And there it is, folks: the Big Dilemma, the Big Decision that makes National League baseball a veritable chessgame: do I pinch-hit for the pitcher now, or do I not do that?
a) Agree 100% with the first statement.
If Salty has improved and is working hard with the pitchers on their game plans etc., I have no idea why he couldn't be part of the pitching improvement too.
Intangibles are intangibles. The only thing we know is the numbers. The rest is speculation.
Then these numbers may surprise you:
Lester with Salty (19 starts)
ERA 3.68
OPS .679
K/BB 3.5
Lester with Ross (8 starts)
ERA 4.68
OPS .815
K/BB 1.48
Salty will never be the greatest defensive catcher but I think he has improved to the point where he's at least average. He has to be given some of the credit for the starting rotation's major improvement this year.