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@Evan,

I cane to this same epiphany this week. I believe it was the morning of the walk off homerun. No, I wasn’t clairvoyant – I hadn’t really changed my stance or frustration with Blalock, but I had seen enough of Davis to decide he wasn’t going to “fix” this playing every day here and that we were now entering the territory where we were potentially destroying the guy. While I still wanted a rental (Nick Johnson) at 1B, evidently the Nat’s just wanted too much for him (which we would be crazy to succomb to). Besides, there is no way we’re taking on payroll without moving Hank and there is no way anyone’s taking Hank unless he starts hitting and why would we trade him if he starts hitting?

So, what I came to by default was to play Blalock every day until the trade deadline (personally, I would still release Jones and give those ABs to Borbon, but that’s a different issue). I would send Davis down all the way to A ball (perhaps even Arizona), and let him work back up level by level (like we did with Volquez and the Jays did with Halladay). I would re-assess at 7/31. I would keep Smoak in AAA until mid August, at which point he would have around 400-450 minor league ABs.

And I would go from there.

It sure seams that’s what the team might be looking to do, though they may go your approach of letting Davis work on the issues here, on the bench. Here is my problem with that – this is a mechanical AND confidence thing. Rudy might fix the mechanics, but sitting isn’t going to fix the confidence. I would break the guy down and re-build him. If he makes it back by August, great. If not, I would send him to Winter Ball and get ready for 2010.

In any event, the good news is that it looks like Blalock is over his own awful June. And while you’re right – we’ll never see the old Hank again, he can give us just enough (Carlos Pena type numbers) and more than Davis.

Evan, I respectfully disagree.

While enduring this month-long offensive slump by the entire team (Murphy excluded), the reasons that the Rangers did not completely fade away from meaningful late-season games are as follows: pitching and defense.

Sometimes we get too bogged down in tradition and stereotypes, such as corner infielders must be sluggers. (What about 3B?) There have been many division winners, however, that have a weak offensive link in the infield. Granted, it is usually the shortstop position (Walt Weiss and Bucky Dent come to mind). but how many errors has our struggling first baseman saved our rookie shortstop?

If I were running this team, Davis would be my first baseman until Smoak is deemed ready.

Blalock can DH, riding this hot streak. I would not put him in the field on a full time basis. He seems to have warmed to this role.

Pitching and defense. Please don’t change course now.

I agree, play blalock every day. send davis down and let him get his confidence back.

Great points Evan. Davis needs to go down and have some success before he is lost.

[...] In case, you haven’t read it, I’ve got some opinions to share on playing time for Hank Blalock, Andruw Jones and Chris [...]

adios gives the painful truth…..if the veterans get the nod then tommy hunter should get the nod and put derek in the bullpen……

[...] • Boxscore, Standings • Grant: Rangers should make everyday “Veterans’ Day” for the next [...]

Oh dear…here it comes. What will truly lead to an implosion (one I still believe won’t come if we stay the course). If the Rangers let bats decide who plays…we are done. Our defense and pitching is why we are here. Not because Hank gets hot for what…the first time all year? Jone is one of the worst hitters since April. So Blalock is hot for…4 games? Remember the mini Chris Davis hit streak vs. Boston/New York? It’s only a matter of time until Hank gets homerun happy again (he already started that tonight) He’s also terrible in the field…so pencil in a few errors for the rest of the infield that Davis saves (as Washington has also pointed out). So if we get offense enamored and abandon taking into consideration who saves hits and runs….let the free fall begin…Here’s to hoping Washington is smarter.

Thanks, Evan, I’m glad somebody else noticed that Blalock changed after that Home Run Derby. I would argue that it almost did the same to Juan Gonzalez (his avg. went way down after his first Derby). Do you think it has had an affect on Hamilton? What are his numbers since the Derby appearance ?

badspellr hit the nail on the head.

“Blalock’s OBP is .293 and is a butcher at first base. End of conversation.”

At least Davis plays excellent defense.

How long till the Rangers call up Smoak?

Quite the year for first year players: Andrus, Holland, Borbon, and soon Smoak.

The weakness in the parent club has created numerous opportunities which underssoress the need to retain and not flip minor league playerss.

[...] be told, Evan had been campaigning for Hank Blalock to get the gig at first base anyway, but the move certainly rasies questions. Like whether keeping Borbon on the bench as a pinch [...]