Expectations for Saltalamacchia?

[seabeachfred]

Salty's footwork looked better on Sunday than I remember. Little tweaks like that can make a big difference. Bobby V is great at picking up stuff like that. There's not much they can do about the fact that he doesn't catch the ball well.

 

The team will be better prepared this season than last so do I think will Salty. Bobby is everywhere this ST, working with catchers, outfielders, hitters. His fingerprints are all over this team and he is not one to let something slide. Jarrod should be better this year, and not having to catch Wakefield anymore can do nothing but improve his stats in the throwing out department. Every time a runner got on base against the knuckle baller the potential for a track meet took over. As for his hitting he has one season under his belt. He should be able to pick up on that and make the necesssary improvements to get better. If not Ryan could be ready to take over by the summer.

[The Boomer]

I looked at the stats one time. The proposition that the CS percentage being lower with Wake on the mound was not true historically. That's my recollection.

 

It's certainly possible and my comment was based on no actual evidence.

 

A quick check of FG shows Wake gave up 246 SBs 2002-2011. Andy Pettitte gave up 92 2002-2010. Maybe runners just run more on Wake but aren't any more successful.

 

It's an interesting question and one worth taking a look at.

[SoxSport]

I think they stole the last couple of years on the pitchers more than the catchers. The Red Sox just weren't good fundamentally, because fundamentals weren't stressed. I think the pitchers weren't as tough holding runners as they should have been. You can bet this will change with Bobby V. These guys can all play--they just need the proper managing. I also bet you'll see a winning record in ST, and a winning April.

[seabeachfred]

I think they stole the last couple of years on the pitchers more than the catchers. The Red Sox just weren't good fundamentally' date=' because fundamentals weren't stressed. I think the pitchers weren't as tough holding runners as they should have been. You can bet this will change with Bobby V. These guys can all play--they just need the proper managing. I also bet you'll see a winning record in ST, and a winning April.[/quote']

 

Agree it total Sox Sport. Let's hope we hit that one square on the noggin.

[SCM33]

1-13 with 6 K's for a .077 Average and poor defensive play.

 

Hes on fire!!!

[BornToRun]

1-13 with 6 K's for a .077 Average and poor defensive play.

 

Hes on fire!!!

 

A bit too early to pass judgement. Ellsbury isnt exactly lighting the world on fire either.

[a700hitter]

I root for him as much as any of our players, but I expect him to be adequate at best tending more toward stinking-- like last season. I think we would be much better of with Lavarnway at catcher. The kid crushes the ball.

[kapsis21]

can Pedey catch... i bet he does better than Salty

[SoxSport]

I root for him as much as any of our players' date=' but I expect him to be adequate at best tending more toward stinking-- like last season. I think we would be much better of with Lavarnway at catcher. The kid crushes the ball.[/quote']

 

I wrote in another thread that V has been quoted (from Dirt Dogs) as saying he would start Lavarnway as catcher if he is called up. That's not a ringing endorsement of Salty.

[SoxSport]

Agree it total Sox Sport. Let's hope we hit that one square on the noggin.

 

Hey, so far so bad. April fools again.

[mvp 78]

Are you quoting dirt dogs or BV?

[seabeachfred]

1-13 with 6 K's for a .077 Average and poor defensive play.

 

Hes on fire!!!

 

 

How about today SCM? Three f***in' hits and Shoppach gets a collar too. I keep rolling my eyes about so many of our colleagues think we need more and more defense because our hitting will be so strong. Hitting is the most inconsistent part of the game and it is inevitable that on every Red Sox team there will be two or three or maybe four guys having off years. Salty has been s*** piled high since last August and his defense is no better than what Ryan Lavarnway could give us, plus with Ryan we would have a solid young power hitter.

 

Youk looks lost, Ross left his hitting in Florida and does anyone think McDonald will do anything worthwhile now that the real games have begun? Yes, it is early in case someone wants to remind me of that, but this teaj gives every indication that it might be a pig. 1-5 is barely better than the 0-6 embarrassment we hung on ourselves last season. We have a tough home stand coming up against some damn good teams. If we continue to flounder maybe Cherington should come out of his stupor and bring up Lavarnway and maybe Middlebrooks and start doing in reality what we're seeing right now---a team that may need to rebuild. This homestand will tell all of us what chance we have this season.

[jacksonianmarch]

You will get through May before the sox ever think about benching him for Middlebrooks.

[mvp 78]

You will get through May before the sox ever think about benching him for Middlebrooks.

 

Yeah, I doubt any major shakeups would happen before June 1.

[FredLynn]

can Pedey catch... i bet he does better than Salty

 

I believe that Pedroia was being discussed as our last catcher option during some of the games last year and the year before that after our primary catcher went out of the game in extra innings games. Had our backup catcher become incapacitated I think Pedroia would have been behind the plate.

Also, discussing Salty in a void in not as useful as comparing him to others at his position. I agree with those here who say that its too early to pass judgement on him for this year. While Youkilis does look horrible at the plate, I am not seeing the same "deer in the headlights" look from Salty or Ellsbury.

Salty was upper third in offense when compared to other catchers last year. He may not be great when compared to all other hitters, but thats not a fair comparison.

[SCM33]

While Youkilis does look horrible at the plate, I am not seeing the same "deer in the headlights" look from Salty or Ellsbury.

 

Yeah instead we are seeing the "I have no shot in hell at making contact" look in his eyes.

[SoxSport]

Are you quoting dirt dogs or BV?

 

DD is quoting V. Don't know where the story is.

[VA Sox Fan]

DD is quoting V. Don't know where the story is.

 

They are not quoting BV, it's a joke. All the stuff in black is their sarcastic attempt at humor, sometimes they are funny other times they are not. Other lines included:

 

"Did Shoppach Miss Bobby V's Bunting Boot Camp?"

 

"Is Jenny Dell Afraid of Bobby V? She Should Be"

[kapsis21]

I believe that Pedroia was being discussed as our last catcher option during some of the games last year and the year before that after our primary catcher went out of the game in extra innings games. Had our backup catcher become incapacitated I think Pedroia would have been behind the plate.

Also, discussing Salty in a void in not as useful as comparing him to others at his position. I agree with those here who say that its too early to pass judgement on him for this year. While Youkilis does look horrible at the plate, I am not seeing the same "deer in the headlights" look from Salty or Ellsbury.

Salty was upper third in offense when compared to other catchers last year. He may not be great when compared to all other hitters, but thats not a fair comparison.

 

i for one liked when Theo pulled Salty out of Texas thinking he had a huge upside and that kid has talent and i am still waiting for that ... just so you know.

[mvp 78]

They are not quoting BV, it's a joke. All the stuff in black is their sarcastic attempt at humor, sometimes they are funny other times they are not. Other lines included:

 

"Did Shoppach Miss Bobby V's Bunting Boot Camp?"

 

"Is Jenny Dell Afraid of Bobby V? She Should Be"

 

I haven't read that site in about 5 years. The humor was often in poor taste, somewhat racist, and just not really funny to begin with.

[VA Sox Fan]

I haven't read that site in about 5 years. The humor was often in poor taste' date=' somewhat racist, and just not really funny to begin with.[/quote']

 

I never saw anything racist.

 

They do love to crap on the Red Sox.

 

They have made me laugh from time to time.

 

They had a picture of Papi and Sosa back in the day (before the steroid stuff came out).

 

The caption was "Papi and Corky".