Sox still pursuing Tek

[BoSox21]

The relevance of AVG all depends on the hitter's spot in the lineup. For the top two hitters in a batting order, AVG is almost irrelevant and OBP is everything but generally, you want your 3-4-5 guys to be able to do more than take a walk, you want them to be able to drive in the guys in front of him

[Dojji]

Since whoever our catcher is he's unlikely to bat higher than 7th however...

[BoSox21]

Right, so you might as well get an OBP guy and accept that whatever offensive production he gives is a bonus

[riverside sluggers]

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view.bg?articleid=1148584&srvc=rss

 

If Tek declines the offer, the Sox would put out an offer of a lower salary if he does come back

[example1]

That's not a valid point. SD's farm system wasn't so impressive back then. Plus prospects not always pan out' date=' they call them a bust. He's not even among the top 15 catching prospects in baseball right now. He can't be a backup because of his lack of defense.[/quote']

 

It is a valid point if the argument was "he's not even an MLB average catcher"--implying that because he hasn't broken in to the bigs he isn't worthy of discussion. I'm not saying he's a great catcher, merely that on other teams he would be higher on the depth chart. There is no doubting that point is valid.

 

Even if he's not among the top 15 catching prospects in baseball right now (and I don't dispute that) it doesn't mean he wouldn't have had some playing time in the 'bigs now.

 

Frankly, I don't think any of us know much about the kid aside from the stats and the subjective reports we've seen. If Theo says that he's been a solid AAA catcher as part of a tandem, and that he and his baseball ops people think that Kottaras could be part of the MLB catching platoon without hurting this team's chances of success, I'm going to believe them. They own him and have seen him play hundreds of times. They know more about him than we do.

 

That said, the fact that they're not saying "we don't need Tek because we have Kottaras" tells me just as much. I think he would be an adequate, not great, replacement.

 

Think about all of the absolutely CRAPPY offensive catchers who have been on decent clubs. Now tell me that Kottaras would be noticably, obviously, markedly worse than all of them. He wouldn't be. Rich Gedman, of the .304 career 162g OBP? Tony Pena caught 4 years in BOS, and his high OBP was .322 during that time. Granted, he's much better defensively, but the point is that the catcher in the AL can be pretty bad sometimes and teams are fine. There simply aren't that many offensive-threat catchers available and nobody here (myself included) has any real sense of Kottaras's defensive lackings or which skills he is good or bad with.

 

Personally, I know Tek doesn't allow a whole lot of passed balls, so if that's all it takes to not be a horrible catcher (and to stop all of Dice-K's junk) then they should re-sign him. If that is a basic skill that just about every catcher at AAA or above has, then it won't make much difference.

 

I wouldn't want to see that young pitching staff on the hands of a catcher with no experience.

 

You're valuing MLB experience so much over AAA experience and then in the next breath:

 

Brown looks like a better backup to me.

 

Because of all his experience, right?

[italstallianion]

Personally I think our lineup can afford 1 black hole. And if it's not Lugo it might as well be the catcher's spot.

 

To add, I doubt any lineups in baseball are rich from 1 to 9.

[riverside sluggers]

Even if he's just the backup, he would still be an offensive improvement over Kevin Cash

[Dojji]

I don't think there's going to be a "just the backup" this year. Even if Tek comes back his role will be greatly reduced.

[italstallianion]

Yeah, it would be much closer to the 2 catchers sharing a role rather than having one distinct starter and one distinct backup. I think the playing time between the 2 catchers will be much more equal.

[riverside sluggers]

I said even if he was the backup catcher, not stating that I think that will be the case. He would get more playing time if Tek/Bard/Brown is the other catcher. If there is a trade however for Salty or Montero, he would play 2nd fiddle if he made the team

[Dojji]

And I said I feel the situation is unlikely to come up. The two statements are not incompatible.

[BoSox21]

No matter what happens, you're looking at a catching platoon this season. Even if they acquired Salty

[TheKilo]

If Varitek is on this team he will get at least 70% of the starts, if healthy.

[example1]

If Varitek is on this team he will get at least 70% of the starts' date=' if healthy.[/quote']

 

You're absolutely right. IF the Sox don't have the 'catcher of the future' somewhere on their MLB roster, Tek's role will be the same as last year IMO.

 

If, by some stretch, they end up with Montero or Salty or whoever, then that will change. Otherwise, he's the everyday starting catcher.

[BoSox21]

I think the fact that Bard is an obvious upgrade to Cash combined with the fact that Varitek will be making half of what he made last year will reduce his role, should he return of course

[TheKilo]

You really think Francona, if Varitek is on this team, will have Jason in any sort of platoon role?

[BSN07]

Tek will platoon if they make a trade. He will recieve most the starts, while Bard/Kott/Brown will be the back up/PH.

[BoSox21]

You really think Francona' date=' if Varitek is on this team, will have Jason in any sort of platoon role?[/quote']

 

What is it about this entire ordeal that has led you to believe the Sox consider Varitek an integral part of a championship run?

[Keeper]

Tek should platoon. He's just not that good anymore.

[diony]

Because of all his experience, right?

 

Oh geee and Kottaras played 2 games in September!

 

Brown can provide better defense, and he can actually throw runners out, that's what you want from a backup.

 

Kottaras? Well, Pawtucket Sox will need a catcher, again.

[Papelbon58]

New information out from Massarotti says Varitek is considering retiring or sitting out the season with the current offer on the table.

 

I also saw that trade talks are being reopened for Saltalamacchia and Miguel Montero, that from mlbtraderumors.com.

 

I think the Sox are giving up on Varitek, letting him walk away. I also think they're confident he won't go elsewhere. Seems like one of the top pitching prospects is about to move, but I think both of those guys would be worthy of trading one of Bowden or Buchholz for. Specifically, I think trading Buchholz may be a decent risk to take.

[CrespoBlows]

It's a bluff.

[Cocos Disciples]

So so desperate.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Seriously, f*** SALTY.

[italstallianion]

I'd expand on what Jacoby_Ellsbury said and say screw the Rangers period...

[mtbykr]

McAdam on Sports Tonight was saying that Tek is considering retirement...however is leaning towards declining the offer and hoping the sox need him come spring training....thus giving him a better offer.

[Dipre]

McAdam on Sports Tonight was saying that Tek is considering retirement...however is leaning towards declining the offer and hoping the sox need him come spring training....thus giving him a better offer.

 

He's bluffing, and he'll probably end up taking the deal.

[MANNYHOF24]

New information out from Massarotti says Varitek is considering retiring or sitting out the season with the current offer on the table.

 

I also saw that trade talks are being reopened for Saltalamacchia and Miguel Montero, that from mlbtraderumors.com.

 

I think the Sox are giving up on Varitek, letting him walk away. I also think they're confident he won't go elsewhere. Seems like one of the top pitching prospects is about to move, but I think both of those guys would be worthy of trading one of Bowden or Buchholz for. Specifically, I think trading Buchholz may be a decent risk to take.

 

Haha, Boras fails.

[Dipre]

Haha' date=' Boras fails.[/quote']

 

Every time Scott Boras FAILS, 1,000,000 angels get their wings.

[JimEdHOF2009]

f*** Boras..he really is a slimey piece of s***. I bet Theo and Co. are REALLY scared. Bora$$ has no leverage here and everyone in baseball knows it. If I had any doubts Tek would be re-upping with the Sox(and I didn't) they would now be officially squashed.

 

Now get your ass to the batting cages Tek..you have a ton of work to do.