Sasseritis strikes again.

[RealityChuck]

http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/blog/roto_arcade/post/Saltalamacchia-in-minors-to-work-on-throwing-?urn=fantasy,240938

Jarrod Saltalamacchia(notes) has absolutely destroyed the pitching he's seen so far at Triple-A. He's batting .343 in 18 games for Oklahoma City with five doubles, three homers, and an on-base percentage of .400. You might recall that Saltalamacchia began the year as the Texas Rangers starting catcher, then hit the disabled list with a back injury just two games into the season. Considering the current state of the catching position in Arlington (Matt Treanor(notes) is hitting .209), you'd think that Saltalamacchia would be welcomed back. His bat is ready, but the rest of him isn't. Saltalamacchia is struggling with his throws � not his across-the-diamond throws to second base, but his 60-foot tosses to the pitcher's mound. In Salty's last game, Tuesday night at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, 12 of his throws back to the pitcher landed either short of the mound or in center field. He had five errant throws in the first inning alone. "He's just got to keep playing until he gets it right," RedHawks manager Bobby Jones said. "I don't know what else to do. It's a shame. It's definitely what's keeping him here. He's blocking the ball well and swinging the bat well. He's just got to figure it out. It's a shame." Saltalamacchia said, "Everything feels good. My throws have been good down to second. We've been working on different arm angles, getting on top of the ball more rather than getting on the side. So everything's going smoothly and we'll see where it goes." Yikes. He's talking about "getting on top of the ball more" on his throws to the pitcher. That's messy. It sounds like this isn't a physical problem since he's apparently making in-game throws that have a much higher degree of difficulty. Here's hoping he can beat the issue quickly, before it develops into something like the Mackey Sasser situation. Saltalamacchia is a serious talent, but this is clearly an affliction that a catcher can't live with.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Sasser certainly isn't the first guy to have developed the block, but I'm not able to recall the guy or guys that preceded him.

[HahnSolo]

Not one of the Met-ly Bobby Jones, managing for OKC.

[metirish]

He's got to see a sports psychologist ?

[Benjamin Grimm]

before it develops into something like the Mackey Sasser situation

I would think that good writing would require a bit of an explanation about the "Mackey Sasser" situation. I'm sure a lot of today's fans don't have any clue about the problems of an obscure player from two decades ago.

[stevejrogers]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: before it develops into something like the Mackey Sasser situation I would think that good writing would require a bit of an explanation about the "Mackey Sasser" situation. I'm sure a lot of today's fans don't have any clue about the problems of an obscure player from two decades ago.

Getting the yips on the mound has been called "Steve Blass Disease" for even longer.

Though I see the point about quickly explaining the case that you refer to in a story.

[Ceetar]

If you had asked me what Mackey Sasser's situation was, I wouldnt have known, but I can assume based on the rest of the article.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think The Sasser Situation was a Robert Ludlum novel.

[metirish]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I think The Sasser Situation was a Robert Ludlum novel.

A sequel to "The Blass Verdict"

[Guest Edgy DC]

I like it. As an empty reference, "the Mackey Sasser Situation" takes on an even greater mythical weight, and an unknowing reader understands that there's a story there but it's perhaps just too much for the unitiated to take in. Sort of like Hobbes' reference to Calvin's "Noodle Incident," it's never explained to us, but our imaginations can go all over the place --- delightfully far beyond, perhaps, the parameters of the actual story.

The truth is, of course, that it appears to have already become a "Mackey Sasser Situation."

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Gregg Zaun's all, like, "Whew."

[Fman99]

This happened in Major League 2. That movie sucked ass, by the way.

[RealityChuck]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: before it develops into something like the Mackey Sasser situation I would think that good writing would require a bit of an explanation about the "Mackey Sasser" situation. I'm sure a lot of today's fans don't have any clue about the problems of an obscure player from two decades ago.

He did -- via hyperlink. "Mackey Sasser situation" was linked to a relevant article.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

A number of successful major leagers have seen their careers either ended or greatly diminished due to their sudden inability to throw with a modicum of accuracy.

Steve Blass was 15-8 with a 2.85 ERA in 1971. He followed that up in 1972 with an All Star season in which he went 19-8 with a 2.49 ERA and a runner up finish in the NL Cy Young voting. In 1973, he couldn't find the plate as his walks per nine innings and hit batters were both triple that of previous years. In 1974 he made one appearance and his career was finished.

Chuck Knoblauch was the AL Rookie of the Year as the Twins second baseman in 1991. In the succeeding years he was an All Star numerous times. Then, in 1998 he joined the Dark Side and inexplicably became incapable of throwing the ball to first base while wearing pinstripes. After two seasons of threatening the safety of AL fans seated behind first base for two seasons he became a former second baseman.

Mackey Sasser seemed to be the Mets heir apparent to succeed Gary Carter as catcher. He seemed to have all the skills required of the position, except the most basic one of throwing the ball back to the pitcher. Sasser seemed unable to throw the ball back to the pitcher without making multiple pump fakes first. Overtime, his problem worsened and his promising once career as a major league catcher slowly faded away.

Rick Ankiel was a promising young pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals that finished second in the NC Cy Young voting in 2000. He was 20 years old and had an electric arm, then his entire career unraveled under the pressure of postseason play. In three post season starts against the Braves and then the Mets, Ankiel walked 11 batters and unleashed 9 wild pitches in 3.3 innings of work. Few careers have flamed out so dramatically and suddenly as that of Rick Ankiel. Though he was never able to successfully return to the pitcher's mound, through hard work Ankiel was able to resurrect his major league career as an outfielder and is currently a member of the Kansas City Royals.

I think getting Saltalamacchia established with a sports psychologist would be a wise investment for the Rangers. Hoping he can work through it on his own in the minor leagues is likely an ill conceived plan. I wish him luck in overcoming the mental demons that are hindering him.

[RealityChuck]

Rockin' Doc wrote: I think getting Saltalamacchia established with a sports psychologist would be a wise investment for the Rangers. Hoping he can work through it on his own in the minor leagues is likely an ill conceived plan. I wish him luck in overcoming the mental demons that are hindering him.

Yes. This type of problem is purely psychological. You can work it out by practice, but a psychologist would work better.

The issue is often caused by thinking about what you are doing instead of doing it. The player knows how to throw the ball, but when he tries to, he starts thinking about each element.

It's like the old trick in golf: just before he drives, you ask your opponent if he inhales or exhales before he swings. The opponent (if he doesn't know the trick) starts thinking about it, and he can't drive worth beans all day.

[seawolf17]

RealityChuck wrote: I think getting Saltalamacchia established with a sports psychologist would be a wise investment for the Rangers. Hoping he can work through it on his own in the minor leagues is likely an ill conceived plan. I wish him luck in overcoming the mental demons that are hindering him. Yes. This type of problem is purely psychological. You can work it out by practice, but a psychologist would work better. The issue is often caused by thinking about what you are doing instead of doing it. The player knows how to throw the ball, but when he tries to, he starts thinking about each element. It's like the old trick in golf: just before he drives, you ask your opponent if he inhales or exhales before he swings. The opponent (if he doesn't know the trick) starts thinking about it, and he can't drive worth beans all day.

Note to self: Decline Chuck's invitation to golf.

[soupcan]

A number of successful major leagers have seen their careers either ended or greatly diminished due to their sudden inability to throw with a modicum of accuracy. Steve Blass... Chuck Knoblauch... Mackey Sasser... Rick Ankiel ...

Steve Sax too:

STEVE SAX: The NL Rookie of the Year in 1982, Sax suddenly lost his ability to make throws to first base on the easiest of plays in 1983. He said he felt like a "prisoner."

As Sax worried about his grip and his arm angle, his throwing became so bad that fans behind the first base dugout began donning batting helmets.

Sax, who committed 30 errors in 1983, battled his way back to defensive respectability and went on to lead AL second basemen in fielding percentage and double plays in 1989. His career already had rebounded in 1986, when he put together a 25-game hitting streak and finished the season at .332, missing the NL batting title by two points.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

I forgot about Sax and his sudden throwing problems. I guess it was his eventual overcoming of his throwing issue and ultimately becoming successful once again at the same position that threw me. Either that or my creeping senility. None of the players I mentioned ever really overcame their problems throwing. They either lost their careers or they were able to continue playing by switching to another position in order to avoid their throwing problem.

Great pick up with Sax. There are llikely more examples of this throughout baseball.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I really never thought of Sax as a guy who had a full-blown mental block, just a tendency to scatter his throws when he had time, a la David Wright.