texas Rangers team chaplain Rev. Roger Ryland was pulled aside by another player today who asked if anything in the Bible specifically forbids the use of steroids or other illegal performance enhancing drugs.

"It's the question I get asked more than anything else," said Rev. Ryland. "More than eternity, more than about salvation, more than about God's message of love. Second most is questions about three-ways."

And as all great spiritual leaders can do, Rev. Ryland is able to provide comfort to his flock.

"I tell them that the word 'steroids' is not in the Bible, nor is the terms 'PEDs,'" he said. "I also mention that doesn't necessarily mean it's okay to take them. Although I don't harp on that too much because the team would probably fire me."

Texas Rangers president Nolan Ryan says the role of a chaplain is very important and clearly defined on a team.

"The point of a team is to win. So all chaplains, Rev. Ryland included, are required to work towards that goal as their top priority," he said. "That means we don't need him telling people God doesn't want them to take steroids. What's next? Telling them not to steal signs? Steal bases? It's a slipper slope."

The Rangers are no different than any other sports teams that way. Team chaplains throughout all four major sports are instructed to keep players away from crimes such as murder, armed robbery and rape that could get them suspended and leave the team in a bind.

"This is not the true message of Jesus," said Rev. Ryland. "And it's not how I necessarily saw my career in the ministry going — funneling million dollar athletes towards steroids and away from violent crime. I have struggled to reconcile that with my heart and with my God. But I get free tickets to every home game. And that's awesome."