Yip Free Saltalamacchia Set To Debut With Red Sox

Theo Epstein finally got the catcher he has coveted for years for a somewhat bargain price. Raise your hand if you're surprised. Epstein had been after once-upon-a-time elite prospect Jarrod Saltalamacchia for years and finally swung a deal for him this year at the trade deadline when his value was close to its lowest. Salty was sent to Triple A at the beginning of the season and was raking for a little while. He would have been called up to the big club if it wasn't for his Rube Baker syndrome. In one game, Salty threw 12 errant balls toward the mound like my friend's 3-year-old throws ping pong balls. That kid is terrible at beer pong.

Salty went to a sports psychiatrist for his yips and it might have worked. But at the cost of his slash line, which tumbled. At the trade deadline, Theo jumped at the opportunity to acquire him on the cheap. Tomorrow Salty will make his debut behind the plate for the Red Sox in an attempt to show he just needed a fresh start...

"I'm excited for a fresh start," Saltalamacchia said. "There's a lot to look forward to and I'm just excited to be here. I'm going to learn as much as I can, take this all in and use every opportunity I get.

"I'm excited to be in an organization where they want me. They gave up a lot to get me and I'm ready to do whatever they want me to do."

Red Sox scouts watched him closely to make sure the yips were a thing of the past. He seems to be okay and I'm sure if he has a misfire the Boston fans and media won't blow it out of proportion. They're cool like that.