Bakos Back

[cubbinalltheway]

In the grand scheme of things it really doesn't matter who the backup catcher is but why sign a very old catcher as backup when you can use Koyie Hill?

my guess is that they want a veteran to help mentor the young, still developing geo soto.

[YearofDaCubs]

Every thread in this forum turns into the same argument.

I blame Hendry for this. If he was a better GM we wouldn't have as many arguments. :)

[SouthSideRyan]

In the grand scheme of things it really doesn't matter who the backup catcher is but why sign a very old catcher as backup when you can use Koyie Hill?

my guess is that they want a veteran to help mentor the young, still developing geo soto.

 

What can Bako teach Geo besides to be more goofy looking?

[The Other 15]

Come on, are we really comparing 83 OPS+ to 62 as a positive?

 

Blanco signed to get playing time. Good for you Hank, knock yourself out. With that done, the Cubs went with another light hitting defensive minded catcher. But let's not let that stand in the way of overreacting to everything this off season.

[jersey cubs fan]

Come on, are we really comparing 83 OPS+ to 62 as a positive?

 

It's a significant difference. One is bad, one is horrendous. It's absurd to accept any level of light hitting from a catcher just because all backups are supposed to be light hitting.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Its not just about Bako. Last year, the power we had off the bench was one of thr strengths of this team. We had guys who could come up anytime and make something happen, be it Edmonds, Fontenot, Johnson, or Ward when he chose to be productive. Now we have a very weak bench, and Johsnon is the only one with any power, and we all know of his troubles with righties, although he seemed to be figuring them out toward the end of last year. Id love for Hoffpauir to be on there, but signs seem to be pointing toward an extra reliever instead, and he'll likely be the odd man out, unless they chose to go with only one backup middle infielder.

[CubColtPacer]

Regardless of Blanco's purported reasoning for choosing SD (it was stated early in the offseason that the Cubs had no intention of bringing him back, add in the left handed thing and it stands to reason they were as big a part of it as he was), it's up to the GM to field the best team he can, and improve upon your team. The fact is he signed a bad backup catcher who is significantly worse than the guy they had last year. That's not good.

i dont disagree with what youre saying, but here's the thing. well, two things. one, do you really believe that bako's handedness factored in? he's the backup catcher. a guy who will play in 1-2 games a week, if that.

 

two, it's kinda tough to improve upon a 717 OPS from your backup catcher. i'd be curious to know if there were/are ANY backup catchers available that could top that this year.

 

I hate to believe it, but it seems to be true. There have been numerous quotes that would say that...such as this one from one of Sullivan's stories:

 

Hendry said the Cubs are not planning to bring back Henry Blanco, the backup catcher who remains unsigned. Hendry is looking for a left-handed-hitting, defense-oriented catcher to compete with Koyie Hill in spring training. Blanco hit .292 in 2008 and threw out 43 percent of would-be base-stealers, and Geovany Soto credited him with aiding in his development. Unfortunately for Blanco, he hits right-handed.

[SouthSideRyan]

Come on, are we really comparing 83 OPS+ to 62 as a positive?

 

Blanco signed to get playing time. Good for you Hank, knock yourself out. With that done, the Cubs went with another light hitting defensive minded catcher. But let's not let that stand in the way of overreacting to everything this off season.

 

The Cubs told Blanco to follow Kerry Wood out of town back in October. Given the choice, I'd imagine Blanco would prefer to stay on the team he's been on for 4 years, the team he happens to be comfortable with, and the team that actually has a chance to go to the playoffs vs. going to the worst team in baseball where he could get an extra 200 ABs. Jim Hendry(as usual) misread the FA market and didn't think he could get Blanco as cheaply as he came.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Just out of curiosity, does Jake Fox have any level of competence behind the plate? Im assuming if he did, he wouldnt have been moved to outfield, but the depth chart has him as catcher. Hed certainly be an interesting possibility, especially since he can play multiple postions.

[fromthestretch]

Come on, are we really comparing 83 OPS+ to 62 as a positive?

 

Blanco signed to get playing time. Good for you Hank, knock yourself out. With that done, the Cubs went with another light hitting defensive minded catcher. But let's not let that stand in the way of overreacting to everything this off season.

 

How is pointing out that the Cubs got worse at a position overreacting?

 

And as goony pointed out, the difference between 83 and 62 in OPS+ is fairly significant. On top of that, Blanco is better defensively.

[CubColtPacer]

Just out of curiosity, does Jake Fox have any level of competence behind the plate? Im assuming if he did, he wouldnt have been moved to outfield, but the depth chart has him as catcher. Hed certainly be an interesting possibility.

 

He's supposedly absolutely brutal behind the plate. I don't know why the depth chart would still have him as a catcher as he hasn't been behind the plate in a couple of years.

 

Plus Lou probably is still angry at Fox, so he likely wouldn't get a chance anyway.

[rocket]

lol cubs

[cubsfan26]

I hate to believe it, but it seems to be true. There have been numerous quotes that would say that...such as this one from one of Sullivan's stories:

 

 

I honestly don't buy the Bako over Blanco stuff because of the LH/RH crap. There bats mean very little for the Cubs next year. Neither guy will do much pinch hitting, and neither guy will be in a platoon with Soto. So I call that Hendry BS, it's either Blanco wanted more money to stay with the Cubs, or they didn't want him back due to club house issues. I have heard from members of the media that the Cubs weren't happy with Blanco last season. I dunno why, or what the reasons was. But maybe if Bruce stops by he could answer some of these questions.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Just out of curiosity, does Jake Fox have any level of competence behind the plate? Im assuming if he did, he wouldnt have been moved to outfield, but the depth chart has him as catcher. Hed certainly be an interesting possibility, especially since he can play multiple postions.

 

At best, Fox could be an emergency catcher in the major leagues, but his skills as a receiver are really bad. He has the tools to play catcher, but just didn't cut it there. I don't think he got any time behind the plate at all last year in AA, though I could be wrong on that.

[The Other 15]

Come on, are we really comparing 83 OPS+ to 62 as a positive?

 

Blanco signed to get playing time. Good for you Hank, knock yourself out. With that done, the Cubs went with another light hitting defensive minded catcher. But let's not let that stand in the way of overreacting to everything this off season.

 

The Cubs told Blanco to follow Kerry Wood out of town back in October. Given the choice, I'd imagine Blanco would prefer to stay on the team he's been on for 4 years, the team he happens to be comfortable with, and the team that actually has a chance to go to the playoffs vs. going to the worst team in baseball where he could get an extra 200 ABs. Jim Hendry(as usual) misread the FA market and didn't think he could get Blanco as cheaply as he came.

 

Or, and this is completely out of LF, Hendry being familiar with Blanco, just didn't want him back.

 

This is rather entertaining that whipping boys (because of their contracts over the last couple of years) are finally being respected on here.

[MPC]

bring back the lemons!

[SouthSideRyan]

I have heard from members of the media that the Cubs weren't happy with Blanco last season.

 

Been hanging out at Dallas Green's steakhouse?

[The Other 15]

Come on, are we really comparing 83 OPS+ to 62 as a positive?

 

Blanco signed to get playing time. Good for you Hank, knock yourself out. With that done, the Cubs went with another light hitting defensive minded catcher. But let's not let that stand in the way of overreacting to everything this off season.

 

How is pointing out that the Cubs got worse at a position overreacting?

 

And as goony pointed out, the difference between 83 and 62 in OPS+ is fairly significant. On top of that, Blanco is better defensively.

Sorry, I don't agree. hank had a OPS+ of 6 in 2007? Is that indicative of his skill? His career OPS+ is .....drumroll please...63.

Hank had a good 120 AB's last year. There's no need to label him a offensive threat. Give him an additional 200 AB's like Bako had and you'll see that precious, all so important on this site, OPS+ fall.

[anabiono]

hopefully we can sign wigginton now

 

we have the money right?

[Abe Frohman]

About the Blanco=Bakos thing....

 

Blanco didn't exactly swing a rubber bat.

 

I think the offensive highlight that Bakos brings to mind when he was a Cub was one time he splintered his bat and the barrel end stuck in the ground like a javelin. That was cool.

[Larry Horse]

Blanco is better than Bako. I can't believe there's an argument there. "Wanting to get more left-handed" is a verrrry weak reason for bringing back Bako.

 

I honestly can't believe he's on this team again. He couldn't even stick with the Reds.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Bako's last 5 years, OPS:

 

2004: .571

2005: .662

2006: .490

2007: .533

2008: .627

Career: .622

 

On the defensive side, here is an article trying to put some type of quantification on a catcher's arm. Bako came out 6 runs below average last year, and 0.6 runs above average for the last 5 years(for reference, Soto was 1.9 runs below average in 2008). Not that this should be taken as gospel or even close to it, but it's something.

 

A look at some remaining backup catchers.

 

Toby Hall: .671 OPS career, .635 in 2008 (24.6 Runs above average with arm, 5 years)

Chad Moeller: .631 career, .641 in 2008 (-0.6 runs above average with arm, 5 years)

Sal Fasano: .687 career, .688 in 2008

Doug Mirabelli: .724 career, .638 in 2008

Vance Wilson: .679 career, .745 in 2008

Javier Valentin: .712 career, .737 in 2008 (-4.7 Runs above average with arm, 5 years)

 

There's also guys like Pudge and LoDuca available as well.

[jersey cubs fan]

Sorry, I don't agree. hank had a OPS+ of 6 in 2007? Is that indicative of his skill? His career OPS+ is .....drumroll please...63.

Hank had a good 120 AB's last year. There's no need to label him a offensive threat. Give him an additional 200 AB's like Bako had and you'll see that precious, all so important on this site, OPS+ fall.

 

Hank's 2007 was a health issue. He was fairly consistent in 2005, 2006, and 2008. Bako has been consistently worse the past few years. It's not a matter of giving either guy an additionaly 200 AB's, it's getting the most you can out of the 150 or so PA a backup to Geo should get in a season. And Blanco is a better bet to give you more.

[dew1679666265]

I don't really mind this signing, simply because we were going to get crap anyway.

 

The problem is, the rest of the offseason's downgrading makes this signing worse. If we had even a decent bench right now (like we did last year), then the backup catcher would be fairly irrelevant. Problem is, when the rest of the bench sucks, it highlights the fact that the backup catcher sucks.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Over 150 PAs, how much is the offensive difference between Blanco and Bako?

 

Less than 5 runs, and I can live with it to never hear someone say "Hank White" again.