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The Catcher Position

Michel Hernandez or Dioner Navarro? At this point it doesn't matter.

Neither provides much in the way of offense. ZIPS has the pair basically equal (Navarro with a four point edge) and they profile as similar hitters anyways. Navarro has the prospect lineage, the ability to switch hit, and at least one successful season behind him, but his plate approach has worsened with the leitmotif being an inability to lay off pitches outside of the strike zone. Hernandez is the same package without the niftiness and with a track record of being a mediocre minor leaguer.

Multiple times we've looked to see whether Hernandez handles the staff better and found traces but nothing definitive. At this point, if the Rays feel Hernandez truly offers better play defensively, or at least somewhat better play, then there is zero reason to play Navarro every day.

I'm not saying simply thinking a catcher is a great defender is reason enough to play him. Instead this is like the chemistry thing. If you have two players with completely equal quantifiable skills, but one is part of the local ministry and the other could be a werewolf, well, you probably go with the saint - unless you need some theatrics in which you go with Carl Everett.

Seriously, the .004 projected difference is worth 2 runs over 600 plate appearances. I'm not a Hernandez fan, but I don't think I can argue that Navarro should play every day.

Star-divide

Someone on the waiver wire has to be cheap and better than these two. Right?

0 recs  |  Comment 46 comments |

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Comments

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Leitmotif. Chimerical in Fangraphs.

Somebody found himself a thesaurus.

by Suttree on Aug 4, 2009 2:15 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I remember being young and thinking polysyllabic words would impress people.

At 19, though, I’m at least twice his age and twice as likely to avoid thesauruses.

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Aug 4, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

Henry Blanco

Humberto Quintero
Koyie Hill
John Baker
Chris Snyder

I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.

by Sandy Kazmir on Aug 4, 2009 2:25 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

All of those players are better than Michel

I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.

by Sandy Kazmir on Aug 5, 2009 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Something more handsome please.

"What the hell is a Labradoddle?"

by davelrogers on Aug 4, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

And maybe a tad younger while you are at it.

If we do not make the playoffs this year, I would like to at least have the best looking team in the AL East (Boston is a non-contender (Youkolis)) We have to upgrade at C in that aspect.

"What the hell is a Labradoddle?"

by davelrogers on Aug 4, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

He may be exiting his prime

But he’s been an all-star hitter in the Mexican League for at least four years in a row now, and he’s OPSing nearly 1.100. I don’t see what the harm in a camp invite would be.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Aug 4, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Agreed.

Bring him in.

"What the hell is a Labradoddle?"

by davelrogers on Aug 4, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yoda'd

Tools Whore

by Tyler on Aug 4, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

what is the aaa mexican league?

Probably a stupid question, I know

by behn on Aug 4, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's the summer league in Mexico

Officially, it’s considered to be AAA level, but the teams aren’t affiliated with MLB teams and thus all of the players are essentially free agents, as long as you buy them out of their Mexican league contracts.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Aug 4, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

What's the currency exchange of dollars to burritos?

I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.

by Sandy Kazmir on Aug 4, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Dioner could better answer that question

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Aug 4, 2009 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Why not move Zobrist to catcher?

He plays everywhere else…Wouldn’t that make him Ty Wigginton 2.0?

Sign lady must die.

by EminenceFront on Aug 4, 2009 2:33 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

BOOM BOOM*

christ.

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Aug 4, 2009 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

If defensive catcher stats are such a toss-up, why not?

Sure it would take maybe an off-season to get him to learn the position but (assuming Bartlett/Briggy and in the near future T-Bex are in place for the 2B/SS position) where else is he going to go?

His offense would go down but it’s going to do that anyways…

Sign lady must die.

by EminenceFront on Aug 4, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Move Aki back

Im sure his knees will be fine with catching every other day

by BJ the Bossman on Aug 4, 2009 2:51 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

What's the ETA on Riggans?

Is he rehabbing or is he just down in the minors until his next promotion comes?

by behn on Aug 4, 2009 2:59 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I laughed and then cried at that

Its like every 6 to 9 weeks he is near death.

by BrokeBearMountain on Aug 4, 2009 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's gonna suck when we find out that he caught joeybwitis.

I can't wait until we trade him for a reliever.

by kericr on Aug 4, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Type Strong Riggs

I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.

by Sandy Kazmir on Aug 4, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

if you saw these guys play recently

you wouldn’t be saying that. One thing I’ve noticed the last two seasons in Durham about Jaso is he has a very bad arm, is that accurate in scouting reports. He rarely throws anyone out (it seems) and he even struggles accurately bringing the ball down to second each inning.

by bullsrayz on Aug 8, 2009 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Any time you can work a Carl Everett reference into a post about 2 mediocre catchers

you’re doing a good job.

As for solutions, I say bring on Jaso at this point. We don’t have a lot of other options.

by acelion on Aug 5, 2009 11:49 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Henry Blanco for Calvin Medlock

He’s a better version of Michel and oozes veteran leadership

I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.

by Sandy Kazmir on Aug 5, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

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