In a fairly surprise move, Memphis catcher Bryan Anderson has been called up to the majors to make his major league debut.
He was called up over Matt Pagnozzi who was the last catcher to be moved down from major league spring training.
Backup catcher Jason LaRue is headed to the DL.
What do you think of the move? Good move? Or should Anderson stay in Memphis and get regular ABs?
Entries (RSS)
Might as well see if his bat will play. It’s only going to be 15ish days so shouldn’t stunt any development. Helps to have a L bat on the bench too. Might be that it’s a little showcase for his bat for later trade-bait since it seems they are normally perfectly happy with having non-bat Pags as the 3rd catcher.
I’m a fan of the move. If he never gets behind the plate in a game, at least it gives us a lefty on the bench.
Very exciting. They could be showcasing Anderson but I think they just figured why not give him a shot over Pags. probably not a lot of risk. Let’s hope he makes the most of it
Just awesome! The kid deserved it and it will do wonders for his confidence moving forward just to get a taste of big league life.
I think the lefty part of it certainly comes into play more than I initially though. Would love to see Garcia pitch to Anderson in Friday night’s game when I’m at the stadium!
Like it, like it, LOVE it. In addition to all the obvious performance advantages, it surely can’t hurt BA’s defense to be sitting there watching how Yadi does it. Even if he doesn’t get into a single game, this has to be good for him. And yes, it feels to me like showcasing him. With Stock and maybe Cutler and Hill on the way, is that a bad thing?
Sorry guys. Pretty sure we’re just doing this so Pagnozzi can get regular at-bats…. jokes!
I think this is a great move! I like the lefty bat off the bench. You know he will get at-bats the way LaRussa uses his bench. It’s about time we get to see what this kid is all about. If nothing else he could be good trade bait for a late inning reliever later in the season. I hope he does well!!
@The Other Tom: Ha! Good one!!
The lefty bat off the bench angle only works if they have some level of confidence in Stavi to catch. Otherwise Anderson never sees a PH. might get a start or two.
I’m just as interested to see how the dominoes fall in terms of players moving up. Logic would say Hill to Memphis, Cruz to Springfield and De la Cruz from EST to PB.
Doubtful they need to do this to “showcase” him. Other teams can (and do) see him at AAA.
I think it will be good for Anderson to take part in the planning meetings between Dunc, the starters, and Yadi so that he can learn what is expected of him on a Dunc-coached staff. Even if that is all that happens (apart from a PH appearance or two), it will have been a success.
I read somewhere else that it’s Derba straight to AAA. Strange but maybe they want Hill to get used to his teammates, park, ect. What do you think?
@bc: I don’t totally agree. There’s a difference between raking at AAA and showing you’re not lost against major-league pitching. With you on the planning part, though; anything that helps teach a player how to be a major leaguer helps him BE a major leaguer.
Derba and Pags – ever been a better set of defensive catchers and a worse set of hitting catchers anywhere? Keeps the overall number of moves down.
@cariocacardinal: Maybe Memphis can DH for the catcher, not the pitcher, in games with AL farm teams?…
Hummel’s got a Cardinals Beat entry about why Anderson got the call–basically, the organization–including new catching instructor Matt Matheny–believes that Anderson has made adjustments to his approach behind the plate and has improved his defense. From the article:
“It was a tough call,” said La Russa, “because all spring we had Pags ready to do this. But, when you earn it, you earn it. (Anderson) has been getting the playing time down there.”
—-
Matheny, a three-time Gold Glover for the Cardinals, said Anderson had improved in receiving the ball more softly than he had before and in lowering his catching stance.
“There were some pretty critical people noticing that he had made some adjustments,” said Matheny. “He was taught a different way to catch. He was real aggressive. It’s kind of a tough call, to have that football mentality back there, as well as to soften yourself.”
Here’s the thing….in this young season, has Anderson been getting more starts than Pagnozzi?
I think it was in 2006, but I remember talking about Rasmus, Garcia, Anderson, and Martinez being in the majors by 2010. I’m not sure if they all took the path we thought they would, but it makes me happy to see that everyone (other than Martinez) is with the major league club.
Is Martinez still in the Cardinal organization? I think I saw his name around somewhere.
I just looked up the rosters and it says hes on the DL still……anyone know what happened to him and for what team hes considered being on?
surprised and happy Anderson got the call, he can hit and has been hitting so that gives the big boys an extra bat from the bench.
Anderson can get a start or two, while LaRue is out. Encouraging for him. If he does a good job at Memphis, the Cards need not resign LaRue.
Martinez is in Palm Beach rehabbing.
@RydeShelby: Yeah, but catching which starter? Carp and Waino surely will want to throw to an established major leaguer, and so will Lohse, although he may not have the clout to make it stick. In Penny you have a guy whose stuff is unfamiliar to the Cardinals (at least relatively speaking) and want a catcher with Molina’s judgment to help it work. And if he catches Garcia, you have both ends of the battery without experience with the hitters they’re facing, which will not end well. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if Anderson gets NO starts during this promotion. I agree with you in hoping for at least one — maybe TLR and Dunc can buy Lohse a fancy dinner as a bribe or something — but am not confident that it will happen.
Is Martinez still a legit prospect? I know 08 he wasn’t very good then broke his hand for all of last year. Obviuosly Descaleno is above him as a 2b prospect. Don’t know the type of prospect he is.
Tony said in the postgame tonight (Weds.) that Anderson would not start tomorrow’s afternoon game – too soon after the call-up. But Tony also sounded (at least to me) like Anderson would get a start since the Cards have a lot of days in a row with games. Perhaps Saturday when there is a day game after a night game?
@Gruntosaurus: You are over-thinking. LaRiue probably gets a start per week. Anderson can get two starts. This is a lot more likely than him being a pinch-hitter.
The obviously important point would be if, Anderson, over the course of this season, both in this call up and when he goes back to Memphis, convince the team that he could be a viable second catcher. If so, his left handed bat becomes the logical back up to Molina when Molina needs a rest. Then if Stavinhoa can become a reliable reserve OF/1B/PH (DH in interleague games) and demonstrates that he is capable of being a third catcher, the team will have internally and cheaply given itself bench versatility which is important with them only carrying 5 bench players and trying to do it on the cheap.
Time is on Anderson’s side. LaRue is over-the-hill. Pagnozzi can’t hit. As Anderson works at improving his D, he should be able to replace LaRue by next season.
I dont know much about Anderson other than he has really disspointed in the last few years but just watching him in his at bat today. He looks like a big leaguer and has a nice sweet swing. I think we forgot sometimes that he’s only 23 years old.
@cariocacardinal:
i agree they are both very good defensively but if both the catchers on the roster can’t hit that seems a little strange, how long do you think they’ll keep them both in memphis?