Jarrod Saltalamacchia -- best starting catcher by OPS and SLG in the American League

[Dojji]

Just sayin'. I think the kid's really come around. We'll see if he can hold onto it but as things stand, he has to be pretty pathetic with the glove not to be a worthy investment as a starting catcher.

 

With Shoppach also doing well we may have one of the best catching tandems in the big leagues -- certainly the best in the AL at the moment. Nice to see.

[kapsis21]

amen to that, i knew Salty had the capability to hit.. he just needed to bring it out.. wish he can continue tearing it apart and be the Papi of 2004.. clutch

[Emmz]

How many Salty ballwash threads are you going to make? Second time this season you've made one. We'll see how his OPS is in September, but I doubt it's much higher than .750.

 

Once his power drops off his OPS will be in rapid decline. I'll just take this hot streak for as long as I can get it, and if he finishes the year with an .800+ OPS, then maybe I could see him "turning the corner". Just like your Miller argument Doj', you want to give props on possibility, not on reality.

[jacksonianmarch]

I doubt he's a 30HR hitter, although he's on pace for it. Once the power slows, his OPS will drop

[Emmz]

Exactly what I said. Also said it last year when he was on the heater early on. I give a guy props for what he's doing. His high OPS both cases is supported by a high SLG, and I just don't see how Salty could keep that pace.

[jete02fan]

he's traveled a pretty tough road...i give him props for not falling by the wayside like some others that had the similar hype that Salty had coming up..this has gotta be gravy for him..

[ibot2much]

He has looked so good lately. When he comes up to bat, I feel confident that he will help and he has pretty much come through.

[Dojji]

How many Salty ballwash threads are you going to make? Second time this season you've made one. We'll see how his OPS is in September, but I doubt it's much higher than .750.

 

Once his power drops off his OPS will be in rapid decline. I'll just take this hot streak for as long as I can get it, and if he finishes the year with an .800+ OPS, then maybe I could see him "turning the corner". Just like your Miller argument Doj', you want to give props on possibility, not on reality.

 

And you, when you tout the POSSIBILITY that he'll fall off like he did last year, instead of giving credit for the REALITY of his present numbers, are doing what exactly?

 

More evidence that cynicism is not realism IMHO.

 

The fact is that right now, Salty is pushing with Napoli for the AL's starting catcher in the All Star Game if he doesn't fall down a cliff between then and now.

[Emmz]

His career stats and his trends side with me. I give players props for turning the corner when they, you know, complete a full season as such. Not being a knee-jerk homer does not equate to me being a possibility person.

[Marty McFly]

Salty is definitely exceeding expectations. I think a lot of us were hoping when he was brought in that he could be an average, middle of the pack type catcher in the AL. If he can consistently be above average, it's a great return on our investment.

[Emmz]

And no one said he hasn't been a good hitter this year, but it's all in his SLG%, which dropped off a cliff in the second half last year.

[FredLynn]

How many Salty ballwash threads are you going to make? Second time this season you've made one. We'll see how his OPS is in September, but I doubt it's much higher than .750.

 

Once his power drops off his OPS will be in rapid decline. I'll just take this hot streak for as long as I can get it, and if he finishes the year with an .800+ OPS, then maybe I could see him "turning the corner". Just like your Miller argument Doj', you want to give props on possibility, not on reality.

 

HAHAHAHA

So right Emmz. Catchers with an 800+OPS are a rare breed indeed. Lets see what his numbers look like at the end of the season. My guess is that his final 2012 OPS will be more like .740 or so. But for now, sure, lets just enjoy the ride.

[FredLynn]

he's traveled a pretty tough road...i give him props for not falling by the wayside like some others that had the similar hype that Salty had coming up..this has gotta be gravy for him..

 

Another damn Yankee fan has found TalkSox.

Welcome Jete. Hope to see more of you over here.

[Emmz]

I could see it near .770 or something, good for a catcher, but I seriously don't think he's going to have a .850-.900 OPS year. I hope he does and he deserves credit where it's due, he's one of the few positives right now.

[Emmz]

Another damn Yankee fan has found TalkSox.

Welcome Jete. Hope to see more of you over here.

 

Why so nice? You get your blue pills today?

[kapsis21]

Why so nice? You get your blue pills today?

 

f*** those yankee troll fans..

[FredLynn]

Why so nice? You get your blue pills today?

 

Double dose Emmz...

Jete is from Sawxheads and although he is a Yankee fan he is widely respected as a class act. He would be welcome wherever he decides to post. If he stays you guys and gals will like him here as well.

[Dojji]

Amazes me just how quick fans here are to abandon ship on a player when things are going unexpectedly well.

 

Salty's progression isn't that unexpected. He showed plenty of signs of that ability last year, and he's smoothed out some of the rough patches so far this year. Age 27 was the year Varitek stepped forward and took the catcher's position for himself, so if Salty follows that pattern color me unsurprised.

 

I wouoldn't be shocked if he backslid a bit. Catching is a gruelling job. But I wouldn't be shocked to see him finish with an OPS between .820 and .850 either. He's got more than enough talent -- the bottom had to fall off completely for him for the final 2 months to get him numbers as "bad" as they were last year.

[Emmz]

Amazes me just how quick fans here are to abandon ship on a player when things are going unexpectedly well.

 

Salty's progression isn't that unexpected. He showed plenty of signs of that ability last year, and he's smoothed out some of the rough patches so far this year. Age 27 was the year Varitek stepped forward and took the catcher's position for himself, so if Salty follows that pattern color me unsurprised.

 

I wouoldn't be shocked if he backslid a bit. Catching is a gruelling job. But I wouldn't be shocked to see him finish with an OPS between .820 and .850 either. He's got more than enough talent -- the bottom had to fall off completely for him for the final 2 months to get him numbers as "bad" as they were last year.

 

Oh my God. Stop. Just stop yourself. Your rationale on this issue is so twisted. Your knee-jerk boners for players who are on hot streaks is the exact same thing as what fair weather fans do. They ride a team's dick when they're good and freak out when they s*** the bed.

 

No one here is abandoning Scrotalamacchia's ship, it's just that you're the only person on it who thinks he's "turned the corner". Maybe not the only one, there's plenty other reactionary fans here. This is how you get under people's skin so much, your abuse of the straw man. You know what that is? Creating an argument that's easy to defeat instead of making valid points to defend your own POV.

 

You're a good poster, and it's great to have optimists, I'm not going to censor your POV, but stop trying to create an argument that doesn't exist.

[FredLynn]

Oh my God. Stop. Just stop yourself. Your rationale on this issue is so twisted. Your knee-jerk boners for players who are on hot streaks is the exact same thing as what fair weather fans do. They ride a team's dick when they're good and freak out when they s*** the bed.

 

No one here is abandoning Scrotalamacchia's ship, it's just that you're the only person on it who thinks he's "turned the corner". Maybe not the only one, there's plenty other reactionary fans here. This is how you get under people's skin so much, your abuse of the straw man. You know what that is? Creating an argument that's easy to defeat instead of making valid points to defend your own POV.

 

You're a good poster, and it's great to have optimists, I'm not going to censor your POV, but stop trying to create an argument that doesn't exist.

 

Sure Emmz, but why don't you tell us how you really feel

[SoxFanForsyth]

And no one said he hasn't been a good hitter this year' date=' but it's all in his SLG%, which dropped off a cliff in the second half last year.[/quote']

 

Do you find it difficult to look up stats?

 

Salty SLG% through July 9th (pre ASB): .437

 

Salty SLG% from July 9th - End of Season: .453

 

Not exactly sure how his SLG% dropped off a cliff...

[Emmz]

I really feel that Salty's going to hit .300 next year, and his OBP will still be under .320.

 

/notbeingserious

[FredLynn]

Do you find it difficult to look up stats?

 

Salty SLG% through July 9th (pre ASB): .437

 

Salty SLG% from July 9th - End of Season: .453

 

Not exactly sure how his SLG% dropped off a cliff...

 

Jarod Saltalamacchia OPS up to July 31: .790

Jarod Saltalamacchia OPS Aug 1 to end of season: .646

His production DID fall off a cliff at the end of the season. Thats a fact.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Jarod Saltalamacchia OPS up to July 31: .790

Jarod Saltalamacchia OPS Aug 1 to end of season: .646

His production DID fall off a cliff at the end of the season. Thats a fact.

 

....because of a .220 OBP.....

 

We were referring to SLG.

[Emmz]

Do you find it difficult to look up stats?

 

Salty SLG% through July 9th (pre ASB): .437

 

Salty SLG% from July 9th - End of Season: .453

 

Not exactly sure how his SLG% dropped off a cliff...

 

Oh snap! I got to check my stats! Hmmmmm....

 

You know I was talking about his hot streak. Check your stats again. SLG% during hot streak and after. .538 in June, .550 in July, mediocre the rest of the year collectively.

[FredLynn]

....because of a .220 OBP.....

 

We were referring to SLG.

 

I understand that, but the premise is off IMO. I believe that OPS is the single most useful offensive statistic to measure how effective a player is. I realize thats open to differences of opinion, but regardless of where you place OPS, its certainly a very valuable statistic. The dropoff in OBP is also quite significant. Salty got tired through overuse last year. With catchers, it happens more than with probably any other position player. It happened to Varitek for the last 3-4 years of his tenure too. And it will probably happen to Saltalamacchia this year as well.

[Emmz]

....because of a .220 OBP.....

 

We were referring to SLG.

 

SLG dropped off by almost 100 points... Wtf are you smoking.

[FredLynn]

SLG dropped off by almost 100 points... Wtf are you smoking.

 

Slugging to Aug 1: .464

Slugging after that: .426

Thats not 100 points, its 38 points.

What are YOU smoking?

[Emmz]

I understand that' date=' but the premise is off IMO. I believe that OPS is the single most useful offensive statistic to measure how effective a player is. I realize thats open to differences of opinion, but regardless of where you place OPS, its certainly a very valuable statistic. The dropoff in OBP is also quite significant. Salty got tired through overuse last year. With catchers, it happens more than with probably any other position player. It happened to Varitek for the last 3-4 years of his tenure too. And it will probably happen to Saltalamacchia this year as well.[/quote']

 

He was hot for 2 months, and his SLG dropped almost by 100 from his streak to the end. When he was hot his OBP was similar to his norms, just his SLG% went up.

[Emmz]

Slugging to Aug 1: .464

Slugging after that: .426

Thats not 100 points, its 38 points.

What are YOU smoking?

 

What were we talking about? This whole time, I'm comparing this year to his hot streak. Forget April May, just look at June/July. Then the rest. It's a massive drop. It's actually over 100 pts.