Texas Rangers

Now that free-agent righthander John Wetteland is in the fold, the 1997 Rangers will feature not only one of the finest closers in baseball but also a kinder, gentler bullpen. Wetteland brings to Texas his unique code of bullpen etiquette. A sampling of his rules:

Bullpen members must applaud all positive plays by their team's offense (i.e., home runs, stolen bases, sacrifice bunts). Two-clap minimum.

Before fetching a cup of water for himself, a bullpen member must ask the others if they, too, are thirsty.

No bullpen shenanigans after the fifth inning or when the team is losing.

The punishment for violating any of Wetteland's rules is a dousing with water or something similarly juvenile. "It's just my way of trying to keep guys loose in the bullpen," says the 30-year-old Wetteland. "I don't want anybody sitting around thinking, Uh-oh, if that phone rings, what if it's for me?"

Wetteland has a rule that he reserves for himself: Do not surrender a lead in the ninth inning. He adhered to it virtually every time out last season, when he saved 43 games in 47 opportunities for the Yankees and set a major league record with saves in 24 straight appearances. Then in the postseason he was 7 for 7, including saves in all four World Series victories—a feat that earned him the Series MVP award. In the opening round of the American League playoffs, Texas was the victim of Wetteland's dominance. He pitched in all three New York victories, had two saves and struck out third baseman Dean Palmer for the final out of the Rangers' season.

Texas fans are keenly aware that Wetteland was afforded those opportunities only after the Rangers' bullpen blew leads in all three games—a disturbing trend that had spilled over from the regular season, when the relievers blew 17 save chances. No wonder that when Texas general manager Doug Melvin signed Wetteland to a four-year, $23 million deal on Dec. 16, he referred to his new closer as "the final piece of the puzzle." The following day the Rangers sold more season-ticket packages than any day in their history.

The arrival of Wetteland spells relief in many ways for manager Johnny Oates. "He takes the decision-making out of my hands," Oates says. "Last year if we were up 2-1 going into the ninth inning and my starter had struck out the last three guys, I had a difficult choice. This year in that situation Wetteland will always pitch the ninth inning for us." Adds Texas starter John Burkett, "John gives us the confidence that if we can win the first eight innings, we'll win the game 99 percent of the time."

The addition of Wetteland to a team that already has an experienced rotation and a powerful lineup gives the Rangers a solid shot to repeat as West Division champs and perhaps reach the World Series for the first time. "Winning the championship last season was like a wild ride at the amusement park," Wetteland says. "When it ends you say to yourself, Wow, that was a blast. Can I try that again?"

The Rangers hope he'll make it a rule.