Why don't you do some research before you make those statements. He's top 5 in the AL in each of the past 8 years, and he's well above average in each of those years too.
Catching has sucked for the past 8 years in the AL overall. The average OPS in the AL over the past 8 years has been .716, and Salty's .771 OPS would rank in the top 5 of all AL catchers with at least 375 PA in every one of those years.
It's just not an offensive position.
You don't compare catchers with RF or 1B. It's a different position. It's not an offensive position. A stud hitting catcher is probably the rarest commodity in baseball.
By your logic, then, everyone is replaceable.
Catching is not an offensive position. Just like SS isn't. As an overall hitter, no he's not a great hitter. As a Catcher, he's a top hitter in the AL.
You forgot Theo's job. It would cost Theo's job if he traded Ranaudo for 2 months of Beltran plus no comp picks. The idea of this makes me vomit in my mouth.
Cherry picking stats? Like what, OPS?? How the hell am I cherry picking stats?? And yeah, I required 200 PA to judge the catchers, that way you don't have Jose Molina who is OPS'ing .831 over 103 AB coming in and looking better because of a SSS.
Tell me. Who do you replace Salty with?
The AL Average Catcher is hitting .236/.307/.377/.684
Saltalamacchia is hitting .249/.320/.451/.771.
But he stinks and he's not a top 3 catcher in the AL.
For all Catchers with at least 200 PA:
Avila: .865 OPS
Santana: .784 OPS
Salty: .771 OPS
Wieters: .762 OPS
Pierzynski: .713 OPS
Martin: .695 OPS
Arencepia: .681
Torrealba: .666
Treanor: .665
Suzuki: .640
Jaso: .639
Olivo: .628
Oh, and Mauer has a . 700 OPS this season
But Salty stinks and he's replaceable. Hmmm....that makes sense....
This is laughable.
Avila and Santana, I'll give you.
Weiters and Salty are about a wash.
Clearly you have forgotten how horrible Victor is at throwing people out. Mauer is looking to change position because of his knees. Pierzynski. Oh my God. You said Pierzynski. This is a joke, right? You like that .379 SLG%? Bahahaha.
Dude. Salty is a better catcher for 2011 going forward than all but 2 of those.
Pierzynski. LMAO.
You're ridiculous. He's a top 3 catcher in the AL. You give me 3 better catchers in the AL. Out of all catchers in the AL with at least 200 PA, he's 3rd in OPS.
Good s*** tonight. Good s***. Crawford gets 2 knocks and a couple RBI, Pedroia looks like the beast he is, Sox come from behind twice and put up 15 runs with no production from Gonzo and with Ortiz out of the line up.
Great win. Go Rays!
I really like Franklin Morales. What a find by Theo. I can't believe, as bad as the Yankees need a LHP out of the bullpen, they didn't get him. He came for a PTBNL to Theo, and since joining the Red Sox, he's posted a 2.16 ERA.