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Rangers Send Chris Davis Down

Posted on July 5th, 2009 10:34pm by Evan Grant
Filed under Rangers notes

Jeff Miller, texting from the bowels of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, reports the Rangers have sent 1B Chris Davis down. Details to come. Davis and Justin Smoak are expected to split playing time at 1B and DH at Oklahoma City. Hank Blalock will take over at first base for the Rangers for the time being.

The move was predicated by the impending activation of Josh Hamilton, who is expected to join the team in Los Angeles on Monday.

20 Comments to “Rangers Send Chris Davis Down”

texaslifter @ July 5th, 2009 at 10:39 pm

Good move, Rangers.
Greg @ July 5th, 2009 at 10:42 pm

I hope that means that whichever of Davis/Smoak isn’t playing first base will be DHing. Don’t need to take AAA AB’s away from either of those guys.

The thought of Hank playing 1B full time is somewhat terrifying.
Chris Hartman @ July 5th, 2009 at 10:43 pm

I think it’s the right move for the team. Best of luck to Chris Davis. Hopefully, he can rebuild his swing and confidence and be ready to contribute in a pennant race in September.
cdh @ July 5th, 2009 at 10:44 pm

While I agree that he needs to make adjustments and get his confidence back, this will make the infield defense weaker. Also having Smoak and Davis @ Ok City is somewhat puzzling.
Greg @ July 5th, 2009 at 10:47 pm

Also, does Davis going down instead of Borbon mean Hamilton is going to DH more? Seems to be the case with Blalock playing first on a full time basis.
rob m @ July 5th, 2009 at 10:49 pm

Wish they had sent him to Frisco.
RyanC @ July 5th, 2009 at 10:50 pm

I hope Davis can get his stuff all worked out in AAA, quickly. Wonder how many games til we notice him gone defensively?
Sam @ July 5th, 2009 at 10:51 pm

With any luck, we will see Byrd in center, Hamilton in right or left, and Cruz wherever Hamilton isn’t. Borbon can come in to spell Hamilton when they want to give him a day off or they need a lefty DH and David Murphy isn’t in a position.
Old Tom @ July 5th, 2009 at 10:52 pm

This is the right move. It’s just gone on too long. Davis needs to get out of the bright lights and go back to basics while he’s still young. Hank needs to develop his defense at 1B for the rest of his career also. We need Hank to help the team, to help a trade, and/or to get good draft choices at the end of the year.
Leemer in Austin @ July 5th, 2009 at 10:54 pm

Crud.
Ryans Dad @ July 5th, 2009 at 10:55 pm

I think it’s one thing for a veteran to set the K record for a single season. It’s another thing to let a 2nd year player, he would never recover. Smart move and I think good timing. Best of luck to Davis, he is a favorite of mine and I want him to do good. Godspeed.
cdh @ July 5th, 2009 at 10:58 pm

The more I think about this move, which I agree needed to be made, the more I’m confused about them both being in Oklahoma City. Didn’t they just promote Smoak on July 4th? If so, does that mean they didn’t think of sending Davis down until today?
Malone @ July 5th, 2009 at 11:00 pm

Evan what do they do if he goes down and struggles more? I really hope he gets this worked out
Skeptical @ July 5th, 2009 at 11:04 pm

Tough decision. Hope that Blalock’s defense, or lack thereof, doesn’t cost too many games. At least the offense will be better. Back to the good old days of 12-10 scores.
Matt ryan @ July 5th, 2009 at 11:22 pm

To Triple AAA is the right place to go. Usually AAA pitching is full of veterans trying to get their careers back on track. He needs to see that kind of pitching as opposed to AA pitching.
Redcaps @ July 5th, 2009 at 11:32 pm

AAA also has a lot of young prospect pitchers putting the finishing touches on their stuff before being called to the majors.
Rangers Fan @ July 6th, 2009 at 12:02 am

I’ll first throw out that I am a huge Chris Davis fan….so while I understand the move, it also terrifies me. Yes he needs to work his swing/confidence out but Blalock at first will cost this team. Not only does he pale in comparison to Davis in the field but he hasn’t been an offensive threat. He had 3 good games…and now 2 bad ones and we feel good with him at first? This move will hurt. Maybe it will payoff in the long run with a confident hitting CD back…but at the moment. Our pitchers better be on their A- game cuz they won’t be getting in stretch outs a first.
linguist @ July 6th, 2009 at 8:25 am

OK Sports fans, time to send the intestinal refernce down to Oklahoma too.
Jon @ July 6th, 2009 at 8:25 am

With Davis at 1B you get excellent defense, but poor hitting. At least that’ sumthin’.

With Blalcok at 1B you get nuthin’.

Somthin’ beats nuthin’

Poor move in a very tight race for the division. Better to have just waited on Smoak.
jolene @ July 8th, 2009 at 1:10 am

Im so mad that yall sent him to AAA he makes up for the hitting in the out fild…. he makes plays like no other on first base… I think the batting coach sould have worked with him befor he got this bad…. an maybe he needs a new batting couch but dont send him back down… I go to all the games i can an i never miss one on tv because of him… it bites big ones that yall would do that to the best first base man i think yall have ever had…. boo on who sent him away….