Backup Catcher and DH

by peachygbc_1 on Oct 8, 2008 2:17 PM CDT Comment 8 comments

I really do not see the problem with your backup Catcher being your full-time DH as well. This most often comes up with Max, but why not let Salty have more at-bats in the DH spot this past season. If your catcher goes down and you insert the DH to play catcher in the field just pinch hit for the pitcher the rest of the game or just let the pitcher hit. It is just one game. If you need to call another catcher up if the starter is hurt then do it. I do realize this is not a good idea if you are in the playoffs or a must win game. However, during the regular season I do not see the harm in it. So what does this hurt during the regular season?

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C/DH

At best I could see three catchers staying with the big club.

Primary catcher (Tea or Laird)
B/U (a veteran backup, or even Salty if the org thinks 200-300 ABs is enough for his continued development)
DH (Max)

Those two positions won’t go to less than three Rangers catchers though, not even if Max (or Salty or Tea) profile adequately as both catcher and DH.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Oct 8, 2008 2:26 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Only problem

If you keep 3 catchers on your 25 man roster that leaves you with either only 2 bench players for the field or you have to go with a small bullpen. I don’t see this club being able to go with a 6 man pen and I don’t see us having a utility player capable of being the only backup IF.

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Oct 8, 2008 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

DH

You have to have one in the AL.

My post suggests giving the job to Max.

What you concede is that Max will probably cease getting reps at C. Sort of the Mike Lamb schedule of catching.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Oct 8, 2008 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

But if you keep a starting catcher, a backup catcher, and a DH who can only play catcher then you are in serious trouble with your bench unless you have 9 guys who all can play 140+ games a year.

What happens when you want to give Hammy a day off from the field and DH him? You only have one backup OF. The you have two catchers sitting on the bench not playing. You can’t pinch hit anyone because they couldn’t go play a position in the field.

If you want to have Max DH then it will have to be as the backup catcher/DH.

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Oct 8, 2008 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

buC/DH

I just don’t think that combination is ever going to happen.

But really the only difference I’m describing is Max takes the place of Milton (except Milton couldn’t catch and Max can).

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Oct 8, 2008 4:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

While I don't necessarily think...

…it’s a bad thing to play your backup C at DH, most managers seem to disagree with me.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Oct 8, 2008 2:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

My problem with it

Isn’t necessarily the risk of injury or the pitcher hitting. Its more that I don’t want Salty or Max as the backup catcher next year or DH much less both. I would rather roll out there with a veteran like melhuise as the backup and send Salty and Max to AAA to play everyday rather than have them ride the pine or be the DH.

We have too many catchers right now and someone will have to go. Its inevitable. Thus you should try and maximize the trade value of your potential tradeable players. Having Salty or Max DH/backup catch diminishes their value relative to if they were in the minors as full time catchers who could hit.

Im not really concerned with our DH position going forward. With Smoak coming up and possibly being ready by next September the Davis/Smoak combo can lock down 1B/DH for the next decade hopefully. I think Max can be a more valuable trade chip for us than contributor. Don’t get me wrong I like the guy but frankly I just don’t see him fitting here. He has better catchers ahead of him and he has more versatile and similar offensive DHs in front of him. So maximize his potential trade value and stick him in OKC and by midseason maybe he can be next years Matt Laporta and be the cog in a trade to acquire a frontline pitcher that leads us to the playoffs.

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Oct 8, 2008 2:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Baseball strategy?

On the post I am not trying to debut who to keep for the Rangers at catcher. I just want to know what is wrong with having your backup catcher be your DH during the regular season? The Rangers make a good example of it with Salty or Max being able to DH and could backup a catcher. I am not suggesting keeping 3 catchers either. Again, I know this is not solid thinking for postseason play.

by peachygbc_1 on Oct 8, 2008 3:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs