Article: Backup Backstop Battle Royal?

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

But if we're starting to characterize a .232 BA at AAA as a "strong start", then it suggests he can't do much better than that.

It's the slugging.  Murphy actually leads Rochester in isolated power at the moment, ahead of Garver and even Palka and Vargas.

 

It's not worth shaking up the MLB roster for him yet, but it's nice to see some signs of life in Murphy after his 2016 season.

[ashbury]

Folks, there just aren't many Buster Posey's out there. The 7th top hitting catcher in MLB is hitting a whopping .214

That's a useful page, but defaults to players with "qualified" numbers of plate appearances. That might be somewhat appropriate for discussion of every other fielding position, but catchers should be held to a looser standard because of the more-frequent days off built into their careers.

 

You have to drop the number of 2017 plate appearances to 75 to get 31 players, i.e. approximately one for every team. Fourteen of these guys are batting .270 or higher.

 

(Jason Castro appears in the list of 31, but not in the top 14. )

 

That's not perfect either, because some of those guys are DHing or playing other positions at times. but ranked lists are just a first cut at understanding anyway.

[kab21]

 

In that case, I'd bring up Murph, and let Garver get even more ABs and steady catching work- some of it with pitchers who may be Twins before long themselves.

It is May and at this point in the season you don't cut competent players (especially catchers) like Gimenez (Adrianza was also mentioned) so a player can get an extra 30 PA/month. Injury (esp catchers) happen and suddenly the team would be down to two competent catchers in AAA/MLB. Getting into July when there are 2+ months left then you can make a move like this and figure things out for the remainder of the year if something suddenly happens.

[Linus]

Honestly I don't know what I would do probably nothing while we are winning but neither Castro or giminez is good enough to block a legit prospect.

[jorgenswest]

Changing the catching was the only real move this front office made as they take over. They chose Castro and Giminez knowing they wouldn't hit much. They must believe the value they bring to roster contributes significantly to preventing runs. I find myself agreeing with them though this skill is very complex to measure. Some of the pieces can be measured over the long term.

 

If you don't support Falvey and Levine's only fundamental roster decision, it is hard to imagine that you would support their continued role leading the Twins front office.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Who?

no, no, he was traded to get Kevin Jepsen

[caninatl04]

On behalf of statisticians, I want to apologize. For some reasons, the merits of which are not discussed here, to qualify for AVE rankings, one must qualify by AB's. Sure.

 

But, to qualify for OBP, and thus, OBP + SLG, of which the ability to take walks (which, as we all know, are Plate Appearances, but not AB's) is a big positive, one would suggest PAs (under which he would qualify) should be used instead of AB's.

 

Take note BBWA (and SABR)! I'm on to you!

[jokin]

 

no, no, he was traded to get Kevin Jepsen

 

What? (Never gets old...)

[h2oface]

Changing the catching was the only real move this front office made as they take over. They chose Castro and Giminez knowing they wouldn't hit much. They must believe the value they bring to roster contributes significantly to preventing runs. I find myself agreeing with them though this skill is very complex to measure. Some of the pieces can be measured over the long term.

 

If you don't support Falvey and Levine's only fundamental roster decision, it is hard to imagine that you would support their continued role leading the Twins front office.

While I didn't expect Castro would hit much, I didn't think he would be as poor at the plate as he has been so far. And...... I expected him to catch more pitches. PBs and WPs that sure looked like they were catchable. The miscue at the plate on the great Buxton throw..... I have been disappointed in his glove more than his bat even.

 

Plenty of season for him to perform better, though.

Edited May 23, 2017 by h2oface

[Rhino and Compass]

And to think, I was upset when Josmil Pinto left. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

While I didn't expect Castro would hit much, I didn't think he would be as poor at the plate as he has been so far. And...... I expected him to catch more pitches. PBs and WPs that sure looked like they were catchable. The miscue at the plate on the great Buxton throw..... I have been disappointed in his glove more than his bat even.

Plenty of season for him to perform better, though.

Why did you expect him to be better? His OPS is almost exactly between his last two seasons.

 

I was worried Castro would be a little worse with the stick than he has been this season. He has modest power but played half his games in Houston, which gave the illusion of a bit more power than he actually has (going into the season, he had nearly twice as many homers at home than he did on the road).

 

I'm quite satisfied with Castro's play.