Expectations for Saltalamacchia?

[Emmz]

For your edification EMMZ' date=' Ryan started the last two games of the season and hit two homers. I think that's a pretty good indication he might be able to hit ML pitching. He just took one into outer space today in his first at-bat. As far as Salty is concerned he was crapola early in the year when we were in a funk or even crappier at the end when we choked record level big time. He also has trouble throwing out batters and blocking pitchers---or have you missed that up there in Minnesottahhh?. We'll just disagree on this one but I will simply inform you from my experience in scouting.....Lavarnway, if not misused, is going to be a terrific ballplayer for the Red Sox---a solid 30 homer, 100 RBI man. Take that to the bank.[/quote']

 

You're taking a minor leaguer to the bank for 30 HRs based on minor league performance and 2 major league games.

 

Its laughable that you consider him proven at the major league level.

[User Name]

OPS was around .750, which is decent for a catcher. Most catchers are closer to Drew Butera than they are to Joe Mauer or Vic Martinez.

 

BA isnt a very good stat to go off of.

 

In Salty's case, it's good to mention batting average, but as a positive.

 

He managed to maintain a SLG% of .450 when his BA (which is part of SLG%) was that low.

[Emmz]

As a supportive stat BA is still useful, his BA usage was not in support of anything.

[redsoxfan3]

OPS was around .750, which is decent for a catcher. Most catchers are closer to Drew Butera than they are to Joe Mauer or Vic Martinez.

 

BA isnt a very good stat to go off of.

 

OPS was .737 and he has a career OPS of .712. His OPS is average, which is why I said I could live with his production offensively.

[User Name]

As a supportive stat BA is still useful' date=' his BA usage was not in support of anything.[/quote']

 

I understand that, i am attempting to counter his point.

[Emmz]

OPS was .737 and he has a career OPS of .712. His OPS is average' date=' which is why I said I could live with his production offensively.[/quote']

 

Above average for a catcher.

[User Name]

In the most descriptive 39 AB's of MLB history, Lavarnway's BA was .231, and his OPS .738, but he's proved he can handle MLB pitching.

 

Consistency plz.

[Emmz]

Anyways, I don't like having a simply viable offensive catcher who sucks at D. I'm as anti-Salty as you'll see on talksox, aside from maybe SCM or a700. I think overall he's a pretty crappy starting option.

 

He is at least above league average offensively, and its better than nothing.. Or Drew Butera.

[a700hitter]

Anyways, I don't like having a simply viable offensive catcher who sucks at D. I'm as anti-Salty as you'll see on talksox, aside from maybe SCM or a700. I think overall he's a pretty crappy starting option.

 

He is at least above league average offensively, and its better than nothing.. Or Drew Butera.

How am I negative about Salty? I have always said that he is adequate. I think that is fairly accurate.

[Emmz]

How am I negative about Salty? I have always said that he is adequate. I think that is fairly accurate.

 

Yup, and thats pretty negative for this place. Or it was. You remember how everyone was when he was on that hot streak. He was the future this, elite catcher that.

[a700hitter]

Yup' date=' and thats pretty negative for this place. Or it was. You remember how everyone was when he was on that hot streak. He was the future this, elite catcher that.[/quote']and I also said that he was tall. Tall and adequate!! That got everyone worked into a lather as they thought there were watching the emergence of the next Johnny Bench. Theo had a boner for Salty for a few years and we are lucky that he didn't trade away all sorts of stars and talent to get him before he bombed out with two organizations.

[Emmz]

I still remember people saying he sucks early on, then a couple weeks into his hot streak some of those guys were saying how he turned a corner. Some of the doubters even started calling him elite after a couple months of lighting it up. Realism apparently goes right out the door for some people.

[Thunder]

Is Cody Ross going to start in right? The team has a hole at Shortstop and their rotation is iffy at best except for Lester, Beckett, and Buchholz.

[Emmz]

They'll be okay at SS one way or another, might suck offensively or defensively, or just be viable, but it will work. Rotation needs health and two guys to step up. No question.

[redsoxfan3]

In the most descriptive 39 AB's of MLB history, Lavarnway's BA was .231, and his OPS .738, but he's proved he can handle MLB pitching.

 

Consistency plz.

 

I am not saying he has proven anything in the majors except for his power. I simply stated that he hit two homers in a game and that proves he has power to hit major league pitchers. By no means does that mean I think he is proven against MLB pitching. You can't say someone is proven with only 39 career at bats. That would be like me saying that when I was in college the only game I played against a division one team, I went one for one in a pinch hit at bat in my first career at bat in college, that I am proven to be good enough to play in division one. I played division two schools and did decent, but by no means did that mean I am proven to be able to handle division one talent.

[Thunder]

They'll be okay at SS one way or another' date=' might suck offensively or defensively, or just be viable, but it will work. Rotation needs health and two guys to step up. No question.[/quote']

 

They still have Aviles, right?

[redsoxfan3]

They still have Aviles' date=' right?[/quote']

 

Aviles is the favorite to get the job, Punto will be the backup, and Iglesias is waiting in the wings in AAA. We will be fine at SS. Aviles will be a solid bat. Punto will give us solid D in late innings and will be there to give Aviles an occasional day off. We are fine at SS. The worry mainly for this team is finding the #4 and #5 spots in the rotation (probably will be Bard as the #4 and either Aceves, Doubront, or Padilla as the #5).

[Thunder]

Aviles is the favorite to get the job' date=' Punto will be the backup, and Iglesias is waiting in the wings in AAA. We will be fine at SS. Aviles will be a solid bat. Punto will give us solid D in late innings and will be there to give Aviles an occasional day off. We are fine at SS. The worry mainly for this team is finding the #4 and #5 spots in the rotation (probably will be Bard as the #4 and either Aceves, Doubront, or Padilla as the #5).[/quote']

 

Bard will have blown out his arm in May. With their top three, they actually have a chance in their first regular season series at the Tigers.

[Bellhorn04]

Bard will have blown out his arm in May. With their top three' date=' they actually have a chance in their first regular season series at the Tigers.[/quote']

 

Why will Bard blow his arm out? He's not the first pitcher to try this kind of transition and he seems like a pretty strong kid.

[mvp 78]

Bard will be a better SP than Aceves (who was the bp mvp last year)

[Spudboy]

Way to stay on-topic.

 

Cool.

[Palodios]

My prediction-- Lavarnway slugs just under .700 in AAA, and Salty get's DFAed.

[a700hitter]

My prediction-- Lavarnway slugs just under .700 in AAA' date=' and Salty get's DFAed.[/quote']Channeling Muggah today?

[Emmz]

Muggah would never make a positive prediction. He would say more like "slugs well under .400, Salty gets DFA'd anyways". *makes up stupid nickname for Ben*

[jacksonianmarch]

I think Salty benefitted significantly from the lineup around him more than anything. I think teams have figured him out a bit and this could be a bit of an adjustment this season. I expect him not to see so many fastballs seeing as he showed a problem hitting the offspeed stuff

[a700hitter]

I think Salty benefitted significantly from the lineup around him more than anything. I think teams have figured him out a bit and this could be a bit of an adjustment this season. I expect him not to see so many fastballs seeing as he showed a problem hitting the offspeed stuff

Once the lineup around him got weak toward the end of the season, he went into a tailspin.

[jacksonianmarch]

Once the lineup around him got weak toward the end of the season' date=' he went into a tailspin.[/quote']

 

He's a dead red hitter. When everyone around you is hitting, teams are going to go after you with fastballs and try to make you get out quickly. Hence how Salty had a good season. If pitched to his weaknesses (breaking balls), he's an easy out. Unfortunately for opposing pitchers, Salty has enough of an eye to lay off a bad breaking ball, so they cannot just bounce it in there. But, a pitcher with command should get him out 4 times out of 5

[SCM33]

Anyways, I don't like having a simply viable offensive catcher who sucks at D. I'm as anti-Salty as you'll see on talksox, aside from maybe SCM or a700. I think overall he's a pretty crappy starting option.

 

He is at least above league average offensively, and its better than nothing.. Or Drew Butera.

 

Im not ready to go down this road yet hahaha.

 

I've got enough to chew with Beckett at the moment

[jacksonianmarch]

I think the sox should go hard for Miguel Montero in the off-season. After seeing the dramatic turnaround on the Yankee side of things with their acquisition of an elite defensive catcher, the sox might want to do the same. Remember, during their championship run, Varitek was the balls defensively. Once he started down the crapper, the sox went with him

[seabeachfred]

You're taking a minor leaguer to the bank for 30 HRs based on minor league performance and 2 major league games.

 

Its laughable that you consider him proven at the major league level.

 

The only thing laughable is that you haven't a clue about raw talent when you see it. I coached baseball for over 30 years and also did some scouting (for scouts by the way) and I know talent when I see it. In Lavarnway 's case, the ball explodes off his bat and that is a rarity with young hitters. He also has a very strong arm. He needs only to sharpen his receiving and he will be a solid player. As I said take that to the bank.

 

Now I'll put a new color in your paintbox. Remember the name Swihart; he was a top draft choice for the Red Sox last June. He is also a catcher, but they will have to make room for him too. Either Ryan or this kid will play another position because he is an outstanding young hitter. His swing is gold. Now you're in on the ground floor.

 

Just for the record, I predicted as soon as Pedroia was drafted that he would become a solid and standout player. Oh yes, you say, easy job. ********!!!!!! There was many many many people and scouts who said he was too small and too weak to become a full time player. Ellsbury? When he was drafted out of Oregon State, I predicted that in three years he would be a 300 hitter with the Red Sox.

 

Just for the record, there are things that I am totally inept at, but I know talent when I see it, and both Lavarnway and Swihart will be exactly that---outstanding young players if they stay healthy and develop as they should.