Blalock stiff and sore after accident

Texas Rangers third baseman Hank Blalock was stiff and sore Tuesday, a day after his vehicle was rear-ended while stopped at an intersection.

Blalock, his wife and their 3 1/2-year-old son were returning from lunch when the accident occurred near Surprise. Blalock said they were all OK.

"We got crushed hard," Blalock said Tuesday while sitting at his locker. "I've been in car accidents before. We got hit hard."

The impact crushed the front end of the car that hit Blalock's luxury SUV, though the air bags in his vehicle didn't deploy. Blalock's SUV, which he drove to work Tuesday, has a cracked rear fender.

Blalock didn't go to Scottsdale with the team for Monday's game against San Francisco. Blalock got his third straight game off after playing the first three, his first games at third base since surgery last May to remove a rib that was affecting nerves.

Manager Ron Washington had planned for Blalock to be the designated hitter Tuesday against Arizona, but changed his mind after the accident that left the third baseman with a stiff neck.

"We're just going to play it day by day and see how he feels," Washington said. "He's got the whiplash working. I guess y'all have seen the whole body turning. He's a young kid, so he should bounce back. At least his family is well."

Blalock, a two-time All-Star, wasn't expected to play in the field Tuesday, but was going to play catch and go through some drills. He has had soreness in his arm and his back.

"It's no big deal. They're being real careful with me," Blalock said.

"We're not concerned about the shoulder," Washington said. "It's a little sore. He's been doing a lot of throwing."

Notes:@ RHP Wes Littleton was expected back at camp Wednesday, though the Rangers aren't putting any time limit on him. He left Sunday to attend to an undisclosed family matter. "He's got our blessing to take as much time as he needs," general manager Jon Daniels said Tuesday.