Re: Catcher- What price mediocrity?


"gnork" <gnork44@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:HtpMh.16269$Jl.4022@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
While some cretins are bleating loudly about the "crisis" of no
established
"closer" which isn't even a position, most seem to be ignoring the team's
most potentially serious problem position. That position is catcher.

Varitek and Mirabelli are clearly over the hill. The question is "How far
over the hill ?" Since it never was a big hill for Mirabelli and Varitek
is scheduled to handle the bulk of the work, the Varitek question is by
far
the most serious. Jason had a lousy 2006 in part due to injury. So far he
is
hitting under .100 in spring training. I'm not one to over-value spring
stats, but he sure isn't inspiring any confidence so far. The Red Sox need
to start thinking about what they will do if Varitek is toast.

The answer 100% is not with the 2 veterans signed this winter. Alberto
Castillo and Kevin Cash are worthless and far less than worthless
respectively. Cash is a lifetime .161 hitter who hit .193 in AAA last
year.
Obviously they start with Varitek and hope for the best. But what if June
arrives and he is hitting .215 .285 .325? Something will need to be done
besides cursing the foolishness of giving a 5 year contract to a catcher
of
his age. But catcher's are the hardest to come by. What to do, what to do?

There are no great answers. One player who could be had for the asking
because of his 2007 salary ($3,250,000) is Damian Miller of the Brewers.
He
hit a mediocre .251 .322 .390 last year and he is 37. I would not want
him
now, but he hasn't slipped terribly from his .264 .331 .415 career
numbers. He also appears to be hurt this spring as he has only one at bat.
he is someone who would still be available in June who you would only want
if Varitek falls off a cliff performance wise. But at least he figures to
be
available. Milwaukee traded for Johnny Estrada this winter giving up
mediocre pitcher Doug Davis as their key guy in a 3 for 3 trade. Estrada
is
hitting .463 this spring, 19-41 with 5 doubles a HR and 16 RBI. Last
year's
backup to Miller, Mike Rivera was a career failure and had not played in
the
majors since 2003. But he came thru very nicely hitting .268 .325 .458.
He
isn't making much money and Milwaukee would not trade him for refuse. He
also is outhitting Estrada this spring, .485, 16-33 with 6 doubles and a
triple.

Others who might be availale cheap include 28 year old Pananamian Carlos
Ruiz who got into his 1st 27 malor league games for the Phils last year
and
hit .261 .316 .435 and veteran utilityman and Cal State Northridge guy
Robert Fick.

Lomasney, Shoppack, Kotarras


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Catcher- What price mediocrity?
    ... That position is catcher. ... over the hill ?" ... is scheduled to handle the bulk of the work, the Varitek question is by ... Milwaukee traded for Johnny Estrada this winter giving up ...
    (alt.sports.baseball.bos-redsox)
  • Re: Mirabelli released?
    ... Wakefield, and make things easier for the backup (who'd still catch ... and you have to accept that *any* catcher is ... Then Varitek ...
    (alt.sports.baseball.bos-redsox)
  • Re: Deadline for Varitek
    ... two-year offer made by the Red Sox to catcher Jason Varitek is for $5 ... deadline for Varitek to accept the offer, although it is not known what ... Red Sox and their long-time catcher as being stalled. ... would've made through arbitration, or a two-year deal for less annual ...
    (alt.sports.baseball.bos-redsox)
  • Re: Catcher- What price mediocrity?
    ... That position is catcher. ... Since it never was a big hill for Mirabelli and Varitek ... Milwaukee traded for Johnny Estrada this winter giving up ...
    (alt.sports.baseball.bos-redsox)
  • Re: Catcher- What price mediocrity?
    ... That position is catcher. ... Since it never was a big hill for Mirabelli and Varitek ... Milwaukee traded for Johnny Estrada this winter giving up ...
    (alt.sports.baseball.bos-redsox)