Andruw Jones Or Frank Catalanotto? Texas Still Isn't Sure.

With one player you can pretty much pencil in a .280/.290 batting average and a steady, team first attitude. With the other, there's as great a chance for 30 homeruns and a Gold Glove as there is that he'll hit .200 and never be a factor for a team in need of a few lucky breaks this season. Such is the decision facing the Rangers with regard to the ongoing battle between Frank Catalanotto and Andruw Jones for the final spot on their bench.



Both Andruw Jones and Frank Catalanotto have had interesting springs. Catalanotto has been impressive with the bat, hitting .323. Jones, who started off very slowly, seems to have really taken to hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo's attention and has made some amazing improvement since the start of camp.

The two players could not be more different. Jones is a 'feast or famine' type of hitter, swinging out of his shoes. Cat is a selective, patient gap hitter. While Jones is a 10 time Gold Glove award winner, Cat has been a player without a true position for all of his career. While Jones would provide Texas a powerful right-handed bat, Catalanotto bats left-handed and can also play first base when needed. Both men seem willing to accept a role as a bench player but Catalanotto has been the only one of the two to have ever had any success in the role as Jones has been an everyday player his entire career.



Despite Catalanotto's spring, it seems as though the Rangers might be leaning ever so slightly towards Jones, meaning Cat could be traded or possibly be released. If a trade is possible, Texas will no doubt have to eat a fair amount of his $5.5 million dollar salary, despite Cat's hot hitting. If Jones is the player to go, he's no doubt done enough this spring to raise a few eyebrows across the league, effectively resurrecting his career.