Salty up to stay

by JFP on May 17, 2007 2:39 PM EDT Comment 20 comments

The Braves have decided to keep Salty as a backup catcher, and firstbase platoon according to the official site. They have granted Craig Wilson his release, after and underwhelming start to the year.

http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070517&content_id=1970158&vkey=news_atl &fext=.jsp&c_id=atl

0 recs | Comment 20 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Good

Salty hasnt hit great, but the patience he has shown is reason enough to give him some more at bats. He has hit some balls hard but they just havent fallen in yet. He couldnt be any worse than Wilson was anyways.

I hear that the braves pitchers hate throwing to Pena who doesnt call the game well and is very bad at framing pitches. So they needed another catcher to take McCann's off days. Pena can serve as more of a pinch hitter and third catcher. Also when Salty is not in the game that gives the braves two switch hitters off the bench.

by cajunrevenge on May 17, 2007 2:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe the next Morneau

I've thought of that for the last year if they move him to first. Morneau started off as a catcher and moved to first why couldn't salty.

by Bravesin07 on May 17, 2007 2:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

dude

You do realize that Morneau played catcher for like a month of his pro career, right?

by limozeen on May 17, 2007 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just wonder if this is good for him

from a developement perspective....

Changing positions on the fly, not getting regular ABs....

I don't really understand the need, either, with Thorman doing just fine at first and Pena a good enough backup backstop.

Still, it'll be interesting to see how he does against ML pitching.

by mraver on May 17, 2007 3:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He will be getting a good amount of ABs

Between starts at catcher once every five days, pinch hitting, and time at first he should get a good amount of ABs and he looks like a much more advanced hitter than he was last year

Check out MVN.com/mlb-braves for the best Braves coverage

by was385 on May 17, 2007 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So why are they

keeping Pena around? They're going to dedicate a roster spot to a bleh 3rd catcher who pitchers don't like throwing to and who isn't much of a hitter? Seems weird.

by Brett Perryman on May 17, 2007 3:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

if anybody loves having a 3rd catcher around

for no reason, it's bobby cox.

by jpahk on May 17, 2007 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pena

Pena is atleast a solid hitter. He doesnt hit for much power but can hit for a solid average. He makes a decent pinch hitter. I think they are keeping him around because Salty isnt really treated as the traditional back up catcher, he could be out of the game when an injury occurs.

Bobby didnt really like using Pena as a pinch hitter because of the risk of injury after he was used, he is certainly a better hitter than Woodward and Orr but wasnt used before them.

by cajunrevenge on May 17, 2007 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Salty

will be traded soon enough

by Fair Projector on May 17, 2007 3:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This

is a possibility. They could be giving him a little time to audition for the MLB scouts, a la Marte a few years ago.

by Yakker on May 17, 2007 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interleague play

With interleague play coming up he'll get some ABs at DH.... or McCann will.

by ultxmxpx on May 17, 2007 3:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I just love...

the prospect of having 3 catchers in the lineup. Nothing like good ol' station to station baseball.

by RogoRooter on May 17, 2007 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

needs more seasoning

much like an undercooked trout. He's still boucning back from a 2006 wrist injury and a winter hammy pull. I think the Old Salt has to put in another couple of months wrecking AA pitching to be a more attractive piece of trade bait.
(three sea references!)

by waka25 on May 17, 2007 3:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

don't agree

he's currently an attractive trade option without a doubt. i don't think anyone really believes that crushing AA pitching is going to make him a better prospect....he's already done that.

by montenegro on May 17, 2007 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

swap him for Gomez

I'd take it, anytime. Andruw is walking this season and I won't miss him one bit.

by Bravesin07 on May 17, 2007 5:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Salty for Gomez?

I'm not a big fan of Gomez's... Lofton and Brett Butler would be decent comps for him- 10hr, 40-50 steals, lead off man potential...

I think Salty can be similar to Morneau last year or Piazza (the very high side of the spectrum) or Ramon Hernandez or Ivan Rodriguez- with power not speed or as high of an average in his prime- (in the middle of the spectrum), and at the very least something like that of a Adam Dunn of catchers, just at about 30 homers a year, but with low average and mediocre RBI.

Lincecum is the truth!

by JT12340 on May 17, 2007 6:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs