Whither Saltalamacchia?

by Oddibee on Apr 26, 2010 2:57 PM CDT

I haven't seen this brought up anywhere, but two snippets from this weekend:

1. From EG on the DMN site: Before Sunday's game, the team acknowledged that although there is nothing structurally wrong with catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, he's not ready to return from the disabled list. Partly, it's because of stiffness, but general manager Jon Daniels also allowed that "a couple" of throws back to the mound have been inconsistent. That's about as close as a team official will ever come to saying a player may be dealing with the yips.

2. From the AP story on Sunday's game: (in the Game Notes at the bottom): Texas C Jarrod Saltalamacchia is still having occasional trouble throwing back to the pitcher during his rehab assignment for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Saltalamacchia, on the 15-day DL with an upper back strain, experienced the same throwing problem in his two games for the Rangers at the start of the season.

So... at what point do we consider the possibility that Salty ain't ever coming back? How many catchers with the "yips" straighten themselves out? For some reason lately I see "Salty" and I read "Sasser"...

Tweet Comment 17 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

x

somebody else had a story up (CBS?) that said that he is trying a new stretching program and won’t come back up until he is comfortable with that program.

by JShoe on Apr 26, 2010 3:08 PM CDT reply actions

Ah yes, that is in the DMN site too

Linky

In that article Salty is quoted as denying having any problems throwing back to the mound.

"there's no money in triples" - CJ, 3.23.10

by Oddibee on Apr 26, 2010 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions

yup

by Mike E on Apr 27, 2010 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm not optimistic about this yips thing

I’ve felt since spring training that the team will and should trade for a catcher this summer. Luckily there are several less than horrible options out there, Marson, Towles, maybe B. Molina, Doumit, Young might available when Montero gets healthy. If they decide to go long term and get a young guy, Wilson Ramos is good, and I’d be interested in Jonathon Lucroy.

Anyway, they should give Salty another couple months probably before cutting bait, but at least it’s a pretty good market for catchers if they need to deal.

Born to be mild.

by t ball on Apr 26, 2010 3:16 PM CDT reply actions

Laird?

maybe

by SanDiegoKev on Apr 26, 2010 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions

I'll take

Doumit all day. Yes, quite the injury risk but the guy can hit. Salty’s outlook is not good and his return does not look sooner than later.

Smokey, this is not 'Nam, this is bowling. There are rules

by AndrusImpersonator on Apr 27, 2010 12:41 AM CDT up reply actions

actually it does look sooner

than later…

by Mike E on Apr 27, 2010 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Salty claims that there have been no bad throws, but the reporters don't seem to concur

I thought it be all warm and shitty, but it just tasted like normal beer. It was still cold.

by RA Dickey on Apr 26, 2010 3:26 PM CDT reply actions

I don't concur

Salty inherits his denial from his dad.

"No, I'm not a pessimist. At some point the world shits on everybody. Pretending it ain't shit makes you an idiot, not an optimist."-https://twitter.com/shitmydadsays

by DJCahill on Apr 26, 2010 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions

He is trying a Jedi mind trick...

“these aren’t the throws you’re looking for….”

I thought it be all warm and shitty, but it just tasted like normal beer. It was still cold.

by RA Dickey on Apr 26, 2010 4:02 PM CDT up reply actions

"these aren't the throws you're looking for"

“move along. . . . move along …” I can even hear the weird wavy Force theme now. . .

keep on rockin' in the free world !

by mkassio on Apr 26, 2010 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions

What reporters?

ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE

by 525DP on Apr 26, 2010 6:14 PM CDT up reply actions

"Hey Rube...

what do you think about when you throw a strike down to second base?"

"…although it does kinda show how little faith they have in Cruz, whether that be the org as a whole or just our beloved, bespectacled, kool-lovin’ skipper."

by Ryin A on Jan 11, 2010 5:48 PM EST

by hillcrest on Apr 26, 2010 5:11 PM CDT reply actions

Ramos

I think Ramos would be a great guy to go after. He’s quite underrated due to Mauer being in Minnesota. Ramos is supposed to be above average defensively and offensively and has no place to play there. They would probably deal him for an upper level pitcher.

by JHawk5 on Apr 27, 2010 11:02 AM CDT reply actions

The Twins do not underrate him

and will ask a lot for him, I think. There has been talk of keeping him and moving Mauer to 3B or 1B long term.

Ceterum censeo, Ron Washington esse delendam

by t ball on Apr 27, 2010 11:10 AM CDT up reply actions

I did not mean that the Twins do

I did not mean to infer that the Twins under value him, but that around baseball he underrated. I agree they will ask a good amount for him, but I think we could have what it takes to get a good young catcher.

I haven’t heard about Mauer moving but it seems unlikely to me. Morneau is the 1B, and Gardenhire is committed to defense. I don’t know that Mauer would be very good at that spot. I’ve read a lot more about Ramos being a trade piece.

by JHawk5 on Apr 27, 2010 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions