ARLINGTON, Texas -- John Rocker got demoted to the minor leagues because of his poor pitching, not for anything he said.

	Rocker

Texas optioned Rocker to Triple-A Oklahoma early Wednesday, after he blew a save opportunity by giving up two runs in the 10th inning of the Rangers' 6-5 loss at Anaheim the night before.

"We're sending John out not unlike any player that is struggling at this point," general manager John Hart said. "John's performance just hadn't been what we think his ability is. There is no question the arm strength is still there, but the results haven't been there."

Through six games, Rocker was 0-1 with one save, two blown saves and a 9.53 ERA. He has nine strikeouts in 5 2-3 innings, but the left-hander has also allowed 11 hits and seven runs -- six earned -- with four walks. Opponents were batting . 407 against him.

Rocker has until Friday night to report to the Redhawks of the Pacific Coast League. Hart expects Rocker to accept the assignment, though he was still in discussions with the pitcher's agent.

"John is considering all options at this point," Rocker's agent, Joe Sambito, said Wednesday night. "We'll see what happens."

Since his disparaging remarks about gays, minorities and others in a Sports Illustrated interview before the 2000 season, Rocker has been given two fresh starts by Hart.

Rocker pitched for Atlanta in the 1999 World Series, but had troubled relationships with his Braves teammates after the magazine article came out. Finally, last June the Braves traded him to Cleveland, where Hart was the GM.

Even though Rocker struggled and couldn't keep the closer's role in Cleveland, where he also had trouble with teammates, Hart traded for him after he became the Rangers GM last November.

"We crossed our fingers and said let's see if he can recapture it back up here," Hart said. "That hasn't happened, but we haven't given up on him."

Sambito said he had talked with Hart, but the agent wouldn't discuss the nature of those talks or give any indication of what Rocker's plans were.

When asked Rocker's feelings about the demotion, Sambito said "it's a disappointment for him."

Hart said trading the reliever wasn't a likely option.

"My sense is that he's probably not a guy that with the performance that he's had right now, he's probably not going to be wildly in demand," Hart said.

Hart hoped to use Rocker as a setup man in the Rangers' bullpen, but injuries to closer Jeff Zimmerman and setup men Jay Powell and Rich Rodriguez, all who are on the disabled list, forced the Rangers to use Rocker as the closer.

"There's certainly some disappointment that it hasn't worked out," Hart said. "At the same time we've asked John to pitch in a very key role and that has probably magnified his mistakes.

"He's made way too many mistakes in the strike zone, and it's compounded because we're having to use him in the crisis situations," he said. "When you use him in the crisis and it doesn't work out, it's game over."

The Rangers went into Wednesday night's game at Anaheim with a five-game losing streak. They were 3-11 overall and already 8 1/2 games behind Seattle in the AL West, where they finished last each of the last two years.

There have been no signs of problems with his Texas teammates, but Rocker has had his troubles on the field.

On Tuesday night, Rocker gave up a one-out infield single to No. 9 hitter Jose Nieves and walked leadoff hitter David Eckstein before Darin Erstad lined a ball into the right field corner.

"It's just demoralizing," shortstop Alex Rodriguez said after the game. "This team has worked so hard, and we've been in so many games and to keep losing like this is just demoralizing."

In the ninth inning of Monday night's game at home against Seattle, Rocker had a throwing error that allowed the Mariners to take an 11-10 lead. The Rangers tied it in the bottom of the ninth, but lost 13-11 in 11 innings.

Hideki Irabu and Rudy Seanez are the likely options to fill the closer's role for now. The Rangers didn't plan to replace Rocker on the roster until Friday, since they had a day off after Wednesday night's game.

Hart doesn't know when to expect Rocker back in Texas.

"Ten days, two weeks, three weeks, a month, I don't know the timetable," Hart said. "We're certainly looking to have this guy return at some point."