Catching Situation For Next Year?

by Turdcutter on Jul 21, 2008 9:39 AM CDT

As of right now it appears that we have 4 average to good catchers that are all major league ready. Each one has different good and bad qualities. Salty is huge and a switch hitter, but sucks defensively and is putting up terrible offensive numbers. Max has a lot of potential offensively (especially with power numbers), but once again he is not hitting very well and is not very good defensively. Laird is Laird, enough said. TT in the few games I have seen him play appears to be awesome at handling pitchers and a great defensive catcher, but how good is he offensively?

My question is come spring training 2009 who will be our starting catcher, who will be our # 2 catcher, and who will be gone out of these four? If you disagree with my assessments of the qualities of these guys please tell me.

Guys this is my first post, I have been reading lonestarball for about 2 years now, so go easy on me. Plus I set for the Oklahoma Bar in 8 days, so please try not to destroy my confidence anymore then what it already is.

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Catchers

Welcome to the board Turd. And good luck on the Bar even if it is in that god awful state we call Sucklahoma.

Anyway as to your question. The way I see it playing out is one of Salty/Max is traded away this winter. Laird starts next season with TT platooning/backing up. The guy we keep between Max/Salty starts in OKC to work on their defense. They are the first callup when injury or trades necessitate

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 Jul 21, 2008 9:45 AM CDT 0 recs

Welcome to LSB

A Lonestar in California

Classic iorange555: "lmao too bad i watched [the all-star game] at a friends house ;[ much funer on here"

by lonestarJon on Jul 21, 2008 9:46 AM CDT 0 recs

Welcome, u should have done a poll,

I would hope that after catchers are traded, we end up with Tea and MaxRam. I think that duo would be awesome offensively and would do just fine defensively.

The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ

by NYTXFAN on Jul 21, 2008 9:54 AM CDT 0 recs

I want Max

to be our DH/3rd catcher for the next 6 years.

And Teagarden and a wiley vet can handle the catching.

So that leaves Laird and Salty as trade bait.

Warner Madrigal makes Ezequiel Astacio look downright handsome.

by tricer on Jul 21, 2008 9:58 AM CDT 0 recs

The catching situation

makes my brain hurt, and it won’t be resolved until the offseason when everyone is healthy.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 21, 2008 9:59 AM CDT 0 recs

"brain hurt"

I agree with you there… I change my mind about it every day…

by JBImaknee on Jul 21, 2008 11:16 AM CDT up 0 recs

I would like to know what you mean by....

“Laird is Laird, enough said”. There are some of those that think he shouldn’t be on this team and should be traded. While there are some of us that think he would make a fine catcher here in Texas.

We already have 4 All-Stars in the lineup and CD has all the potential in the world to be a future All-Star. You’re not going to have an All-Star at every position.

Laird would be just fine in this lineup. You could move MaxRam to DH and turn Salty and TT into a 3B prospect and a pitching prospect. Get a throw-in Catcher in return or let Richardson come up to fill as back up, still having MaxRam as your 3rd catcher.

Wouldn’t TT and Salty bring back more anyhow than Laird and one of those two?

by Chris Hanes on Jul 21, 2008 10:33 AM CDT 0 recs

Ideally, however...

You keep the best of the prospects to have on your team, and trade the ones that don’t fit. Laird and Salty are the latter two, in my opinion. Teagarden is the catcher of the future. I’ve said that from the day we drafted him. Nothing has changed my mind. Max and Teagarden stay, Salty and Laird go.

Ian Kinsler has finally earned the right to be the third of my co-favorite players.

by utlonghorn24 on Jul 21, 2008 10:47 AM CDT up 0 recs

Heh

Teagarden is the catcher of the future. I’ve said that from the day we drafted him.

And Brooks Kieschnick was the next Babe Ruth and Huston Street is the next Spark Lyle?

by robert_d_wilfong on Jul 21, 2008 10:57 AM CDT up 0 recs

Huh?

Ian Kinsler has finally earned the right to be the third of my co-favorite players.

by utlonghorn24 on Jul 21, 2008 11:06 AM CDT up 0 recs

Tough to have much cred on TT when your username is utlonghorn24

by robert_d_wilfong on Jul 21, 2008 11:22 AM CDT up 0 recs

Youch...

pwnd.

A Lonestar in California

Classic iorange555: "lmao too bad i watched [the all-star game] at a friends house ;[ much funer on here"

by lonestarJon on Jul 21, 2008 11:26 AM CDT up 0 recs

So what?

Because I’m a Texas fan and I think TT is good, I’m suddenly wrong?

No no no. I think not. He’s proven everywhere that he’s played that he’s a good catcher, and that’s what I’m going off of. The guy has mad defensive skills, and he’s really got a good bat, he just needs the plate discipline to really hone in his skills.

And just for the record, I’ve said nothing else about any other former UT players on this blog. Nothing.

Oh LSJ, shhh. It’s for your own good.

Ian Kinsler has finally earned the right to be the third of my co-favorite players.

by utlonghorn24 on Jul 21, 2008 11:48 AM CDT up 0 recs

You got it backwards

He has the plate discipline, in the minors at least, but he needs to work on improving his bat. You may well be right about everything else but the simple fact is that with your username a biased appearance automatically appears whenever you talk glowingly about a Longhorn. Just like when Saltys dad posted here and we all knew who he was whenever he would post about Salty a biased appearance would be there.

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 Jul 21, 2008 11:51 AM CDT up 0 recs

Well...

In the couple of times I saw him play in AA, he looked impatient, not selective enough on swinging at the right pitches, etc. So that’s why I said that about his bat/plate discipline.

Maybe it appears biased based on where my collegiate allegiances lie, but trust me, it’s in no way biased. I’ll sit here and tell you that a player is good if I think they are, I don’t care if the play for A&M, OU, Tech, Ohio State, USC, Michigan, whoever. It’s just my opinion, based on the way I’ve seen the kid play in person, that he will be a darn good catcher, and that he certainly has the talent to do so.

Anyway, I see your point, but I ask that you not see me as biased when talking about TT. I just know he is a good catcher from what I see, and that’s what I go off of on baseball. Not where my allegiances lie.

Ian Kinsler has finally earned the right to be the third of my co-favorite players.

by utlonghorn24 on Jul 21, 2008 11:55 AM CDT up 0 recs

Not disagreeing

See link: http://www.lonestarball.com/2008/7/21/575720/monday-a-m-stuff#

It would just be a suprise if you had said anything different.

by robert_d_wilfong on Jul 21, 2008 11:55 AM CDT up 0 recs

I read it.

I understand. Just saying that it’s not fair to assume the bias just because I say something. I have my reasons for backing that up, and it’s not because I like UT. It’s because I think TT is a great ballplayer. That’s it.

Here’s something different: Huston Street is good, but way overrated. How’s that? lol.

Ian Kinsler has finally earned the right to be the third of my co-favorite players.

by utlonghorn24 on Jul 21, 2008 11:57 AM CDT up 0 recs

My take:

Tea as your starting catcher. MaxRam as DH/backup catcher. Every 5th day MaxRam catches and either Hambone or Bradley DH for a ‘day off’. Salty and Laird should be able to bring back a really good haul in trade…even to the same team to use them in the same way we would use Tea/MaxRam.

by rothe on Jul 21, 2008 10:59 AM CDT 0 recs

Backup C..

Never a good idea to have your backup catcher as your full time DH.

by Topgun22 on Jul 21, 2008 12:29 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'd assume ...

... there would be a third catcher on the bench. Probably a career backup who would receive very little playing tim.

by northtexan95 on Jul 21, 2008 12:53 PM CDT up 0 recs

I believe the pitfalls of that scenario have been vastly overstated

Don't knock masturbation, it's sex with someone I love .

by Brian Thomas on Jul 21, 2008 2:45 PM CDT up 0 recs

i like what i saw from TT

he may not be a great hitter but ill take an average hitter for a great defensive catcher. for example when he threw out that runner on sunday he knew he didnt have to rush so he got his feet set and just made an accurate throw. I can also see why the pitchers like him, simply because he puts his glove up early so the pitcher can aim at something.

Being a pitcher i hate when catchers set their glove up right when i start my delivery, its just easier to see the glove and then go into your delivery.

just my two cents

Kinsler is the best player on the rangers(done), BENOIT SUCKS(done), bring up Harrison(done),new: Put Nippert in rotation, Mendoza to the pen, get Feliz to AAA by the end of the year, trade cat

by nice hands on Jul 21, 2008 11:13 AM CDT 0 recs

TT

You know that throw out is getting way too much attention. Buscher is not exactly Ricky Henderson out there. It was a great throw and his mechanics looked solid but lets not make him to be the next Pudge just yet. Lets see him tame the Carlos Gomez’s and carl Crawfords of this league and not the Buschers and Molinas

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 Jul 21, 2008 11:23 AM CDT 0 recs

my guess

Laird will be gone. The other three will stick with the big club, which will allow the team to assess the three and decide if one of them needs to be moved.

"You’re the only here who contributes schtick only." - brettgardner

by trza on Jul 21, 2008 11:34 AM CDT 0 recs

3 catchers

No way we keep 3 catchers on the active roster. That is plain dumb roster management. Have one down in OKC playing everyday who can come up when needed. Thats what the minors are for. The get young guys consistent playing time when they are blocked in the bigs by someone.

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 Jul 21, 2008 11:49 AM CDT up 0 recs

Agreed.

However, I think he meant that for this season, we only get rid of one as opposed to both right away like many are suggesting. I agree with your ideology though. I think we should wait past the deadline to deal both, but we should try to move one now.

Ian Kinsler has finally earned the right to be the third of my co-favorite players.

by utlonghorn24 on Jul 21, 2008 11:51 AM CDT up 0 recs

Ok

But still its bad roster management, especially this year with Bradley being relegated to DH only duty, to keep 3 catchers on the active roster. Its not necessarily a bad thing for a guy to be sent down to the minors. In fact in this case i would take it as a compliment. Its better to be playing everyday even if its in the minors than sitting on the bench and stunting your growth and development.

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 Jul 21, 2008 11:53 AM CDT up 0 recs

No I agree with you there.

We should only have two at a time. Sorry if I didn’t make that clear. I was just making sure that I said that I thought they should only trade one, but keep the other three with the organization in general, not necessarily the big league club. Sorry again for the confusion there.

Ian Kinsler has finally earned the right to be the third of my co-favorite players.

by utlonghorn24 on Jul 21, 2008 11:59 AM CDT up 0 recs

Max

He’ll be able to play a lot of DH, especially if Bradley either isn’t here or is a right fielder next season. Then basically let Salty and TT fight it out.

"You’re the only here who contributes schtick only." - brettgardner

by trza on Jul 21, 2008 12:40 PM CDT up 0 recs

Bradley

With the Rangers leaning more and more toward Hamilton as the majority RF I think if we bring Bradley back it will be as primarily the full time DH with occasional days in the field to give others a rest.

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 Jul 21, 2008 1:12 PM CDT up 0 recs

Trade Salty!!

He probably has the most value because of his age and make up.

Let Laird be the man for another year or 2.

Groom TT to be the everyday catcher and keep him on the roster as the #2.

Let Max catch and play first every now and again when he’s not the DH. A healthy Bradley should be on the field for the next 4 years as a Ranger. Rameriz becomes even more valuable as another utility man. He’ll never be a good second catcher to have on the roster because with his stick, he’s gotta be in the lineup.

by HITX on Jul 21, 2008 12:53 PM CDT 0 recs

TT

If you are going to groom TT to be the everyday catcher you do not keep him here as the backup. You let him play in OKC everyday and work on the things he is lacking in. You bring in a veteran backup like your Adam Melhuise’s or let a young guy like Max be it if you don’t feel he has long term potential at that position.

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 Jul 21, 2008 1:14 PM CDT up 0 recs

Rob Neyer's BLog Today

• Congratulations to Texas catcher Taylor Teagarden, who hit his first career homer yesterday. All the sweeter: his blast accounted for the only run in the Rangers’ 1-0 decision over the Twins. Saturday, I suggested that the Red Sox, after this season (probably), should find a team with surplus catching and make a deal. Well, the Rangers, right now, have four MLB-ready catchers. They have 24-year-old Teagarden, who didn’t hit in the minors this season but is regarded as a fine defender and entered the season as the Rangers’ No. 4 prospect. They have 23-year-old Max Ramirez, who’s sort of Teagarden’s mirror: there are real questions about his glove but almost none about his bat. And of course they’ve still got Gerald Laird, an established major leaguer, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who’s struggled in the majors but is seven months younger than Ramirez.

So yeah, there are catchers out there. The Red Sox don’t have to give Jason Varitek two more years of (non-knuckleball) regular duty.

by gr7070 on Jul 21, 2008 1:40 PM CDT 0 recs

I would offer up one of the 4 to the Sox

Which ever one gets you the most pitching wise back do it and not look back.

"Would you mind walking a time or two so I could drive in some runs"? Milton Bradley

by boomer1 on Jul 21, 2008 3:41 PM CDT up 0 recs

TT is the future....

But for 2009, I see Laird being traded this off season to the Red Sox for a AA pitcher, Salty and TT breaking camp, and Max down in AAA working on defense. I can see Salty being dealt at the trade deadline in 2009, or more likely during the winter of 2009. 2010 is ready for TT to take over starting duties and Max to be the backup C/DH.

by m_nieft on Jul 21, 2008 4:48 PM CDT 0 recs

I have no idea...

What the Rangers will do. Probably trade them all and sign Pudge again.

Seriously though, what I would like to see them do is start Tx2 and keep Max as his backup. That would allow them to deal Salty for a starter since he has the most value and deal Laird who has reached his peak in value if he comes back healthy. Then you let MaxRam and Tx2 fight it out to see who will be the starter for the future.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Jul 21, 2008 8:02 PM CDT 0 recs