I never blamed LaRussa, so stop putting words in my mouth. Nobody in this thread blamed LaRussa and Duncan for Anderson’s lack of promotion; yet you jumped in and brushed off people’s opinions about Anderson’s chances with this old chestnut. I’m all for discussing baseball, but that isn’t it.

Anderson is an offense-first catcher, who still needed to work on his defense and learn to work at the level that major league pitchers have–which he has been with Matheny, who is now manager (it wasn’t just spring training). When Anderson had his call up in 2010, Duncan and Molina gave him a crash-course on the amount of scouting that Molina does at the major league level. It’s part of the learning curve.

Also, while you say that Matheny’s comments were something like “two years ago” (try before Anderson’s call-up) and therefore may be not valid today, you also forget that the last time Carpenter and Lohse threw to him also was a while ago. Players develop, Zuke, and Matheny, who has been working with Anderson as part of his job as minor league instructor, is more far familiar with Anderson’s development than the St. Louis pitchers.

You’re ignoring the fact that after Matheny’s hiring, suddenly Anderson has been part of the talk for back-up catcher come spring training, and that the organization has not gone out to sign a veteran back-up catcher despite many being available. That tells me more than anything else about the legitimacy of Anderson’s chances, especially when the new manager has been publicly outspoken about Anderson’s defensive capabilities and reportedly has continued to be an advocate within the organization.

And I don’t believe Memphis pitchers had issues with Anderson. I’ve never heard or read that anywhere.

If you don’t beleive it was a LaRussa/Duncan issue, then what it is it you beleive kept him out of the majors?

I think people are reading into the Matheny’s comments. Those were made somthing like 2 years ago (spring training maybe) when he was a part time rover. Matheny as a part time rover was in a different capacity then his current postion as a manager of the major league team.

I also beleive there were a couple of pitchers on the staff that were also not confortable with Anderson.

I am just being honest. Anderson faces a tough climb to the major. Yes Matheny said some positive things about him a few years ago. But you still have to look at the context of those comments and it really doesn’t change the reality of the situation.

Nobody has brought up or implied LaRussa except zuke. And I resent every conversation being dragged down to this level.

Thanks. That is exactly the point I was going to make.

Tom,

I think Anderson was rushed along a bit becasue of his bat. I think that is why his option situation is important.

I’m not going to filter through all the posts, but at the very least people have said “he will get a chance with Matheny” – the alternative meaning to that is “he didn’t get a chance with TLR”. If it hasn’t been “blatantly” said, IMO it has been implied all over the place.

I don’t really have an opinion on Anderson, but I feel pretty comfortable that many do believe Anderson didn’t get a chance with TLR – at least that has been my interpretation.

It seems unreasonable to me to assume that a new manager doesn’t mean a second look/new chance of any kind for a player that was previously sent back to the minors especially considering Matheny has had kind words publicly about Anderson.

It reads to me like zuke is attacking an argument that I don’t see being made by anyone.

at this point, bryan anderson has 1100 plate appearances at AAA. he’s 25 years old. he’s probably learned what he’s going to learn. at this point, he looks an awful lot like a backup catcher going forward. in any event, his chances of becoming a starting catcher will not improve by staying at AAA for a FIFTH SEASON till he’s 26.

still, i don’t see why an offensive-first catcher – in the abstract – shouldn’t be considered for a backup spot.

For instance, If it’s a person’s opinion that the only reason Anderson isn’t in the majors is becasue of LaRussa, then a person is overlooking Anderson’s faults. I mean honestly, could it be possible be that the the reason Anderson isn’t in the majors is becasue he hasn’t good enough?

I know that if I were an opposing team and I saw the cardinals underapprecaiting a good hitting major league catcher, I would have gone out of my way to make a trade for that guy. But that obviously hasn’t happened either.

So basicly, the fact that Anderson wasn’t in the majors isn’t becasue of LaRussa. But yet, people want to overlook Anderson’s shortcommings and simply say it was Tony. But in reality, now that Tony is gone, Anderson still has some big hurdles….

So lets look at it from a logical standpoint.
Facts:
1) Anderson is still a prospect
2) Anderson is not a great defensive Catcher
3) Anderson is still improving
4) Anderson needs playing time

1) The cards need a back-up catcher
2) Yadi plays alot
3) The back up catcher is looking at 250 innings/100 abs.

So, does it make sense to keep anderson in memphis playing, or bring him up to be a bad defensive-back up catcher. Even if we were to assume that Anderson keeps up a good hitting pace playing so little, we are talking about 8 hits in those 100 abs.