Comments on: Baselining Catcher

By: stevieville

stevieville — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 03:19:31 +0000

Off topic, regarding the “lot of prospects” problem, I heard Joe Strauss on the radio the other day say that Baseball America just came out with their organizational minor league rankings, the Cards were 29th out of 30 teams. I have not checked this article out myself, but thought I would mention it as I had not seen it discussed elsewhere on this site.

By: Gruntosaurus

Gruntosaurus — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:15:56 +0000

Right, got that, IC. However, the problem still remains that TLR will want to make sure a spare catcher is on the bench at all times — whether it’s LaRue or Stav/Hill/Cruz. Having that be LaRue is relatively harmless; after all, he’s not much of a hitter. Having it be the S/H/C utility guy helps only if TLR is willing to play him at other positions. With these three it isn’t obvious that they’d get that time, unless one of them steps up and shows they can play in the majors — and hit.

By: Indiana Cardinal

Indiana Cardinal — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:12:55 +0000

Grunt, I was suggesting that someone such as Stav/Hill/Cruz would be carried as an extra IF of OF with the ability to be the emergency when you wanted someone such as Anderson, the #2, to pinch hit and not leave yourself without a catcher if Molina subsequently got hurt in a game, or you needed to pinch run for Molina, inserting Larue/Anderson and then again in an emergency needed a catcher. I am looking at those guys as versitility to give a 5 man bench more flexibility instead of never being able to use the 2nd catcher in the same game as whoever starts.

By: Clark

Clark — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:01:48 +0000

Kind of off topic, but I was wondering why Jon Jay hasn’t played in Venezuela since November 19th? At least thats what it shows on his stats. I don’t know anything about the Venezuela league so I was wondering if he was hurt, because his numbers looked like he was actually hitting pretty well after after a slow start/

By: Gruntosaurus

Gruntosaurus — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:16:26 +0000

IC, your inquiries struck a nerve. I’ve had a soft spot for Steve Hill ever since he showed up, and I think he’d be a good 25th guy on the roster, with the ability to catch in an emergency while mainly pinch-hitting — IF the roster wasn’t nearly 50% pitchers, which is exactly the opposite of where you see the value in that kind of player. The problem is that when you only have 5 bench players, all 5 of them must be “full-service” players who are more than barely adequate at the roles they play. The role you’re proposing for Stav/Hill/Cruz might see them used in one game in three. The only guy used that infrequently last year was LaRue. If Stav/Hill/Cruz can’t BE the full-service reserve catcher, is there room for them on the roster?

By: Indiana Cardinal

Indiana Cardinal — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:05:49 +0000

Wouldn’t the career strategy for Anderson by the Cardinals be to attempt to rejuvenate his offense and work on his defense this year, while hopefully not needing him (or Pagnozzi) to be an injury replacement for Molina? Then assuming the best he could replace Larue in 2011 as the 2nd catcher, giving the Cards a left handed hitting platoon to give Molina more rest. Then if Anderson can become a stablilized second catcher over a couple of years in the majors, he can either be flipped in a trade or continue being the second catcher.

Related question, do guys such as Stavinoa, Hill or Cruz have ultimately value on the Cardinals bench as 3rd catchers in addition to other positions they play and pinch hitting so that Anderson (or some other second catcher) could be used in an appropriate pinch hitting roles without a great concern of not having a catcher if Molina or whoever is starting a game is hurt later in that game. I see some value in that, particularly since they seem inclined to carry 12 pitchers and only 5 bench players. I presume Freese could also be that 3rd catcher, but if he gets the starting 3b job they might not want to risk injury to him when utilizing him in such a catching role. Thoughts? Thanks.

By: jjray

jjray — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:15:52 +0000

Did I dream it or did Anderson strain a rotator cuff in 2008 and decline surgery? My recollection was that Anderson was making strides with his catching fundamentals then the arm issue cropped up.

By: azruavatar

azruavatar — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:59:04 +0000

From preliminary discussions and the BA/Fangraphs lists this year, I seem to have a drastically different opinion of a handful of prospects in the system.

By: erik

erik — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 03:51:27 +0000

You’re giving the hyperventilating prospect geek frat a bad name with all this realism, AZ.

By: GDM

GDM — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:40:53 +0000

is there any more talk about anderson changing position?