The Catcher Question: Kottaras v. Bard

[jacksonianmarch]

This is gonna be great. I thought the Bard pickup was very shrewd and offered the sox the kind of backup that could theoretically platoon even playing time with Tek should he continue his offensive cliff dive. But now you have a lefty catcher who is marginal defensively at best who is going to try and hit at a big league level when he really hasnt proven much at a minor league level? I smell a mid season signing att he catcher position.

[Dojji]

Because the Yankees' backup catcher is such an offensive dynamo.

 

You do realize right now that pending Posada regaining, with medical assistance, the ability to throw to second base without his arm falling off his shoulderl, your catching tandem is Jose Molina and Kevin Cash?

 

I don't know why I'm bothering trying to explain this to you but here goes:

 

Bad defensive catchers can improve. After all, Posada was a butcher behind the plate at one point wasn't he? Kottaras defensively is much like Posada was then. His issues are mechanical, not athletic. He's got a strong, but not particularly accurate arm, and he's had to relearn how to position himself and how to use his feet. According to Sox brass he's made some progress and is worth a look. So he got one.

 

Also, Kottaras has some stiff competition in order to keep that job. If he falters, Dusty Brown is almost certainly ready to be a backup catcher and Wagner's close, besides the myriad defense-only backstops you can usually find on the waiver wire.

[diony]

Josh Bard is better than any catcher the Sox have right now and that's not too hard.

 

Tek and Kottaras? Jesus, they're both backup catchers at best.

[Dojji]

So are all three of Posada, Molina and Cash at this stage of their respective careers, Posada for health reasons the others for performance..

 

At least Piazza knew when to come out from behind the plate.

[BSN07]

According to ESPN's Peter Gammons:

 

The Red Sox say the backup/Tim Wakefield catching job has been won by George Kottaras, but they are still looking for another catcher. The Diamondbacks, who would like another starting pitcher, continue to insist on Michael Bowden for Miguel Montero, and Boston GM Theo Epstein still won't trade Bowden.

 

Montero, 25, hit .255/.330/.435 last year in 207 plate appearances as Chris Snyder's backup. He threw out 18.2% of attempted base-stealers. Meanwhile Bowden, 22, tossed 144.3 innings in the minors last year with a 2.62 ERA. Baseball America called him "a safe bet with a good chance to become a No.3 starter.

 

Doesn't look like Kottaras is a lock to stay with the team long term anyways.

[Dojji]

I think he is. THe Dbacks are right not to ask for less than Bowden and Theo is right not to give them Bowden. This negotiation will go nowhere. Boston isn't desperate enough for a catcher to convince me otherwise.

[riverside sluggers]

This is gonna be great. I thought the Bard pickup was very shrewd and offered the sox the kind of backup that could theoretically platoon even playing time with Tek should he continue his offensive cliff dive. But now you have a lefty catcher who is marginal defensively at best who is going to try and hit at a big league level when he really hasnt proven much at a minor league level? I smell a mid season signing att he catcher position.

 

You think Kott cant duplicate or even better Cash's 08 offensive stats?

[Dipre]

Josh Bard is better than any catcher the Sox have right now and that's not too hard.

 

Tek and Kottaras? Jesus, they're both backup catchers at best.

 

 

http://www.dailyhaha.com/_pics/o_rly_bush.jpg

 

Such objectivity is, as usual, to be expected from you, if only to provide my daily dose of lulz.

[SCM33]

Josh Bard is better than any catcher the Sox have right now and that's not too hard.

 

Tek and Kottaras? Jesus, they're both backup catchers at best.

 

I thought this as well. Not only will Varitek hurt this team with his bat all year, hes also a year older defensively, and he also cost us Josh Bard, who at this point is a better option than Tek, and I really dont think its even close.

[TheKilo]

That's not true, without Varitek the Red Sox's ERA will go up an entire run.

 

Curt Schilling told me so.

[adam334581]

Kottaras

[Cocos Disciples]

Yeah. Thanks.