Tigers new backup catcher is Brayan Pena

[tigerfantroy]

I couldn't agree more. We gave away 2 LHP who maybe only had a ceiling of a lefty specialist for 2 catchers who are useless. I thought we had some decent catcher depth already in the minors. Plus as you noted there were better options available. I don't get it

 

[tomdalton22]

I couldn't agree more. We gave away 2 LHP who maybe only had a ceiling of a lefty specialist for 2 catchers who are useless. I thought we had some decent catcher depth already in the minors. Plus as you noted there were better options available. I don't get it

Maybe it was a financial move. When you have 5 players making $89M next year they are going to do some bargain shopping.

 

[spockmaster]

You designate Matt Hoffman for this stiff?

Treanor
Shoppach
Ronny Paulino
Torrealba
Chris Snyder

Were all available and at least have one positive to their stats.

Maybe we should sign Austin Kearns as the platoon with Dirks and designate Casey Crosby.

seriously, it makes no sense. with a half dozen decent backup catcher options available, we signed the worst choice, a guy who sucks so much the ROYALS DFA'd him. *facepalm*

 

[kalinecountry]

seriously, it makes no sense. with a half dozen decent backup catcher options available, we signed the worst choice, a guy who sucks so much the ROYALS DFA'd him. *facepalm*

did you tweet DD with that or any other question?

 

[Rebbiv]

This is almost as bad as following the 2007 season. DET needed relief pitchers. Who did they get?

Francisco Cruceta

Francis Beltr?n

Denny Bautista

Casey Fossum

Invited Matt Mantei to Spring Training

2008 Combined

85 IP

4 W 5 L

4.98 ERA

1.52 WHIP

.372 OPP OBP


Bautista was obtained from COL for Jos? Capell?n


Understand that Cruceta was DFA'd after DET called up Fossum.

Chris Shelton and Timo Perez were DFA'd in place of Cruceta and Beltan. Shelton ended up being traded for Freddy Guzman ("Dombrowski said Guzman will have a chance to make the Opening Day roster").

Understand that prior to Spring Training, DD said he was happy with his relief pitching going into the season.


I won't go into who all was available as relief pitchers prior to the 2008 season. But needless to say, even if it was a cost thing, DET sucks at filling out their roster.

 

[turok]

RHB Paulino's slash lines vs LHP career: .325/.379/.465 with an .844 OPS vs the SH Pena's vs LHP career: .245/.287/.387 with a .613 OPS. Ronny has spent most of his career in the NL, which I don't follow very closely, so I don't know if his defense has declined, if he has an injury history, or if he handles pitchers well, but he looks about average for a backup catcher. He was with the O's last season and caught in only 20 games. Perhaps the Tigers' brass believes that the team has enough or more than enough offense to offset Pena's mediocre hitting when he starts or relieves in place of Avila.:shrug:

 

[jdeb]

Hey Rebbiv, Timo Perez is still in the Tigers org right? Platoon him with Dirks. The guy is like a career .400 hitter in the minors..... oh wait....having two professional farters on the bench may be lethal when Leyland lights one up

 

[kalinecountry]

http://motorcitybengals.com/2012/12...alue-from-brayan-penas-pitch-framing-ability/
Detroit Tigers Could Receive Value From Brayan Pena?s Pitch-Framing Ability.
from mcb-tb

This is what the Tigers were looking for with the backup. Laird was one of the very worst last year.