ARLINGTON, Texas _ Willie Calhoun started in left field for the Rangers on Saturday night in a 16-3 loss to Cleveland that was noteworthy for the end of Shin-Soo Choo's on-base streak at 52 games.
About 40 miles north of Globe Life Park, left-hander Yohander Mendez continued his campaign to return to the majors with six good innings in a start with Double-A Frisco before stumbling in his last inning.
Calhoun and Mendez each has run afoul of management this season. Calhoun for a prolonged pout at Triple-A Round Rock before being pulled from a game for failing to run out a grounder. Mendez for breaking team rules two nights before a scheduled start with the major-league club.
Each has worked his way back into the Rangers' good graces. Each should be seen often during the duration of this lost season.
That makes a telling statement about the Rangers and their approach to player development. There is no doghouse in this organization.
Doghouses are a good way to waste talent. A kid makes a mistake, and an organization buries him in the doghouse.
Sometimes the kid is never seen again. Sometimes the organization sends the kid elsewhere, where he succeeds.
The Rangers will not do that. Witness the revival of closer Keone Kela, who opened last season in the minors because of his behavior, Calhoun and Mendez.
"You don't build dungeons for people," manager Jeff Banister said. "We're all human. We make mistakes.
"You don't get away without consequences. They're necessary. But then there's the rebuild process that allows players an opportunity to regain the trust, regain their spot. That's the maturity process."
There are no "throwaway" players, only players who need help, Banister said.
"You embrace the players and you work to impact and change who they are," Banister said.
How much playing time Calhoun receives is to be determined. He is best suited for designated hitter, but the Rangers need to use Choo and Adrian Beltre in that spot.
Calhoun did learn his lesson from the May 29 benching by Round Rock manager Jason Wood.
"I'd say it motivated me not to do that anymore," Calhoun said. "From there on out I really busted my tail and made sure I gave 100 percent on everything."
Mendez is on the same schedule as starter Bartolo Colon. Mendez could slide into the rotation if the Rangers decide Colon has outlived his usefulness.
Colon could not get through the fifth inning of this game. He opened with four good innings but lost it in the fifth.
The Indians were 6-for-7 with three doubles against Colon in the inning, with all but one ball hit hard. Defensive misplays by second baseman Rougned Odor and right fielder Joey Gallo contributed to the six-run inning.
At some point soon, the Rangers must decide if they want to continue to use Colon in the rotation or switch to a prospect such as Mendez.
Colon is 3-6 with a 6.56 ERA in his last nine starts. In that time, opponents are hitting with a .556 slugging percentage. Getting the one win he needs to pass Dennis Martinez as the all-time leading winner among Latin American pitchers is becoming increasingly difficult.
Cleveland manager Terry Francona thought Colon was done in 2008.
Francona managed Boston in that season, and Colon made seven starts for the Red Sox after opening the season in the minors.
In June, Colon strained an intercostal muscle while batting in an inter-league game. He went home and never returned to the Red Sox.
"He just took it to the house," Francona said. "I thought he was retiring. And that was 10 years ago."
