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No doubt that Kotchman has been horrid for the month of May.
No doubt that he should be seeing much less PT.
But, Tui has posted a .316 OPS in five games as a 1B.  (Sweeney and Langerhans are both doing great as 1Bs -- but each has only two games playing 1B).
The reality is that Kotchman was the starting 1B in the 15 run outburst in San Diego.  And Kotchman was also the starting 1B in the (lone) 8-3 victory against the Angels.
Playing Sweeney at first before off days, (extra rest) -- I can see that as a reasonable balance between production and injury concerns.  I'd personally love to see more of Langerhans at 1B, too.  But, Tui has been the worst hitter on the team all season, (even a hair worse than Byrnes).
IMO, the offensive gains more clearly link back to Sweeney - (whether at first or DH), than Kotch. 
As for Kotch's swing.  While I've only gotten to see him in Seattle a few times - here's my take.  Kotch does *NOT* have an "opposite field" swing.  He routinely pulls balls down the line - (from what I read, the DP grounder that ended the most recent game was yanked down the line - leading to a step-on-first-tag-at-second DP.)
What I think is Kotch has a combination of eye and bat control that leaves him in an awkward no man's land too often.  He picks up the ball early - starts his swing and THEN realizes he's getting a change instead of a FB.  While "worse" hitters would swing thru and get a strike - Kotch ends up slowing his bat down to make weak contact on *THOSE* pitches. 
I think the big problem with Kotch is that he begins his swing too early - and then slows it down (on too many pitches).  It's a paradox that his swing "looks" like he's trying to go the other way because he's actually trying to pull the ball - and then is pulling off of too many pitches that his initial read has mis-timed.
So, you get these scorched balls on good 'reads' - and this other subset of 'delayed' reads that turn into weak dribblers on the ground.
I think if you add a 'pause' mechanism to his base swing, to prevent him from getting out in front so often, and you might end up with a decent 110 OPS+ hitter.  Instead, it feels like he's getting the exact wrong advice for HIS problem -- and the result is a Sexson-esque disaster.
There's no doubt his eye is stellar.
There is no doubt he can put wood on the ball about as well as Vlad. 
In the end, whatever tweaks the club/Kotch have tried - they clearly have had dreadful results.  You'd think someone with THAT good an eye - *PLUS* - that much bat control could learn how to put the two together for at least a reasonable average (power or not). 
I get the sense of the novice bowler who is missing right, so he keeps moving left, and the problem gets worse.  What he doesn't get is, if you're missing right, you MOVE right. 
This is not to say he belongs in the lineup.  I'm one of Carp's biggest fans, and if Kotch stinking it up can get Carp up a month or two sooner, I'm okay with that. 
Then again, Lopez stunk it up just as badly for just as long - and in the last week has suddenly put it all together and looks like "Good Jose" again.  I'd be pleased as punch to see Langerhans playing first - Sweeney DHing - and Bradley in LF as much as possible. 
Unfortunately, even with the offense coming around, the bullpen is a mess, and I fear won't be getting much better.
Here are the HR/9 rates of the top three guys:
Aardsma: 1.7; League 1.3; Kelley 1.4;
If that's your CREAM - you can expect to be losing more games to bullpen dingers.