Emergency Catcher?

[Garwilly]

A left-handed emergency catcher? That would be something to see.

 

Whoever is at SS and 2B would have a bad day fielding those throws. Yikes.

 

I was a left handed catcher.

[BigbadB]

For the record my money is on either Ward or Theriot being the number three catcher.

 

I think you'd lose your money on Ward since he's left handed. Marmol won't be making the team unless about 3 other guys are injured all at the same time.

 

My money is on Barrett not needing to be used in a PH situation unless he's coming in to replace Blanco. We have Theriot, Floyd or Murton, Ward, Marquis, Prior, Wood and Zambrano to do the pinch hitting while Barrett gets his rest. And all the above mentioned are potentially better PH options than Blanco.

[goonys evil twin]

You know people are desperate for topics and itching for spring training when emergency catcher becomes the hot topic. This shouldn't have lasted past 3 posts.

[Chocolate Milk]

LOL @ jumping all over this guy for asking who the emergency catcher is.

[NoDak]

First of all, fluky things happen in baseball every year. It is possible that we would need to use an "emergency catcher." While it is interesting to speculate who would fill that role, I agree with those who basically say, "Who cares." I don't mean to make light of the issue. I just feel that the emergency catcher is such an unlikely event that anyone can "throw on the gear" and "catch" for a couple of innings if necessary. Is it going to evolve into a threat to Barrett/Blanco's position on the team? No, of course not. It would be for a couple of innings at most (in the unlikely event that it will occur) and the next game the original starting catcher would be available and, presuming it is the following day, Soto, Fox or another minor league farmhand would be available. My guess is that Piniella will have a couple of guys "audition" for the spot during spring training while "warming up" lots of pitchers at the same time and the existing catcher's aren't enough to go around (there are more pitchers than catchers). My vote is on Daryl Ward, though, simply because he looks more like the "prototypical catcher" (in my mind defined by Mike LaVallier) than the likes of Marmol, Theriot. God help us if we put Floyd and his already questionable knees back there! :shock:

[cbbryan]

We'd sign Mike Matheny out of retirement for a 2-3 inning guaranteed contract.

[Northsider]

We'd sign Mike Matheny out of retirement for a 2-3 inning guaranteed contract.

 

At twice Murton's total yearly salary.

[Rob]

If Marmol is available, I'm sure it'd be him.

[Amazing_Grace]

You know people are desperate for topics and itching for spring training when emergency catcher becomes the hot topic. This shouldn't have lasted past 3 posts.

 

LOL, that is so true.

[SouthSideRyan]

Somewhat on the topic, one of the few things I really liked about Dusty, was that in the last couple years he wasn't afraid to use Barrett as a pinch hitter and be left with no backup catcher on the bench.

[AlwaysaCub]

Somewhat on the topic, one of the few things I really liked about Dusty, was that in the last couple years he wasn't afraid to use Barrett as a pinch hitter and be left with no backup catcher on the bench.

 

Well, yeah. Besides Zambrano and now Marquis, it's definitely not worth holding back Michael Barrett in the 15th inning with a runner on 2nd and pinch hitting Rich Hill because you're worried that Blanco is going to get injured.

 

I agree with the idea of the post though, this happens about 4 times a year. No catcher wants to catch for 16 innings straight. Your knees would hurt for days. You have to bring in the other guy for a while, and that has its risks. Is no one else looking for anything to scratch the itch? I am.

[BigbadB]

Somewhat on the topic, one of the few things I really liked about Dusty, was that in the last couple years he wasn't afraid to use Barrett as a pinch hitter and be left with no backup catcher on the bench.

 

Well, yeah. Besides Zambrano and now Marquis, it's definitely not worth holding back Michael Barrett in the 15th inning with a runner on 2nd and pinch hitting Rich Hill because you're worried that Blanco is going to get injured.

 

I agree with the idea of the post though, this happens about 4 times a year. No catcher wants to catch for 16 innings straight. Your knees would hurt for days. You have to bring in the other guy for a while, and that has its risks. Is no one else looking for anything to scratch the itch? I am.

 

The better plan is to put together a solid enough bench so that games don't drag on 15+ innings because they can't knock in a run.

[EricG]

I would like to see a lefty catcher for a change.

[rchap24]

I would like to see a lefty catcher for a change.

 

Ha that would be fun to see. I got a ? how many lefty catchers have played in the majors. I feel like Ive never see any. If I have they didnt stick in my mind. anybody know?

[fromthestretch]

I would like to see a lefty catcher for a change.

 

I hope you also like seeing people steal third base, because that would happen a bit more often with a lefty catcher. Not the easiest throw to make for a lefty, especially with a right-handed hitter in the box.

[Bull]

I would like to see a lefty catcher for a change.

 

Ha that would be fun to see. I got a ? how many lefty catchers have played in the majors. I feel like Ive never see any. If I have they didnt stick in my mind. anybody know?

 

Wasn't villanueva a lefty?

 

edit: did some research

 

Mike Squires, Sox, 1980, and Dale Long, Cubs, 1958

 

edit,edit: did more research. Almost all played in the 1800's

Games@C / Player

 

1,073 /Clements, Jack

272 /Trott, Sam

202 /Tate, Pop

186 /Sutcliffe, Sy

128 /Harbridge, Bill

99 /Hines, Mike

75 /Humphries, John

71 /Tenney, Fred

52 /Twineham, Art

50 /Baker, Phil

45 /Donahue, Jiggs

35 /Oldfield, Dave

34 /Householder, Charlie

21 /Malone, Fergy

16 /McMahon, Jack

12 /Krehmeyer, Charlie

7 /WallL, Joe

5 /Foster, Elmer

3 /DiStefano, Benny

3 /Hillebrand, Homer

2 /Egan, Jim

2 /Long, Dale

2 /Squires, Mike

1 /Cassidy, John

1 /Eden, Charlie

1 /Marr, Lefty

1 /Mullen, John

1 /Powell, Martin

1 /Redmon, Billy

1 /Short, Chris

Edited February 9, 2007 by Bull

[imb]

i want to see a left-handed second baseman try to turn a few double plays

[Garwilly]

i want to see a left-handed second baseman try to turn a few double plays

 

4-6-3 would work very well.

[woodchip2153]

THT article from last year regarding left handed catchers.

[biittner77]

If he makes the 25 man Casey McGahee is the emergency catcher.

 

What are the odds against both catchers being out of the game and the emergency catcher is still available?

 

I for one would love to see it but I've always rooted for that worst case scenario where Ray Guy has to play QB or Mike Krukow is putting on the shin guards.

[NoDak]

Somewhat on the topic, one of the few things I really liked about Dusty, was that in the last couple years he wasn't afraid to use Barrett as a pinch hitter and be left with no backup catcher on the bench.

 

The problem is he was willing to use Barrett AND Macias potentially leaving himself VERY exposed. I wish he had been more conservative about "saving" his emergency catcher...you know, just in case. 8-)