Wilson released, Salty here to stay

Eshaw99 · May 17th, 2007, 09:22 PM

The Official Site of The Atlanta Braves: News: Atlanta Braves News

With Wilson being released, Salty will now be retained as a backup catcher (Pena is probably going to be sent down after being activated from the DL), as well as occasionally being platooned at first with Thorman. I think this is great news because I believe Salty's future with the Braves will have to be somewhere other than catcher. I just hope they give him enough playing time so as not to delay his development.

Snowman · May 18th, 2007, 12:14 PM

Twere it up to me, he'd get a lot of time at 1B. I mean, a lot of time at 1B. I don't care for Thorman, Diaz is inconsistent and average at best, and eventually Willie Harris will turn back into Willie Harris. I'd be teaching Salty 1B and let that 3-headed monster duke it out for LF.

jpx7 · May 18th, 2007, 01:27 PM

I'm a bigger fan of Thorman than you, it certainly looks like; he has always posted an .850+ OPS in a new after an adjustment period, with decent plate discipline (~.60 IsoOBP) and power that has improved incrementally as he has age, and that adjustment period has steadily shortened with each step up the ladder:

.702 OPS in 445 AB at High-A (2003)
.732 OPS in 345 AB at AA (2004)
.751 OPS in 210 AB at AAA (2005)

At which point he returned to Richmond for his age 24 season (2006) and put up his best year as a professional, with .298/.360/.508 line in 309 AB, as well as a much-improved 31/48 BB/SO. Now, it looks like his 128 AB with a .701 OPS in Atlanta last year provided time for another adjustment period, as his OPS is on the rise, and at nearly .800 (.799); the possibility of an improvement in plate discipline that corresponds to his career pattern, as well as the already exhibited improvement in AVG and SLG, makes me think he is a valuable piece to keep around while he is making so little money (and makes me even more glad we flipped LaRoche into something valuable). Plus, he's Canadian, which is cooler than being from one of the "Boring Thirty" US states.

Of course, I completely agree about Willie Harris and Saltalamacchia.

Snowman · May 18th, 2007, 03:41 PM

Eh, I've always thought Thorman has some holes in his swing that big league pitchers will take advantage of more than those down on the farm. I figure he'll be a .240 hitter with 20-25 HRs. Not a terrible player by any means, but one I believe to be better suited to the bench.

Of course, I'm probably totally wrong. Wouldn't hurt my feelings, either. If he turns out to be good, he can have LF full time and we could closse up every hole in our lineup (except for the SS position after the All-Star break every year).

jpx7 · May 18th, 2007, 05:36 PM

He'd certainly fit in LF, too; of course, Saltalamacchia would likely be a better defender — he at least looks a lot more athletic than Thorman.

Either way, I enjoy watching him attempt to compensate for "some holes" better than watching LaRoche forget about the chasm in his swing for the majority of his time at 1B.

Snowman · May 18th, 2007, 08:16 PM

Heh, yeah, I wasn't a LaRoche fan either. It's been a while since we had a 1B I really liked, actually.

Metaphysicist · May 19th, 2007, 11:01 PM

Rico Brogna was a saint.

LongtimeBravesFan · May 20th, 2007, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowman

Heh, yeah, I wasn't a LaRoche fan either. It's been a while since we had a 1B I really liked, actually.

Chambliss?

Snowman · May 20th, 2007, 09:44 AM

Nah, ain't gotta go that far back. I liked Galarraga when he was with us. Of course, there was Julio, but he was a part timer, so I don't count him.

But since the Big Cat not named Mize? Fick, LaRoche, Thorman, Caminiti, Brogna, Matt Franco.... did I forget anyone? It's been a revolving door. Sort of like the Cubs and third base, except it's been 7 years instead of 30.

Nocahoma · May 21st, 2007, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metaphysicist

Rico Brogna was a saint.

Them's bannin' words, just so ya know.

LongtimeBravesFan · May 21st, 2007, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowman

Nah, ain't gotta go that far back. I liked Galarraga when he was with us. Of course, there was Julio, but he was a part timer, so I don't count him.

But since the Big Cat not named Mize? Fick, LaRoche, Thorman, Caminiti, Brogna, Matt Franco.... did I forget anyone? It's been a revolving door. Sort of like the Cubs and third base, except it's been 7 years instead of 30.

Wes Helms and B.J. Surhoff spent a good bit of time there as well. I may get banned, but you also forgot Brian Jordan.

Snowman · May 21st, 2007, 11:13 PM

You know, I actually liked Jordan and Surhoff when they weren't fielding or batting.

NadoBrave · May 22nd, 2007, 01:22 PM

Klesko was my favorite ...... as soon as he was traded to da Pads!

jpx7 · May 23rd, 2007, 05:09 AM

Nothing was as bad as having to watch Keith Lockhart DH; I think I'd rather watch him conduct the Boston Pops.

Nocahoma · May 25th, 2007, 11:02 PM

*cough*Furman Grad!*cough*

May 17th, 2007, 09:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
Eshaw99 Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 312	Wilson released, Salty here to stay The Official Site of The Atlanta Braves: News: Atlanta Braves News With Wilson being released, Salty will now be retained as a backup catcher (Pena is probably going to be sent down after being activated from the DL), as well as occasionally being platooned at first with Thorman. I think this is great news because I believe Salty's future with the Braves will have to be somewhere other than catcher. I just hope they give him enough playing time so as not to delay his development.

May 18th, 2007, 12:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
Snowman Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: North Topsail Beach, NC Posts: 1,335	Twere it up to me, he'd get a lot of time at 1B. I mean, a lot of time at 1B. I don't care for Thorman, Diaz is inconsistent and average at best, and eventually Willie Harris will turn back into Willie Harris. I'd be teaching Salty 1B and let that 3-headed monster duke it out for LF. __________________ That corpse you planted last year in your garden, Has it begun to sprout? Will it bloom this year? Or has the sudden frost disturbed its bed? If it wasn't for my horse, I wouldn't have spent that year in college.

May 18th, 2007, 01:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
jpx7 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 568	I'm a bigger fan of Thorman than you, it certainly looks like; he has always posted an .850+ OPS in a new after an adjustment period, with decent plate discipline (~.60 IsoOBP) and power that has improved incrementally as he has age, and that adjustment period has steadily shortened with each step up the ladder: .702 OPS in 445 AB at High-A (2003) .732 OPS in 345 AB at AA (2004) .751 OPS in 210 AB at AAA (2005) At which point he returned to Richmond for his age 24 season (2006) and put up his best year as a professional, with .298/.360/.508 line in 309 AB, as well as a much-improved 31/48 BB/SO. Now, it looks like his 128 AB with a .701 OPS in Atlanta last year provided time for another adjustment period, as his OPS is on the rise, and at nearly .800 (.799); the possibility of an improvement in plate discipline that corresponds to his career pattern, as well as the already exhibited improvement in AVG and SLG, makes me think he is a valuable piece to keep around while he is making so little money (and makes me even more glad we flipped LaRoche into something valuable). Plus, he's Canadian, which is cooler than being from one of the "Boring Thirty" US states. Of course, I completely agree about Willie Harris and Saltalamacchia. Last edited by jpx7; May 18th, 2007 at 01:28 PM. Reason: grammars

May 18th, 2007, 03:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
Snowman Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: North Topsail Beach, NC Posts: 1,335	Eh, I've always thought Thorman has some holes in his swing that big league pitchers will take advantage of more than those down on the farm. I figure he'll be a .240 hitter with 20-25 HRs. Not a terrible player by any means, but one I believe to be better suited to the bench. Of course, I'm probably totally wrong. Wouldn't hurt my feelings, either. If he turns out to be good, he can have LF full time and we could closse up every hole in our lineup (except for the SS position after the All-Star break every year). __________________ That corpse you planted last year in your garden, Has it begun to sprout? Will it bloom this year? Or has the sudden frost disturbed its bed? If it wasn't for my horse, I wouldn't have spent that year in college.

May 18th, 2007, 08:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
Snowman Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: North Topsail Beach, NC Posts: 1,335	Heh, yeah, I wasn't a LaRoche fan either. It's been a while since we had a 1B I really liked, actually. __________________ That corpse you planted last year in your garden, Has it begun to sprout? Will it bloom this year? Or has the sudden frost disturbed its bed? If it wasn't for my horse, I wouldn't have spent that year in college.

May 18th, 2007, 05:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
jpx7 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 568	He'd certainly fit in LF, too; of course, Saltalamacchia would likely be a better defender — he at least looks a lot more athletic than Thorman. Either way, I enjoy watching him attempt to compensate for "some holes" better than watching LaRoche forget about the chasm in his swing for the majority of his time at 1B.

May 19th, 2007, 11:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
Metaphysicist Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Santa Fe, NM Posts: 117	Rico Brogna was a saint.

May 20th, 2007, 09:44 AM	#9 (permalink)
Snowman Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: North Topsail Beach, NC Posts: 1,335	Nah, ain't gotta go that far back. I liked Galarraga when he was with us. Of course, there was Julio, but he was a part timer, so I don't count him. But since the Big Cat not named Mize? Fick, LaRoche, Thorman, Caminiti, Brogna, Matt Franco.... did I forget anyone? It's been a revolving door. Sort of like the Cubs and third base, except it's been 7 years instead of 30. __________________ That corpse you planted last year in your garden, Has it begun to sprout? Will it bloom this year? Or has the sudden frost disturbed its bed? If it wasn't for my horse, I wouldn't have spent that year in college.

May 21st, 2007, 11:13 PM	#12 (permalink)
Snowman Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: North Topsail Beach, NC Posts: 1,335	You know, I actually liked Jordan and Surhoff when they weren't fielding or batting. __________________ That corpse you planted last year in your garden, Has it begun to sprout? Will it bloom this year? Or has the sudden frost disturbed its bed? If it wasn't for my horse, I wouldn't have spent that year in college.

May 22nd, 2007, 01:22 PM	#13 (permalink)
NadoBrave Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Fantasy Island Posts: 807	Klesko was my favorite ...... as soon as he was traded to da Pads! __________________ *It's a pity ignorance isn't painful!*

May 23rd, 2007, 05:09 AM	#14 (permalink)
jpx7 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 568	Nothing was as bad as having to watch Keith Lockhart DH; I think I'd rather watch him conduct the Boston Pops.

May 25th, 2007, 11:02 PM	#15 (permalink)
Nocahoma Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,238	coughFurman Grad!cough