Pudge Budge?

[turok]

Why are you just stuck on Pudge or a career minor leaguer? Why not get a decent back up catcher like some already mentioned.

I would be fine with Barajas, Hernandez, or Rodriguez as Avila's backup for examples, OR depending on what the Tigers brass does (or doesn't do) during the off-season, maybe having Santos backup Avila will be okay, especially IF Jackson is batting 8th, b/c that would mean that the Tigers will have a new 2B, and/or SS, and/or 3B, or probably far less likely a LFer who will be batting leadoff, since it seems very likely at this point, that Young and Raburn will be sharing that spot in the OF in '12.

 

[spockmaster]

id like Shoppach as long as tampa doesnt pick up his option. he cant hit a lick but he's excellent defensively, just what we need out of a backup catcher.

 

[turok]

id like Shoppach as long as tampa doesnt pick up his option. he cant hit a lick but he's excellent defensively, just what we need out of a backup catcher.

I would as well, unless the non-Avila lineup would include him along with Worth 2B, Jackson CF, Inge/Betemit? 3B, and first-half Raburn in LF..Yikes!!

 

[batcave76]

id like Shoppach as long as tampa doesnt pick up his option. he cant hit a lick but he's excellent defensively, just what we need out of a backup catcher.

That's all ya need in a bu catcher.

 

[spockmaster]

id like Shoppach as long as tampa doesnt pick up his option. he cant hit a lick but he's excellent defensively, just what we need out of a backup catcher.

I would as well, unless the non-Avila lineup would include him along with Worth 2B, Jackson CF, Inge/Betemit? 3B, and first-half Raburn in LF..Yikes!!

heh, my only hope would be that we improve the rest of the bench somewhat as well. or that leyland would be smart about resting and not use a lineup like that too often or at all (which is probably not likely, but i can dream).

 

[Mitchrapp]

I never know what to expect with DD but somehow I think the Tigers will still have Inge, Raburn, Dirks, Worth, Kelly and Santiago on this team. Most likely Betemit and DY as well. And if that happens, not much room for free agents.

 

[spockmaster]

i honestly think if DD cant improve the offense (ie, replace some of our low-obp/high-strikeout guys) he needs to be let go. he can obviously build a good power pitching staff, but so far he just seems inept at building a consistently good offense.

 

[Rebbiv]

Defensive Catchers last 3 years (SBA/G * CS% / per 125 games)

MLB AVG = 77 SB

Pudge 50 SB
H. Blanco 50 SB (signed with ARZ)
W. Ramos 57 SB
J. Molina 62 SB
D. Ross 65 SB
R. Hernandez 65 SB
K. Hill 68 SB
R. Barajas 67 SB
D. Sardinah 67 SB
K. Shoppach 69 SB
J. Bard 69 SB


Offense last 3 years away

MLB AVG 70.92 RC/650 .707 OPS

D. Ross 94.31 RC/650 .824 OPS
R. Barajas 84.46 RC/650 .772 OPS
K. Shoppach 77.12 RC/650 .732 OPS

J. Molina 66.16 RC/650 .675 OPS
J. Bard 65.24 RC/650 .659 OPS
R. Hernandez 63.52 RC/650 .678 OPS

W. Ramos 56.63 RC/650 .666 OPS
K. Hill 51.92 RC/650 .592 OPS
H. Blanco 50.94 RC/650 .589 OPS
Pudge 49.42 RC/650 .612 OPS
Sardinha 34.60 RC/650 .517 OPS


Most of these career backups only get about 85-90 PAs per year. Some will cost much, much less than others. I certainly would not any of the bottom 5 from the offense listing.

 

[Mitchrapp]

i honestly think if DD cant improve the offense (ie, replace some of our low-obp/high-strikeout guys) he needs to be let go. he can obviously build a good power pitching staff, but so far he just seems inept at building a consistently good offense.

I agree. Not sure if JL plays a role because he has his favorites.

 

[spockmaster]

Mitch[/color]]

i honestly think if DD cant improve the offense (ie, replace some of our low-obp/high-strikeout guys) he needs to be let go. he can obviously build a good power pitching staff, but so far he just seems inept at building a consistently good offense.

I agree. Not sure if JL plays a role because he has his favorites.

im sure he does, and thats an even bigger problem. if you let your manager dictate who you sign to the point where you are loaded with crappy role players that the manager overplays because the manager loves their "scrappiness" or whatever, then you are pretty bad at being a GM. at some point you have to stand up and say "stop playing Don Freaking Kelly so much, he sucks at baseball". the manager's input certainly does matter, but sometimes i think leyland does too far and DD lets him.

 

[turok]

I would as well, unless the non-Avila lineup would include him along with Worth 2B, Jackson CF, Inge/Betemit? 3B, and first-half Raburn in LF..Yikes!!

but i can dream).

Or experience actual IRL nightmares of game-ending box-scores displaying double-digit Ks, 2-3+ GIDPs, 3-5 LOB, 0-2 BBs and a few scattered doubles, singles and a OF/IF error or three, in being SHO or at best limited to a run or two, when the middle of the order also ain't hitting the odd-solo homer or RBI double here and there...

 

[spockmaster]

but i can dream).

Or experience actual IRL nightmares of game-ending box-scores displaying double-digit Ks, 2-3+ GIDPs, 3-5 LOB, 0-2 BBs and a few scattered doubles, singles and a OF/IF error or three, in being SHO or at best limited to a run or two, when the middle of the order also ain't hitting the odd-solo homer or RBI double here and there...

i was trying to block those out ;_;

 

[chrisinthed]

Pudge was always a fan favorite and a team leader when he was with the Tigers, and if he wanted to come back as a backup I'd take him over Santos. Btw you must be joking if you think Dane Sardinha can hold his jock for even a second, that's asinine to compare the two. As bad as Pudge was last year, he still had two more hits than Sardinha has accumulated in his entire 6-year career.

 

[hellifino]

what about Posada for a backup?

 

[jimrice]

what about Posada for a backup?

He didn't catch last year. I think one game only. I don't think he's physically able to catch at the major league level anymore.

 

[hellifino]

what about Posada for a backup?

He didn't catch last year. I think one game only. I don't think he's physically able to catch at the major league level anymore.

oh ok, then we don't need him.

 

[Rebbiv]

Cross Barajas off the list

 

[uofmpoweri]

Only about 5 starting catchers can hit, so why would we expect a back up to hit? I wouldn't give Pudge over 1 million dollars. I would rather give a rookie a shot. Even if he can't hit. Pudge played his career, he needs to retire with some dignity. He is already a shoe in for the HOF (even though he was on roids) what is he trying to prove?

 

[Mitchrapp]

Baseball players like to play. And Pudge is 154 hits from 3000.

Just get a defensive wiz. If they can hit, they'd just go to anther team and get a starting job.