Since we're not exactly playing for a playoff spot, is this wise? A lot of you have commented on it, but now it's done. I have to disagree with this move. Laird may be better right now, but, you never know, Salty may develop an inferiority complex.

The Reds broadcasters really hammered on their catching situation, and I'm certain Dusty isn't happy about it. I would guess that Krivsky might be having some tense conversations with JD and Dusty.

I don't mind seeing Baby Bench at AAA. There's plenty for him to learn there. JD needs to get as much talent into the organization as he can possibly squeeze out of every veteran he trades.

at this particular time .................

in adam's podcast, ted ford said salty had been saying the right things and adam agreed. isn't there more evidence to the contrary?

Got no problem with it. Like AJM noted previously, it looks like JD is holding out for a trade worthy of a MLB starting catcher. I originally finished that sentence with "which Laird certainly is [a MLB starting catcher]". Then I checked last seasons stats, and pretty much Ausmus and Kendall were the only worse catchers. Guuuuh.

John Dewan (founder of STATS Inc., and owner of Baseball Info Solutions) and his team have found that a hitter that has a strong spring training slugging percentage which is better than his lifetime slugging percentage by 200 points or more is an indication of a step forward in the coming season.

Gerald Laird currently has a Spring slugging percentage of .605 which more than 200 points higher than his lifetime slugging percentage of .377 and for what it's worth (not much given he has just 10 hits) he leads the team in Isolated power (ISO) this spring (.342).

I think the most Laird could be traded for right now is whatever one of the better backup catchers in baseball could bring. If he has a good couple of months, however, you might be able to trade him as an average starting catcher or better given his age.

Whatever reasons there might be for handing the reins over to Saltalamacchia (and there are some good ones) I think they are outweighed by the possibility that Laird is worth a lot more three months from now. I don't think 3 months at Triple-A can hurt him if he is to be a legit big leaguer. Plus I'm not sure how "ready" I believe Saltalamacchia is to be a big league starting catcher as there are reasons to send him down and things he can work on to get better defensively AND offensively (most notably making better contact and/or being more patient and laying off of pitches he can't drive). He has been called a "high makeup" guy in the past so hopefully he takes advantage of this opportunity, pounds AAA pitching and hones his skills both behind the plate and at the plate.

disappointed or pissed off? This quote in the DMN makes me think pissed off.

http://tinyurl.com/2v4wk6

"I'm disappointed because I did everything I possibly could," Saltalamacchia said. "I left it on the field, but at the end of the day, it wasn't good enough. That upsets you. But I'll take it and go to Triple-A and be an MVP there."

Saltalamacchia is disappointed now that his going to AAA is settled. However, a couple of days ago he understood that he was the one with an option and AAA was his likely place after ST. Now he has to hone his skills at AAA. Hopefully he can focus on that. There is still work to do.

I hate this move but I understand it. I don't want to see any more of shit-stain Gerald Laird, he's not the future. Salty is one of the biggest keys to this franchise ever returning getting to a respectable level. I'd trade Laird for a used jock and half a bag of peanuts just to get Salty ever second of time at the big league level. Cruz and Botts are living proof that AAA dominance doesn't mean a damn thing to success in the bigs.

Lairds puts up a .750 OPS while Salty struggles at OKC?

Former Ranger and OKC catcher Guilliermo Quiroz has won the backup catcher spot for the Baltimore Orioles.

http://rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=MLB&id=3814

more time under Salts belt playing everyday will only help him not set him back. Dominate AAA first before you come play a full season in the majors. Thats what I would have said to him.

Gerald Laird should be the backup, and Salty should be honing his bat at the Major-League level.

But we've known for awhile this was coming, so I just hope something drastic happens to change things soon. Like somebody loses a catcher, and begs us for Laird, or Laird gets hurt, or Laird just flat out sucks, and the Rangers realize what a grave mistake they've made, and return him to the backup catcher role.

he'll be down there?

they will stick with Laird through hell and high water. They have committed to him and have been quoted how pleased they were with his overall improvement. They are also paying him 1.6 mil for the year. Salty won't be back no matter what he does down there.

TRADE HIM!