Comments on: Tigers acquire Gerald Laird

By: Detroit Tigers Weblog 2008 Year in Review

Detroit Tigers Weblog 2008 Year in Review — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 22:55:30 +0000

[...] get Gerald Laird and Adam [...]

By: Coleman

Coleman — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 08:21:45 +0000

Smoking Loon: ““I’m excited,” Laird told MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan. “I get to play every day”

I think you have to take “every day” here in context…this is being spoken by a guy who was one of FOUR catchers on the 40-man roster, and was facing the prospect of guarding the pine while a guy named Tiffany Teaparty or something got starts at catcher. And coming to a team with TWO catchers on the roster, one of whom has 15 career games in the ML, and the other who is the “everyday 3rd baseman” and possibly has the ability to hex the entire team if forced to catch. Theoretically I suppose the 3rd string catcher would be a guy who wears a codpiece.

So yeah, relatively, he’s the “everyday” catcher.

By: Joel in Seattle

Joel in Seattle — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 02:21:52 +0000

Are we talking blue darts here? Or the more figurative sense of the term?

By: Andre in Chicago

Andre in Chicago — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 23:16:53 +0000

Chris,

“He’s also been known to light pitchers asses on fire in the dugout, so beware of that.”

well, i guess that’s ok…i just don’t want any Stairs-esque ass remarks from him. (http://video.google.com/videos.....mp;tab=wv#)

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:58:59 +0000

Joel: Laird does move pretty well, particuarly for a catcher. He tells anyone who will listen that he’s a 5-tool player (half jokingly, of course). He’s also been known to light pitchers asses on fire in the dugout, so beware of that.

By: Dave BW

Dave BW — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:34:10 +0000

“… then off to the pitching factory!”

Unfortunately, the Twins continue to refuse to give us access to the pitching factory. We still have to sign or trade for guys — like a bunch of jerks!

By: Joel in Seattle

Joel in Seattle — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:40:53 +0000

Everett signing is confirmed…

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8912072

Hope this doesn’t qualify as a threadjack, Billfer…

By: David

David — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:28:38 +0000

Sweet

Laird, Everett then off to the pitching factory!

By: Joel in Seattle

Joel in Seattle — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:16:52 +0000

Tigers are set to sign Everett, according to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette…

By: Joel in Seattle

Joel in Seattle — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:53:28 +0000

I attended a Rangers/Mariners game for work this year, and Laird was catching. He stole a couple of bases with ease. I read later that he moves pretty well for a catcher, which is nice since team speed hasn’t exactly been a strength for this team.

By: Smoking Loon

Smoking Loon — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:11:20 +0000

“as a rangers fan, i can assure you all right now that within the next few seasons, laird will land multiple gold gloves, and perhaps a league MVP, throw in a world series to boot…”

A refreshing break from the hyperbole one typically encounters on fan forums.

By: Ken in Las Vegas

Ken in Las Vegas — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:07:19 +0000

This comment was left in the ESPN “Reactions” to the Laird trade story.

“as a rangers fan, i can assure you all right now that within the next few seasons, laird will land multiple gold gloves, and perhaps a league MVP, throw in a world series to boot. and there’s a solid chance we’ll never hear these two pitchers names again…love my rangers though…no place i’d rather spend 8 dollars on a beer to watch our bullpen blow an 8 run lead in the 7th, it’s become a favorite pasttime for me, and thus, i’m looking forward greatly to this season. warner madrigal and CJ wilson are men after my own heart!”

The general consensus from Rangers fans is that we got the better end of this deal and that Laird has upside and is a really good clubhouse guy and fan favorite. There are also those, however, that think we just gave up a much needed pitching prospect with great upside.

By: Dave BW

Dave BW — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:06:08 +0000

Hot damn! This was certainly easier than I expected. Laird’s not a superstar, but at least he’s a decent hitter who doesn’t call for the high fastball every other pitch.

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 18:56:44 +0000

You figure Ryan is going to get a fair amount of AB’s considering catchers get more frequent days off than other players and all. A couple hundred AB should tell us something.

By: Smoking Loon

Smoking Loon — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 18:50:15 +0000

“I think it’s reasonable to think that Laird will get most of the action”

I agree with that and the rest, Mark. I’m just not sure if it’s reasonable for Laird himself to think so, unless the Tigers have been whispering in his ear.