Spring Training - Final Week 3/21 - 3/29

[Cubswin11]

That strikeout pitch from Cashner looked more like a Change/Split than a Slider.

[ctcf]

A strikeout on 3 pitches and a walk on 4. Fun times.

[XZero771679666304]

That was a lame hit.

[Cubswin11]

[expletive]

[ctcf]

Well this is an uninspiring start.

[PrimeTime]

Well this sucks for Cashner

[XZero771679666304]

When did Abreu get so fat?

 

That was a legitimate hit.

[Keener98]

Come on Cashner.

[Cubswin11]

If Morales comes back healthy the Angels don't have a terrible offensive team between him, Hunter, Wells, Abreu, Hendrick, and Callaspo (who I think is a little underrated). It's no juggernaut, but it's an alright lineup for that division.

[XZero771679666304]

That inning was bad, but not as bad as it looked. That double was cheap at best.

[Sammy Sofa]

I must have missed the histrionics. Take out bad player put in somewhat better one = win.

 

Might want to re-check that math.

 

No, I got it. Sure you can ramble on about the importance of backup catcher, like none us already knew it. Fact is Ramirez is already better in the time he has played (.340+ OBP) compared to Hill's .200 something. Win. It doesn't matter if its not a guarantee, its the move that should be made. You can keep marginalizing it, it's just the backup catcher spot, sure. But its also the position where backups are used the most, and history suggests the Cubs backup catcher will get a significant amount of at bats, due to days off and injury. If Castillo comes up for the injuries I'm fine with that too. The less Hill the better, no matter how much Old Gummy rationalizes it.

 

You're working with a much, much smaller sample size with Ramirez; 140 PA in just two seasons over the last 3 years. Hill really, really, really sucks, but Ramirez likely would really suck himself the more playing time he gets in the majors. Again, your logic of "somewhat better = win" doesn't hold up when you're talking about the variance between two crappy backup catchers. If you're choosing between two crappy backup catchers I'd ultimately rather go with the one who knows most of the staff and apparently works well with them since, like you said, this the position where backups are typically used the most and they have a role that's arguably more important than what they do with the bat. I'm usually not a fan of those type of intangibles, but when it comes down to picking a backup catcher I'm going to lean towards the vet that knows and works well with the staff.

 

Look, if Ramirez got the job I wouldn't lose any sleep over it at all; it's not like I'm a fan of Hill's. I just think the continual bemoaning of Hill's existence as already a tired, tired meme this season and we're not even to April, and it's translated now to people wanting Castillo rotting on the bench as the backup because it looks like he might actually be decent with the bat. Again, what needs to be separated is what the backup catcher is supposed to be and how Hill was misused last year. Hill or Ramirez for 20-30 games this season isn't likely to be that much of a difference offensively. Hill or Ramirez getting more starts because of a misguided platoon or Soto being injured is bad news either way. All we can do is hope that the Cubs call up Castillo if Soto goes down, because relegating him to the backup role in the meantime is not a smart move.

[Cubswin11]

That inning was bad, but not as bad as it looked. That double was cheap at best.

Agreed the box score on that will look worse than it did in reality. Cashner needs to hit the zone a little more consistently though.

[Sammy Sofa]

50 catchers had 150 or more PAs last season. In terms of OPS, Hill was #47. He's not just bad, he's abysmal. It's not a leap to think Ramirez would be better.

 

Again, you're mixing up Hill's misuse last year with how a backup catcher is supposed to be used. If Soto ends up getting 140 starts as planned then Hill would get, what, 70-75 PA? 80?

 

I agree, Hill stinks. I agree, Hill getting 150+ PA is hideous. Neither Ramirez nor Hill should be getting 150+ PA.

[Cubswin11]

The Angels catcher Cogner (sp?) is/was a pretty highly rated prospect right?

[PrimeTime]

I <3 Castro

[Cubswin11]

Sexy \:D/

[XZero771679666304]

Castro ripped that ball.

[Keener98]

Castro triple

[CubColtPacer]

50 catchers had 150 or more PAs last season. In terms of OPS, Hill was #47. He's not just bad, he's abysmal. It's not a leap to think Ramirez would be better.

 

Again, you're mixing up Hill's misuse last year with how a backup catcher is supposed to be used. If Soto ends up getting 140 starts as planned then Hill would get, what, 70-75 PA? 80?

 

I agree, Hill stinks. I agree, Hill getting 150+ PA is hideous. Neither Ramirez nor Hill should be getting 150+ PA.

 

Only 2 catchers in baseball managed to play 140 games last year. Only 6 managed even 130. And that's games played, not games started. It was a down year for catchers last year but it's still not an easy thing to do to play that much. That assumes perfect health and playing a lot of day after night games.

[tfarks]

You're working with a much, much smaller sample size with Ramirez; 140 PA in just two seasons over the last 3 years. Hill really, really, really sucks, but Ramirez likely would really suck himself the more playing time he gets in the majors. Again, your logic of "somewhat better = win" doesn't hold up when you're talking about the variance between two crappy backup catchers. If you're choosing between two crappy backup catchers I'd ultimately rather go with the one who knows most of the staff and apparently works well with them since, like you said, this the position where backups are typically used the most and they have a role that's arguably more important than what they do with the bat. I'm usually not a fan of those type of intangibles, but when it comes down to picking a backup catcher I'm going to lean towards the vet that knows and works well with the staff.

 

I have no idea what Ramirez would likely do. Yes he has a small sample size but he also has more potential. He could be serviceable with the bat and get on base at a good clip, Hill already proved he can't. I don't have any reason to believe he can't call a game or get to know the pitchers well. This just sounds like Lou speak to me, perceived value > value. Basically I'm more than willing to choose the question mark over the known crap.

 

Look, if Ramirez got the job I wouldn't lose any sleep over it at all; it's not like I'm a fan of Hill's. I just think the continual bemoaning of Hill's existence as already a tired, tired meme this season and we're not even to April, and it's translated now to people wanting Castillo rotting on the bench as the backup because it looks like he might actually be decent with the bat. Again, what needs to be separated is what the backup catcher is supposed to be and how Hill was misused last year. Hill or Ramirez for 20-30 games this season isn't likely to be that much of a difference offensively. Hill or Ramirez getting more starts because of a misguided platoon or Soto being injured is bad news either way. All we can do is hope that the Cubs call up Castillo if Soto goes down, because relegating him to the backup role in the meantime is not a smart move.

 

Yes fine, it is tiring. But its because Hill is so monumentally bad even a small change could be impactful if Ramirez hits. If he proved himself to be that monumentally bad I would want him out too because he does bring less intangibles than the savvy 3 fingered vet. But we would have given ourselves the chance to see if he can be better than that. If he blows it let Hill come back and be the CERA king. And conversely, I won't lose any sleep if Hill retains his job and is used properly. The constant black hole being played day after day still resonates so perhaps I am overstating.

Edited March 21, 2011 by tfarks

[ctcf]

So that inning was better.

[Sammy Sofa]

50 catchers had 150 or more PAs last season. In terms of OPS, Hill was #47. He's not just bad, he's abysmal. It's not a leap to think Ramirez would be better.

 

Again, you're mixing up Hill's misuse last year with how a backup catcher is supposed to be used. If Soto ends up getting 140 starts as planned then Hill would get, what, 70-75 PA? 80?

 

I agree, Hill stinks. I agree, Hill getting 150+ PA is hideous. Neither Ramirez nor Hill should be getting 150+ PA.

 

Only 2 catchers in baseball managed to play 140 games last year. Only 6 managed even 130. And that's games played, not games started. It was a down year for catchers last year but it's still not an easy thing to do to play that much. That assumes perfect health and playing a lot of day after night games.

 

Hey, I'm not assuming Soto is going to play 140. I'm assuming that 130 is more along the lines of his optimum season. Even with those extra 10-12 games I'm still not going to flip out over Hill being the backup unless those 10-12 extra games come in a row because Soto is injured, in which case he needs to be on the DL and Castillo needs to be called up.

 

Bottom line, if the backup catcher is getting as much time as Hill did last year and in 2009, it's going to suck. It'll probably suck less with Ramirez, but it'll still suck. If they're not going with Castillo if Soto is missing that much time then THAT'S the actual problem. Koyie Hill sucking as a typical backup catcher is not that big a problem. It's an annoyance.

[XZero771679666304]

50 catchers had 150 or more PAs last season. In terms of OPS, Hill was #47. He's not just bad, he's abysmal. It's not a leap to think Ramirez would be better.

 

Again, you're mixing up Hill's misuse last year with how a backup catcher is supposed to be used. If Soto ends up getting 140 starts as planned then Hill would get, what, 70-75 PA? 80?

 

I agree, Hill stinks. I agree, Hill getting 150+ PA is hideous. Neither Ramirez nor Hill should be getting 150+ PA.

 

Ramirez has a decent minor league track record, and at the very least has shown the ability to get on base at every level. He's younger and cheaper.

 

Koyie Hill has a proven track record of being really bad. Unlike Ramirez, you can't even hope he'll get better.

 

What makes it more bizarre is that Hill re-signed after Ramirez was claimed and put on the 40-man. Ramirez is out of options, so WTH?

[PrimeTime]

Just seen this posted on Roto so thought Id post here. Nothing big

 

Cubs manager Mike Quade indicated Monday that Blake DeWitt's spot on the roster is not safe.

 

"Right now he does, but there’s some guys pushing, and we aint left yet," said Quade. It appeared that the Cubs were going to use a platoon at second base, but DeWitt is batting just .163 (7-for-43) with a 4/0 K/BB ratio this spring. Jeff Baker could very well win the job outright, while Darwin Barney has pushed for more playing time by batting .371 (13-for-35) this spring.

[Guest]

Ramirez isn't being considered as a catcher.

 

Even at 40-45 starts, the likely difference in performance between Hill, Castillo, and Ramirez is small enough that I have a hard time mustering up a lot of rage over it.