On Botts

by Adam J. Morris on Jun 11, 2007 11:04 AM CDT in News

I think Jason Botts should have started the season on the 25 man roster, getting the bulk of the DH playing time. Obviously, I still think that is the case.

That being said, I do think I understand why the Rangers didn't call up Botts this past weekend when Mark Teixeira went on the disabled list.

Two things here...number one, Botts has altered his swing, so that his swing is shorter. I have to think that, given that he's been using this new swing for about two months, the Rangers would prefer that he continue to play every day, even in the minors, rather than get part-time playing time in the majors.

The other issue is that, with the Rangers playing in National League parks this week, there isn't going to be a designated hitter, which makes playing time for Botts even more scarce. I don't think you want to call him up so that he can pinch hit once every game.

Now, you can argue that Botts should be starting every game next week at first base, and that Brad Wilkerson should be on the bench pinch hitting instead. And again, I think he should have been up here DHing on Opening Day.

But I don't think the fact that Travis Metcalf got the call instead of Botts is necessarily a sign that the Rangers aren't going to look at Botts this year. I think that, by July 4, Botts will be up and DHing on a regular basis.

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We have to wait until......

Sammy hits 600 to see Botts. The way he's playing it may happen sometime in September.

by bdavison94 on Jun 11, 2007 11:00 AM CDT reply actions

Let's...

FREAKING hope so. This season has been and continues to be a disaster.

"Chip" first person on LSB to be berated by someone on the 25-man roster. - RangerMoto

by ortonius on Jun 11, 2007 11:07 AM CDT reply actions

Botts

the only thing keeping him from being a great hitter was his long swing. now that he's fixed that he should be called up quickly.

"My theory of hitting was just to watch the ball as it came in and hit it." --Tommy Lasorda

by BReed on Jun 11, 2007 11:08 AM CDT reply actions

Welcome back Adam

Here's to Sammy's release!

by BudLight on Jun 11, 2007 11:23 AM CDT reply actions

Botts..

That is the exact question I posed to Evan Grant for this week's newsletter.

by Topgun22 on Jun 11, 2007 11:48 AM CDT reply actions

Sure would like to see Metcalf out there soon.

His first two games were spent on the bench.

People rarely live up to their baby pictures.

by rooster on Jun 11, 2007 11:49 AM CDT reply actions

Isnt Botts out of options?

if so, wouldnt he have to remain on the roster from here on out if he is called up?

Either way, Im all for seeing the big guy up as soon as interleague is over, as well as seeing Metcalf playing every day.

by Nichols22 on Jun 11, 2007 12:59 PM CDT reply actions

He is currently in the minors on an option

and options last whole years, so they can bring him up or send him down, and it doesn't impact his option status.

Mitt Romney should "get out his small-varmint gun and drive those Guatemalans off his lawn" -- Sen John McCain

by DJCahill on Jun 11, 2007 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions

July

That's my prediction as well. By then, his swing will be more solidified, interleague won't be a concern, and hopefully Sosa will have hit #600 and be gone.

It would not surprise me if it is late July, though while they attempt to get something - anything - in return for Sosa on the trade market. I think they're hoping he'll go on a hot streak and increase his value.

by t ball on Jun 11, 2007 2:13 PM CDT reply actions

Isn't it pretty to think so?

I doubt we'll ever see Jason Botts get a real chance here.

And that's too freaking bad.

I've defended JD too long. This Botts/Sosa ordeal has pushed me over the edge.

Fire John F'ing Daniels.

Free Jason Botts. Now.

by thedirkatron on Jun 11, 2007 3:28 PM CDT reply actions

fire 'em all

start from the top - get Hicks out of there. have a new owner come in and fire JD, Washington, Jaramillo, all of them...don't leave anybody here at all. trade everybody you can get value for, cut the dead weight and start over from scratch.

"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."

by Walter Sobchak on Jun 11, 2007 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions

If only it was so easy

to fire an owner. We would all be goofing off at work posting on blogs.

by shallrelicme on Jun 11, 2007 3:55 PM CDT up reply actions

you mean we aren't already?

"Pimps be damned, it's harder out here for a Rangers fan!" "If you don't throw strikes first, you're last."

by rentz on Jun 11, 2007 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions

I SECOND THAT !!

out with the SCRUBS and in with the STUDS ! Starting with that SCRUB of an owner...perhaps he should get this right before taking on other endeavors...

GayRangerFan

by RangerDisaster on Jun 11, 2007 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions

botts

i'm starting to agree with adam's point on this.
He started using a new swing, so the org probably wants him getting consistent at bats with the swing, and with the NL roadtrip he probably wouldnt get that (though i still say throw him at 1b)

if he isn't called up by the asb i will be very pissed.

"Pimps be damned, it's harder out here for a Rangers fan!" "If you don't throw strikes first, you're last."

by rentz on Jun 11, 2007 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Well

This roster sucks. We brought in two guys who can't field to save their lives (Cat and Sosa), and who don't hit better than the much cheaper in house option we already had at DH.

This whole Botts mismanagement has been the final straw for me.

John Daniels needs to go. He has no idea how to judge his own resources and put together a proper roster.

Free Jason Botts. Now.

by thedirkatron on Jun 11, 2007 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Anyone catch Hicks w/ Babe Laufenberg last night?

Riveting...makes you want to puke. Check it out. Web Extra: Rangers Owner Tom Hicks Gets Candid

http://cbs11tv.com/video/?cid=28

by Avery210 on Jun 11, 2007 3:53 PM CDT reply actions

What exactly is wrong with it?

I agree with everything he said. His comments were levelheaded and pretty fair I thought. What exactly did you not like? What do you think he should have said differently?

by t ball on Jun 11, 2007 4:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Hicks

My comment had nothing to do with what he said wrong. He was fine. The Chris Young part of it made me want to puke. I do like hearing him say "we blew it." Just hate that it's true. That's what I was trying to say in my post.

by Avery210 on Jun 11, 2007 6:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Ah, got you

in that case, I agree. It's kind of like something you did when you were a kid that's so embarrassing it still pains you to think about it much later.

by t ball on Jun 11, 2007 10:32 PM CDT up reply actions

Juan Gonzalez and steriods

This was a two-part interview that was aired during the game last night. I was flipping channels back and forth trying hear the interview and watch the game.

One thing that caught my ear during the second part of the interview was when Babe asked Hicks something about the worst decisions that he had made as the Rangers owner. He first said that giving CHOP a big contract was like "throwing away 65 million dollars. Next, I thought I understood him to say that the next worst thing he had done was to give Juan a $24 million contract "when he was coming off steriods". Maybe I misunderstood what he was saying. Did anybody else hear this? Was he ever caught using steroids? I've asked channel 11 to put the second half of the interview on their website so that I can hear it again.

I believe that Hicks also had some less than flattering words towards John Hart regarding Hart's dodging of the media.

I thought Babe did a good job with the interview. IMO he is by far the best of the DFW sportscasters.

by pfrog on Jun 11, 2007 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions

After the ASB..

If we aren't seeing Botts, Byrd, Diaz, every day, I will be upset, but I am willing to give JD until the ASB (or a little after) to figure out the trade market.

by Topgun22 on Jun 11, 2007 4:36 PM CDT reply actions

yeah

thats what i was saying above, i'll give it till the asb. naturally i'd like to see that kind of lineup now....but i'll give it time.

"Pimps be damned, it's harder out here for a Rangers fan!" "If you don't throw strikes first, you're last."

by rentz on Jun 11, 2007 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions

It really is amazing

That a team can pretend to be serious about winning when a) they have Sosa on the 25 man roster and b) actually has him batting cleanup.

That's regardless of Jason Botts presence.

www.mavsmoneyball.com

by Wes Cox on Jun 11, 2007 5:36 PM CDT reply actions

Sosa

I really wish someone would yank down that 600 homerun countdown they keep showing during games. Either that or put a banner right next to it that keeps a count of how many of his home runs were steroid/cork aided.

Milk, milk, lemonade, around the corner fudge is made.

by LoneStarBallUser on Jun 11, 2007 5:39 PM CDT up reply actions

LEWIN

thinks that is the best thing to every happen the little wimp

by kaiser on Jun 11, 2007 5:59 PM CDT up reply actions

weird

anti-steroid comment?

are we counting beanies for jackson?

Forget Johnny Bench, we got Gerry "the Jet" Laird

by ab03 on Jun 11, 2007 6:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Platoon him

Put Sosa in only versus lefties. He's hit .340/.448/.617 against lefties this year, and he's always hit lefties better. The problem isn't Sosa blocking Botts, it's Cat. What do you do with him if Botts is DHing every day? I guess Cat can play in the OF, but is he a better fielder and hitter than Byrd? I would believe that Cat, when healthy, will come closer to his career numbers, but I think he's a liability in L. But even when healthy, I don't think Cat will be good enough to justify him clogging up the DH spot.

Well Mr. Burns had done it. The power plant had won it. With Roger Clemens clucking all the while.

by WyoRanger on Jun 11, 2007 6:10 PM CDT reply actions

Not a bad idea

Sosa's platoon splits are indeed good. And since Cat's strictly a platoon guy from the other side, they seem to match up well.

Once we deal Tex (assuming we don't get any COF/1b types back in return), I'd really like to see us run out an everyday lineup of:

Sosa and Cat platooning in left. Sure the defense would be atrocious... but
Give Marlon Byrd the full time CF job. See what we've got in this guy. Who knows, maybe he's finally found "it". He's always had the talent.
Give Victor Diaz the full time RF job. Time to see what we got.
Jason Botts should start every game at DH for the rest of the year. Time to see what we got.
Wilkerson as our everyday 1b. It's harder to get inured playing first. Right...?

I'm officially on the bandwagon: FIRE JOHN DANIELS!!!

by thedirkatron on Jun 11, 2007 6:23 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm starting

the let's see Nate Gold sometime this year. Maybe around Aug.1 if he maintains what he's done the last month or so, let's see him get some AB's. He's a guy, kinda like Botts, who wasn't a prospect, but has gotten a little better every year.

Chris Young/Adrian Gonzalez for Aki Otsuka, the new Sammy Sosa/Wilson Alvarez for Harold Baines

by badradiorules on Jun 11, 2007 7:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Gold? No thanks.

Only in desparation. He's 27 tomorrow and had his career year in Frisco last year. I think maybe you call him up in September just so he can get a little service time as a favor.

by t ball on Jun 11, 2007 10:30 PM CDT up reply actions