What to do at catcher?

[Dojji]

I have a very hard time believing that an average OPS for a catcher is much higher than Varitek's .769.

[Dipre]

I have a very hard time believing that an average OPS for a catcher is much higher than Varitek's .769.

 

Not much higher, but he's drawing most of his OPS from his SLG, which has stopped in its tracks, and his .315 OBP is DREADFUL.

[TheKilo]

To be fair, Imgran never said Tek's current OPS is sustainable. Just right now, he's an average offensive player.

[Dipre]

To be fair' date=' Imgran never said Tek's current OPS is sustainable. Just right now, he's an average offensive player.[/quote']

 

He WAS an average offensive player during April.

 

He and Bailey are killing this team right now.

[TheKilo]

No, a .769 OPS from a catcher is average. I'm fairly confident it's above average.

 

The whole season counts.

[Dipre]

No, a .769 OPS from a catcher is average. I'm fairly confident it's above average.

 

The whole season counts.

 

It does, but on his current pace, he'll be OPSing on the high .6's before the month is over.

 

I know i can't see the future, but the way he's looking at the plate lately, i don't see him improving on his current level of suck.

[laxtonto]

AVG OBP SLG OPS

April .250 .348 .533 .881

May .208 .273 .354 .627

 

My major concern would be that his entire OPS in April was based upon his 6 XBH in his first 10 starts. His current slide is a major concern at this point and his inability to throw out runners (below 20%) has lead to a huge jump in the amount of base runners that attempt to steal on him. He has gone from .507 attempts per game for his career to 1.55 per game. That is normally a sign that other teams have scouted enough to say that if a pitcher is even remotely slow to the plate to run on Tek.

[SCM33]

I dont think there is any way Varitek is back next year. Anyone else think he may hang them up? Hes been brutal since the break, he just doesnt have it.......and I hesitate to say "anymore", because its been gone for a while.

[Dipre]

It does, but on his current pace, he'll be OPSing on the high .6's before the month is over.

 

I know i can't see the future, but the way he's looking at the plate lately, i don't see him improving on his current level of suck.

 

lolwut?

[Dojji]

Yep, he's fallen all the way from .769 to .744.

 

Precipitous decline, that.

 

Jason Varitek was never a consistently great hitter. Other than his three peak years in 2003-2005 did the guy have three consecutive years of .800+ OPS. what he's doing right now is more or less what it's reasonable to expect going forward.

[Dipre]

Yep, he's fallen all the way from .769 to .744.

 

Precipitous decline, that.

 

.165/259//258 with a set-the-world-on-fire .527 OPS since the break, my genius friend.

 

And you trying to defend his suck should merit you a banning and an invite to Yankeeland.

 

Just sayin'.

 

Oh, and his OPS is .740 champ.

[Dojji]

Just to confirm, we're talking about a .025 drop in Jason Varitek's OPS as if it's the end of the world as we know it.

 

Think about it. If he's been that bad since the break, and his OPS has only dropped marginally, what does that say about how many at bats he's been getting?

 

Seems to me that you're trying to set up a rant over the offensive value of the backup catcher.

[Dipre]

Just to confirm, we're talking about a .025 drop in Jason Varitek's OPS as if it's the end of the world as we know it.

 

Think about it. If he's been that bad since the break, and his OPS has only dropped marginally, what does that say about how many at bats he's been getting?

 

Seems to me that you're trying to set up a rant over the offensive value of the backup catcher.

 

He's the "backup catcher" now TIto?

 

Seems to me that the fact is i said he'd drop precipitously after the break, and it hasn't been worse because of limited playing time.

[Dojji]

And it seems to me that the primary reason for your concern over this (that Varitek was the starting catcher) is now null so you are officially whining about a nonproblem.

 

Anyway, we have Victor Martinez. The original problem posed by this thread is resolved making the whole conversation moot. So feel free to gloat about Varitek's decline. Your victory is as assured as it is irrelevant to anything.

[Dipre]

And it seems to me that the primary reason for your concern over this (that Varitek was the starting catcher) is now null so you are officially whining about a nonproblem.

 

Anyway, we have Victor Martinez. The original problem posed by this thread is resolved making the whole conversation moot. So feel free to gloat about Varitek's decline. Your victory is as assured as it is irrelevant to anything.

 

It'll be irrelevant when Tito decides to finally make Varitek what he should be:

 

The full time backup catcher.

 

Instead of trotting him out there three or four days a week.

 

However, feel free to be butthurt and counter with the stupid notion that Varitek is a real backup catcher.

[Cocos Disciples]

Most backup catchers don't start half of a team's games, which Varitek has done since 8/1. In that time, he has posted: .125/.231/.232.

 

Unfortunately, he'll be back next year for 3 mil.

[Dipre]

Most backup catchers don't start half of a team's games, which Varitek has done since 8/1. In that time, he has posted: .125/.231/.232.

 

Unfortunately, he'll be back next year for 3 mil.

 

It's a moot point because Doiji and his personal logic said so.

 

When Jason Varitek is in the lineup, he is killing this team.

[SoxSport]

VMart is now the no.1 catcher. The question next year is whether Tek will be back. I think the situation will be unsettled until spring training next year. But VMart solves their problem of Tek's successor. Ideally, Tek will be the backup. He won't get a better deal than picking up his own option at $5mil. Expensive backup.

[SCM33]

VMart is now the no.1 catcher. The question next year is whether Tek will be back. I think the situation will be unsettled until spring training next year. But VMart solves their problem of Tek's successor. Ideally' date=' Tek will be the backup. He won't get a better deal than picking up his own option at $5mil. Expensive backup.[/quote']

 

Im not even sure hes good enough to be the backup here.

[CrespoBlows]

The correct answer would be DFA Tek.

[Spudboy]

The correct answer would be DFA Tek.

 

I don't see that happening.

 

But dropping him after the season certainly makes sense, if possible.

 

I'm still a proponent of getting a front line catcher and making V-Mart the 1st baseman with Youk at 3rd. Keep Lowell as a reserve/DH.

 

Others have said that it can't happen but I am not convinced. Bring Kurt Suzuki to Boston.

[Looch Ness Monster]

Jason Varitek should not be playing again in Boston after this season. It's disappointing Francona is staying loyal to a guy who would probably struggle hitting in AA.

[SoxSport]

The Red Sox have a lot of problems making decisions on slipping veterans who have been the mainstays of the club in the past. It has hurt them this year. Ortiz and Varitek come to mind. Francona has a tendency to stay with such veterans for too long. Maybe that's the front office. We don't know. I doubt Tito does anything against their wishes. He knows who is paying him.

 

They'll probably have to carry both these guys next year. Ortiz has another $13 mil he's owed, and Tek has a player option.

 

Tito needs to drop Ortiz to 6-7 in the batting order again, where he seems to hit better. Every time he moves him up the order, he stops hitting. Having a DH who hits .224 is a killer. He is making a ton of outs.

[Dipre]

The Red Sox have a lot of problems making decisions on slipping veterans who have been the mainstays of the club in the past. It has hurt them this year. Ortiz and Varitek come to mind. Francona has a tendency to stay with such veterans for too long. Maybe that's the front office. We don't know. I doubt Tito does anything against their wishes. He knows who is paying him.

 

They'll probably have to carry both these guys next year. Ortiz has another $13 mil he's owed, and Tek has a player option.

 

Tito needs to drop Ortiz to 6-7 in the batting order again, where he seems to hit better. Every time he moves him up the order, he stops hitting. Having a DH who hits .224 is a killer. He is making a ton of outs.

 

Question:

 

Who has the highest SLG% and most homers hit in the AL since June 1st?

 

A) Mark Teixeira

 

B ) Kendry Morales

 

C) Carlos Pena

 

D) David Ortiz

[example1]

Question:

 

Who has the highest SLG% and most homers hit in the AL since June 1st?

 

A) Mark Teixeira

 

B ) Kendry Morales

 

C) Carlos Pena

 

D) David Ortiz

 

Kendry Morales? :harhar:

[Dipre]

Kendry Morales? :harhar:

 

Lol the bold, underline and Italic didn't give it away?

[Dojji]

The correct answer would be DFA Tek.

 

I don't think so. Even in the worst case scenario, he still has a few situations where you can use him for a platoon advantage. Also, the evidence suggests that he still has the talent to perform as a catcher, but wears down over the workload of a full season. It would explain his sprinting start and fading finish these last few years.

 

He should be tried as a backup before outright discarded. Maybe with the aditional rest you might get more flashes of vintage Tek. You'd like to home for some evidence of that by the end of this year but I somehow doubt we'll be allowed that level of comfort.

 

But regardless, Jason Varitek is here for the duration of this year and very likely next year. Beyond is also a distinct possibility.

[SoxSport]

Papi has had only one good month--the June spike. Take that month out, and the season is a disaster. He hasn't hit a lick lately. They know he's slipping.

[example1]

Question:

 

Who has the highest SLG% and most homers hit in the AL since June 1st?

 

A) Mark Teixeira

 

B ) Kendry Morales

 

C) Carlos Pena

 

D) David Ortiz

 

 

Since the all-star break the Red Sox have three of the AL's top fifteen hitters in SLG, and four in the top twenty-five. None of them are David Ortiz.

 

He's definitely not the hitter he was a few years ago and unfortunately his area of biggest decline is in his average. Interestingly, his IsoD is still .092--better than it was in 2002, 2003 or 2004. He is a more disciplined hitter this year than he was in those years, and it shows in his walk totals. However, he can't seem to make contact as well so his average has plumeted, thus killing his OBP and his OPS. He still manages to hit the ball hard when he hits it but he's not anywhere near the threat he used to be.

 

 

Catching-wise this team will benefit from having VMart at catcher and looking to upgrade themselves on the corners moving forward. They should resign Martinez to 3 years with an option for the 4th at $12m/yr. He's on pace to make $7m next year, so that's an immediate $5m raise and 3 years of $12m on top of that. He's a good hitter and is consistent, either as a 1B or a C, and should be moving forward.

[Gom]

I hope and pray that Vmart catches the majority of games next year. If he does, there is zero doubt in my mind that you finish 3rd or worse.