Alex Avila back on a 1 year deal

[kalinecountry]

Alex Avila back to the Tigers on a one year deal.
Avila is a half a step faster than Victor, and can't hit.
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Tigers DFA'd right-hander Angel Nesbitt.
I bet that ausmus will bat him vs. LHP regularly.

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2016/12/23/detroit-tigers-alex-avila/95804868/
Detroit Tigers bring back Alex Avila.
Freep

 

[dubbsco]

I've never seen a city like Detroit, no matter what sport, that is so incredibly fascinated with bringing back their old veterans.

 

[tigermud]

And just the other day they were saying they couldn't afford him. LOL.. I like the move to bring him back, he helps drive up pitch counts and draws walks at least. But hey yeah it would be ideal not to play him much against lefties brad.

 

[Rebbiv]

And just the other day they were saying they couldn't afford him. LOL.. I like the move to bring him back, he helps drive up pitch counts and draws walks at least. But hey yeah it would be ideal not to play him much against lefties brad.

And even more so it would be ideal not to play McCann vs RHP, but that isn't going to happen.

He is an upgrade over Salty.

 

[tigerfan2272]

Worth the 2 mil just to not watch him hit another homer off JV

 

[Rebbiv]

Catchers last 3 years

vs RHP (minimum 450 PAs, 40 qualify)

9. A. Avila 102 wRC+ .320 wOBA .346 OBP .360 SLG .706 OPS
19. B. Pena 90 wRC+ .305 wOBA .324 OBP .366 SLG .690 OPS
20. J. Saltalamacchia 90 wRC+ .304 wOBA .312 OBP .376 SLG .688 OPS

40. J. McCann 52 wRC+ .251 wOBA .263 wOBA .307 SLG .570 OPS


DET faced a RH Starter 71.6% of all games in 2016. 336 MLB players qualify with 450 PAs:

5. M. Cabrera 155 wRC+ .398 wOBA
14. J.D. Martinez 141 wRC+ .378 wOBA

38. Y. Cespedes 129 wRC+ .358 wOBA
50. C. Granderson 126 wRC+ .351 wOBA
55. D. Travis 124 wRC+ .357 wOBA
67. J. Upton 121 wRC+ .348 wOBA
84. P. Fielder 116 wRC+ .347 wOBA
87. V. Martinez 115 wRC+ .339 wOBA
112. M. Joyce 111 wRC+ .329 wOBA

118. I. Kinsler 109 wRC+ .332 wOBA
120. J. Peralta 109 wRC+ .329 wOBA
155. A. Avila 102 wRC+ .329 wOBA
177. N. Castellanos 99 wRC+ .317 wOBA
178. T. Hunter 99 wRC+ .316 wOBA
179. C. Maybin 99 wRC+ .316 wOBA
219. A. Gose 93 wRC+ .309 wOBA

234. E. Aybar 91 wRC+ .300 wOBA
235. B. Pena 90 wRC+ .305 wOBA
236. J. Saltalamacchia 90 wRC+ .304 wOBA
239. E. Suarez 89 wRC+ .305 wOBA
259. R. Davis 86 wRC+ .298 wOBA
260. C. McGehee 86 wRC+ .294 wOBA
272. A. Jackson 82 wRC+ .289 wOBA
277. Av. Garcia 81 wRC+ .292 wOBA
301. J. Iglesias 74 wRC+ .282 wOBA

316. H. Perez 69 wRC+ .280 wOBA
327. O. Infante 62 wRC+ .264 wOBA
331. A. Romine 59 wRC+ .259 wOBA
334. M. Aviles 54 wRC+ .252 wOBA
335. J. McCann 52 wRC+ .251 wOBA


So what about versus LHP? There are 39 MLB catchers with at least 170 PAs vs LHP last 3 years:

4. J. McCann 132 wRC+ .366 wOBA .335 OBP .529 SLG .864 OPS

31. J. Saltalamacchia 81 wRC+ .290 wOBA .286 OBP .372 SLG .658 OPS
32. A. Avila 71 wRC+ .275 wOBA .305 OBP .288 SLG .593 OPS
38. B. Pena 43 wRC+ .2236 wOBA .269 OBP .247 SLG .516 OPS


There are 328 MLB hitters with at least 170 PA vs LHP over the last 3 years:

11. V. Martinez 159 wRC+ .403 wOBA
14. N. Cabrera 153 wRC+ .395 wOBA
25. J.D. Martinez 150 wRC+ .391 wOBA

51. J. McCann 132 wRC+ .366 wOBA
75. I. Kinsler 122 wRC+ .351 wOBA
86. R. Raburn 119 wRC+ .354 wOBA
97. E. Suarez 116 wRC+ .345 wOBA
101. Y. Cespeded 115 wRC+ .336 wOBA

116. J. Iglesias 113 wRC+ .340 wOBA
117. R. Davis 113 wRC+ .338 wOBA
127. J. Upton 111 wRC+ .334 wOBA
139. Av. Garcia 108 wRC+ .330 wOBA
140. T. Hunter 108 wRC+ .329 wOBA
144. N. Castellanos 107 wRC+ .329 wOBA
160. J. Peralta 105 wRC+ .323 wOBA

176. A. Jackson 102 wRC+ .316 wOBA
204. C. Maybin 96 wRC+ .311 wOBA
218. C. Granderson 92 wRC+ .302 wOBA
238. H. Perez 84 wRC+ .303 wOBA
253. J. Saltalamacchia 81 wRC+ .290 wOBA
257. P. Fielder 80 wRC+ .294 wOBA
264. C. McGehee 78 wRC+ .284 wOBA
277. A. Avila 71 wRC+ .275 wOBA
281. M. Aviles 70 wRC+ .275 wOBA

303. E. Aybar 62 wRC+ .257 wOBA
309. O. Infante 59 wRC+ .252 wOBA
322. B. Pena 43 wRC+ .236 wOBA


TOTAL for the last 3 years (750 PA minimum, 37 catchers qualify)

WAR

t20. A. Avila
t29. J. Saltalamacchia
32. J. McCann
37. B. Pena

Total Offense

14. A. Avila 96 wRC+ .311 wOBA
24. J. Saltalamacchia 88 wRC+ .301 wOBA
32. B. Pena 78 wRC+ .278 wOBA
34. J. McCann 76 wRC+ .286 wOBA

299 MLB Players qualify:

3. M. Cabrera 154 wRC+ .397 wOBA
14. J.D. Martinez 143 wRC+ .381 wOBA

36. V. Martinez 126 wRC+ .354 wOBA
37. Y. Cespedes 126 wRC+ .353 wOBA
61. J. Upton 119 wRC+ .344 wOBA
65. C. Granderson 118 wRC+ .339 wOBA
94. I. Kinsler 112 wRC+ .336 wOBA
116. J. Peralta 108 wRC+ .328 wOBA
138. M. Joyce 105 wRC+ .320 wOBA
145. P. Fielder 102 wRC+ .327 wOBA

150. Hunter 102 wRC+ .320 wOBA
156. N. Castellanos 101 wRC+ .320 wOBA
176. C. Maybin 98 wRC+ .314 wOBA
192. E. Suarez 96 wRC+ .315 wOBA
193. R. Davis 96 wRC+ .313 wOBA
194. A. Avila 96 wRC+ .311 wOBA
239. J. Saltalamacchia 88 wRC+ .301 wOBA
240. A. Jackson 88 wRC+ .297 wOBA
242. Av. Garcia 87 wRC+ .301 wOBA
250. J. Iglesias 85 wRC+ .298 wOBA
256. C. McGehee 84 wRC+ .292 wOBA
261. A. Gose 83 wRC+ .294 wOBA
263. E. Aybar 83 wRC+ .288 wOBA

275. B. Pena 78 wRC+ .288 wOBA
280. J. McCann 76 wRC+ .286 wOBA
295. M. Aviles 61 wRC+ .262 wOBA
297. O. Infante 60 wRC+ .261 wOBA


BLUF. McCann is a bottom 10% MLB offensive player even when factoring in LHP. Yes, he kills LHP, but he is far worse against RHP than Avila is against LHP. McCann's history against RHP even goes back to the minors, so this isn't something new or something that will come with time.

Alex Avila is not an All Star catcher. But he gives this team a better chance to win than James McCann, especially 70% of the time (vs RHP). With C, SS and CF all lacking offense against RHP and with the jury still out on Nick C's ability to consistently hit RHP, this team is prone to slumps against RHP. Personally, I would be happy if Avila started just 81 games (50%).

 

[tomdalton22]

from ESPN

Alex Avila hit .295 with 19 HR in 141 games for the Tigers in 2011. Since then, he's averaged 8 HR and 33 RBI in 93 games over the last 5 seasons.

 

[tomdalton22]

this signing does nothing positive for the team. Now the Tigers have 2 backup catchers.

 

[Mitchrapp]

He wasn't good enough to keep him this past season but now he is? I thought we were suppose to get younger..

 

[Rebbiv]

this signing does nothing positive for the team. Now the Tigers have 2 backup catchers.

No. We have 1 MLB backup catcher and a AAA catcher given a MLB starting job without earning it.

 

[Rebbiv]

from ESPN

Alex Avila hit .295 with 19 HR in 141 games for the Tigers in 2011. Since then, he's averaged 8 HR and 33 RBI in 93 games over the last 5 seasons.

Really Tom? You are going to cite an ESPN article that is using BAVG and counting stats? There is virtually no merit in posting that, either by ESPN or by you.

 

[Rebbiv]

He wasn't good enough to keep him this past season but now he is? I thought we were suppose to get younger..

No, we were supposed to shed payroll. And no team was willing to send DET top dollar for what they were offering. They still had to get a backup catcher. No backup catcher worth anything could be had for less than $1 Mil a year, so why not $2 Mil?

 

[gotime909]

Ugh, I can't wait for another fucking year of Avila arguments.

 

[Rebbiv]

I am not looking forward to the ignorant Avila bashing.

 

[gotime909]

I am not looking forward to the ignorant Avila bashing.

There's enough holes in his game that I'm sure it isn't all ignorant bashing.

 

[Rebbiv]

There's enough holes in his game that I'm sure it isn't all ignorant bashing.

Less than McCann's holes. Hypocrites won't even discuss his holes.

 

[gotime909]

Less than McCann's holes. Hypocrites won't even discuss his holes.

Who brought McCann up? When your first defense is to bring another player into the convo you've already lost.

 

[Rebbiv]

So aside from not hitting LHP, what other holes does Avila have? Because quite frankly, that is it. I assume someone is going to say strikeouts, but then that same hole could be applied to Upton or even J.D. I am curious as to what this list is. And if you think bringing up McCann means I lost, lost what?

I bring up McCann because some of the biggest Avila bashers are also some of the biggest McCann loyalists. Which to me, is hypocritical, no?

 

[gotime909]

So aside from not hitting LHP, what other holes does Avila have? Because quite frankly, that is it. I assume someone is going to say strikeouts, but then that same hole could be applied to Upton or even J.D. I am curious as to what this list is. And if you think bringing up McCann means I lost, lost what?

I bring up McCann because some of the biggest Avila bashers are also some of the biggest McCann loyalists. Which to me, is hypocritical, no?

Personally, my biggest beef with Avila is that he's a slug that can't stay healthy. That's my opinion and I'm done with this matter. Your obsession with him is concerning. I'm seriously not trying to troll you with that comment either. You just seem to spend a lot of time defending a marginal player who's skills have only got worse each of the last 6 years. He's at the point now where his starts are cherry picked for the perfect matchups and he's still not really doing much.

 

[kalinecountry]

Well I don't like either of the catchers. The problems are several.
We have a dumb ass manager who will use McCann regularly vs. RHP's, and with Avila back he will use alex vs. LHP's.
For some games it will be necessary but not to the degree it was before 2016 season.

McCann should start every game a lefty is starting, Alex should start 70 percent of games with a right handed pitcher starting. with McCann biting th bullet for the other games. Is a 80/80 game split possible? or will Ausmus start McCann more like 100/110 games and Avila the rest.

Both have high strikeout rates. McCann chases too many pitches low and low and away, Avila chases low and belt high to letter high and he can't catch up to them.

All this talk about Avila and his good or high OBP. It's not that great imo,
and what f'n good is he when he takes a walk? He is station to station, maybe a half a step faster that Victor the turtle.

I'm not happy with this team and front office.