Pauly No (Catching 2012)

[smg58]

I can't help wondering if the Angels would have taken Bay over Wells for Rivera and Napoli. Wells had the better 2010, but his contract makes Bay look like a bargain.

On a somewhat related note, I'm hoping that the Mets apparent interest in a defensive-minded catcher will not lead to 80 games of Jeff Mathis behind the plate.

[metirish]

Vernon Wells , he should kiss his agent nightly


2012 33 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim $21,000,000 Player may opt out after 2011 season
2013 34 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim $21,000,000 Player may opt out after 2011 season
2014 35 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim $21,000,000 Player may opt out after 2011 season


I'm guessing he won't be opting out.

[TransMonk]

Varitek? .264 vs. lefties last year.

I don't watch the junior circuit enough to know anything about his defense.

[Frayed Knot]

TransMonk wrote: Varitek? .264 vs. lefties last year. I don't watch the junior circuit enough to know anything about his defense.

Beyond awful. He's essentially D-O-N-E

[TransMonk]

Enough said.

[smg58]

metirish wrote: I'm guessing he won't be opting out.

He didn't.

metirish wrote: Vernon Wells , he should kiss his agent nightly.

As for what kind of relationship he has with his agent, one can only speculate.

[Guest attgig]

Taylor Teagarden, a righty catcher who was 3rd on the depth charts in texas, has been traded to the O's to backup Matt Weiters for a pitcher who hasn't hit AA yet.

He had decent minor league numbers. though, his major league numbers haven't quite lived up to expectations. He may or may not have been an upgrade over Nickeas.

[Vic Sage]

Vernon Wells , he should kiss his agent nightly

i'd kiss his agent if she was Keira Knightley.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

attgig wrote: Taylor Teagarden, a righty catcher who was 3rd on the depth charts in texas, has been traded to the O's to backup Matt Weiters for a pitcher who hasn't hit AA yet. He had decent minor league numbers. though, his major league numbers haven't quite lived up to expectations. He may or may not have been an upgrade over Nickeas.

The defense is supposedly great, but there was no role for him on the major-league team, and he's out of options.

His minor league numbers were worrying before last year (when he was a 27-year-old third-timer in AAA), when he went .285/.376/.589 over 173 PAs. But overall, he does certainly seem Nickeas-class.

[Edgy MD]

That Mets Merized post about Posada misses the point. He argues that Posada is a better defender than all the Mets current catching options, and that it's folly for the Mets to turn him away because they are shopping for a better defensive catcher.

I would dispute that he would be the best defensive option if he joined the Mets tomorrow, but accepting that argument for argument's sake, the point is that the Mets aren't comparing him to their current options on hand. Rather they are acknowledging the defensive limitations of the house options and are therefore looking for better defenders than they are... and better than than Posada is. If you want to show the Mets' folly don't try to establish the shortcomings of Thole and Paulino. The fans and the management know this (even if they aren't necessarily with you on distant third option Nickeas). You should be comparing Posada to other catchers on the catching market. That's who they rejected Posada in favor of.

Moreover, they're clearly looking for value, value, value --- somebody you're buying low for the hint of seasons to come, rather than buying high for the shadow of seasons past. Posada ain't that guy.

OE: Moreover, both Posada's agent and the Mets deny that there was ever contact. (Not that they don't have an interest in denying it, true or not).

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Shoppach signs with the Red Sox.

Are we really OK with Nickeas as No. 2?

[TransMonk]

Unless you have a couple million dollars to invest, I'm not sure we have a choice.

[Vic Sage]

sure we do -- Koyie Hill, a switch-hitter who hits as badly as Nickeas, but from both sides!

[Benjamin Grimm]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Are we really OK with Nickeas as No. 2?

Not really. I hope there's some other plan.

[Vic Sage]

chapter 11

[Ceetar]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Are we really OK with Nickeas as No. 2? Not really. I hope there's some other plan.

Lucas May, Kai Gronauer?

Or you know, Thole. Perhaps it's a sink or swim type deal for him. He plays 140+ and sees if he can truly, really, be an everyday catcher. (probably would be my guess, even if he's not going to be great) If you're set on not platooning, wouldn't the preference in a backup be a defensive whiz, not a lefty-masher? (Not that Paulino is necessarily that either, .752 against lefties last year. He just wasn't good)

[duan]

I don't get being so down on Thole, a .700 ish ops isn't that bad at catcher - especially when it's weighted equally obp/slg and not a barajas esque 250/450 and when he's only 24.

Defense wise I don't get to see enough to have a conviction but BP's metrics have him down as being ok.

Sure, a lefty masher (how is Ramon Castro these days) would be a nice caddy, but I don't think that's our biggest problem.

[Edgy MD]

Defense, lefty mashing, know-the-league-type veteranness. All of these things would be nice to have in a backup.

Maybe Nickeas supplies the first and Rottino the second, so maybe I lean a little toward the third, but it'd certainly be nice to find hints of all three in one body.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Vic Sage wrote: chapter 11

This would have really cracked me up, if it hadn't hit so close to the truth.