Throughout the off season and into the regular season I’ve been a Salty over Laird guy, but I hated to see what happened in the fourth inning tonight. You never want to see one of your own down in pain like that. Here’s wishing a safe and speedy recovery to Gerald, while at the same time welcoming the great Max Ramirez to the big leagues. This guy has a really special bat. I hope he gets a chance to show it off.
I regret that we are now going to see the effect of using Salty full time at catcher at the major league level before he has learned the position in the minors. The strain must also be having an impact on his hitting ability. Wonder of Jason Botts could be used as a rotating catcher with Salty? That would give him yet another opportunity to prove himself.
Jason Botts was sold to the Nippon Ham Fighters on June 4th. That is not an option.
One thing that puzzles and annoys me about Laird's injury is that he had to WALK off the field. Don't ballparks have stretchers to hand? What would they have done if a bone had been broken? Dragged him off?
OK. hands up everybody who thought at the time that the Lofton-Ramirez trade was a dumb move? That JD had blundered again?I remember one comment along the lines "Wadda we need another catcher for?". And are the D'knowalls who post here going to say "Heck! I was wrong! JD has scored again!" I await the sound of humble pie being consumed in large quantities...... Except that such folk are NEVER wrong, and have VERY short memories....
Well, let me start the ball rolling. I thought that we had got very little in exchange for Lofton. I was WRONG. JD knew what he was doing. Well done JD!!
At the end of Tim Brown's Yahoo Sports column on potential trades, he says there were four significant trades at the deadline last year. Three of the four were those done by the Rangers. He says the only trade that really helped the contending team was that for Kenny Lofton. The Indians got what they needed, and we got a potential right-handed replacement for Travis Hafner.
Ramirez will hit, but his defense at catcher well leaves a lot to be desired. At this point, he can't be any worse than Salty. You need defense from your catcher. I would prefer to have someone like that washed up catcher in Detroit, named Pudge who could do both. Anyone else remember when we had the best throwing catcher in the game? Who is going to play more at catcher Salt or Ramirez? Is Ram going to play first base? Goodbye Shelton, maybe?
Ramirez isn't meant to be anything more to this team than a temporary replacement for Gerald Laird. When Laid come back Ramirez goes back to AA. I personally still don''t know if we got value for Lofton. It's going to take a couple of years. If Teagarden makes the team next year then you have to wonder if there will ever be room (except in situations like this ) for Ramirez. And of course there's still the problem of what to do with Saltalamachia who had a heck of a game as a catcher today.
Don't forget, Fred, that we only traded a couple of months of Lofton. Both Jamie Newberg and TR have said it. "Service time is huge." Free agency turned baseball trades into a whole new ballgame. (To coin a phrase.....)
If Ram can continue to hit like he has in AA, then the Rangers will find a place for him. It is looking more and more like Blalock is the odd man out here. Watch for the Rangers to get him some playing time, show that he is healthy and get him gone. Does anyone else remember when flipper was the main ingredient for Beckett? Wow, should have done that one especially if you were going to give Danks away the next year. Speaking of that, when if ever is Alfred E. Newman due back, aka Brandon McCarthy that all important pitcher that we had to trade two of them? What a joke!
I am all for Cat, Laird, Blalock and Millwood getting dealt. If we can get some good prospects for them. Hopefully we will keep Bradley, i believe he is a leader on this team. I have no problem with him returning next year as the DH. I like that guy and as someone has said, Milton Bradley has got game!!!!
Throughout the off season and into the regular season I’ve been a Salty over Laird guy, but I hated to see what happened in the fourth inning tonight. You never want to see one of your own down in pain like that. Here’s wishing a safe and speedy recovery to Gerald, while at the same time welcoming the great Max Ramirez to the big leagues. This guy has a really special bat. I hope he gets a chance to show it off.
Report any abuse or spam
I regret that we are now going to see the effect of using Salty full time at catcher at the major league level before he has learned the position in the minors. The strain must also be having an impact on his hitting ability. Wonder of Jason Botts could be used as a rotating catcher with Salty? That would give him yet another opportunity to prove himself.
Report any abuse or spam
Jason Botts was sold to the Nippon Ham Fighters on June 4th. That is not an option.
Report any abuse or spam
One thing that puzzles and annoys me about Laird's injury is that he had to WALK off the field. Don't ballparks have stretchers to hand? What would they have done if a bone had been broken? Dragged him off?
Report any abuse or spam
OK. hands up everybody who thought at the time that the Lofton-Ramirez trade was a dumb move? That JD had blundered again?I remember one comment along the lines "Wadda we need another catcher for?". And are the D'knowalls who post here going to say "Heck! I was wrong! JD has scored again!" I await the sound of humble pie being consumed in large quantities...... Except that such folk are NEVER wrong, and have VERY short memories....
Well, let me start the ball rolling. I thought that we had got very little in exchange for Lofton. I was WRONG. JD knew what he was doing. Well done JD!!
Report any abuse or spam
At the end of Tim Brown's Yahoo Sports column on potential trades, he says there were four significant trades at the deadline last year. Three of the four were those done by the Rangers. He says the only trade that really helped the contending team was that for Kenny Lofton. The Indians got what they needed, and we got a potential right-handed replacement for Travis Hafner.
Report any abuse or spam
Ramirez will hit, but his defense at catcher well leaves a lot to be desired. At this point, he can't be any worse than Salty. You need defense from your catcher. I would prefer to have someone like that washed up catcher in Detroit, named Pudge who could do both. Anyone else remember when we had the best throwing catcher in the game? Who is going to play more at catcher Salt or Ramirez? Is Ram going to play first base? Goodbye Shelton, maybe?
Report any abuse or spam
Ramirez isn't meant to be anything more to this team than a temporary replacement for Gerald Laird. When Laid come back Ramirez goes back to AA. I personally still don''t know if we got value for Lofton. It's going to take a couple of years. If Teagarden makes the team next year then you have to wonder if there will ever be room (except in situations like this ) for Ramirez. And of course there's still the problem of what to do with Saltalamachia who had a heck of a game as a catcher today.
Report any abuse or spam
Don't forget, Fred, that we only traded a couple of months of Lofton. Both Jamie Newberg and TR have said it. "Service time is huge." Free agency turned baseball trades into a whole new ballgame. (To coin a phrase.....)
Report any abuse or spam
If Ram can continue to hit like he has in AA, then the Rangers will find a place for him. It is looking more and more like Blalock is the odd man out here. Watch for the Rangers to get him some playing time, show that he is healthy and get him gone. Does anyone else remember when flipper was the main ingredient for Beckett? Wow, should have done that one especially if you were going to give Danks away the next year. Speaking of that, when if ever is Alfred E. Newman due back, aka Brandon McCarthy that all important pitcher that we had to trade two of them? What a joke!
Report any abuse or spam
I am all for Cat, Laird, Blalock and Millwood getting dealt. If we can get some good prospects for them. Hopefully we will keep Bradley, i believe he is a leader on this team. I have no problem with him returning next year as the DH. I like that guy and as someone has said, Milton Bradley has got game!!!!
Report any abuse or spam