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Ailing Rangers: Losing record and 13 players on DL

By WTOP Staff

STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer

The Texas Rangers are really hurting.

Along with adding Martin Perez and Matt Harrison to an already crowded disabled list, and possibly being without both left-handed starters the rest of this year and beyond, the Rangers (20-21) have a losing record this late in a season for the first time since 2009.

“We’ll just keep battling and keep seeing what resources we have and keep running them out there,” manager Ron Washington said.

Except the injuries just seem to keep coming. The Rangers have 13 players on the disabled list, easily the most in the majors.

“Just the sheer number of injuries we’ve had, it’s startling,” general manager Jon Daniels said. “We’ve had a combination of everything. … We’ve had freak deals.”

Just more than one-fourth of the way through the regular season, Texas has already used 38 players — 22 of those who have pitched. Both those numbers are also major-league highs.

The Rangers, fourth in the AL West and five games behind leading Oakland, were off Thursday after losing two of three at Houston. Texas had won 15 consecutive series since 2008 against its in-state rival.

Perez has a common baseball injury, a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow that could require Tommy John surgery. He could be out three months with an injection and rehab, but with no guarantee of avoiding the ligament replacement surgery that could keep him out a year.

Harrison, who made only two starts last year before two operations on a herniated disk in his back, faces a potentially career-threatening issue.

The 28-year-old Harrison has significant nerve irritation and a forward displacement of his vertebra that was a known risk after earlier operations. Harrison could rehab and try to pitch through likely discomfort or have a spinal fusion operation when the odds for a full recovery are low.

Derek Holland, yet another lefty starter with a long-term deal, is still rehabbing from left knee surgery in January after being tripped by his dog on the steps of his home.

“We’re talking about three mid-to-late 20 left-handed starters that we signed to multiyear deals because we believe in them so much,” Daniels said. “It’s an opportunity for Nick Tepesch and Nick Martinez to step up. We’re looking forward to seeing those guys, but that doesn’t in and of itself take away the sting of losing our left-handers.”

Holland got a $28.5 million, five year deal with team options for 2017 and 2018 after consecutive World Series appearances during spring training in 2012. Harrison signed a $55 million, five-year deal with a team option for 2018 after winning 18 games in 2012.

Perez got a $12.5 million, four-year deal last offseason that includes team options from 2018-2020. The 23-year-old Venezuelan was 16 when he initially signed with the Rangers.

Among others on the DL are opening-day starter Tanner Scheppers, the converted reliever who got the coveted spot because Yu Darvish (neck stiffness) and others were hurt to start the season.

Reliever Joseph Ortiz broke his left foot when he was run over by a motorcycle while home in Venezuela last winter. About a week after getting his first two major league wins in consecutive games, left-handed reliever Pedro Figueroa had a torn ligament in his elbow. Starting second baseman Jurickson Profar (right shoulder tear) and catcher Geovany Soto (right knee), hurt on consecutive days late in spring training, could be back in July.

“We’re just going to see how we weather the storm,” Daniels responded when asked if Texas was still a playoff contender. “I’m not going to sit here now and sell out club short. There’s still a lot of good players, and it’s going to be more challenging to get it done, but I think it’s possible.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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