Stop With Saltie Backlash!

Jarrod Saltalamacchia was a good catcher during his time in Boston. Good at times with the bat, not so good behind the plate defensively. His OPS was up last year while his homer run production was down. He did catch many games in a row when David Ross was out, so his strength of character was very evident. Saltie tried his best on the field, but he had a bad World Series & he ended up on the bench. His throwing skills, or lack of, were exposed & he struggled to make contact with his big, looping swing. The Red Sox did not want to re-sign Saltie to a 3 or 4 year deal with young catchers Vazquez & Swihart coming along in the minors. Saltie did get a 2-year offer from the Sox, but he was juggling longer duration offers from the White Sox, Twins & Marlins. So the Sox went in another direction & got Pierzynski for 1-year. Why now the backlash from reporters like Tony Mazz about the Sox not re-signing Saltie? I think a lot of pot stirring by Boston reporters is just that. Controversy sells. By every measure the Sox did the right thing at this position. Pierzynski & Ross start the season. Lavarnway, Vazquez & Swihart are in the wings if injury occurs. You are 5 deep at the catching spot. Yes, Saltie was a very good person off the field. And that's commendable. But Ben is putting the best team on the field for 2014 & beyond. A longer term deal with Saltie just wasn't in the club's best interest. Saltie gets his 3-year deal for $21 million with the Marlins & a chance to go back home to Florida. He wins too. So let's stop with all the Saltie "we should have signed him at any cost" garbage. Move on!