Adam Melhuse has been told he has made the Rangers as the backup catcher to Gerald Laird, the Opening Day catcher. Jarrod Saltalamacchia is going to Triple A Oklahoma. The Rangers roster just lacks two relievers. More on the website
How is this a stupid move? The kid is 22 years old. Thats right he's still a kid. Why is it wrong for him to get to play everyday and work on his game calling? He's the future. You can't rush a catcher through a system. Its too important. Why not let him play every day and learn with our young pitchers that will be ready next year.
I'll take this opportunity to offer JD some encouragement to stop overvaluing Laird and move him in a trade. As I have said before, I respect what Laird has done here, but we are rebuilding. It is time to move forward with Salty.
I realize that Salty will force his way up before long, but I can't help but be disappointed by this move. I suppose I can (unhappily) live with Laird starting until the ASB. I cannot support Laird starting all season.
I've had this thought for a while this spring, and I guess I'll go ahead and share it - What a quandry the catching position must have been for the 'baseball man' - either embrace the guy unfairly made his scapegoat from last season (which he seems to have done), or embrace youth. I am not bashing Laird, but what drastic transformation has he made from last season to this? Is RW really so fearful of youth, that he would give his whipping boy from last season a big bear hug?
What other reason am I overlooking for the change?
TYPICAL. STUPID. SHORTSIDED. ILLOGICAL. I'm for Gerald to catch, absolutely. Gerald is a top-flight catcher, bunts, moves runners, steals bases, is hitting in Spring Training like his career says he can, he throws runners out and prevents others from trying to steal.
Where does that leave Salty? Triple A. Botts should be there, not Salty. Salty has a huge upside, and NOT at Catcher. Salty, at 22, has been proven to hit at the Major League level. I'd trust the Atlanta Braves to know talent. Who knows when Chris Davis might be ready--2009, 2010...? Salty should be playing first, and if, and I mean IF Chris Davis can actually produce at the Major League level, then Salty could catch at that point. Salty deserves to be on this team.
This move of sending Salty to the minors when he is tested at the Major League level, is STUPID.
If the thought is that Teagarden or Chris Davis would displace Salty at either catcher or first, then teach him to play a corner outfield spot for crying out loud! I'm totally bummed-out by this illogical move.
Since when do major league teams allow its players to decide which position they play and i quote, I would play firstbase if they told me to play there. Salts future is at first, DH or somewhere besides catcher. Teagarden or Santana are the future at Catcher. The bottom line is Salt can hit and his bat alone should put him on the roster. Washington is trying to win for today to save his job, who can blame him for not wanting to go with the youth? Shouldn't the president, GM and Manager all be on the same page? Bobby freaking Cox says Salt is ready to catch in the majors today, i don't know about that but i will take his word for it.
For those of you mourning Mr. Saltalamachia's demise put the blame where it belongs...right on him. He told the Ranger's he wanted to catch rather than play 1st base. He wasn't our "today" as catcher...in fact he may not even be the 3rd best catcher on the team. And for those of us who saw him play 1st there's little doubt that he's not our "today" there either.
And as for our tomorrow...there's Teagarden and Davis who look absolutely great.
Now for those who think he's a proven major league hitter. 308 AB's, 82 hits, 11 hr's and a 266 average....I believe that got Kevin Mench to AAA which is where Saltalamachia should go...if JD can't trade him. If he's not our today or tomorrow what else is there?
briant77 you are overlooking that Salty is not ready to be a starting catcher (and might never be). I agree with bingo and dwidregod that Salty ought to play another position except he should learn at AAA.
I think the Rangers hope he does well at AAA, will talk him up and trade him for major league ready pitching.
Since when do the rangers take their cues from the all knowing atlanta braves or bobby cox? If salty's so good, why didn't they trade their other average catcher, McCann? Because they overvalued him. fredr and rendontx are right, he's not in our future, he's trade bait. Laird is a good catcher for now. When it's time for his free agency we can trade him too and let Teagarden take over.
Ok so, Salt is good enough to make the Atlanta Braves roster and get at bats but he can't play on this team? What a joke. So Salt played in the majors last year, just to soften the blow of trading Texiera? This team would jump for joy if Botts or Cruz had Saltys numbers. It is just more justification. So now we are looking to trade Salty for pitching? So what exactly is it that we have for Texiera? Hope? Prospects, maybe's, could be's, wanna be's. How do you trade a perennial all-star first baseman for no major league returns? Davis is future first baseman here, Teagarden probably the catcher at least until Santana is ready. I personally think you can never have enough hitters but i ain't the owner or GM. We won't know for 3 to 4 years if any of these Atlanta prospects will become players. Please stop drafting Boras, clients. They are going to want cash and a chance to win. Dam all those types of players. They won't get either of those two things here. So don't even waste ours and their time.
Salty was the 2nd string catcher in Atlanta, playing a minimal amount of time. Atlanta had Julio Franco, 100 years old and his mendoza batting average, at first.
Salty was on the bench. No one can say that, because Atlanta called him up, he is a top notch catcher or anything else for that matter.
The Texeira trade was excellent for the Rangers, as it stands today, I would make the same trade over and over again. We are a better team witout Texeira as we are without Arod. They did not want to play here.
"Ok so, Salt is good enough to make the Atlanta Braves roster and get at bats but he can't play on this team?" - Their regular catcher last year, Brian McCann, was battling nagging ankle/knee problems so, lacking a better optoin at AAA, they called Salty up from AA, he got off to a hot start so they kept him around playing sporadically at catcher and first until the trade. It's not that he's not good enough to make this team. It's that they want him to play every day.
"How do you trade a perennial all-star first baseman for no major league returns?" How do you continue to ignore that Tex hasn't made the all-star team in the last 2 years and isn't likely to make it this year either playing in the same league as Pujols, Fielder, and Howard.
"What a joke." - A bigger joke than someone who continually uses the work "perennial" yet clearly doesn't know what it means?
I've said the same things before that others are saying now, Salty's future is not behind the plate. Since he is on the farm, he needs to be at first in AAA every day. God knows next year we will be looking for yet again another 1B who is a switch hitter with a bit of pop (sorry for the redundancy but we have seen that guy before, all-star credentials arguments aside) I have also said I just don't think he was willing to buy into that role to stay at the Big league level. So, this is really the team just saying, "If you are a catcher, then you go to AAA and learn to be a MLB catcher." Hopefully, he realizes that they call them the "Tools of Ignorance" for a reason and starts to work at 1B in earnest in OKC so he is not behind the power curve come next spring.
Another reason is he has plenty of options left so that was a factored in as well. Botts' situation probably had as much to do with this as Salty's insistence on catching.
Injuries during the season may likely render all of this discussion moot anyway...
Here we go again, the old "lets put Salty at first" song.
Again, here's the stat lines:
C: .325/.373/.503 157 AB
1B: .203/.236/.346 133 AB
Also, he commited 10 errors in 38 games at first base. He had never played first proffessionaly before last year.
Catcher is his position, folks. He can play it, Matt Walbeck, a former ML catcher says so:
"Salty is a lot better receiving and blocking balls than I expected. His pitch calling and working with pitchers has been good. His throwing is not where it needs to be. We're working on his footwork, but he needs more opportunities to throw. He's only had a few chances."
Once he perfects his throwing, he will be a servicable ML catcher. I don't know why everyone insists upon miving him off the position he has played his entire career, and has more value at. It doesn't make much sense, if you stop and look at the facts.
The Rangers did it with Soriano, let him pick his position. Now they let Salty pick his to the detriment of the team. Are the Washington Nationals, the only franchise that moves players to the position that benefits the team? What position does Soriano play? It ain't second base. Could we use him in left field right now? Would that have been better money spent than the $11 million thrown at Catalanotto? I personally like Murphy, think he is a player probably is a better CF than Hamilton.
Teagarden will be the catcher here soon enough. I have seen Tea catch. He is the future at catcher. Everyone hopes and knows this. Salty evidently is going to be dealt. Santana is probably the long term solution at Catcher. Why doesn't this team make decisions or moves that are in its long term interests? Is it any wonder that we are PERENIAL cellar dwellers? Bad MANAGEMENT!
Was PERENNIAL used correctly that time, Hefe? The RANGERS have spent the last decade in last place. I guess that makes them perennial last place finishers. Or the Rangers have had 19 Managers, the only thing constant is perennial change and lack of continuity. Other than the continuity of LOSING. It has perennially been about the financial flexibility. Or players perennially leave this "organization" once they determine that they perennially lose. Or the Rangers perennially go through about 15 to 20 different starting pitchers in a season.
Or hefe, never perennially never has any ideas of his own.
Once again lonestar is dead-on. He is a catcher, friends.
The average major league catcher hit .256/.318/.394 in 2007. Laird hit .224/.278/.349 last season. He was only slightly above league-average when he was platooned with Rod Barajas in 2006. Statistics say he has been a below average catcher in his last two seasons.
Maybe he will continue to develop (since he's not an old man), and one day he'll be average. I really believe that Salty has the ability to be much more than average based on the majority of scouts which say he can be a solid backstop (or better).
Catcher is a position that the team can and should upgrade, whether at the start of the season, or soon thereafter. And the guy that most scouts say can provide the upgrade is here right now (well, he's packing for OKC anyway).
I know - it's not all about offense. You're right, of course, it isn't. However, throwing out runners while calling a middling game (according to RW last season) is not enough to say Laird's some kind of defensive stud, either.
Those who say that Teagarden is the future at catcher may be right (and I hope he will be). But he has shown some propensity for injury. It's possible he never makes it to the majors due to injuries. The team would be unwise to plan for every guy in AA to be in the majors in a year or two - there just aren't any guarantees.
I am not trying to tear Laird down, but I am trying to take what I believe to be an objective look at the position. I just think many overvalue Laird the way JD has.
It's my hope that Salty tears it up in AAA and forces his way up here. It's my hope that 'baseball man' will play him once he gets here. Guess we'll see soon enough.
Thank you, briant77, for pointing out that there is a difference between throwing out guys who are trying to steal and being a stud defensive catcher. Throwing is important, but it's only one element of the job. The Rangers last year did not believe that Laird was a stud defensive catcher. He was a stud throwing catcher. I hope he hits and figures out how to handle a pitching staff. Then, we've got something. The good news is that if he doesn't, the Rangers are deeper at that position than any other team in baseball. Sometime within the next three years, we'll be very sound at catcher. That's better than never.
JD may be overvaluing Laird or he may be hoping he'll get off to a hot start to reestablish his value. I think he's kind of an in between guy who is a below average everyday catcher and a superlative back-up. He'd be best used as the right handed part of a platoon, but his ego may not allow him to be productive if he's not playing consistently.
I'm with Bryant on leaving Salty at catcher, at least for now. Teagarden needs to hit at AAA and not strike out 40% of the time like he did at Frisco. You can get away with being overaggressive down there, but get eaten alive in the big leagues swinging and missing that often. Then there’s the undeniable propensity toward injury. He has a history of back trouble and has had Tommy John surgery and, oh yeah, he’s older than Salty. I wouldn’t chisel his name in stone into the opening day ’09 lineup until he shows he can catch (and I mean catch, not catch part time and DH the rest) for a full minor league season while still being productive with the stick.
Max Ramirez seems to me the guy who should be moved sooner than later. He’s blocked by Laird, Salty, and Teagarden and there’s Santana and Pina behind him. They say he’ll hit so why not move him to LF, at least part time, in ’08? They may have to if he and Teagarden share time at Frisco. Fine with me.
As far as Dgod, you get a gold star on your correct use of the word perennial. You’ve made a vast improvement in a very short period. Congratulations.
I’m not sure, however, what parallel you’re trying to draw between Catalanotto’s contract (3/11) and Soriano’s (8/136). Maybe that they both should be DH’s?
David Murphy is a fine outfielder, but better than Josh Hamilton? Why on another thread did you ask now good Hamilton was in center? By this statement you clearly know the answer and have made a determination that Murphy is superior. Hamilton has above average range and a right fielder’s arm. If he stays healthy he’s the perfect guy to end the revolving door that we’ve had out there in centerfield forever.
Here is the definitive word on Salty: He's young, and can play most every position, except maybe 2nd or Short. Guys who are naturals don't come the Rangers' way too often. Tex was a sub-par defensive third basemen, swung around to first because, in part, due to Hank coming to 3B, and Steve Smith tutored Tex into a top-flight, front-line defensive first basemen. Same thing with Salty. The Rangers weakest position will be 1B--book it. Broussard and Botts--egads!
Salty, according to "experts" here on this issue, should go to AAA and learn the Catching position. Really now? Isn't Teagarden going to supplant him in a year or two? Why not utilize a young stud like Salty at our position in most need, a power position, and guess what--Salty has proven to hit Major League pitching, at 22 years old.
I don't care what early and sketchy statistics some here might project from Salty based on a small picture last year: This man can hit.
Laird, I hope, is our Catcher for several more years. You folks wanting to knock Gerald Laird or want to simply "dangle him as trade bait," are short-sided a bit. Laird throws runners out, keeps opponents from trying to steal, he is hitting like his history shows he can, he steals bases, takes the extra base, he bunts, he moves runners over....GOODNESS folks, Gerald means more at this most crucial position than some are willing to give him. We must be strong up the middle, and we are, with Gerald.
I'm very tired over this past decade in being in last place for seemingly all of the time, and "waiting" for youth...(WHICH, we always will as new phenoms arise), so in my judgement, we need Gerald for several more years.
That brings me to Salty. If Teagarden has been "annointed" by some here as the future Catcher, we need to keep a young 22-year old stud like Salty, and either help us out at first base (and get tutoring from a competent fielding coach), OR, and this is the best option now that Salty is in Triple A, to learn a corner outfield position. I'm all for Salty to not be wasted, and if we just trade him, we lose. We need a first basemen NOW, and a corner outfielder very, very soon.
Salty should have made this team at first base; but since he's been relegated to AAA, he should learn the rudiments of BOTH first base and a corner outfield position.
One question: Since he can block balls well, according to Walbeck, could he be the Third basemen of the future?
Whatever the final result, Salty should NOT be dealt for "prospects." With our track record of giving away star players for a handful of magic beans, I dread losing him. He WILL be a star for someone else, and we'll be stuck with the Brad Wilkersons of the world.
Bingo, aren't you forgetting about someone?
Chris Davis is our future at first base. He will be here by 2009, if not late this year.
And since when can Salty "play every position on the field except second or short"? Where did you read that? Because there is absolutely no evedence to suggest that Salty is that versatile. He's a catcher, he's been a catcher his entire career - usually, catchers aren't the most mobile or versatile guys on the diamond. Granted, Salty is tall and wiry for a catcher, but I seriously doubt he can play third base or the OF - he really can't even play first base. Just because a player is young doesn't make him someone who can be converted to play anywhere on the diamond.
Folks, I am one of the Salty at first/DH folks. I based my opinion on watching him play last year and this spring. His size kind of limits his agility behind the the plate. This is why he has difficulty throwing, etc. It just takes too long for his body to uncoil. I respect Walbeck's public opinion but no coach is going to publicly say one of his young players can't or is isn't ready for something. The player psyche today is just too fragile.
As a hitter, Salty is MLB material now. So in order to get a bat like that in the lineup you have to find a place for him to play. I walked thru his stats defensively at the ML level last year. The stats at the #2 position were not siginificanlty better than the #3. 1B was just ugly due to the extremely short sample. He may have better offensive numbers out of the #2 position but everyone will tell you a player will gravitiate toward his norms no matter what. So Salty can be projected to hit to his norms no matter where he plays defensively.
In my mind he has a great future in the AL as a DH who brings a serviceable glove at a couple of positions to the table. This is a role this team cannot project someone in at this point based on guy's coming through the system. We have a solid prospect or two at all of the defensive positions we discuss when it comes to Salty so we need to be creative and find a way to keep that bat around for a while. I hope he turns into an offensive monster and slides into the DH role and makes folks forget about Travis Hafner.
Did it take too long for Sandy Alomar Jr's body to uncoil? He's bigger than Salty and was very good behind the plate when he was young and healthy. Joe Mauer is taller than Salty. Lance Parrish was a big man behind the plate. So is A.J. Pierzyinski. ****, Gerald Laird is 6'2''.
I'm with you, Sean, on him being good with the bat now and probably a monster in the future, but I still think he has more value as a catcher. If he can improve his footwork, which will in turn improve his throwing and become even an average defensive catcher, then he's much more valuable in that capacity. What's worth more to a team? A switch hitting DH, with power or a switch hitting catcher with power? Put it this way: Travis Hafner has appeared in zero all-star games. If he were a mediocre catcher, he'd have been in 4 by now.
If Teagarden emerges, then it will force the Rangers to move Salty, either to another position or another team, but I'd rather leave him at the more difficult, valuable position for the time being. I could be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time, but things like this are fun to debate.
Stupid move.
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Hopefully he won't be on the farm for long.
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How is this a stupid move? The kid is 22 years old. Thats right he's still a kid. Why is it wrong for him to get to play everyday and work on his game calling? He's the future. You can't rush a catcher through a system. Its too important. Why not let him play every day and learn with our young pitchers that will be ready next year.
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I'll take this opportunity to offer JD some encouragement to stop overvaluing Laird and move him in a trade. As I have said before, I respect what Laird has done here, but we are rebuilding. It is time to move forward with Salty.
I realize that Salty will force his way up before long, but I can't help but be disappointed by this move. I suppose I can (unhappily) live with Laird starting until the ASB. I cannot support Laird starting all season.
I've had this thought for a while this spring, and I guess I'll go ahead and share it - What a quandry the catching position must have been for the 'baseball man' - either embrace the guy unfairly made his scapegoat from last season (which he seems to have done), or embrace youth. I am not bashing Laird, but what drastic transformation has he made from last season to this? Is RW really so fearful of youth, that he would give his whipping boy from last season a big bear hug?
What other reason am I overlooking for the change?
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TYPICAL. STUPID. SHORTSIDED. ILLOGICAL. I'm for Gerald to catch, absolutely. Gerald is a top-flight catcher, bunts, moves runners, steals bases, is hitting in Spring Training like his career says he can, he throws runners out and prevents others from trying to steal.
Where does that leave Salty? Triple A. Botts should be there, not Salty. Salty has a huge upside, and NOT at Catcher. Salty, at 22, has been proven to hit at the Major League level. I'd trust the Atlanta Braves to know talent. Who knows when Chris Davis might be ready--2009, 2010...? Salty should be playing first, and if, and I mean IF Chris Davis can actually produce at the Major League level, then Salty could catch at that point. Salty deserves to be on this team.
This move of sending Salty to the minors when he is tested at the Major League level, is STUPID.
If the thought is that Teagarden or Chris Davis would displace Salty at either catcher or first, then teach him to play a corner outfield spot for crying out loud! I'm totally bummed-out by this illogical move.
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Since when do major league teams allow its players to decide which position they play and i quote, I would play firstbase if they told me to play there. Salts future is at first, DH or somewhere besides catcher. Teagarden or Santana are the future at Catcher. The bottom line is Salt can hit and his bat alone should put him on the roster. Washington is trying to win for today to save his job, who can blame him for not wanting to go with the youth? Shouldn't the president, GM and Manager all be on the same page? Bobby freaking Cox says Salt is ready to catch in the majors today, i don't know about that but i will take his word for it.
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For those of you mourning Mr. Saltalamachia's demise put the blame where it belongs...right on him. He told the Ranger's he wanted to catch rather than play 1st base. He wasn't our "today" as catcher...in fact he may not even be the 3rd best catcher on the team. And for those of us who saw him play 1st there's little doubt that he's not our "today" there either.
And as for our tomorrow...there's Teagarden and Davis who look absolutely great.
Now for those who think he's a proven major league hitter. 308 AB's, 82 hits, 11 hr's and a 266 average....I believe that got Kevin Mench to AAA which is where Saltalamachia should go...if JD can't trade him. If he's not our today or tomorrow what else is there?
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briant77 you are overlooking that Salty is not ready to be a starting catcher (and might never be). I agree with bingo and dwidregod that Salty ought to play another position except he should learn at AAA.
I think the Rangers hope he does well at AAA, will talk him up and trade him for major league ready pitching.
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Since when do the rangers take their cues from the all knowing atlanta braves or bobby cox? If salty's so good, why didn't they trade their other average catcher, McCann? Because they overvalued him. fredr and rendontx are right, he's not in our future, he's trade bait. Laird is a good catcher for now. When it's time for his free agency we can trade him too and let Teagarden take over.
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Ok so, Salt is good enough to make the Atlanta Braves roster and get at bats but he can't play on this team? What a joke. So Salt played in the majors last year, just to soften the blow of trading Texiera? This team would jump for joy if Botts or Cruz had Saltys numbers. It is just more justification. So now we are looking to trade Salty for pitching? So what exactly is it that we have for Texiera? Hope? Prospects, maybe's, could be's, wanna be's. How do you trade a perennial all-star first baseman for no major league returns? Davis is future first baseman here, Teagarden probably the catcher at least until Santana is ready. I personally think you can never have enough hitters but i ain't the owner or GM. We won't know for 3 to 4 years if any of these Atlanta prospects will become players. Please stop drafting Boras, clients. They are going to want cash and a chance to win. Dam all those types of players. They won't get either of those two things here. So don't even waste ours and their time.
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Salty was the 2nd string catcher in Atlanta, playing a minimal amount of time. Atlanta had Julio Franco, 100 years old and his mendoza batting average, at first.
Salty was on the bench. No one can say that, because Atlanta called him up, he is a top notch catcher or anything else for that matter.
The Texeira trade was excellent for the Rangers, as it stands today, I would make the same trade over and over again. We are a better team witout Texeira as we are without Arod. They did not want to play here.
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"Ok so, Salt is good enough to make the Atlanta Braves roster and get at bats but he can't play on this team?" - Their regular catcher last year, Brian McCann, was battling nagging ankle/knee problems so, lacking a better optoin at AAA, they called Salty up from AA, he got off to a hot start so they kept him around playing sporadically at catcher and first until the trade. It's not that he's not good enough to make this team. It's that they want him to play every day.
"How do you trade a perennial all-star first baseman for no major league returns?" How do you continue to ignore that Tex hasn't made the all-star team in the last 2 years and isn't likely to make it this year either playing in the same league as Pujols, Fielder, and Howard.
"What a joke." - A bigger joke than someone who continually uses the work "perennial" yet clearly doesn't know what it means?
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I've said the same things before that others are saying now, Salty's future is not behind the plate. Since he is on the farm, he needs to be at first in AAA every day. God knows next year we will be looking for yet again another 1B who is a switch hitter with a bit of pop (sorry for the redundancy but we have seen that guy before, all-star credentials arguments aside) I have also said I just don't think he was willing to buy into that role to stay at the Big league level. So, this is really the team just saying, "If you are a catcher, then you go to AAA and learn to be a MLB catcher." Hopefully, he realizes that they call them the "Tools of Ignorance" for a reason and starts to work at 1B in earnest in OKC so he is not behind the power curve come next spring.
Another reason is he has plenty of options left so that was a factored in as well. Botts' situation probably had as much to do with this as Salty's insistence on catching.
Injuries during the season may likely render all of this discussion moot anyway...
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Here we go again, the old "lets put Salty at first" song.
Again, here's the stat lines:
C: .325/.373/.503 157 AB
1B: .203/.236/.346 133 AB
Also, he commited 10 errors in 38 games at first base. He had never played first proffessionaly before last year.
Catcher is his position, folks. He can play it, Matt Walbeck, a former ML catcher says so:
"Salty is a lot better receiving and blocking balls than I expected. His pitch calling and working with pitchers has been good. His throwing is not where it needs to be. We're working on his footwork, but he needs more opportunities to throw. He's only had a few chances."
Once he perfects his throwing, he will be a servicable ML catcher. I don't know why everyone insists upon miving him off the position he has played his entire career, and has more value at. It doesn't make much sense, if you stop and look at the facts.
http://lonestarincalfornia.mlblogs.com/
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The Rangers did it with Soriano, let him pick his position. Now they let Salty pick his to the detriment of the team. Are the Washington Nationals, the only franchise that moves players to the position that benefits the team? What position does Soriano play? It ain't second base. Could we use him in left field right now? Would that have been better money spent than the $11 million thrown at Catalanotto? I personally like Murphy, think he is a player probably is a better CF than Hamilton.
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Teagarden will be the catcher here soon enough. I have seen Tea catch. He is the future at catcher. Everyone hopes and knows this. Salty evidently is going to be dealt. Santana is probably the long term solution at Catcher. Why doesn't this team make decisions or moves that are in its long term interests? Is it any wonder that we are PERENIAL cellar dwellers? Bad MANAGEMENT!
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Was PERENNIAL used correctly that time, Hefe? The RANGERS have spent the last decade in last place. I guess that makes them perennial last place finishers. Or the Rangers have had 19 Managers, the only thing constant is perennial change and lack of continuity. Other than the continuity of LOSING. It has perennially been about the financial flexibility. Or players perennially leave this "organization" once they determine that they perennially lose. Or the Rangers perennially go through about 15 to 20 different starting pitchers in a season.
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Or hefe, never perennially never has any ideas of his own.
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Once again lonestar is dead-on. He is a catcher, friends.
The average major league catcher hit .256/.318/.394 in 2007. Laird hit .224/.278/.349 last season. He was only slightly above league-average when he was platooned with Rod Barajas in 2006. Statistics say he has been a below average catcher in his last two seasons.
Maybe he will continue to develop (since he's not an old man), and one day he'll be average. I really believe that Salty has the ability to be much more than average based on the majority of scouts which say he can be a solid backstop (or better).
Catcher is a position that the team can and should upgrade, whether at the start of the season, or soon thereafter. And the guy that most scouts say can provide the upgrade is here right now (well, he's packing for OKC anyway).
I know - it's not all about offense. You're right, of course, it isn't. However, throwing out runners while calling a middling game (according to RW last season) is not enough to say Laird's some kind of defensive stud, either.
Those who say that Teagarden is the future at catcher may be right (and I hope he will be). But he has shown some propensity for injury. It's possible he never makes it to the majors due to injuries. The team would be unwise to plan for every guy in AA to be in the majors in a year or two - there just aren't any guarantees.
I am not trying to tear Laird down, but I am trying to take what I believe to be an objective look at the position. I just think many overvalue Laird the way JD has.
It's my hope that Salty tears it up in AAA and forces his way up here. It's my hope that 'baseball man' will play him once he gets here. Guess we'll see soon enough.
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Thank you, briant77, for pointing out that there is a difference between throwing out guys who are trying to steal and being a stud defensive catcher. Throwing is important, but it's only one element of the job. The Rangers last year did not believe that Laird was a stud defensive catcher. He was a stud throwing catcher. I hope he hits and figures out how to handle a pitching staff. Then, we've got something. The good news is that if he doesn't, the Rangers are deeper at that position than any other team in baseball. Sometime within the next three years, we'll be very sound at catcher. That's better than never.
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JD may be overvaluing Laird or he may be hoping he'll get off to a hot start to reestablish his value. I think he's kind of an in between guy who is a below average everyday catcher and a superlative back-up. He'd be best used as the right handed part of a platoon, but his ego may not allow him to be productive if he's not playing consistently.
I'm with Bryant on leaving Salty at catcher, at least for now. Teagarden needs to hit at AAA and not strike out 40% of the time like he did at Frisco. You can get away with being overaggressive down there, but get eaten alive in the big leagues swinging and missing that often. Then there’s the undeniable propensity toward injury. He has a history of back trouble and has had Tommy John surgery and, oh yeah, he’s older than Salty. I wouldn’t chisel his name in stone into the opening day ’09 lineup until he shows he can catch (and I mean catch, not catch part time and DH the rest) for a full minor league season while still being productive with the stick.
Max Ramirez seems to me the guy who should be moved sooner than later. He’s blocked by Laird, Salty, and Teagarden and there’s Santana and Pina behind him. They say he’ll hit so why not move him to LF, at least part time, in ’08? They may have to if he and Teagarden share time at Frisco. Fine with me.
As far as Dgod, you get a gold star on your correct use of the word perennial. You’ve made a vast improvement in a very short period. Congratulations.
I’m not sure, however, what parallel you’re trying to draw between Catalanotto’s contract (3/11) and Soriano’s (8/136). Maybe that they both should be DH’s?
David Murphy is a fine outfielder, but better than Josh Hamilton? Why on another thread did you ask now good Hamilton was in center? By this statement you clearly know the answer and have made a determination that Murphy is superior. Hamilton has above average range and a right fielder’s arm. If he stays healthy he’s the perfect guy to end the revolving door that we’ve had out there in centerfield forever.
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Here is the definitive word on Salty: He's young, and can play most every position, except maybe 2nd or Short. Guys who are naturals don't come the Rangers' way too often. Tex was a sub-par defensive third basemen, swung around to first because, in part, due to Hank coming to 3B, and Steve Smith tutored Tex into a top-flight, front-line defensive first basemen. Same thing with Salty. The Rangers weakest position will be 1B--book it. Broussard and Botts--egads!
Salty, according to "experts" here on this issue, should go to AAA and learn the Catching position. Really now? Isn't Teagarden going to supplant him in a year or two? Why not utilize a young stud like Salty at our position in most need, a power position, and guess what--Salty has proven to hit Major League pitching, at 22 years old.
I don't care what early and sketchy statistics some here might project from Salty based on a small picture last year: This man can hit.
Laird, I hope, is our Catcher for several more years. You folks wanting to knock Gerald Laird or want to simply "dangle him as trade bait," are short-sided a bit. Laird throws runners out, keeps opponents from trying to steal, he is hitting like his history shows he can, he steals bases, takes the extra base, he bunts, he moves runners over....GOODNESS folks, Gerald means more at this most crucial position than some are willing to give him. We must be strong up the middle, and we are, with Gerald.
I'm very tired over this past decade in being in last place for seemingly all of the time, and "waiting" for youth...(WHICH, we always will as new phenoms arise), so in my judgement, we need Gerald for several more years.
That brings me to Salty. If Teagarden has been "annointed" by some here as the future Catcher, we need to keep a young 22-year old stud like Salty, and either help us out at first base (and get tutoring from a competent fielding coach), OR, and this is the best option now that Salty is in Triple A, to learn a corner outfield position. I'm all for Salty to not be wasted, and if we just trade him, we lose. We need a first basemen NOW, and a corner outfielder very, very soon.
Salty should have made this team at first base; but since he's been relegated to AAA, he should learn the rudiments of BOTH first base and a corner outfield position.
One question: Since he can block balls well, according to Walbeck, could he be the Third basemen of the future?
Whatever the final result, Salty should NOT be dealt for "prospects." With our track record of giving away star players for a handful of magic beans, I dread losing him. He WILL be a star for someone else, and we'll be stuck with the Brad Wilkersons of the world.
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Bingo, aren't you forgetting about someone?
Chris Davis is our future at first base. He will be here by 2009, if not late this year.
And since when can Salty "play every position on the field except second or short"? Where did you read that? Because there is absolutely no evedence to suggest that Salty is that versatile. He's a catcher, he's been a catcher his entire career - usually, catchers aren't the most mobile or versatile guys on the diamond. Granted, Salty is tall and wiry for a catcher, but I seriously doubt he can play third base or the OF - he really can't even play first base. Just because a player is young doesn't make him someone who can be converted to play anywhere on the diamond.
http://lonestarincalfornia.mlblogs.com/
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Folks, I am one of the Salty at first/DH folks. I based my opinion on watching him play last year and this spring. His size kind of limits his agility behind the the plate. This is why he has difficulty throwing, etc. It just takes too long for his body to uncoil. I respect Walbeck's public opinion but no coach is going to publicly say one of his young players can't or is isn't ready for something. The player psyche today is just too fragile.
As a hitter, Salty is MLB material now. So in order to get a bat like that in the lineup you have to find a place for him to play. I walked thru his stats defensively at the ML level last year. The stats at the #2 position were not siginificanlty better than the #3. 1B was just ugly due to the extremely short sample. He may have better offensive numbers out of the #2 position but everyone will tell you a player will gravitiate toward his norms no matter what. So Salty can be projected to hit to his norms no matter where he plays defensively.
In my mind he has a great future in the AL as a DH who brings a serviceable glove at a couple of positions to the table. This is a role this team cannot project someone in at this point based on guy's coming through the system. We have a solid prospect or two at all of the defensive positions we discuss when it comes to Salty so we need to be creative and find a way to keep that bat around for a while. I hope he turns into an offensive monster and slides into the DH role and makes folks forget about Travis Hafner.
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Did it take too long for Sandy Alomar Jr's body to uncoil? He's bigger than Salty and was very good behind the plate when he was young and healthy. Joe Mauer is taller than Salty. Lance Parrish was a big man behind the plate. So is A.J. Pierzyinski. ****, Gerald Laird is 6'2''.
I'm with you, Sean, on him being good with the bat now and probably a monster in the future, but I still think he has more value as a catcher. If he can improve his footwork, which will in turn improve his throwing and become even an average defensive catcher, then he's much more valuable in that capacity. What's worth more to a team? A switch hitting DH, with power or a switch hitting catcher with power? Put it this way: Travis Hafner has appeared in zero all-star games. If he were a mediocre catcher, he'd have been in 4 by now.
If Teagarden emerges, then it will force the Rangers to move Salty, either to another position or another team, but I'd rather leave him at the more difficult, valuable position for the time being. I could be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time, but things like this are fun to debate.
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