The Texas Rangers' Senseless Catcher Controversy

If you've paid any attention to the Texas Rangers in spring training, aside from the usual starting pitching woes that have surrounded the team since, well, forever, there's a good chance you've noticed the coverage of the ongoing catcher position battle.

Manager Ron Washington and General Manager Jon Daniels would have you believe the incumbent Gerald Laird holds an edge over hot-shot prospect Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

According to both of them, Laird plays superior defense and knows how to call a game and handle a pitching staff.

On the other hand, Saltalamacchia, according to the two of them, has got the bat, but is still clumsy behind the plate, even though he has made strides.

My question is: how could Laird even be considered to hold an edge over Saltalamacchia?

This is the same Laird who owns a career .246 average and hit just .224 in his first full season last year.  If those numbers don't excite you, don't forget his nine homers and 47 RBI in 407 ABs. Or how about the 103 strikeouts and 'astronomic' .278 on-base percentage?

Convinced yet?

Of course, management would have you look at his 2006 numbers where he hit .296 with seven homers and 22 RBIs in 243 ABs backing up Rod Barajas, as well as his decent spring numbers: a .313 average, team-high four home runs and eight RBI compared to Salty's .259 average, two homers and eight RBI in 26 ABs.

But if we're going to seriously consider spring numbers, Adam Melhuse would have to be in the running with his .300 average and .364 on-base percentage. To his credit, the former Oakland backstop has generated talk of sending Saltalamacchia back down to Triple A to work on his defense while he mans the back-up spot.

Are we sure this is the same Saltalamacchia that was the centerpiece of the Mark Teixeira trade?

In 308 ABs between Atlanta and Texas last year, Salty batted .266 with 11 homers and 33 RBI, a glimpse of his power potential.

Now there's no doubt that Laird's the better defender. He threw out 39 of 98 attempting base-stealers last year compared to Saltalamacchia's 8 of 37. But the Rangers themselves could be to blame for stunting his defensive growth by playing him 24 games at first base and 22 at catcher.

What doesn't make sense is why Saltalamacchia isn't given the first opportunity to prove himself in a full-time role. They say they've committed to making him a catcher, but why risk stunting his growth further by having him ride the pine behind an average-at-best veteran?

Let me make this clear.  I have nothing against Laird. He's been a class act and fan favorite who worked his butt off to get where he is.

But he's a backup catcher at best. The Rangers need only look to the lack of interest he drew when they shopped him around at the winter meetings.

The Rangers are obviously committed to a youth movement and rebuilding process, so they should put their Major League-ready talent on the field. Salty will grow behind the plate and in the batter's box.  They just need to give him the chance.

Let him sink or swim, and if the result is the former, ol' reliable Laird will be waiting in the wings, ready to chip in a base hit here and there.

And if he tanks, well Taylor Teagarden and Max Ramirez sure are making waves in the minors.

But first, let us see if the Teixeira trade was a boom or bust. 

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