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This sounds ominous

From the Texas Rangers' website:

Jason Botts is on his way to Triple-A Oklahoma. He'll join a crowded field of sluggers down there trying to earn playing time and the Rangers' attention.

* * *

"It's crowded, but hopefully we'll be able to clear that up soon," general manager Jon Daniels said.

There is no room at the big league level and none expected anytime soon.

That suggests that someone is probably going to be traded, I think.  The COF/1B/DH slots are manned right now by some combo of Nelson Cruz, Kevin Mench, Jason Botts, Nate Gold, and John Mayberry Jr., and the article says there's some interest from other teams in Mench, who hasn't done much thusfar.

 

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Comments

Display:

Mench

when does his clause kick in that he can opt for free agency if not on the 25man roster? Seems like it’s sometime in may

"When we're mad we'll use our words. Then the rest of the world will play nice with us. And the only boom-booms will be in our pants." - Ralph Wiggum

by rentz on May 8, 2008 8:11 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

For one thing

It could be some sort of hint as to Wash’s impending firing. With him would likely go Broussard, and the team may say ‘Screw it All’ and dangle puzzle parts galore for suitors. They give Cruz one more shot at the majors, hoping that his newfound plate discipline carries over to the ML level, release Mench, and probably call up Davis to AAA.

by BudLight on May 8, 2008 8:26 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't think Wash...

still being here has anything to do with Davis going up to AAA or Cruz getting another shot. Right now Boggs has more to do with Nellie’s future than anything. If he keeps playing well there is no room for Cruz.

Broussard is gone whether Wash stays or not imo.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on May 8, 2008 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

+1

"I hope it's a special dumb person hell so that I don’t have to meet up with you after I die."

- The D-tron

by Chase Irwin on May 8, 2008 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ominous probably wasn't the best choice of words

I just meant, it looks like someone in that group will be leaving the organization soon, based on Daniels’ comments.

by Adam J. Morris on May 8, 2008 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

On a somewhat related note....

JD has dictated that Cat/Shelton will be the 1B platoon. It may seem like JD is getting edgy with Wash, but JD did the same thing with Sosa situation last year. I wouldn’t read an imminent firing into this move. At this point, though, Wash can’t be too vocal if he’s unhappy about it, because if he were, it would hasten his departure. It’s hard to imagine anyone knocking on his door to ask him to manage anytime soon. Awkward move by JD, but the right move for now.

by rooster on May 8, 2008 8:30 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Amen...

...this is the only time RW will be above base coach.

As Barry White sang, “My first, my last, my everything.”

Right around the time all the young talent is ready to contend is when the organization will realize that Ron Washington is the wrong man for the job.

by Chad Crudup on May 8, 2008 9:04 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Time to clean house

and just get rid of dead wood.

Release Broussard already. Shelton can keep 1b warm until Davis is ready.

If someone will give Texas a flyer on some underachieving guy with a little bit of ability languishing in low-A somewhere, go ahead and move Mench for that.

Give Botts his release and let him go elsewhere.

I’d like to see them trade Cat ASAP, but I don’t think they can get anything in return. Remember in 2004 when the Rangers went looking for a “veteran left handed bat” and got Matt Stairs? What did they give up for him? Joselo Diaz. I don’t see that there’s a ton of difference in the value between Cat now and Stairs then.

I originally thought I’d be pissed if they sent Boggs down to make room for Byrd, but the more I think about it, I’d rather see them send Boggs down, play Byrd pretty much every day and hope he gets hot so that he can be traded in July. Boggs is going to be there in August and September (probably starting every day) and then next year (probably as the 4th OF).

by bronco28 on May 8, 2008 8:46 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Why just release Botts?

Why is that necessary?

There is no such thing as global warming. David Murphy was cold, so he turned the sun up.

by SarasotaRanger on May 8, 2008 8:57 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Seems you could

release Mench 1st.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on May 8, 2008 8:58 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't see where Botts or Mench fit in

Before long, you’d figure that the following guys would belong in the OKC OF mix:

Boggs, Harrison, S. Murphy, Mayberry and - I suppose - Jason Ellison.

1b: Gold and Davis.

C / DH: Max and Teagarden.

Where do Botts or Mench fit into that picture? If they’ve decided that he has no future here, what’s the point of hanging on to Botts? They’ll need the DH at-bats to spread around amongst the OF’s they need to look at and with Davis pushing his way through, there won’t be any at-bats at 1b for him. They certainly won’t need the extra body.

The Frisco OF guys will need to move on pretty soon. Harrison is getting old; Murphy will have had a season and a half in the Texas League. Mayberry is already up and they won’t demote him.

Borbon and Grant Gerrard will move on to Frisco when those guys clear out, probably joining Gentry. If they need the extra body, they can stick Truan Mehl in there or maybe even see if Herren can do anything. Gac will probably take Davis’s place and catching duties will probably be handled by Kevin Richardson and Hunter Harrigan.

by bronco28 on May 8, 2008 9:22 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yep...

try to get that ever so popular player to be named later for him or just release him. Then OKC isn’t so crowded. Until then just bench Gold, no big deal.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on May 8, 2008 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

How do you figure?

That Boggs will probably be starting every day?

I love BB as much as the next and have had my eye on him for a while, but he’s a 4th OF’er.

"I hope it's a special dumb person hell so that I don’t have to meet up with you after I die."

- The D-tron

by Chase Irwin on May 8, 2008 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

When Byrd comes back

I expect Boggs to still see considerable playing time. Byrd will be considered the 4th OFer with Bradley mostly DHing.

Brandon Boggs 2008 Texas Rangers ROY

by RangerMad on May 8, 2008 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

good

it’s nice that he’s been pigeonholed so quickly; solves the problem of finding out what he can actually do

getting Marlon Byrd back sure will help since Boggs can go back to OKC and learn how to be a 4th OF there

by bronco28 on May 8, 2008 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You must not have paid much attention to his career milb splits

I would link you, but I’m having a very hard time finding the right site.

Boggs is better from the right side vs. LHP, unfortunately.

"I hope it's a special dumb person hell so that I don’t have to meet up with you after I die."

- The D-tron

by Chase Irwin on May 8, 2008 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

wrong

i’ve paid a lot of attention to his splits

by bronco28 on May 8, 2008 7:48 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

And personally

I’d prefer for Byrd to be 50% DFA’d ;)

"I hope it's a special dumb person hell so that I don’t have to meet up with you after I die."

- The D-tron

by Chase Irwin on May 8, 2008 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Go ahead and Raise the Terror Threat level if you want...

but all you naysayers and Bottsians should take your medicine and realize he’s not the player you all thought he was and this team is starting to get a good taste of winning with him in the rearview mirror. Comparing this lineup vs the Mariners and it’s easy to see which team has some “fight” in it and which one is stuck in a downward cycle.

by Clubba Lane on May 8, 2008 8:47 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Trade Botts

I wonder if trading Botts would be easier now that he has cleared waivers. Botts seems like a player that fits the mold of the A’s (they don’t mind taking defensively limited players as long as they can contribute with the bat). Now that he has been outrighted to the minors, he won’t take up a spot on the 40 man roster, so even if he never develops power to go along with his patience, the A’s would stand to loose very little. I just don’t see Botts catching on with the Rangers again, so it might be worth considering to trade him.

by Excel Hearts Choi on May 8, 2008 9:25 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

why?

If a team traded for him, wouldn’t they do so to have him in the big leagues. That would require them to make a roster move to put him on the 40 man. Hes not young enough to trade for and hope he develops.

by bigsteve on May 8, 2008 9:27 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

since he cleared wavers, he would not have to be put on the 40 man.

He is just a minor player now.

Danks, Volquez, Galarraga and Young are GONE! GET OVER IT! Endless whining will not bring them back!

by LBBRangerFan on May 8, 2008 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

yeah

But why would a team trade for a 28 year old career minor leaguer? Its not like he is going to develop any more. Maybe you trade for him as a just in case but even then if you give him a shot you have to put him on the 40. If you trade for him to stick him in the minor leagues whats the point? And if you trade for him to be in the big leagues why didn’t you just claim him on waivers and not lose a player?

by bigsteve on May 8, 2008 9:38 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Because...

...they think that he might have something, and is worth stashing at AAA until later in the season. Or they think they can tweak his swing and make him more productive.

by Adam J. Morris on May 8, 2008 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

ok

I just don’t see a team trading for him at this age in hopes he develops more.

by bigsteve on May 8, 2008 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

it would be a very "inconsequential" trade

On the surface. But, with good scouting, they might be able to find a guy who they can do something with —in a Luis Mendoza sort of way.

The odds of hitting on something with long-term value among the players along the lines of what someone would offer for Mench, Botts (or Cat for that matter) are extremely low.

by bronco28 on May 8, 2008 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Um

where do you get that Botts is a 28-year old minor leaguer?

Everywhere I’ve checked, it says 27 for his age.

Not only that, I’ve also seen you say something about him turning 29 soon. You DO know he turns 29 in 2009, right?

R

by Requiem on May 8, 2008 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

after this year

I say that when I am referring to this next winter when he will be a 6 year minor league free agent. He will be a 28 year old who will turn 29 a couple months into the season with no major league success and no defensive position

by bigsteve on May 8, 2008 5:53 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Future

The A’s take on players like Cust and Thomas because they think they can get a year or two out of them. Collecting players with questions about their ability to maintain performance only makes sense if you cut bait and move on to the next. The A’s had their eye on Cust for a while. In fact, they signed him as a free agent in 2004, and then granted him free agency in 2005. The time was not yet right for Cust. The reacquired him in a trade with the Padres in 2007. Just because the A’s make a trade, does not mean that they will automatically promote him to the 25 man roster. It would be about controlling a player who the A’s think will one day contribute. Botts could be the next disposable player for Oakland.

by Excel Hearts Choi on May 8, 2008 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You can trade for him

use him as AAA depth if your current guys are terrible. Then if you wanted to bring him up for roster expansion you could.

I’d doubt any team would give up anything of value for him though.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on May 8, 2008 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

trade Botts

could it be that the other teams can look at Botts and say if he can’t play for the big club Texas Rangers and they DFA’ed him, what possible place should we make for him in our system?

yo soy Horsedooty!

I soloed in the mile high club.

by Sr Horsedooty on May 8, 2008 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sure makes a good argument

I’m sure Detroit thought that when they claimed Armando Galarraga.

R

by Requiem on May 8, 2008 5:48 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't think

the firing of Washington is imminient at all because JD NEVER likes to admit making a mistake.

If Washington survived the trip to Boston & Detroit, he’s going to be here for awhile.

The schedule is fairly squishy in the very near future although I’m not sure this team has played very well recenlty in Tampa, Minnesota or Cleveland .

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on May 8, 2008 10:13 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Help me out here
JD NEVER likes to admit making a mistake.

What is the underlying basis for this statement?

by Adam J. Morris on May 8, 2008 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

+1

Seems like random JD bashing. I believe that’s one piece of spaghhetti that won’t stick to the wall.

Right around the time all the young talent is ready to contend is when the organization will realize that Ron Washington is the wrong man for the job.

by Chad Crudup on May 8, 2008 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ditto

Actually I think he’s been more willing to admit mistakes than any Rangers’ GM since Grieve, and more than most MLB GMs. He has continually said the buck stops with him and admitted the SD trade was bad and it’s his fault.

...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.

by t ball on May 8, 2008 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

JD

said last year on Galloway that neither the Soriano nor McCarthy trade was a mistake. Of course, the team was close to 23-42 at the time so there was no way JD would admit he was wrong.

JD also stands by the Milwaukee trade. It seems to me that if JD had kept Soriano in his contract year (did you see the same 46 bombs & 30 Win Shares with the Nationals I saw?) , moved him to LF, he wouldn’t have had to deal for Carlos Lee and the very failed Nelson Cruz (who was given waaaaaaay too many chances to succeed only because JD was desperate to show success). That way he could have traded Cordero for something else, hopefully something healthy & productive that could help the team at the major league level win games.

Sammy Sosa or did you not see the less the .700 OPS (while hitting mostly clean-up) he had v. RH’s last year?

“I’m a Ron Washington Man.”

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on May 8, 2008 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

JD

First of all if he had kept Soriano he would have been at 2B not LF. You may fail to remember it took a lame duck manager literally writing his name down and telling him he would either play LF or sit the bench for Soriano to accept the change of position.

And you also fail to remember how bad Cordero was before he was traded. The only team that was going to trade for him was Milwaukee simply due to Doug Melvin being the GM. Melvin originally traded for Cordero when he was with Texas so he was able to look past that awful start and take a flyer on the guy.

by bigsteve on May 8, 2008 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The sosa problem

sounds like a manager problem. You neglected to mention that he flat raked versus lefties last year, and a competent manager would have platooned him.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on May 8, 2008 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

But didn't

JD say just last week that he was still “A Ron Washington Man”?

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on May 8, 2008 10:52 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

What is he supposed to say?

Unless he is ready to fire him 5 seconds later he has to say that Wash has his support.

Right around the time all the young talent is ready to contend is when the organization will realize that Ron Washington is the wrong man for the job.

by Chad Crudup on May 8, 2008 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Here's what you're really saying

Daniels will never admit when YOU think he has made a mistake.

...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.

by t ball on May 8, 2008 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

+1

As Nolan Ryan said to Norm, “Sounds good.”

Right around the time all the young talent is ready to contend is when the organization will realize that Ron Washington is the wrong man for the job.

by Chad Crudup on May 8, 2008 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Two things...

...the Milwaukee trade is a success.

And the Sosa fiasco smells a lot more like Hicks than JD.

Right around the time all the young talent is ready to contend is when the organization will realize that Ron Washington is the wrong man for the job.

by Chad Crudup on May 8, 2008 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

JD thrives

on not having any blame personally affixed to him. Ron Washington was his personal recommendation to Hicks and JD also signed off on Sosa being signed and how Washington used him.

JD also had this to say about the start of the 2007 season …” We’ve played well after what was basically a Murphy’s Law start to the season: injuries, poor performances, some critical pieces written (some deserved, some not).”

There was nothing Murphy’s Law about that 2007 team breaking the gate 23-42. It was piece of shit from the get-go constructed by JD and putting Ron Washington in charge only made it worse.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on May 8, 2008 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You thrive

on having a target to assign blame to when the problems are really much more complicated. You’re the kind of person that burns witches.

...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.

by t ball on May 8, 2008 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well

You had three guys who you, not unreasonably, were expecting to be decent starters for you (Millwood, Padilla, and McCarthy) fall completely on their face at the start of last season.

That’s a bit of a Murphy’s Law situation.

by Adam J. Morris on May 8, 2008 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

So you believe last

year’s team was well constructed and the team suffered mostly from bad luck?

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on May 8, 2008 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah kinda

Your 15 and 16 game winners from the previous season come in and suck. Two career .300 hitters are hitting .200 at the end of April. Blalock has a rare injury. The way they played from mid June on was how it was envisioned they would play from the get go. Solid pitching, Tex with power, Young with average, Lofton using his speed, Gagne saving games.

by bigsteve on May 8, 2008 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I guess "bigsteve"

doesn’t think having a good defensive OF is a good idea. C’mon, what the bleep else was going to happen with an OF of Wilkerson, a 40 year old Lofton, spot play from a 38 year old Sosa and the ultimate $ 100 million airport with the $ 100 control tower known as Nelson Cruz.

When you think about it, wasn’t JD expecting waaaaaaay too many people to do things in 2007 they had not done the year previous or in some cases, EVER in their careers?

Putting Ron Washington in charge of that mess was exactly why that team broke the gate 23-42.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on May 8, 2008 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

JD

What does the defensive outfield have do with anything? This year we have a far superior defensive outfield and still got off to a slow start.

And JD wasn’t expecting players to do something they hadn’t ever done in their careers. He expected Micheal Young to do better than .200 through May 1. He expected Cat, a career .300 hitter, to do better than .180 through June. He expected Millwood and Padilla, who combined for 31 wins the previous year, to do better than a combined 4-12 6.51 ERA. He expected Blalock to play past the middle of May. And on and on and on.

And he expected his new manager who was highly regarded by tons of people all over baseball for his defensive instruction and approach to the game to have a team that didn’t make alot of errors. Add in some of the injuries to guys that hadn’t been injured before and yeah I think it was reasonable to expect a competitive team. We saw that once everyone got things turned around. This club had the 2nd best record in baseball over about a 4-6 week stretch during the season if I recall correctly.

by bigsteve on May 8, 2008 4:50 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Last years team

was essentially a 500 team that got off to a horrible start. Outside of May last year, they were .500 almost the rest of the year.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on May 8, 2008 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The 2006 team

was essentially a .500 team.

The 2007 team was missing several key pieces from 2006 and most of their replacements (including the manager) were inferior which is exactly why they finished 75-87.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on May 8, 2008 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

If you think JD had the authority...

...to stop Hicks from signing his ticket and t-shirt selling machine or from hiring his low-ball target for manager then I think you grossly miscalculate how things run in that organization.

Right around the time all the young talent is ready to contend is when the organization will realize that Ron Washington is the wrong man for the job.

by Chad Crudup on May 8, 2008 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's pointless to fight with Josey

He’s still upset about 2007 for some reason. To him, the GM has more authority than an owner; and he doesn’t like major-league for minor-league deals.

I think there is a team in the Bronx who would suit your tastes, Josey.

by cmkelly29 on May 8, 2008 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I like

major league for minor league deals that work.

That means success at the major league level. Running around with your headlights on because Baseball Prospectus says you have 5 (nobody higher than 48) of the top 100 prospects in baseball does very little for me.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on May 8, 2008 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You sure don't act like it

and

30. Neftali Feliz, rhp, Rangers

You need to understand the value of a guy like Lofton on a team like the 2007 Rangers. It’s really not all that hard.

by cmkelly29 on May 8, 2008 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Lofton

was much to blame as anybody if not more so for this team being out of contention by June 1.

He sucked all year defensively and was mediocre with the stick up to that point of the season.

As for Max Ramirez….we’ll see. He’s doing well in Frisco but there’s a reason that both Atlanta & Cleveland gave up on him.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on May 8, 2008 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

then how would you build this organization JW?

Do you really believe in all free agents, all the time?

Or would you try to acquire as many 1st round picks as you can, trade away every veteran part you have for the best prospects you can get, and try to put together an organization that feeds itself with the produce from it’s own farm?

by bronco28 on May 8, 2008 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

hmmm

he’s been very public about admitting his mistake in the San Diego trade.

Like Adam and most other people here, Daniels still thinks that Danks / Masset – McCarthy is something that he would do again. Adam liked the deal then and likes the deal now; so I guess that one wasn’t a “mistake.”

The other deal that was arguably a “mistake” was the Soriano deal, but was there a better offer out there? He moved that salary to free up the money to sign Millwood, which - I think - was not a mistake at all. So should he admit that it was a mistake to trade Soriano so he could sign Millwood?

The Cordero / Mench / Nix – Lee / Cruz deal ultimately netted Blake Beavan and Julio Borbon. It was a no-lose proposition. Either Lee was instrumental in pushing the club forward in a pennant race, or he delivered two first-round picks to an organization that desperately needed all the first round picks it could come up with to revive a deplorable farm system.

Was the Teixeira deal a mistake? The Gagne deal?

by bronco28 on May 8, 2008 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Teixeira deal

is to be determined but then again I’m crazy and like to see success at the major league level. Traditionally, the team that trades a HOF or HOF potential player usually sucks it for several years afterwards but we’ll see.

JD played the Gagne deal well in getting a modest package back but if signing Gagne for $ 8 million and expecting him to be a good pitcher (and help the team win) for the Rangers for 162 games, it wasn’t a very good signing.

To put it another way, it wasn’t a very good signing but he had a nice recovery.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on May 8, 2008 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

So I guess you would have rather seen...

...the Rangers keep Teixeira, win about 6-7 extra games from Aug. 07-Oct. 08, and then get a couple of draft picks after he left in free agency.

Right around the time all the young talent is ready to contend is when the organization will realize that Ron Washington is the wrong man for the job.

by Chad Crudup on May 8, 2008 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Outfield/FB/DH depth

Here’s what the Rangers are looking at as far as their teams:

Majors:
Hamilton, D Murphy, Boggs, Byrd (dl), Bradley, Catalanotto, Shelton, Broussard

AAA:
Ellison, Mench, Cruz, Mayberry, Botts, Gold

AA:
S Murphy, Gentry, Majewski, Davis, Harrison, Ramirez

High A:
Gerrard, Borbon, Mehl, Harren, Tracy, Gomez, Restko

Low A:
Beltre, Smith, Alfonzo, Paisano, Gac, Santana, Moreland

ok, where is the upward pressure? Starting at the bottom, Ian Gac has to be promoted, whether its to Bakersfield or all the way to Frisco, is the only thing up for debate. I might skip him over Chad Tracy and the guys at A ball since none of them are really hitting, or maybe even demote someone from there back to Clinton (Chad Tracy being the only one who comes to mind. none of them are really prospects). Beltre is still fine in Clinton, but Timothy smith could bubble up a level pushing KC Harren back down. At High A, no one really stands out, but You could push Borbon since he’s on the 40 anyway and his service clock is ticking.

That means that there’s really only two slots that need to be pushed from AA, obviously those are Chris Davis and Steven Murphy. What about Ben Harrison you say? well, he’s 26, he’s in AA, so, either you bring him all the way up or just leave him be. Plus he hasn’t had all that many PA’s so sample sizes can apply.

So that leaves AAA, and making room for 2 slots there. Easy. Release Broussard and Mench (I think though that they are waiting for Byrd to come back from the DL before releasing Broussard.) But, if you Release Broussard and Mench, Bring up Cruz, you now have room to put Botts back in the Outfield in AAA with Ellison and Steven Murphy, and John Mayberry, with Nate Gold at DH and Chris Davis at first. You add Cruz to your major league roster as 4th outfielder (now that Cat is backup first baseman, and if Cruz doesn’t hit, release him when Byrd comes back. If he does hit, then DFA/trade/release Cat.

But JD is no dummy and I’m sure that this is exactly what he’ll do.

by iblum on May 8, 2008 10:37 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

So who gets

traded?

The right thing to do is find Jason Botts a new start.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on May 8, 2008 11:28 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Right thing to do?

No, the right thing to do was give Botts the DH job out of ST in 2007, this entire argument would have been resolved by the end of the season.

The right thing to do would involve Tom Hicks personally apologizing to Jason Botts.

by cmkelly29 on May 8, 2008 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The right thing to do

was for Jason Botts to hit above replacement level, considering he can’t field anywhere.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on May 8, 2008 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well they gave him a shot to win the DH job in ST last year...

and gave it Sosa on March 15th… He never had a chance. The word was Sosa cheated on fastballs the entire spring anyways.

He barely played the field, and served as much purpose on this team as Botts did defensively. At least you could put Botts at 1B in a pinch.

Sosa drove in runs, but who’s to say a hot ST wouldn’t have led to Botts starting out the regular season on a tear?

Hicks + Wash fucked him, that’s it.

by cmkelly29 on May 8, 2008 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Not to mention

It was pretty obvious Teixeira was gone if we were out of contention by mid-season. Playing Botts regularly would have answered the question “If we trade Teixeira, can Botts’ production take over at 1B regularly?”

If the answer was no, then you play Wilkerson/Cat at 1B, and Sosa in right. If the answer was yes, Botts stays @ 1B and Sosa is your DH.

by cmkelly29 on May 8, 2008 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Apparently

they played Botts enough to answer the question in the minds of JD, Washington, Rudy, and the 29 other GMs who let him slide through waivers.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on May 8, 2008 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's not the point

We’re talking 2007, not 2008.

by cmkelly29 on May 8, 2008 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Who really gives a crap.

Botts was given multiple callups, at least 4, and probably more, and he screwed the pooch in all of them. I think if they had him starting the year last year, its just another time he screws the pooch.

I just don’t have that much patience for the argument that the Rangers just didn’t bend over to kiss the ass of a 76 OPS+ DH. Botts had multiple opportunities, and screwed everyone of them up. Sucks to be him.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on May 8, 2008 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I do...

because 2008 transactions have little to do with 2007 opening day rosters, unless a trend continued into the current season.

Look, Botts isn’t a good major leaguer. I’m going to admit that. However, coming into last season, we didn’t know for sure.

He’s a useful AAA filler NOW, but in the spring of 2007 he was more than that. If 90 major league plate appearances is your tool for evaluation, that’s fine. I don’t agree with it, but I’m cool with it.

Did he perform poorly last season? Yes. In the end, was Sosa a better option to start the year? Sure.

At the time the decision was being made, it was the wrong move. I’m sorry, but that’s just my opinion. If you feel differently, then I agree to disagree.

by cmkelly29 on May 8, 2008 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'll ask you this:

Do you think Sosa was brought in to help the team win, or as a marketing tool?

by cmkelly29 on May 8, 2008 3:35 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Probably to help the team win.

They were actually trying to win last year, I believe. I think that the consensus of Rudy, Washington and JD was that Sosa was the better hitter.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on May 8, 2008 5:00 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

At first

At first I think it was a marketing ploy to get attention to spring training. The guy was a 38 year old who hadn’t played baseball in over a year and the last time he did play he was really bad. I honestly don’t think they had any idea he would come in and have anywhere near the success he had. Once he had his amazing spring I think they kept him to try and win. They were not in rebuilding mode yet and Sosa provided the best chance to win. Once we started rebuilding and couldn’t trade Sosa we benched him.

by bigsteve on May 8, 2008 5:14 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Botts

He wasn’t a 1B before this spring. If Sosa was cheating on fastballs he did a damn good job of it. Maybe Botts should have learned from the guy. But the fact is Sosa showed power and Botts didn’t which is what you want from your DH.

by bigsteve on May 8, 2008 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

He's played 1B

almost every year since 2001.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on May 8, 2008 5:01 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Umm not really

He didn’t play 1B at all in 2005 and only 18 games in 2006 there.

by bigsteve on May 8, 2008 5:17 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Eh...

yeah, what Cahill said.

by cmkelly29 on May 8, 2008 5:10 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Cheating on a fastball

You wouldn’t cheat on something to do worse, would you?

by cmkelly29 on May 8, 2008 5:16 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Huh?

If Sosa cheated he did a good job cheating because he punished the fastballs he did see. Sosa hit 5 home runs in spring training and Botts didn’t hit any. Sorry I just can’t see the justification to keep Botts

by bigsteve on May 8, 2008 5:19 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Botts fucked himself

He had 190 Plate appearances, and put up a sparkling 76 OPS+. Sosa played a much better RF than Botts can play in LF.

Sosa hit .328/.410/.613 against lefties last year, and was one of the premier platoon bats against lefties. At least he fulfilled some function in a lineup.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on May 8, 2008 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You can't use Sosa's regular season stats

as an argument for giving him a spot out of ST.

Maybe Botts had turned the corner in the spring?

You think Sosa had that spot won by March 15th? That’s crazy.

by cmkelly29 on May 8, 2008 1:36 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, sure

Botts turned the corner in spring. Then he raked in AAA. Then he freaking froze like a deer in the headlights when he got called up.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on May 8, 2008 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Spring training

Sosa hit something like .400/ .500/ .600 in spring. While Botts hit something like .350/ .400/ .400. For someone whos sole job is to hit that isn’t going to cut it. Im sorry.

by bigsteve on May 8, 2008 4:56 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

And

Botts has a craptastically long swing, and Rudy doesn’t seem to be a fan of his.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on May 8, 2008 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Because

he is useful AAA filler.

He is the poster child, along with Nelson Cruz, of a AAAA player. AAAA players don’t cost you anything to keep in the organization, so why cut them loose?

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on May 8, 2008 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Botts

Yep, DJ I agree. His fate was in his hands and he did not deliver last year or this year with the big club. Life in the bigs is cruel and if you don’t deliver you can’t stay. If Botts came in here and hit .295 with 15 HRs I would think he would be here now as DH. The fact remains that he did not hit his weight and that is enough to get him DFA’ed given his unremarkable fielding skills.

yo soy Horsedooty!

I soloed in the mile high club.

by Sr Horsedooty on May 8, 2008 12:41 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I vote

to rename this thread the Josey Wales hates Daniels and Cahill hates Botts post.

...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.

by t ball on May 8, 2008 1:57 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

And add to that name that Chad Crudup hates t ball...

...because you say the things I want to say better than I can say them myself!

Right around the time all the young talent is ready to contend is when the organization will realize that Ron Washington is the wrong man for the job.

by Chad Crudup on May 8, 2008 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

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