Lone Star Ball: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
New Blog: Sounder At Heart for Seattle Sounders Fans!

Ask BA on Teagarden

Jim Callis in today's Ask BA  column:

    What's your assessment of the catchers on the rosters for the Futures Game: Bryan Anderson (Cardinals), Lou Marson (Phillies) and Taylor Teagarden (Rangers) for the United States team, and Welington Castillo (Cubs) and Jesus Montero (Yankees) for the World clubs? Are there others who might have been better selections?

    Jon Kauffmann-Kennel
    Elkhart, Ind.

He's having the worst statistical season of the five Futures Game catchers, but I still think Teagarden has the best chance to be an all-star catcher in the major leagues. He has the most complete game of the group, with Gold Glove ability behind the plate (provided he can stay healthy, which has been a problem during his minor league career) and solid power potential.

Teagarden also might be the only starting catcher among the Futures Gamers when all is said and done. Montero has the most pop of any of them, but also the most questions about his ability to remain a catcher. Anderson, Castillo and Marson are more line-drive hitters, with Castillo the best defender and Anderson the shakiest among that group.

The best catching prospect in the minors is obviously Matt Wieters (Orioles), who would have been a no-doubt Futures Game selection in previous years. But Major League Baseball wants to use this year's game to help select the U.S. Olympic team, and chose not to include Wieters.

1 recs  |  Comment 15 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

buh-bomp – bah bome..........

...WAAAOOOOOOOOooowwwwwwwww...

by oc on Jul 7, 2008 1:00 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Any chance

Teagarden (or any other Ranger prospects) get on the US Olympic team?

Some people think it is a silly thing, but I think it is really cool. When I think of Ben Sheets, I think Olympic Gold.

by JBImaknee on Jul 7, 2008 1:12 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Teagarden

I really just don’t know what to make of him these days. His AAA struggles and history of injuries outweigh the power/patience combo at the plate and the defensive prowess in my mind, but a nice ten game stretch could change that opinion in a hurry.

by clark on Jul 7, 2008 1:20 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I just can't stop thinking...

...he will most likely be a Bill Haselman type at best.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I just don’t think of him as being an All-Star or near-All-Star type catcher for 10-12 years.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Jul 7, 2008 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think

he will be more of a charles johnson type. At least I hope so. Gold glove caliber defense along with some pop and fairly low average.

by booyahcaveman on Jul 7, 2008 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Seems like some bloggers opinions on here have changed since last year.

Im happy with a combo of Salts and MaxRam. I think Tea is all hype, but I could be wrong. He sure isn’t proving me wrong though.

The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ

by NYTXFAN on Jul 7, 2008 1:41 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Devil's advocate

He was touted as a strong defensive catcher when drafted, how is he all hype?

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 7, 2008 1:52 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

offense,

he did all right last year, I figured he would become an offensive threat, not just a highly touted d-catcher.

Of course though, this is a gut feeling and he is still young enough to let his offense catch up with his defense.

The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ

by NYTXFAN on Jul 7, 2008 5:10 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

He was never thought of

as a big bat, though, and though he’s been slumping he’s still getting on base at a league average rate and has some power. I’m not worried about his bat, just his health.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 7, 2008 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

If he's a 250/.340/.400 guy with that D

I wouldn’t complain too much. The health concerns worry me, though.

by BudLight on Jul 7, 2008 5:33 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

umm

isn’t that Laird?

by FreeMoney4Sale on Jul 7, 2008 5:36 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

No

Teagarden’s defense is better. All the complaining about Laird not framing pitches would not apply to Teagarden.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 7, 2008 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Teagarden>Laird defensively

I don’t think any doubts have surfaced about Teagarden’s receiving ability, as opposed to OMOT’s.

"I’ll say something that doesn’t need context: anyone who is a Mariner’s fan is a douchebag." - FuturePants

by Chase Irwin on Jul 7, 2008 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

my gut tells me he is a mlb backup, but I think a trade could end up looking very bad in the long run, I really like his makeup

by thedudeabides on Jul 7, 2008 3:14 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to the SB Nation blog about Texas Rangers.
Start posting about the Rangers »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Kinsicon_small
My "Newberg Report" cover artwork - Wallpapers & stuff

Recent FanPosts

Cjkrunk_small
NFL Week 9 GDT 2
Barcodes_small
NFL Week 9 GDT
Rsz_200px-heeseopchoi_20050515_small
Goldstein on Borbon
Feliz_holland_hunter_small
AFL Rising Stars Game Thread
Ea_small
OT: CFB 11/07
Franklin_4_lg_small
Mass Murder at Fort Hood
Tcuhomecoming2008_small
Whither Godzilla?
Tbone_small
Fire up the hot stove
Costa_rica_fishing_2b_small
Playoff Refunds Revisited - five days left
Cjkrunk_small
Mavs GDT- 11/3/09 vs Utah; 11/4/09 @ NO

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

SPONSORS


Managers

Th_buckykatt_small Adam J. Morris