Rangers get visit from Hall of Famer Maddux

ANAHEIM -- Greg Maddux, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in July, joined the Rangers at Angel Stadium on Friday. This was a planned visit from the brother of Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux who serves as a part-time special assistant and lives in Las Vegas.

"We love it when Greg comes around," manager Ron Washington said. "He just doesn't come around as much as we would like. I don't think I have to suggest anything for him to talk about. They'll flock to him. He has free rein to say what he thinks he should tell them."

Rangers pitchers might need a little pep talk after allowing 25 runs in three losses to the Athletics earlier this week. They went into Friday's games with a 4.28 team ERA, ninth best in the American League.

"A lot of guys like to talk to him and pick his brain," pitcher Matt Harrison said. "I think it helps a lot. He's got a lot of knowledge."

"Sometimes we talk about baseball and sometimes we don't," pitcher Yu Darvish said. "He was a great player and has a lot of experience so when we talk it really helps."