For all the Twitter angst and #freewillie hashtags and complaints about Carlos Tocci, Willie Calhoun was not going to be promoted to the Texas Rangers’ roster without a chance to play every day.
Club brass, from the front office to the coaching staff, doesn’t see the value in bringing developing players up for only a handful of games and maybe a couple at-bats. They need to play, not be taken out of the routine that is helping them grow into major-leaguers.
But a chance for everyday at-bats came about Friday. Nomar Mazara needs time on the disabled list to let his sprained right thumb heel, and Shin-Soo Choo is healthy enough to play the outfield again after dealing with a strained right quadriceps.