Saltalamacchia getting called up?
by Adam J. Morris on Apr 24, 2008 7:36 PM CDT
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PrintAdam Melhuse has a bruised hand, which, according to Jon Daniels , means Jarrod Saltalamacchia may be promoted to take his place.
I think that might fire a few folks around here up.
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LSB's long national nightmare...
is now over.
by ghostofErikThompson on Apr 24, 2008 7:37 PM CDT reply actions
Well,
one of them at least. He still probably will play behind Laird for now, and that will just cause new nightmares.
...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.
There's no way.
This is a not-so-subtle gesture that Salty is here to stay, at least in my opinion. Things went to shit quickly, and so the plan has changed. I believe the Rangers expected to float around .500 into the summer, when they would then flip Laird for something of value and keep Salty in the bigs.
Now, they suck horribly, Laird sucks, and they need to see the big haul from the Tex trade get his ML ABs. I don’t think anyone could argue with a straight face that catching defense is the one thing holding back this team right now, so even if he has to learn on the fly up here, I think everyone will be fine with that.
At least this is what I hope the case is.
by brettgardner on Apr 24, 2008 7:52 PM CDT up reply actions
Yep
One possibility is that JD is GMing for his job. If Salty plays well, then the Tex trade looks great (especially with Teixeira’s perennial slow start this season…), and that is really the number one thing on JD’s resume. If the Rangers were to lose 90 games this season without any positive contribution from one of the Teixeira acquisitions… well, JD wouldn’t have very solid ground to stand on.
I agree with the point made below - Laird should play against lefties, like Kenny Rogers, to boost up his stats. The slow start to the season is justification for the Rangers to switch to their "future catcher" and make Laird backup now. Being demoted now won't decrease his value considerably (while more ABs against righties will...)Who said anything about
catching defense? I’m just assuming that they are not bumping Laird from the starting gig yet. If that was their thought, they wouldn’t wait for an injury to Melhuse to do it, they would just do it.
...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.
All I meant was
The concerns about Salty’s defense shouldn’t really be the determinative factor, as the team blows in so many other facets of the game.
by brettgardner on Apr 25, 2008 12:10 AM CDT up reply actions
saltalamacchia
this will only fire me up if he gets the majority of the starts
"When we're mad we'll use our words. Then the rest of the world will play nice with us. And the only boom-booms will be in our pants." - Ralph Wiggum
YEAH!!! WHOOOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fire me up? Adam, are you kidding???? I feel like we just won 10 straight ballgames.
This had better be a permanent move, though. Lardface gets bench, and SALTY TAKES OVER BEHIND THE DISH.
You hear me Ron? I said SALTY TAKES OVER BEHIND THE DISH!!!
I think you're wasting your breath
telling Ron. Methinks his days filling out the lineup card are numbered.
No worries about Wash playing Salty
because after this road trip Wahs is as good as gone. IMO
"My death certificate will probably say: 'Cause of Death: World Series.'" Jamey Newberg
oh noes
The article raised my hopes with the Salty call up info then proceeded to rape my eyeballs with this little blurb about Saturday’s game which I will be driving 2-1/2 hours to see:
The Rangers are also discussing who will be their starting pitcher on Saturday. Daniels said it will likely be either Scott Feldman or Sidney Ponson
please God let it be Feldman
If it's Ponson
Then it would appear that Melhuse is on his way out, and whoever it was (t ball? Sorry I can’t recall) that predicted, or at least hoped for, a Melhuse DFA, Salty call-up, and Mathis/Ponson call-up is going to be vindicated.
by brettgardner on Apr 24, 2008 7:54 PM CDT up reply actions
Sorry
Congrats. I can only hope that you’re right.
by brettgardner on Apr 24, 2008 7:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Yep, that was you
Here’s the proof:
http://www.lonestarball.com/2008/4/22/447598/gabbard-in-question-for-ne#5347501
If that does happen, you should get some kind of special LSB award. ;)
It's all about the e-cred
ain’t that right, LSJ?
"I hope it's a special dumb person hell so that I don’t have to meet up with you after I die."
- The D-tron
by inactive lsb user on Apr 24, 2008 8:05 PM CDT up reply actions
Oh Oh...
My turn. I want some e-cred too. How bout this.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3365079
I think someone here predicted that. Who could that have been…
http://www.lonestarball.com/2008/4/20/427817/frank-thomas-released#comments
He shoots, he scores.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Ponson
Im not trying to pump sunshine up your a@@ but he has pitched pretty well this season. Definately good enough to get a shot in the bigs before he can opt out. His last start was 7.1 shutout innings.
mister sunshine on my g-damn shoulders, John Denver!
listen – I’m ALL about watching Sir Sidney toss a few games for us…it’s up there with seeing John Daly in person at the Byron Nelson on my short list of doubtful dreams…
"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 24, 2008 11:07 PM CDT up reply actions
well
this will be another test as to who fills out the lineup card. if salty gets more than three starts a week, I have to think Ron isn’t calling the shots anymore
Rare Gnats Sex
In which case
He needs to go, fair or not.
by brettgardner on Apr 24, 2008 7:55 PM CDT up reply actions
Don't plan your parade quite yet
General manager Jon Daniels said it is a “distinct” possibility” that Saltalamacchia could be called up from Triple-A Oklahoma after backup catcher Adam Melhuse suffered a bruised right hand in the Rangers’ 8-2 loss to the Tigers on Thursday.Melhuse was hit by a pitch in the dirt and had X-rays after the game. He’ll be evaluated on Friday in Arlington.
“We’ll know more [Friday],” Daniels said
I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby
Eh?
At this point I don’t really care. Let the change begin, call me l8r.
“You Die. She Dies. Everybody Dies.”
However, lsj will spend many, many days cleaning his sheets.
...it's the weekend, so why the hell not?
Great news,
Im all ready to write this season off so the more chances guys like Salts, botts, and so on get the happier I’ll be.
Adam loves him some Lard
He has started slow at every stop
I like that fact that he is finally playing. With that said I think he will start to hit more as the season goes.
"My death certificate will probably say: 'Cause of Death: World Series.'" Jamey Newberg
Does 'starting slow' include....
not being able to field grounders, or even knock one down?
He may eventually not embarass himself (doubtful), but are guys like Botts really gonna take us where we wanna go?
Does he start slow
Every year? Because you would have thought that the 2 straight months he spent up here last year getting at bats every day would have been that “starting slow” period.
yeah, he does
but my question wasn’t about bott’s line overall, I meant today. Are people happy with 0-1 with 3BB?
Rare Gnats Sex
Yes
As long as a player reaches base three times a game via walk or hit, I’m happy. It’s not like he had three HBP’s or reached on three errors – save for an IBB, you earn your walks just like your hits.
I think this was avery good day at the plate for Jason – he showed off his batting eye and plate discipline.
I was replying to boomer
But if he starts slow every year do we want that on our roster? Its one thing for a gold glove 1B who you knew no matter how slow he started would end up with 35+ HR and 100+ RBI. But for a guy who can’t play in the field and has no history to go off of to start slow means DFA
I wasn't talking about his D.
I was refering to his hitting. If you look at his minor league numbers oncehe gets it going he is ok. In the past when he has repeated at a level he starts quicker. Look I’m not asying he is the second coming of Tex but if he could be Hafner like at DH then I would take that. If he can’t hit in the Bigs cut him or get what you can for him.
But don’t you think it is time to find out what he is? I mean the Rangers should have found out several years ago. IMO
"My death certificate will probably say: 'Cause of Death: World Series.'" Jamey Newberg
I know
You stated he starts slowly at a new level
My question is does he start slowly every year? Because I would have thought that 2 months of at bats every day would have sufficed as his “starting slowly” period. But obviously it didn’t. So my question is does he start slow every year? Using Tex as an example, at least not only did we know that in the end he would have good stats but while he was starting slow at the plate he was still a gold glover in the field. With Botts if he is starting slow at the plate he provides nothing in the field. So are you telling me we will have to deal with a month or two of no hitting out of our DH in the future? Thats not acceptable
????
So, he’s not the 2nd coming of Tex, you just expect him to be “Hafner-like at DH”?
You gonna stick with that?
You do realize Hafner is a superior hitter to Teixeira, right?
He is?
He has less career home runs, doubles, hits, and he’s 3 years older.
Granted, he has a slightly better OPS (though a healthier distance in OPS+) and slightly fewer ABs, but I’m not sure how you gather that he’s a superior hitter. If anything, they’re pretty equal.
by brettgardner on Apr 24, 2008 11:50 PM CDT up reply actions
well..........
OBP: Hafner- .395 Tex- .369
SLG- Hafner- ..546 Tex- .535
OPS+- Hafner- 146 Tex- 129
I’m not a “stat head” but I believe that the OPS+ numbers mean that Teixeira is 29% better than the average major league hitter, while Hafner is 46% better than the average major league hitter.
As a point of reference, Vlad has a career OPS+ of 148, Miguel Cabrera has a career OPS+ of 142, Jim Thome has a career OPS+ of 149, A-Rod has a career OPS+ of 147, and Chipper Jones has a career OPS+ of 144. That’s the company Hafner (146 OPS+) is in.
By comparison, Scott Rolen has a career OPS+ of 126, David Justice had a career OPS+ of 129, Bobby Bonilla had a career OPS+ of 124, and Magglio Ordonez has a career OPS+ of 129. That’s the company Teixeira (129 OPS+) is in.
There’s nothing wrong with the group that Tex is in. Those are all fine players. You might even call them “great players”. But the hitters that Hafner is grouped with are “elite” hitters who could all wind up as Hall of Famers.
We could go
Back and forth, but neither of them will be Hall of Famers. If one were to be, though, there’s no question in my mind it would be Tex.
You also have to look at production, not just OPS+. I’m not denying that Hafner’s a great hitter, but I don’t feel that he’s significantly better than Tex.
by brettgardner on Apr 25, 2008 12:23 AM CDT up reply actions
I guess we'll agree to disagree......
Because, to me, at his peak (2004-2006), Hafner was up there with A-Rod and Big Papi as one of the 3 best hitters in the A.L. Just imagine what Pronk’s 2006 would have looked like had a CJ Wilson fastball not ended his season with 30+ games to go (he had to “settle” for 42 HR’s and 117 RBI in 129 games).
But even during his best stretch (which would also be between 2004-2006), Teixeira was an excellent offensive force, but was never in the mix when discussing the best of the best.
In the context of eleven walks (IIRC)
I’m not sure it means much of anything.
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)
by Ed Coffin on Apr 24, 2008 11:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Meh
To quote the groundskeepers from “Major League”....
“They’re still shitty.”
Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
by LSBUser on Apr 24, 2008 8:11 PM CDT reply actions
I don't know about this
At this point, It’s about letting Saltalphabet develop, not getting him up here at any cost. If Wash isn’t going to play him, it seems counterproductive.
Livin' in Heartbreak Central...
I still think Salty should play 3-4 days a week at Catcher
Laird 1-2 a week, preferably vs. lefties (to help his trade value, if any is left) on those days Salty can split time between DH & 1B….we need another RH bat, we need to limit Laird & Broussard’s playing time (and Botts, too)....it looks like a no-brainer.
NO 1B
You do the organization and Salty absolutely no good putting him at 1B where he has openly said it throws off his concentration. You want to play Laird against lefties fine. You want Salty to DH those days fine. But those are the only two positions he should be placed at. Catcher and DH.
No 1B for Salty
He doesn’t like playing there, and he doesn’t play well there. He needs to stay behind the plate, and concentrate on catching. Just look how much he has improved between spring training/OKC since he’s been allowed to do that?
I’m fine with DHing him if we can call up Chris Shelton to replace Ben Broussard, but no 1B.
Well, I was just trying to keep his RH bat in the line-up
while limiting Broussard & Botts exposure…....I don’t really care if he plays 1B….I think Davis is up sometime in the second half anyway.
Yeah, we'd all like to see less of Broussard
But we do need to find out if Botts can hit or not. 3 BB’s today for him wasn’t a bad day at the ballpark, IMO.
Personally, I would axe Broussard, and bring up Chris Shelton. Shelton is a catcher converted to 1B, and can still strap on the gear if needbe in an emergency – having him around would make DHing Salty much more viable.
OT: Larry Brown
didn’t want to start a new fanpost about this, but, he just quit his current job, anyone see him as the Mavs next coach? Or, does anyone even want him here as the next Mavs coach?
just got ownaged
Probably not
They’ll change it up and bring in a happy-go-lucky coach who distributes plenty of hugs and smiles.
Livin' in Heartbreak Central...
Not knowing Brown’s personal situation, the biggest hangup that I could see from the Rangers’ side is the money issue that paying Avery and Brown would cause.
by Brett Perryman on Apr 24, 2008 9:40 PM CDT up reply actions
+1
"I hope it's a special dumb person hell so that I don’t have to meet up with you after I die."
- The D-tron
by inactive lsb user on Apr 24, 2008 10:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Hells to the No
"Sabean did a good job on selling high on Liriano." -Excel Hearts Choi
by thedirkatron on Apr 24, 2008 9:40 PM CDT up reply actions
Larry Brown
has New York Knicks written all over his smug face
"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 24, 2008 11:12 PM CDT up reply actions
Isaiah gone, Larry in
you don’t see that happening? with a chance to acquire LeBron in the New York media if the Cavs fail to keep him happy?
"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 24, 2008 11:26 PM CDT up reply actions
Um
Already tried it. Gigantic failure.
If he’s going to coach, he’s going to Memphis.
by brettgardner on Apr 24, 2008 11:34 PM CDT up reply actions
Meanwhile back to Salty
Does anyone else get a sick feeling when the bases are loaded and the next batter is Melhuse? Surely Salty has got to be an improvement over that, and for that matter Chris Davis can’t be worse than Broussard. So why not let them go ahead and take their lumps now, they can’t be any worse than what we’ve already got.
yes
thank the stars Melhuse is going to be gone…hopefully
"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 24, 2008 11:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Mr Salty
Did your son get any word as to if he was going to stay awhile or if this is a short term stay?
Ok, but don't get your hopes up just yet.
That might must mean he needs to be there in case the news isn’t good with Melhuse tomorrow. They want him there in case. Seems likely to me, though.
...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.
I don't see how this can be a short-term stay
Salty is the future, and he’s no backup catcher. I don’t see how they can call him up, and rob him of regular playing time unless the plan to keep him in the majors.
yes
and please tell him to keep a hold of that spot, whatever it takes…we love the idea of your son up with men in scoring position and 2 outs in a tight game we’re down in…
"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 24, 2008 11:16 PM CDT up reply actions
It's been a while,
since that situation has presented itself. Unless you’re talking about the second inning.
I just recall Melhuse
striking out with the bases loaded 3 at bats in a row or something like that…and Laird hasn’t been impressive in such situations, either
"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 24, 2008 11:27 PM CDT up reply actions
thanks
I’m really happy for the both of you. I think I was somewhat harsh on you when you were upset that Salty was going to the minors but it seems as though he’s done everything asked of him with no problems and this is deserved promotion. Of course, it resulted from injury but you have to wonder, how badly is Melhuse really injured? As in, if Salty wasn’t hitting in AAA, maybe they would have let Melhuse play through it? Anyway, I hope it’s permanent.
Rare Gnats Sex
OH, Happy Day!!!
Aside from being good, Salty is CUTE!!!
Salty in HD…here I come!!
Pretty cool...
thanks for the inside scoop.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Rangers have traded in the team bus for a more appropriate vehicle
There is no such thing as global warming. David Murphy was cold, so he turned the sun up.
by SarasotaRanger on Apr 24, 2008 10:39 PM CDT reply actions
Why did you post that in this thread?
Go over to the gameday thread. This thread represents a WIN, not a FAIL.
Who gets promoted to Oklahoma?
Ramirez or TayTea?
Ah...
Interesting. Time for Max?
Can’t be Tea, that we know.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Apr 24, 2008 11:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Crazy as it sounds
Why not TayTea? Dude’s going to be 25 at the end of the year. I know Ramirez is only a year younger but Jesus, and I know this sounds impatient as hell, but can we throw Teagarden into the deep end already?
two things:
1. Rangers trade Laird and Salty becomes the full-time catcher – we’d much prefer MaxRam be ready to backup at C once every week and DH the rest of the time to take full advantage of his bat
2. Rangers trade Salty and keep Laird – we’d probably prefer the better defensive catcher to be ready, which would be Teagarden – but we’re concerned with his arm after his 2nd year from TJ recovery – didn’t push him last year, have to be sure he can handle the rigors of catching nearly every day before we bump him to AAA
"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 25, 2008 12:09 AM CDT up reply actions
Good question...
TT hasn’t been hitting well, but his D and age could be big factors.
MaxRam has been crushing the ball.
I won’t be surprised to see either move up.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Impossible
Supposedly he requires 8 days a week at catcher in AAA to turn into a gold glover this season.
Anyway, I hope he comes up, hits well immediately and never goes back down.
Gerald Laird is my hero.
OMFT...
when he see’s Salty tomorrow.
“Ah shit not you again. I mean hey, how was OKC. If you need me I’ll be down here at the end of the bench.”
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Lets hope so
But you never know with Ron managing things.
After all, you gotta remember, Salty doesn’t have the “experience” Laird does. In Ron’s mind little experience = bench.
But, JD stepped in with Botts, and I imagine he’d do the same with Salty before too long if Ron refuses to play him.
Hopefully we see him starting
4-5 times a week behind the plate, and make Laird a backup, which is ideally his position.
"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck
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