SB Nation Dallas Editor's Pick

2011 Napoli vs 2009 Mauer

by eclou on Sep 18, 2011 8:51 AM CDT

2011 has been a wonderful year for Mike Napoli. The artificial ceiling he was constrained under in Anaheim has been eliminated and he has been able to flourish in a way not seen before in his career. Whether or not he can put up these numbers in the future seasons remains to be seen but in this Rangers' lineup he has become an absolute animal.

In 397 plate appearances so far his line is:

107 hits, 24 doubles, 26 HR, 67 RBI, 54 BB, 79 SO, .317 avg.

Compared to 2010 he has essentially the same number of doubles (24) hits (107 vs 108), RBI (67 vs 68), HR (26) despite 113 fewer plate appearances. He also has struck out far fewer times (79 vs 137) and raking at an OPS of 1.031!

The last catcher to have an OPS of 1.031 was 2009 Joe Mauer. 2009 Mauer:

191 hits, 30 doubles, 28 HR, 96 RBI, 76 BB, .365 avg in 606 plate appearances.

If we extrapolate 2011 Napoli out to 606 plate appearances his numbers would be:

163 hits, 37 doubles, 40 HR, 102 RBI, 82 BB, 121 SO.

While there is no assurance Naps could have sustained the same hitting over 606 PA, the production to date would suggest that he has been (at least offensively) our own little Joe Mauer.

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Comments

Aren't the Rangers

Something like 32-15 when he catches?

Josh Hamilton: "I just show up, look at the lineup and play where I’m told. If they want me to catch, I’ll catch."
Jon Daniels on relationship with #Rangers Young: "I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." 2/19/11

by boomer1 on Sep 18, 2011 9:01 AM CDT reply actions

He should be IN THE CONVERSATION.

"The Rangers system just happens to be stupid with depth." - Jason Parks, 7/14/11
2011-07-25 17:44:05 - benjihana: Ahh my backdoor!!!

by vfn on Sep 18, 2011 9:13 AM CDT up reply actions

CERA!

Nein.

by AfterSchoolSpecial on Sep 18, 2011 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions

What kind of long-term deal do you think you could sign him to?

5 years / 70 million maybe?

Would you commit that money based on one outstanding season?

I think it could be a steal if we get him at that price.

by MikeEl on Sep 18, 2011 2:18 PM CDT reply actions

WTF?

5 years at $14 million per year?

Boy am I glad you’re not our GM.

Ever been in a boardroom, or a gang fight? Ever save a life? Ever won a court case against the odds? Ever held a dying buddy in your arms?.- jackanape on "perspective," 11/8/2010.

"do you a jet ski rental place would work here" - Mike E, 5/10/2011, in response to me saying I would rather face the Thunder than the Grizzlies in the WCF.

by Aqua on Sep 18, 2011 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions

What would you offer?

Do you think he’s having a career year and will regress or will he keep up this kind of performance?

by MikeEl on Sep 18, 2011 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions

I'd offer...

3 years and 33 mil. with a team option for a 4th year at 14 mil.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Sep 18, 2011 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions

That's about where I'd say.

3 years, 10 M or so, maybe with a vesting option for the 4th based on PA’s that third year or the life of the contract.

"The Rangers system just happens to be stupid with depth." - Jason Parks, 7/14/11
2011-07-25 17:44:05 - benjihana: Ahh my backdoor!!!

by vfn on Sep 18, 2011 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions

I just find it hard to believe that he would sign a 3 year deal, with any years at less that 12-13 million

This season in the AL (min 300PA) Mike Napoli is
#2 in wRC+ (178), trailing only Bautista (186)

in wOBA at (.439), trailing only Bautista (.447)
in SLG at (.618) trailing only Bautista (.625)
in OBP at (.413) trailing only Bautista (.447) and Cabrera (.441)
in ISO at (.302) trailing only Bautista (.321)

So basically when he has played he’s been the 2nd best offensive player in the league, and has played competently at catcher, 1B and DH. I find it hard to believe that he would sign any kind of multi-year deal unless there was significant guaranteed money.

It’s a risk, but if you think there’s a good chance at getting anything close to Bautista-level production now is the time to make the offer, before he becomes too established. If you give him another year to duplicate his success before offering the multiyear deal that could add 30 million to the price.

by MikeEl on Sep 18, 2011 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions

that formatting wasn't supposed to be there, basically 2nd in everything but OBP, where he is 3rd

by MikeEl on Sep 18, 2011 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions

You pay for projected future performance

not for past performance.

"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels

by GhettoBear04 on Sep 18, 2011 7:03 PM CDT up reply actions

See Rusty Greer and Michael Young

by kvaughn on Sep 19, 2011 6:19 PM CDT up reply actions

He's a catcher

Those guys aren’t getting big money, long-term deals. The biggest contracts given out to catchers are generally no more than 3 years and 9/10 million dollars. Now since Napoli is more than just a catcher, you could probably expect him to need more money to sign. But even Victor Martinez wasn’t able to get close to 5/70 and he isn’t expected to catch much either.

"In fact, most of these free-swinging Padres couldn’t hit Dock’s funky palm ball. I threw it often. But by then, also, the first acid distractions entered: the TV flickered; the cracks in the wall started to move; the hand soap started to breathe — those sorts of things. Plus I was drawn to the outdoor garden between innings. Rain was near, I sensed." - A.J. Daulerio

by Gdawg on Sep 18, 2011 7:24 PM CDT up reply actions