The Catcher Situation

[blinx615]

I think we made a great pick-up in Martinez, but now we have an interesting dilemma going on throughout the season: we have 3 catchers. I'm sure the purpose of picking him up is to possibly drop 'Tek in the off-season, but for now, it seems a hard pill to swallow to simply drop him back to AAA.

 

Martinez also plays 1st so we could put him out there occassionally, but then Youk or Lowell get to sit? Martinez is too good to be the Utility player. And Kottaras is too specialized to Wakefield for us to drop him. We've seen it a thousand times; everytime 'Tek tries to catch for Wake it's a complete disaster. With any luck, maybe Martinez can catch a knuckleball.

 

But what do you think the Sox are going to do in this situation? Someone has to play the Utility man.

[Jasonbay44]

I think we made a great pick-up in Martinez' date=' [b']but now we have an interesting dilemma going on throughout the season: we have 3 catchers.[/b] I'm sure the purpose of picking him up is to possibly drop 'Tek in the off-season, but for now, it seems a hard pill to swallow to simply drop him back to AAA.

 

Kottaras is going to be gone. They don't have room for him.

[blinx615]

Heh, well then for our sake I hope Martinez can catch a knuckle. >_

[BSN07]

They really don't have to get rid of Kott. I think Martinez will see a majority of his time at 1B/DH. He will probably catch 1 or 2 games a week maybe.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

That's what I'd do. Relieve Martinez of his catcher's duties, play him at first and Youk at third, and either let Lowell see spot time or just throw him on the DL. Its blatantly obvious that he's in pain while playing, and his defense is close to being a liability.

 

CF Ellsbury

2B Pedroia

3B Youkilis

DH Ortiz

1B Martinez

LF Bay

RF Drew

C Varitek

SS Lowrie

[TheKilo]

Kottaras went to the DL

[ms_sox]

From the news articles, for the moment at least, I think VMart is going to alternate between catching and 1st base...giving both Tek and Lowell their rests.

 

Long term is "who the F knows." Depends on how he performs, I'd guess. But I'd guess Kottaras would be the odd man out if anyone is.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Kottaras went to the DL

Yeah, I didn't know it when I wrote that.

[a700hitter]

Kottaras went to the DL

They probably don't want to release him from the organization, because we don't know how well Varitek or VMart will catch the knuckleball. IMO it's a smart move keeping him around. If Tek has no problem with Wakefield, they can DFA Kottaras.

[blinx615]

Yeah, now with Kottaras on the DL, i can see how this might play out. Give Kottaras some rest and allow Martinez to fill in at 1B and DH and give 'Tek some time off. When it comes to play-offs, we'll really have to decide who is worth keeping around. Ortiz is a big question mark right now. He had a really nasty first half but is making a serious comeback now so if he can keep it up, there's no way we'll drop him. Lowell is fantastic when he's healthy so if we can give him some time off to rehab, maybe that will bode well in the future.

 

Before the playoffs, I'm sure the staff will be trying to see what Martinez can do with Wake's knuckle. With any luck, he can catch for Wake and Kottaras can finally be dropped to the AAA.

 

It seems rather useful to developing Martinez with the new pitching squad that there are other catchers to release him and that he can take 1B or DH. That way he can figure out each pitcher slowly and we can put him in for pitchers that he's comfortable with. By the time play-off time is looming, VM should be ready to go as full-time catcher if needed. It's nice to have another guy behind the plate and if he can catch Wake, too, we're in a perfect position.

 

With this trade, though, I see it unlikely that 'Tek will see another season with the Sox. They were considering dropping him in the last off-season and now it's evident we've found a replacement, especially with a $7.7 mill option for next season in VM. Unless he falls apart entirely, he'll be back, and I'm not disappointed.

[TheKilo]

They probably don't want to release him from the organization' date=' because we don't know how well Varitek or VMart will catch the knuckleball. IMO it's a smart move keeping him around. If Tek has no problem with Wakefield, they can DFA Kottaras.[/quote']

 

They won't need to.

 

15 day DL retroactive to July 30, once that's done he goes on a month rehab assignment, and is brought back up in September once the rosters expand.

[cobra24]

That's what I'd do. Relieve Martinez of his catcher's duties, play him at first and Youk at third, and either let Lowell see spot time or just throw him on the DL. Its blatantly obvious that he's in pain while playing, and his defense is close to being a liability.

 

CF Ellsbury

2B Pedroia

3B Youkilis

DH Ortiz

1B Martinez

LF Bay

RF Drew

C Varitek

SS Lowrie

 

hahah this is funny... you got to be kidding me. spot start lowell thats batting close to .300? its time for tek to say good bye.. hes a great catcher but thats it. if we want to win he needs to sit. i really hope francona has the balls to tell tek its time to be a back up.

 

CF Ellsbury

2B Pedroia

C Martinez

1B Youkilis

DH Ortiz

LF Bay

RF Drew

3B Lowell

SS Lowrie

[Cocos Disciples]

hahah this is funny... you got to be kidding me. spot start lowell thats batting close to .300? its time for tek to say good bye.. hes a great catcher but thats it. if we want to win he needs to sit. i really hope francona has the balls to tell tek its time to be a back up.

 

CF Ellsbury

2B Pedroia

1B Martinez

3B Youkilis

DH Ortiz

LF Bay

RF Drew

3B Lowell

SS Lowrie

 

The order is good but the passed balls will be through the roof.

[SoxSport]

VMart buys a lot of time. Maybe they'll draft somebody next year.

[cobra24]

Well, i really think if francona can find a way to make tek the back up C. the sox are back in the talk of best teams in baseball.

[redsoxrules]

VMart buys a lot of time. Maybe they'll draft somebody next year.

 

or go for Mauer in 2010 .... I can only dream

[BigPapiEnFuego]

The order is good but the passed balls will be through the roof.

 

I see what you did there. Or I see what you saw there, or something

[cobra24]

The order is good but the passed balls will be through the roof.

 

 

I think we can take the hit for the rest of the year. after that we can go find someone else to play C.

[ManRam]

Tek is NOT a bad catcher at all. Look at the stats... He pretty much gives you what an average catcher should give you. Hell, his OPS is just a few points away from Victor Martinez.

 

But yea, like the poster above me said... JOE MAUER. If you can get him the team will be set at C for years.

[cobra24]

Tek is NOT a bad catcher at all. Look at the stats... He pretty much gives you what an average catcher should give you. Hell, his OPS is just a few points away from Victor Martinez.

 

But yea, like the poster above me said... JOE MAUER. If you can get him the team will be set at C for years.

 

I dont think anyone is saying hes a bad catcher... he cant HIT! The red sox are a 10 times better team with out him..

 

and joe mauer will never happen...

[Dojji]

or go for Mauer in 2010 .... I can only dream

 

Mauer will be a Yankee, especially if the Yankees fail in the postseason again.

[schillingouttheks]

I think we can take the hit for the rest of the year. after that we can go find someone else to play C.

 

lol, look again at your lineup and see why he said that.

[Dojji]

lol' date=' look again at your lineup and see why he said that. [/quote']

 

I'll be the ijit.

 

That lineup has 2 3B's and no C

[Cocos Disciples]

I'm just too damn clever.

[cobra24]

lol' date=' look again at your lineup and see why he said that. [/quote']

 

LOL i got it.. i thought changed it in time..

[BSN07]

Mauer will be a Yankee' date=' especially if the Yankees fail in the postseason again.[/quote']

 

There is a very good chance of that. It will be up to Mauer where he wants to play. Because I'm sure both teams will make substantial offers. The only way the Yanks don't is if Montero pans out as an everyday Catcher.

[Dojji]

Nonzero chance the Twins commit themselves to making Mauer happy, as well.

[Spudboy]

The order is good but the passed balls will be through the roof.

 

 

But only if there are pitches.

[Dipre]

Mauer will be a Yankee' date=' especially if the Yankees fail in the postseason again.[/quote']

 

Montero says hello.

 

If he sticks at C, the Yankees won't even look at Mauer.

[Dojji]

I have my doubts about that. In Yankeethought, Montero would function just fine as a backup.