Let's talk about catchers

by grant76 on Aug 6, 2009 4:26 PM CDT Comment 19 comments

I'm going to display some ignorance here, because I don't know how to quantify catching intangibles. So I'm just going to kick things off with my random thoughts and see where things go from there.

I think the future of catching for the Brewers is Jonathan Lucroy. I don't see any area where Angel Salome has any significant advantage over him. Lucroy currently has a line of .263/.379/.401. The number that really jumps out is the OBP of .379. If you are looking at the batting average, you are seeing a mediocre AA guy. But if you look at his 62:53 BB/K ratio, you see a guy who has incredible plate discipline for a young player (or any player).

His arm strength has been described as average or fringy, but his quick release has him throwing out 40% of basestealers at AA, after nabbing 51% last year in A ball. Salome had 33% and 26% at AAA and AA respectively.

Lucroy has a .989 fielding percentage. Salome is at .979. FWIW Kendall has thrown out 21% this year after 43% last year. Kendall also has a .993 fielding percentage (.990 career).

I said all of that to say that everything that the Brewers do regarding catching should revolve around Jonathan Lucroy. And it might just be time to consider moving him up to AAA, with the idea that he become the MLB starter next year. Consider that over the last 14 days, his line is .400/.478/.575 - 1.053OPS. Over the last 28 days its .333/.446/.522 - .968OPS

So what do you do with Salome? He could be traded in the off season, but for now he could be promoted to the big club. Yes that means a demotion for BCB favorite Mike Rivera, but it would be a chance to showcase Salome a bit, especially if the Brewers are not in contention. Granted that craptastic line of .233/.300/.233 for the last 28 days is not going to fly, but Salome is still a valuable trade chip, and the Brewers should have moving him in the offseason as a highly regarded option.

So Kendall/Salome finish out this year, with Lucroy and Rivera in AAA. Trade Salome in the offseason for a pitcher or two. Next year Lucroy starts with Kendall or Rivera backing him up. Does that sound too aggressive? Does Lucroy need to just play AA for this year and AAA all of next year?

Either way I think Kendall has to become a bench guy next year or perhaps just move on. Whether its Salome or Lucroy, its time to promote a guy and take the growing pains they bring with them.

Poll

Because I can't resist adding a poll. The 2010 starting catcher for the Brewers should be:

Jason Kendall

17 votes

Angel Salome

58 votes

Jonathan Lucroy

26 votes

Mike Rivera

41 votes

Other (leave comment)

19 votes

161 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 19 comments

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Comments

“I don’t see any area where Angel Salome has any significant advantage over him. Lucroy currently has a line of .263/.379/.401”

Salome put up a .360/.415/.559 line in AA as a 22 year old (Lucroy is 23). That is a pretty significant. I get that Lucroy might pass Salome on the depth chart because he can actually play the position, but I don’t think there is a comparison offensively up to this point.

by Supertramp on Aug 6, 2009 4:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd rather talk about spaceships

I’d rather see Lucroy finish the year in AA and play in AAA next year. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Salome traded with some combination of Kendall/cheap backup be the catching tandem again. I don’t think Rivera will be back because they won’t want to take him to arbitration and, though this is pure speculation, I think he’ll want to seek out better opportunities to play elsewhere.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Aug 6, 2009 5:26 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed...

Except I think Rivera will be back. I definitely see Salome getting moved for pitching, and Lucroy playing at least the first few months in AAA.

Salome may have the better bat, but catching is a defensive position…any offense from it is a bonus…and Lucroy has shown to play defense better than Salome thus far.

by TheBurningRom on Aug 6, 2009 8:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Potential FAs

I’ve excluded those with options

Rod Barajas
Ramon Castro
Jose Molina
Benji Molina
Ivan Rodriguez (probable retirement)
Brian Schneider
Henry Blanco
Brad Ausmus
Paul Bako
Josh Bard
Jason Larue

It might be prudent to consider getting a C thrown in to any off-season trade

"That's not a weird stat. Rickie is a run-scorer," Yost said. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter," Yost told reporters. "See, you guys have no concept. He's a run-scorer. So there's nothing weird about it. That's what he does."

by Hyatt on Aug 6, 2009 6:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Can't we just call up the Molina factory and have them make us a new model?

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by Lefti on Aug 6, 2009 8:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Better make sure it's the real Molina factory

And not a knockoff model like Gustavo™

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Aug 6, 2009 8:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No need,

just order the Yadier, I hear it’s pretty good.

It is what it is.

by coolig on Aug 6, 2009 8:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If the factory is as slow as its products, we should have placed the order back in 2007.

by Zeyes on Aug 7, 2009 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

They could try to acquire GREGG ZAUN

E: George 4 (5, throw, throw, throw, throw).

by Jordan M on Aug 6, 2009 10:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's cheap!

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Aug 7, 2009 4:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did you say...

Steve Zahn?!? No? Oh.

by Cheeseandcorn on Aug 7, 2009 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't rush Lucroy.

Let him finish out in AA, put him in AAA next year and see how things go. Drop Kendall in the offseason, and let Rivera and Salome battle it out in Spring Training 2010. Make the winner the starter, the loser the backup, and Lucroy get seasoning in the minors. Make him a September callup, give him some reps after the 2010 minor league season is over, and hopefully he shows he’s ready for the starting gig in the bigs in 2011.

by bklanecky on Aug 6, 2009 6:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't mind a Bengie / Rivera platoon for a year

his OBP is down a good amount from his career norms, but he’s being asked to do a lot in SF right now. Mid-.700’s OPS with very good defense would be pretty nice.

by warwick5s on Aug 6, 2009 6:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Plus

I hear he calls a good game!

BCB, the preferred above replacement level sarcasm supplier.

by MadJimiBrewha on Aug 6, 2009 8:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anyone other than...

…Kendall. I would rather see Paul Bako back than watch another year of Kendall and his .260 slugging percentage.

by badgermaniac on Aug 6, 2009 10:00 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Bring back Gabor! Bring back Gabor!

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Aug 7, 2009 4:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm with most

Here and say that Lucroy needs another year of seasoning in the minor leagues. I agree with you that he is the catcher of the future for the team, as Salome’s size and defensive shortcomings wont live up to what is demanded of an mlb starting catcher.

For next year, the Brewers might be in some trouble at C. Kendall is obviously in his decline, Rivera is not starter material, Salome has big questions and Lucroy wont be ready yet. Of the FA’s listed above Bengie Molina and Brian Schneider might be the best options to offer a 2 year deal to and ride it out until Lucroy is ready.

by backtocali on Aug 7, 2009 8:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure we'd have the money to sign Molina

Starting Pitching and Center Field seem like bigger concerns to me

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by tcyoung on Aug 7, 2009 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think there should be another option in the poll

“Anyone but Kendall,” because I’m not really sure who to vote for.

I’m not sure what to make of the future of Brewers catching. While both are having a down year offensively, Salome is obviously the bigger threat with the bat. Lucroy is obviously better defensively. But we have a, supposedly, defensive minded catcher right now, and who here is happy with that?

Right now, I’d say make Salome the starting catcher next year, Lucroy in AAA, and see how they both perform at those levels. Then make the judgment about who is the catcher of the future.

"my goodness"

by BrewHaHeather on Aug 7, 2009 10:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs