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2007 We sometimes find ourselves in danger of over-using the term `lefty-masher,` but Laird deserved that sobriquet in 2006, pounding southpaws for 34 hit in 85 at-bats for .400/.414/.600 rates. His performance against right-handers was a mirror image at .241/.291/.405. As this suggests, Laird is the kind of hitter who would greatly benefit from being a little less eager to chase bad pitches, because the overall offensive package isn`t going to carry him past the point of being a poor man`s Paul Lo Duca. He`s a good defender, and, with Barajas out of the way, he`ll finally get a shot to play regularly, but, as long as he`s so dependent on batting average and on seeing the right pitchers, he`s always going to be pushed towards a reserve role whenever someone flashier catches his manager`s eye. 2006 For a player who`s always been more about defense than offense, Laird had a heck of a season with the bat while watching "highlights" of Rod Barajas and Sandy Alomar Jr. doing his job in Texas. Alomar is finally out of the picture, so at the very least, Laird should be the backup backstop in 2006. Once Barajas turns back into a pumpkin, Laird will likely enjoy a reign just slightly longer, what with Taylor Teagarden waiting in the wings. 2005 Laird must think he's on some sort of reality show. He was the cognoscenti's sleeper pick for a breakout year by a rookie catcher. Then he hurt his ankle, and, upon his return, suffered a very bad and very lingering thumb injury that pretty much torpedoed his season. He's supposed to be ready for spring training, where he can rub his eyes in amazement that the Rangers would rather go into the season with Barajas and Alomar as their catching corps. It's one of those things that's beyond comprehension, like Clay Aiken or Scott Stapp having a singing career.
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