can Tejada catch?
by astro_boy on Nov 6, 2009 8:35 PM CST
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One of the most disappointing positions in my mind the past few years, from an offensive standpoint at least, has been catcher. I realize and appreciate that the team puts a premium on defense, even if it is is at the expense of offense. I understand that pitch calling and general on-field leadership are skills that are vastly under-rated. However, moving forward I can't say that I'm enamoured with the prospects.
I noted that the Royals declined their option on Miguel Olivo today and wanted to start the discussion on potential options for next year. Anyone want to share their thoughts?
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Erm, no. I’m pretty sure Tejada can’t catch.
Catcher is really the least of the Astros’ problems right now, anyway. Castro and Towles are both good prospects (yes, even the latter) and Quintero is a serviceable stopgap/defensive backup.
by OremLK on Nov 6, 2009 10:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Are you kidding me???????????
I’m sorry and no offense but that is one of the most absurd Qs I’ve heard about our Stros (even if they do warrant it). Catcher is BY FAR the most important position in terms of position players on defense. I’ll take a pass on that. Tejada would easily cause more runs than he would provide on offense between passed balls, stolen bases, pitch calling, experience in dealing with pitchers, and on and on. A position change to catcher is something you have to do in the minors and develop over a couple years in order to be effective. His leadership qualities would be a GREAT thing to have in a catcher so I guess I can think out of the box and see what you’re saying but I much rather give the 42 year old and 8 years removed Tony Eusebio a call.
Olivo is interesting but catcher is the last position we need to worry about as sad as that is. Once we deal with the rotation, bullpen and third base if we have a couple million left over then I’d love for us to pick up a low cost catcher to help out Q. Honestly I think with catcher we should go into ST with Q in stone and Towles and Castro (and maybe a Rule 5 guy) fighting for the other spot. If neither fair well in ST then sign someone who is still free and cheap during ST.
by Astrosws20 on Nov 7, 2009 8:05 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I didn’t get the impression that he is serious about converting Tejada to catcher; since he only mentions it in the headline, I figured it is a facetious suggestion. (I could be wrong about that, though.)
I think the Astros will kick the tires on free agent catchers this off-season, but I doubt that it would be any big name players. I wouldn’t be surprised if they pick up a free agent veteran back up catcher to compete for a job.
by clack on Nov 7, 2009 9:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
True clack – the question was completely facetious. The reason for mentioning Tejada was to stimulate the conversation regarding the offensive side of the position. Being a former catcher myself, my preference leans towards the defensive side. However, it feels like the team has fielded a multitude of band-aids the past several seasons and I’m not sold on Q and Towl-boy as an alternative. Castro may be the catcher of the future but he is still at least a year away from being servicable. I guess I’m tired of trotting out below average players at the position.
by astro_boy on Nov 8, 2009 3:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I hear u there astro_boy
I’m not sold on Q or Towles b/c Towles hasn’t proved anything and Q isn’t exactly the caliber of Ausmus on the defensive and obviously isn’t anything to brag about on O. I also feel we’ve been full of band aids at catcher. Thought Pudge could have been the first real good catcher in a while but we know how that worked out. I also feel like even though we all loved Brad and he was amazing on the defensive side it seemed like the organization didn’t exactly want to settle for him as the teams catcher for as long as we did or at least as the #1. I also want Castro to be the real thing but yeah opening day definitely isn’t his day. Maybe the all-star break but still I think that’s quick. I don’t want to rush him like we did Towles. I think we can deal with what we have even though it’s not what I think most of us want, but I think there are other positions that would be harder to deal with if we don’t address them first. Also have you been satisfied with the catcher situation recently anyways?
by Astrosws20 on Nov 8, 2009 1:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
What I think could've worked is
keeping Coste and carrying 3 catchers this year if Mills is cool with that. Coste could give Berkman a breather and play some C. If Towles falters then we could send him down and still have 2 catchers (if Towles still has options which could answer why we released him).
by Astrosws20 on Nov 8, 2009 1:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I take that back. Doesn't add up
Put the #s together and my ideas came out to a 26 man roster. oops
by Astrosws20 on Nov 8, 2009 1:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry if I misinterpretted or
took it a little far with my comment guys. Didn’t mean to offend anybody or anything like that. Sometimes I have a tendency to be out of my element with the Stros.
“Donny you’re out of your element!” lol
by Astrosws20 on Nov 8, 2009 1:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
No problem. As people say so many times: sarcasm is hard to interpret on the internet.
by clack on Nov 8, 2009 1:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
No worries – love the passion! And the fact that you worked a Big Lebowski quote in is icing on the cake.
by astro_boy on Nov 8, 2009 10:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Facetious as it may be
I remember that BPro ran an article a while back advocating something similar. Basically, the writer was criticizing Catcher ERA and suggesting that the catcher position might really be another place to “hide” a good-hitting-bad-fielding player.
I think that’s pretty ridiculous, myself, but it was an intriguing idea.
by Only_A_Lad on Nov 8, 2009 10:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Carlos Lee?
sad when you suggest hiding a player from the LF position =X
by timmy_ on Nov 9, 2009 7:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
hey
as I recall, the example they gave was Dunn.
by Only_A_Lad on Nov 9, 2009 9:56 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
suggestions like that make you think that BP writers...
never watched a game of baseball. (OK, I’m starting to sound like Joe Morgan.) There is a reason that guys like Mike Lamb never made it as a catcher. All you have to do is watch a game with a really bad catcher (wild pitches, passed balls, base runners going wild) and realize how frustrating that is. Recall that game in 06 or 07 when the Astros ran wild, like 6 or 7 stolen bases, on a young Nationals’ back up catcher (he was a 1st baseman/sometimes-catcher)? Frank Robinson had to come out and take him out of the game in the middle of the 5th or 6th inning when the passed balls and steals became intolerable. Robinson felt so bad about starting him at catcher, he called the young player’s father to apologize.
by clack on Nov 9, 2009 10:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Hehe – that’s brilliant. The pitchers would love him – how can you not with that moustache!
by astro_boy on Nov 9, 2009 8:56 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Jason Giambi walks to the mound to council his pitcher
Don’t worry about the hitter, just imagine me in my thong
by timmy_ on Nov 9, 2009 11:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
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NL Central Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St. Louis
|
91 | 71 | .561 | 0 | Lost 6 |
|
Chicago
|
83 | 78 | .515 | 7.5 | Lost 1 |
|
Milwaukee
|
80 | 82 | .493 | 11 | Won 3 |
|
Cincinnati
|
78 | 84 | .481 | 13 | Won 2 |
|
Houston
|
74 | 88 | .456 | 17 | Lost 3 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
62 | 99 | .385 | 28.5 | Lost 2 |
(updated 2.9.2010 at 5:43 PM CST)
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