Jarrod Saltalamacchia looking good

by engelsol on Nov 26, 2008 5:48 AM CST Comment 52 comments

Jarrod Saltalamacchia is looking in great shape and form here in the Dominican League and in just a week has become something like a hero because before him, Los Leones del Escogido (Lions), my team by the way, had lost 5 games in a row, and post season aspiration was not looking good.

Just came Jarrod and the team has 4 wins in a row, and many things that were not working now we are the lucky team, everything is in our side.

This year MLB players are starting to play early because they want to be ready for the Baseball Classic in March.

I hope the Lions go to Post Season (at least the round robin), David Ortiz just say that if the team is still after ad the end of regular season he will participate for the round robin and final series.

This season is being very competitive with only one team already down with 6 wins and 25 loses (Robinson Cano and Fernando Tatis are playing for that team as well as other MLB guys)... But the next 5... are fighting realy hard.

This year have being suspission of "cheating" with the bats because of many HRs and runs, and a high ERA for pitchers, but until now no one have being catched, the league is ramdonly checking bats and at the request of managers.

Some people say that is because this years the MLB batter guys started early but no the MLB pitchers... but now the pitchers are debuting... Fausto Carmona is pitching... Francisco Liriano will do the same in days...as will do others of their caliber.

This year have being the ASIAN IMPORTER ones... with as many as 10 players from the Japan Nippon Professional Baseball, mostly pitchers with some with real success.

12 recs | Comment 52 comments

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yeah Im recing this,

classic because I can’t wait for the grammar nazis to come out and play.

The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ

by NYTXFAN on Nov 26, 2008 6:08 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Because...

English isn’t his first language?

I think he did well enough.

by ghostofErikThompson on Nov 26, 2008 6:12 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Better than I would have done in Spanish

by BEW on Nov 26, 2008 6:35 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

U should know who is gonna correct this persons post and point out there flaws regardless if they are English or not.

The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ

by NYTXFAN on Nov 26, 2008 6:49 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I give up.

Who?

The 40 Trumps All!!!

There are two kinds of men in this world: Men who make jump throws, and men who wish that they were Derek Jeter so that they could make jump throws.

by thedirkatron on Nov 26, 2008 7:02 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Their flaws

"Colt mccoy sucks, mack brown needs to be fired." - Longhorn

by DaheelzCM on Nov 26, 2008 7:03 AM CST up reply actions 3 recs

lol

I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles

by Dirk Diggler on Nov 26, 2008 7:14 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXWLfIgc0nA

by mchang4 on Nov 26, 2008 2:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

haha

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Nov 26, 2008 2:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You,

person’s, their flaws, English-speaking.

I have nothing to say about engelsol’s grammar/spelling.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Nov 26, 2008 7:04 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs

dude

We correct your English because you have no excuse and presumably english is the only language you know. Is English also your second language? Because if it is, I’ll be happy to take it easy on you knowing that you are actually trying to get better. Most people don’t like to be taken for idiots and would try to improve their grammar and spelling.

""If they'd have told me you can make the team but you've got to shine the shoes, I'd have been there shining shoes." -Bradley

by ab03 on Nov 26, 2008 9:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Damn,

I’ve been served!!!

The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ

by NYTXFAN on Nov 26, 2008 10:01 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I rec'ing too (brought it to 5)

We’ve got to support the LSB foreign correspondant.

Nothing pithy here. Please move long.

by WyoRanger on Nov 26, 2008 8:50 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the update

Let us know how he looks on defense/throwing.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Nov 26, 2008 7:05 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

engelsol

Would you mind sending me an email? Please do so in Spanish. I have a quick question for you.

zdar80@yahoo.com

Kevin Goldstein Q&A

by jparks77 on Nov 26, 2008 7:31 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

on this subject

i will add that Salty’s video game-like stats are especially important because of his power resurgence. having now played in 7 games, according to milb.com, he has only 23 official ABs because of 9 walks. in those 23 ABs, he has ten hits, two of which are doubles and four of which are HRs. In 198 ABs for the Rangers last season, he had only 3 HRs. I know this is a small sample size against weaker competition, but it is still good to see that the power/patience combo that made him so intriguing as a prospect are still there.

by clark on Nov 26, 2008 7:49 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Nice!

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Nov 26, 2008 8:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yup definitely encouraging

Although, to play devils advocate against my own favorite here, I note that he’s also 0-5 with 1 walk and 2 K’s against lefties so far. That’s of course a nearly meaningless sample size in the grand scheme, but given that hitting lefties was pretty much the sum total of his offensive struggles this past season it’s about the only thing there that’s not encouraging.

"Somewhere out there, between 14-32 BBWAA NL MVP voters are trying to get cheaper winter heating by drilling a hole in the microwave." - Jeff at LoL

by lonestarJon on Nov 26, 2008 9:19 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Idle Question on Boston Catchers & Salty

Let’s pretend Boston resigns Varitek for a year. If Boston also trades for Salty, then who catches Wakefield? Would Boston have more interested in Teagarden because he’s a better defensive catcher who could probably handle a knuckleball?

by cstorm15 on Nov 26, 2008 9:31 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I would think Boston would probably just take their chances with Salty and Varitek, myself

If they let one 41 y/o knuckleballer dictate their future catching situation, they’d be pretty stupid IMO.

"Somewhere out there, between 14-32 BBWAA NL MVP voters are trying to get cheaper winter heating by drilling a hole in the microwave." - Jeff at LoL

by lonestarJon on Nov 26, 2008 9:41 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well...

I’d agree, except this is a team that traded Cla Meredeth, Josh Bard, and cash to bring back Doug Mirabelli because Varitek couldn’t catch Wakefield.

Boston may be posturing, but if they resigned Varitek, it may mean that they don’t want to invest resources into one of Texas’s young catchers. If Boston wants Salty and wants Wakefield, I see little reason for them to resign Varitek when they can find a catcher who catches the knuckleball.

Plus, if I were Boston, I wouldn’t trade valuable pitching resources for a catcher. Not when cheaper alternatives may be available:

The Texas catching trio of Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Taylor Teagarden and Gerald Laird has gathered the most trade ink, but more teams making their catching options known to the Sox.

The Angels are open to dealing either Jeff Mathis or Mike Napoli, and manager and former catcher Mike Scioscia is a Varitek admirer. Other catchers being shopped to the Sox: Brian Schneider (Mets), Miguel Montero (Diamondbacks), John Buck (Royals), Ramon Hernandez (Orioles), Bengie Molina (Giants), Carlos Santana, Kelly Shoppach and even Victor Martinez (Indians), Jesus Flores (Nationals), Kenji Johima and Jeff Clement (Mariners), and Yorvit Torrealba (Rockies).

The Braves, Cardinals and Rays also have made some catchers available. The Dodgers probably will not deal away Russell Martin but are considering a position change for him even though there seems to be no heir apparent.

The Dodgers and Tigers are believed to be two teams that will, if they have not already, express interest in Varitek. The Marlins are in search of a new catcher as well.

So far, the acquisition price for the blue-chip names has been too high for the Sox, as in at least one of the following players: Justin Masterson, Clay Buchholz, and Lars Anderson.

If I’m Boston, I acquire a cheaper catcher and use Buchholz et. al to fill other positions.

by cstorm15 on Nov 26, 2008 11:03 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

agree

they’ll be stacked at 1b, 2b, 3b, lf, cf, rf. A rotation that’s 6 or 7 deep. And the best bullpen in the AL.

I guess you heard Fat Joe left Atlantic.

by Haeger Champ on Nov 26, 2008 11:50 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

But they want a catcher of the future, not a filler

half of the guys on that list doesn’t fit and the other half are not cheap

by Telegraph on Nov 26, 2008 1:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

john buck is NOT good

heres my queston, are any of those names a) viable to be acquired and b) going to be a long term solution

older: hernandez/schnieder/molina/johima
not good: buck
not very good: montero
young/not gonna get moved probably: shoppach/vic martinez/flores/santana/clement

now the questions:
if the mets trade schneider who replaces him?
if the royals trade buch who replaces him? (olivo is a FA iirc)
if the gians traade molina do they move sandoval back to C?
the nats cant afford to move flores (young+ sucky team)
ditto for clement (good + cheap + rebuilding team)
i doubt santana gets moved (why would he)

Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.

by knockoutking on Nov 27, 2008 10:10 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That's not the point

A good, young, long-term catching solution is a luxury for Boston, not a need. Sure, they’d like to have a Salty or a Teagarden, but they can go with a cheaper option and still be really good next year (and keep their top prospects). Now why would Boston trade their best available pitcher (Buchholz) for a player they don’t really need, especially when there are so many more options available for next year?

It may not be fair, and Salty/Teagarden may be very valuable in a static market, but this just isn’t the year to be trading catchers. Boston hopes to take advantage of that, one way or another.

by cstorm15 on Nov 27, 2008 10:41 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

They are in a different position than most teams

With their money, their current rotation, and their few needs, a long term catching option is perfect for them. Their rotation doesn’t need Buchholz and they can go fill their rotation each year in the offseason. Their roster is pretty strong and they really only have nothing going for them in the catching department. For a team that is going to be a WS contender just about each year, getting a catcher like Teagarden or Salty would make sure they make it deep in the playoffs.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Nov 27, 2008 1:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely Right

Boston is in a very unique position. In fact, they’re probably the only team that could justify giving up top talent for a top young catcher. Which explains why they’re the only team that we’ve been hearing rumors about lately, and why Boston doesn’t feel like it has to give up Buchholz. At this point, I imagine Boston feels like they are bidding against themselves. What other team could give up a Buchholz-like talent for Salty or Teagarden?

Boston has the resources to spend on a luxury that it doesn’t need (but that it could definately justify), but they may not want to spend top dollar if they’re not bidding against anyone.

by cstorm15 on Nov 27, 2008 11:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wait a sec

I thought we were trading Hamilton for Wakefield. Did you not see that genius propose in TR’s mailbag the other day?

by c-wumpus on Nov 26, 2008 9:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Let’s pretend Boston resigns Varitek for a year. If Boston also trades for Salty, then who catches Wakefield?

There seems to be a misunderstanding here about why the Sox don’t have Varitek catch Wake. Varitek caught Wake regularly when he was younger. However, one of Varitek’s (supposed) strengths is his game calling, which is nullified by Wake. So having a specialist to catch Wake builds in off days for Tek and helps keep him fresh.

I think the “Tek can’t catch Wake” meme really became “fact” after a few tough innings in the ‘04 ALCS, but even Mirabelli said that Wake’s ball was so all over the place that he probably wouldn’t have been able to keep everything from hitting the dirt in those innings.

"I'd like to f*ck Sandra Bullock." - Pedro Martinez, explaining his secret ambition to Sports Illustrated for Kids.

by OCD SS on Nov 28, 2008 8:53 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

this situation is moving towards an interesting stalemate

i dont’ think boston plans on giving up buccholz and if salty maintains this for all of the DL, then you will have 2 legitimate ML starting catchers and 1 ML backup (teagarden). We are still a long way away from Salty completing his video game like season, though.

Maybe I just answered my own question in suggesting that the rangers should just split time over laird and salty again but you can make a case that you are stunting teagarden’s growth if you keep him in AAA past April

""If they'd have told me you can make the team but you've got to shine the shoes, I'd have been there shining shoes." -Bradley

by ab03 on Nov 26, 2008 9:59 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I believe

that you are stunting Teagarden’s growth if he isnt catching full time period. However, that can be said about Ramirez and Salty too. Put me in the camp saying that the Rangers should trade Laird at least. I dont think that Laird will keep his mouth shut enough to warrant splitting time. That being said, if you keep 2 of the 3 young catchers up at the ML level you HAVE to make sure that each of them gets 400 ABs in some capacity.

by Michael Cave on Nov 26, 2008 10:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Eh I might be talking...

out of my ass since I was never a catcher, but that’s one position where I don’t think you are going to stunt a catcher’s growth if he’s playing every other day just because of how tolling a season can be on a catcher. Laird’s numbers were always better in a platoon.

by slimshadty12 on Nov 26, 2008 12:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No

You are stunting TT growth if you don’t allow him to get 400-500 ABs next year. His defense is already high quality. Its his bat that has the huge question marks surrounding it. TT could easily play in a platoon, say in the minors, where when hes not catching he is DHing.

Now Salty and max are the ones who need to catch everyday in order to not stunt their growth. Whather it be in Arlington or OKC.

Hitting is something you can work on outside of game action. Catching isn’t as easy.

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Nov 26, 2008 1:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hmmm

“Hitting is something you can work on outside of game action. Catching isn’t as easy.” Id like you to expound on that belief because I never heard that from any of my catchers in college. Just wondering…

by Michael Cave on Nov 26, 2008 2:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Just a personal opinion

Nothing from personal experience. Hitting can be worked on against hitting machines, batting practice, etc.

Catchers can catch bullpen sessions but in those the pitcher generally isn’t throwing in the dirt. Thats a hard thing to simulate. Different pitches do different things once they hit the dirt. Some pop up some skid, etc. Im sure there are footwork drills you can do but unless you are blocking actual pitches in the actual dirt its not the same. Throwing is just about the only thing you can do.

To me TT doesn’t need to develop any of those defensive skills. He already has them. That game time is probably best used for Salty and Max.

Just a personal opinion.

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Nov 26, 2008 2:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

oh okay

that is why i asked. Always like to see where people are coming from. I would counter that is why you will see catchers catching bullpens, doing blocking drills, and framing drills.

I would say the exact opposite in respect to playing time. I believe that you would let Teagarden catch because his defensive skills are refined while you make sure to give Salty and Ramirez more reps in drills and more bullpen time. Salty needs to work on his framing. He lets the ball carry his glove as opposed to stopping it. Robs strikes from his pitchers. A 95 MPH fastball is just the same in a bullpen as it is in a game. The key is reps reps and more reps. Just like a pitcher would work on a slider time and time again on the side before introducing it into the game. He would not just break it out in a game without refining it. Yes a game is real time but framing and blocking is something that can be worked on and perfected on the side. Plus im not sure any of our pitchers would rather throw to salty or ramirez during a trial by fire phase as opposed to a polished Teagarden.

I believe that hitting is the thing that is really hard to simulate. Game time ABs are worth their weight in gold.

However, despite our disagreement on this matter, I think we can agree that this is a great problem to have. Personally, I think Teagarden should be the starting catcher with Salty as the backup and starting DH (assuming that Blalock can play 3B which is doubtful). I just want to make sure that each of those guys gets 400 ABs. Maybe easier said than done. Id rather have Ramirez at AAA. Prior to the winter leagues i was thinking that Salty should be the one to go but now Im re-thinking my decision. I wish I could see him in game. As you can probably ascertain im more of a scouting guy than a sabermetrics guy ha

by Michael Cave on Nov 26, 2008 5:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Question

Since you obviously pitched before at advanced levels let me ask you how often would you practice throwing in the dirt? I see how you could practice framing as a catcher in bullpen and side sessions but blocking would be different I would think. Obviously there is going to be the occasional wild pitch in one of those sessions but blocking balls seems like a skill you have to practice at full speed. A pitcher throwing full speed pitches at the dirt. And not just fastballs either because like I said different pitches have different spins and different reactions when they hit the dirt.

My personal solution to the catching situation would be have Max and Salty in AAA literally alternating days behind the plate and at DH. Teagarden can be the starter in Arlington with a veteran backup. Since TT has an injury history Salty would be the first one I would call up if he gets injured leaving Max to catch fulltime in OKC. Now if Hank goes down to injury then I would bring up Max to DH fulltime and let Salty catch fulltime in OKC.

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Nov 26, 2008 5:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Blocking balls

There are actually a few answers to that. Recognizing that a pitch is going to hit the dirt is not that incredibly hard to do. Any catcher who gets into college should be able to read the down angle on the ball. Hell, most good base runners in college can. I would never practice throwing the ball in the dirt unless i was pitching a simulated game where i needed to bury an 0-2, 1-2 pitch or just accidentally. That is one way for practice. And trust me there are soooo many bullpens throughout even a college season that gives a catcher plenty of practice.

Secondly, (and more importantly) is simply doing blocking drills. Having the catching coach throw several (im talking about 50-100 reps per day) balls at the catchers from 15 ft or so. One of the big keys to blocking is quickness. Collapsing the ankles on the backside and getting down to your knees. Imagine a sprinter doing starts but not running the whole 100M. The catcher will perfect their muscle memory to get over to balls to their right and left. Blocking is not something that should be “practiced” on during real games. The muscle memory should take over from hours and hours of blocking drills.

by Michael Cave on Nov 26, 2008 10:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Blocking Drills

Pitching machines can really simulate game speed for blocking as well. You can set one to throw that 0-2 slider off the plate and in the dirt or whatever. One of the few true virtues of the pitching machine imo.

"So you think the Celtics will beat Detroit? Hell will freeze over before that happens, mark my words." miles 5/20/08

by badradiorules on Nov 27, 2008 1:12 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Matt Walbeck

He used to just pelt the C’s with rubber balls to simulate blocking.
He’s gone now.

by shroomer on Nov 27, 2008 1:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That sinister looking bastard...

I’m surprised he didn’t throw wrenches at them like Patches O’Hoolihan.

"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."

by benmor78 on Nov 27, 2008 2:31 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

if you can dodge a wrench you can dodge a ball

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Nov 27, 2008 7:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

My coaches

in college used to hit fungos at me from about 50 ft…

I still have nightmares about it.

Freddie King rules faces.

by Ryin A on Nov 27, 2008 8:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yea

I still do that. I do it more to show off the fungo skills. You have to be really good with a fungo for that drill to be effective.

"So you think the Celtics will beat Detroit? Hell will freeze over before that happens, mark my words." miles 5/20/08

by badradiorules on Nov 27, 2008 9:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You would be

surprised at how eerily good some college coaches could be at hitting fungo. ha

by Michael Cave on Nov 27, 2008 10:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hitting good fungo

is a true form of art. I had a coach who would talk trash to the fungo the whole time while hitting pregame in and out. He was money, never mishit that daunting pop up to the catcher to close it out. Still chuckle about it to this day.

I commend your skills.

Freddie King rules faces.

by Ryin A on Nov 27, 2008 10:50 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

you are not stunting his growth

but you are limiting his value to your team (the rangers) if you have him at AAA

Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.

by knockoutking on Nov 27, 2008 10:11 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Varitek

does anybody have his Dewan + / – ?

He’s really played up that defensive wiz bit. I’d like to know if he’s actually any good.

Bring up Matt West '09

by Chase Irwin on Nov 26, 2008 5:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't think that his +/- would tell us much

It measures how many plays on balls guys make that others at their position would ordinarily make. For a catcher that doesn’t comprise much of his game. Getting to bunts and nubbers, stuff like that, would seem like what his system would measure. I know that for the leaders that they post for free on the website they don’t even list catchers, while they do pitchers.

by Brett Perryman on Nov 27, 2008 1:03 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think it will tell you anything at all...

…because Dewan doesn’t do +/- ratings for catchers, period. There’s a blurb about it in the first FB, and IIRC they decided measuring defense at C would require a whole different system.

"I'd like to f*ck Sandra Bullock." - Pedro Martinez, explaining his secret ambition to Sports Illustrated for Kids.

by OCD SS on Nov 27, 2008 9:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs