One Thing that Annoys Me

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Apr 19, 2008 6:53 PM EDT

Can we put a fork into the whole idea of veteran catchers automatically being able to “call good games” simply by virtue of the fact that they’re old? I didn’t see DiFelice’s start on the day that he caught E-Jax, when he supposedly did a good job, but I haven’t seen any magical improvement in our starters since during the games that I've seen. I’m not saying that he isn’t decent at "calling games", but having a 38 year old behind the plate isn’t automatically an asset, and just because you're a veteran doesn’t mean your presence automatically makes everyone else better. There are veterans who contribute positively to the clubhouse and are assets to the team, and DiFelice may well be one of them, but I’m sick of hearing every off-season that the team needs to get more "veteran presence". That term, as it is used generally, is ridiculous. Not every single damn old guy can be an asset just because they’re old.

I personally see no difference in “veteran presence” when the team starts Riggans behind the plate, and he might actually work better with pitchers since he’s been in the organization for so long and worked with a lot of them before. Again, for as highly as I think of Riggans in that regard, one shouldn’t be kept over the other solely because of how much better they supposedly make their battery mates. IMO, Riggans should be kept around when Navarro returns because he is younger, and thus has more to potentially offer the team in the coming years. He should also stick because he’s better defensively, and probably on offense too. DiFelice is a known quantity whose current level of production won’t be sustained. He’s a good guy to have in the organization, but now is Riggans' time. He's waited so long to get an opportunity to stick in the major leagues, and now that he's finally healthy he should be given that chance.

This post was written by a member of the DRaysBay community and does not necessarily express the views or opinions of DRaysBay staff.

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I agree with you 100% Patrick.

I really don’t think that keeping a catcher who is 38 over a catcher who is almost 28 is a good decision.

If you want results, press the red button. The rest are useless.

by Katie on Apr 19, 2008 8:49 PM EDT reply actions

Me too, Patrick. It is another one of those cliches that substitute for thinking, but it fits easily into a story line. Part of the cliche is the assumption that if a player cannot hit (in this case, .236/.288/.355 & OPS+ of 67) he must be good defensively.

I am less confident that Riggans is promising, but at least there really is a chance there.

by bobr on Apr 19, 2008 9:26 PM EDT reply actions

DiFelice almost strained his age tonight.

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 19, 2008 9:32 PM EDT reply actions

look at the numbers

Last I checked, the staff ERA was a full run better when DeFelice was behind the plate, tho the diference has probably narrowed over the past couple night.

Doesn’t it make sense, tho, that a guy who’s been around a while will know the opposing batters, thus giving him an advantage in calling the game?

by zeng8r on Apr 19, 2008 9:44 PM EDT reply actions

"The numbers"

This is no slight on you, per se, but Staff ERA is quite possibly one of the dumbest baseball statistics ever invented. It really shows you nothing, other than possibly the quality of the pitchers caught. You figure that Jackson’s complete game SO and Sonnanstine’s complete game SO cancel one another out for their respective starting catchers, and you’re looking at basically a wash in that category anyways. That’s because pretty much every starter but Shields in the present rotation is of about the same quality. That has nothing to do with the starting catcher.

It does make sense that DiFelice would know opposing batters, and there’s certainly something to that. However I’m not sure that he contains much more knowledge than can be gleaned from reading a stat sheet or a scouting report, and thus I don’t place a high level of value on that trait.

On the other hand, doesn’t it make sense that a guy who’s been in the organization for seven years would have a better rapport with a starting rotation that currently contains four homegrown starting pitchers? Even factoring in Kazmir and Garza’s return, Riggans will still have worked far more with four of the five starting pitchers.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Apr 19, 2008 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions

He's been around the last few years.. around the minors

by RATW on Apr 19, 2008 9:50 PM EDT reply actions

Just a suggestion

The signals the catcher puts down are only a suggestion. A pitcher can shake it off or throw anything he chooses. I think having confidence in your catcher to make the right calls is more important than his age. Confidence in the call = confidence in the pitch.

Andy has a history with Riggans and is obviously comfortable with him back there.

by floridaroar on Apr 19, 2008 9:55 PM EDT reply actions

I went to the Dominican Republic

And I have a document that proves that Mike DiFelice is really 40. Let’s find out what Mike has to say to explain this…

In the Name of Shinji Mori, we shall win!

by thebaddancingraysfan on Apr 20, 2008 1:53 AM EDT reply actions

and...

I have a document that proves Mike is 41. Let’s see what Mike has to say to explain this document…

In the Name of Shinji Mori, we shall win!

by thebaddancingraysfan on Apr 20, 2008 1:56 AM EDT up reply actions

If someone had a document that said Shawn Riggans was 14 I’d totally believe it. He has a baby face!

by floridaroar on Apr 20, 2008 2:35 AM EDT up reply actions

I cant say for sure

but I doubt DiFelice would fail to call timeout after a catch in foul territory, or throw to second on ball four, or fail to pay attention to a guy advancing to third when the ball came home, or consistently call the wrong cutoff out and fail to let the infielders know where to get the ball. There is a reason he has been in the minors so long – he is not mentally ready for the big leagues.

by LeftRight on Apr 21, 2008 3:56 PM EDT reply actions

If he’s not ready now he’ll never be.

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 21, 2008 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions

You bring up valid points

He has definitely made his share of mental mistakes. It ultimately comes down to whether you think they will persist, and I believe they will not. However either way, I think now is the time to give him a chance to prove it one way or another.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Apr 21, 2008 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions