Salty call up....

[Return of the King]

Jarrod Saltalamacchia (C) TEX
Saltalamacchia won't see any time at first base but is expected to drastically cut into Gerald Laird's time behind the plate, the team's web site reports. "[Saltalamacchia]'s not going to come up here and sit like a veteran backup would," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. While Salty hasn't been named the everyday catcher yet, an official announcement to that effect could come soon.

[duckbillgates]

Jarrod Saltalamacchia (C) TEX
Saltalamacchia won't see any time at first base but is expected to drastically cut into Gerald Laird's time behind the plate, the team's web site reports. "[Saltalamacchia]'s not going to come up here and sit like a veteran backup would," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. While Salty hasn't been named the everyday catcher yet, an official announcement to that effect could come soon.

The Rangers organization makes my head hurt. Didn't they send him down to start the season because they wanted him to be an everyday player? This screams platoon to me. He should at least be DHing on off days.

[Return of the King]

you have the worst record in baseball...what do you have to lose by starting salty.

[djack909]

I dumped Synder for Salty. I figure that Saltys stats as a 50/50 catcher is better than Snyders at 70/30.

[StarsNPinstripes]

In the lineup tonight and batting 6th
http://ww3.startribune.com/blogs/neal/

[Za_German]

If I'm not mistaken, the Rangers already have two top catching prospects in their system (Max Ramirez and Taylor Teagarden (great baseball name!).

I'm not sure I understand why the Rangers are so adamant on leaving Saltalamacchia at catcher, particularly with their hole at first base (which is ironic as Travis Hafner, Adrian Gonzalez and Teixiera have all passed through their system).

Best case scenario for this season would be Salty splitting time between C/1B/DH. If he's getting more at-bats than your average catcher, he becomes quite valuable. If not, I'm not so sure ...

Good insight here. Even a front office as inept as the Rangers has to realize that putting Salty @ 1B and giving him a full season of swings is nothing but a good thing, especially, as you pointed out, they have some catchers coming up and Laird isn't a total schmoe (right?). I would put my money on Salty being in the lineup on a consistent basis this season, what he does with the AB's is the question.