Should Bavasi upgrade at catcher?
A piece in the PI claims the M's have some interest in Kenji Johjima, but the numbers probably won't work- link
In the article, a mystery figure is quoted as saying-
"It's far down the list," the club source said. "We have more pressing needs. To go out and get a catcher now, before signing a pitcher, wouldn't be prudent."
Ideally you act, not react. If you want to upgrade the team, you don't focus on one area at the expense of everything else. We all agree starting pitching is the focus, but if the M's are serious about upgrading the team, let's hope they have done their homework on Johjima. It could very well be the club has looked into Johjima and simply concluded an aging catcher coming off an injury who can't speak English is not a direction they are interested in going.
That's fine. What isn't fine is the performance the M's have been receiving from the catching position for the past 4 years. Most of us have forgotten what it's like to actually get production from that position. Other teams live with a low on-base percentage from their catcher, but actually get to see the ball leave the yard every once in a while.
The M's the past few seasons have watched catchers with no power, no average and no ability to even catch the ball consistently take the field. If you believe the M's really aren't that far from being a middle-of-the-road team offensively, upgrading the catching position to just league average would be a tremendous improvement.
Is Rene Rivera the answer at catcher? Not if you believe minor league numbers that say .260 with no power is almost a best case scenario. What about Yorvit Torrealba? Hard to see him being even league average. He MIGHT hit 10 home runs in a year. Again, best case.
If the M's ignore the catching position and sink everything they have into pitching, it's hard to call that a bad strategy. But if the M's do choose to ignore the catching problem, we had better see some serious upgrades in the pitching staff and see some power added elsewhere in the lineup.
Good teams almost always have pretty good players behind the plate.
The current M's plan seems to want to buck that trend.
A piece in the PI claims the M's have some interest in Kenji Johjima, but the numbers probably won't work- link
In the article, a mystery figure is quoted as saying-
"It's far down the list," the club source said. "We have more pressing needs. To go out and get a catcher now, before signing a pitcher, wouldn't be prudent."
Ideally you act, not react. If you want to upgrade the team, you don't focus on one area at the expense of everything else. We all agree starting pitching is the focus, but if the M's are serious about upgrading the team, let's hope they have done their homework on Johjima. It could very well be the club has looked into Johjima and simply concluded an aging catcher coming off an injury who can't speak English is not a direction they are interested in going.
That's fine. What isn't fine is the performance the M's have been receiving from the catching position for the past 4 years. Most of us have forgotten what it's like to actually get production from that position. Other teams live with a low on-base percentage from their catcher, but actually get to see the ball leave the yard every once in a while.
The M's the past few seasons have watched catchers with no power, no average and no ability to even catch the ball consistently take the field. If you believe the M's really aren't that far from being a middle-of-the-road team offensively, upgrading the catching position to just league average would be a tremendous improvement.
Is Rene Rivera the answer at catcher? Not if you believe minor league numbers that say .260 with no power is almost a best case scenario. What about Yorvit Torrealba? Hard to see him being even league average. He MIGHT hit 10 home runs in a year. Again, best case.
If the M's ignore the catching position and sink everything they have into pitching, it's hard to call that a bad strategy. But if the M's do choose to ignore the catching problem, we had better see some serious upgrades in the pitching staff and see some power added elsewhere in the lineup.
Good teams almost always have pretty good players behind the plate.
The current M's plan seems to want to buck that trend.
posted by Tom at
9:05 AM
