Texas believes Sosa has some of that old bat magic

	Texas is convinced that Sosa came to Arizona with more on his mind than his 600th homer. Tom Hood/AP

By Chris Ballard, SI.com

At first glance, the Sammy Sosa who arrived at Texas Rangers camp last week looked much like the ebullient, homer-and-hop-to-first version who once dominated the National League. Same Sammy smile (produced at the drop of a lens cap), same Sammy laugh and same Sammy commotion. As Sosa played pepper, 14 tripods lined the first base line; as he threw from the outfield another 15 photographers fired away. A small cluster of skeptical reporters gathered to witness his first batting practice, which consisted of several foul balls, a handful of line drives and three home runs in 38 swings.

Sosa looked fit and strong -- a little bigger through the chest and arms than during his disastrous stint with the Baltimore Orioles in 2005, if not quite as thick as during his glory days (now suspect) with the Chicago Cubs. To make sure people noticed his physique, he doffed his sweatshirt and rolled up his sleeves during BP despite the unseasonably cool Arizona weather. Sosa was the center of attention again, if only for a day, a 38-year-old former outfielder on a make-good contract who instantly overshadowed his new teammates. As he walked from one practice station to another, trailed by autograph trolls and giddy fans, someone yelled, "They love you here, Sammy!"

Sosa turned and flashed a grin. "Here? They love me everywhere!"

Once upon a time they did. But this is a different era and, despite the surface similarities, a vastly different Sosa. His hair showed a touch of gray, and he ran like a man who, as the Rangers envision, will primarily DH. Gone is the overblown WWE physique as well as the entourage of hangers-on and yes-men. Missing, too, was the boom box and its blare that so infuriated teammates. In a press conference held at a nearby library to accommodate the crush, he tried to sound humble and hungry, though at times his attempts came off as rather comical. "Today," he said, "is about Sammy Sosa and the Texas Rangers -- I mean the Texas Rangers and Sammy Sosa."

For all his narcissism -- this is a man who once named his 60-foot yacht Sammy Jr. -- Sosa represents a low-risk bet for the Rangers. Signed to a $500,000 minor league contract, he stands to earn up to $2.7 million if he makes the roster and reaches incentives based primarily on plate appearances. The best-case scenario for Texas is that Sosa regains his power stroke and hits fifth, behind shortstop Michael Young and first baseman Mark Teixeira. Considering that the Oakland A's will pay another 38-year-old slugger, Mike Piazza, $8.5 million this season to perform the same role, Sosa could be a steal. Even if he platoons at DH, the Rangers would get more than their money's worth.

So what's the downside? Says general manager Jon Daniels, "It takes the spotlight away from our team." Indeed, as Sosa tried to deflect one steroid-related question after another during his introductory press conference -- his English, it should be noted, was much improved from his last public grilling on the subject, in front of a congressional committee in March 2005 -- Daniels sat to his left, looking increasingly dour.