What do we do about our catching situation?

by Phantom on Aug 17, 2007 8:42 AM PDT Comment 29 comments

From what I can find at Cot's baseball contracts, all of our guys should be FA's next year (I could be wrong about Bard though) http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/san-diego-padres.html

So what do we do about our situation?

Barrett (.231/.238/.288/41 OPS+) has been extremely disappointing since coming over (and if you ever read Ducksnorts, there's a conspiracy theory linking Michael Barrrett starts to Padres losses). He's shown almost non-existent power, neglible on-base skills, and although he's got a gun, it's relatively inconsistent.

Bard (.264/.348/.377/96 OPS+)has quitely put together a strong season, showing great plate discipline (35 BB), but diminishing power (22 xBH). His defense is largely underrated (he blocks balls very well), but he doesn't have much of a gun. I'm easily comfortable with Bard getting 60 to 70 percent of the reamining starts.

Pete LaForest (.421/.522/.632/210 OPS+)has been a monster in his brief time with the Padres, but his minor league numbers suggest an eventual return to Earth (.230/.347/.544/.891 OPS). Regardless, LaForest seems to have pretty decent plate discipline, and we all know about his offensive prowess with him being a lumberjack and all. He's still mostly a question mark on defense (although he did block some really tough pitches from Clay last nite), but at any point, he can change a game with one swing of the bat. Oh, he can also play first and third. Should he stay on the roster for the rest of the year? I give it a hearty thumbs up.

Todd Greene's career averages leave a little to be desired (.252/.286/.444/82 OPS+) but he has a reptuation as a strong defender. Although he's currently on the shelf, I've heard reports that he loves the organization and would be willing to come back next year.

So what do we do for the rest of this year and next year? I personally think LaForest needs to stay on the roster even after Barrett comes off (and I think he should also get more playing time than Barret, though that will never happen) and I think we should re-up Laforest and Bard for next year. There isn't much in the way of available FA catchers this off-season (see below list).

Jorge Posada (36)
Ivan Rodriguez (36) - $13MM club option for '08
Paul Lo Duca (36)
Michael Barrett (31)
Jason Kendall (34)
Ramon Castro (32)
Jose Molina (33)
Yorvit Torrealba (30)
Brad Ausmus (39)

The only person I could see us having interest in is Brad Ausmus who's a great defender (one of the best defensive catchers ever) but is a total offensive liability. I also am not sure if we have much in the system in terms of potential propsects.

What do you think?

This FanPost was written by a member of the Gaslamp Ball community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Gaslamp Ball managers or SB Nation.

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we

could rush nick hundley a little but hes probably a year away

i say we stick with bard and barrett rest of year, and give laforest and bard platoon duties next.

we could also go to bochys three headed catching monster,,,,,,, but thats doubtful.....13 pitchers is much more , um, useful.

I'd love to face this guy every time i come to the park....and go 0-3

by Dinosaur on Aug 17, 2007 8:49 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

oh god...

if we even end up with Ausmus next year... that'd be one of my worst nightmares, which usually means that padres management also thinks it'd be a great idea.

Plus, as a former Padre, Ausmus would totally jive with managements plan to bring in only locals, former padres, or big-time players past their prime.

by pjbno4 on Aug 17, 2007 8:56 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Unless our offense drastically improves

in the off-season, I think we do probably need some production out of our catcher. I sincerely hope that LaForest gets some more playing time in the stretch-run, but we'll see how that goes.

by Phantom on Aug 17, 2007 8:59 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

i don't think so

There's no way we go get Ausmus. He isn't an improvement on Bard or Laforest, and he's a million years old. He's maybe the worst offensive regular in baseball.

I'd be happy to have Torrealba/Castro as a defensive backup to the primary catcher, but not as a starter. Honestly, I'd rather just keep the guys we've got.

"Winfield's head hits the wall! It's rolling toward second base!" - Jerry Coleman

by metalsupplier on Aug 17, 2007 9:49 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

kendall

the padres have always loved him and visa-versa. i do not love him, but he's better than Todd Greene and is supposedly great at handling pitching staffs. he also walks a lot, which we know our guys love.

if i had to put my money on anybody, it'd be him or a re-signing of Barrett.

we might be able to get Gregg Zaun from Toronto (possible fire sale). he's a decent defensive catcher, an ok hitter and is very old. he'd only be a stopgap for a year or two.

by John (obviousman) on Aug 17, 2007 10:03 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

i like jason kendall

As long as he's making backup-catcher money, because that's what he is. If you're a team with a lot of offense you can afford a guy who has no power whatsoever and declining ba/obp, but the Padres don't have a lot of offense.

"Winfield's head hits the wall! It's rolling toward second base!" - Jerry Coleman

by metalsupplier on Aug 17, 2007 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Those free agents

are either

a) stupid expensive
b) old
c) terrible
d) all of the above

Just about nobody in the NL gets any considerable production out of their catcher (LA and ATL are exceptions) so a platoon of Bard and Laforest will be both serviceable and cheap. Unless KT knows of something wildly different, I really think that's what's going to happen.

by matto619 on Aug 17, 2007 10:19 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

you're right

there is only a handful of NL catchers hitting over .300, and only one of them is a starter (more on this in a second). one of the best options on that list is Lo Duca, who is having a similar but slightly worse year than Bard. David Ross is leading the NL in HRs by a catcher with 15, but is batting .207. statistically, the best offensive catchers in the NL this year (excluding players that were traded to the NL at the trade deadline):

Russell Martin
Ramon Castro
Johnny Estrada
Ryan Doumit (who?)
Brian McCann
Bengie Molina

not exactly a star-studded group of players. Castro doesn't start and i don't remember ever being afraid of Molina or Estrada when facing them as division rivals. outside of Martin and McCann, i don't think any of the other ones would make it in the bigs on their offense alone.

by the way, since joining the cubs Jason Kendall is batting .311 with an OBP of .420 in 23 games. yikes. perhaps he's just not meant for the AL?

on another note, Bowen is hitting .333 with an OBP of .474 in 12 games since joining the A's.

by John (obviousman) on Aug 17, 2007 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Personally...

I think we stick with Bard. Laforest is perfectly fine as a backup and at this point, I'd gamble on Bard improving into next season.

by Dex on Aug 17, 2007 10:31 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I actually really liked Bowen

as well, but I thought we were getting value by dealing him for Barrett. Bard has proven himself to be capable at the plate and I would like to see us bring back LaForest as well.

And by the way, thanks to whoever put this on the front page.

by Phantom on Aug 17, 2007 10:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Josh Bard

Is under control for at least one more (I think two years). He either signs a contract with the Padres (like he did last year) or is forced into arbitrartion.

"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. " ~Frank Sinatra

by Sammy G on Aug 17, 2007 11:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks!

I didn't think he had enough service time to be a FA, but I couldn't confirm this anywhere. Thanks for clearing that up.

by Phantom on Aug 17, 2007 11:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Same

Like just about everyone else, I'm happy keeping Bard, with Laforest behind him. It's just a spot that you get much offensive production from. I'd rather see the money go to a 2B and Cameron.

by Winfield's Ghost on Aug 17, 2007 11:19 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Solution

I'm not surprised this guy wasn't on the list of free-agent catchers to be, since I don't think he actually has a current contract. But I think he'd be perfect.

http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player_news.jsp?player_id=150433

Unless Nevin wants to come back and catch, in which case nevin would be perfecter.

by pjbno4 on Aug 17, 2007 11:56 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ben...

Last time I checked he was playing for the Dodgers Triple A team in Vegas.

by Drama on Aug 17, 2007 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

tommy john surgery

http://sportsyenta.blogspot.com/2007/08/maybe-hes-better-at-not-playing.html

did everyone know about this already? is Matt Bush becoming the baseball Ryan Leaf?

by John (obviousman) on Aug 17, 2007 12:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

kind of

In football a #1 overall pick is a hell of a lot more inportant to a team than a #1 pick in baseball.

by sdpads24 on Aug 17, 2007 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gotta Go With The Hot Bat.

Give Pete a lot more at bats to see if he is real. We never give these Portland bats a good try at the big league level.

by planetjeffy on Aug 17, 2007 12:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Totally agree

In fact, the only person this year to get an exteded try-out was Sledge. P-Mac never got regular playing time. At least Chase did get used quite a bit when they brought him up.

by Phantom on Aug 17, 2007 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I guess it depends on how our offense shapes up...

for next year. Bard seems perfectly fine to me. He's decent at the plate. And the vast majority of the steals against the Padres are stolen off our pitchers. Even an arm like Yadier Molina would have problems throwing guys out with Chris Young on the mound.

We're probably not looking to the catcher to be a Mike Piazza type, offensively. I imagine they'll concentrate on getting good, healthy production out of our corner outfield spots and second base before they worry about getting a hot hitting catcher.

I'd say leave Bard and have Laforest back there spelling him. We'll see if Canada Pete can turn into a solid major league hitter--he looked good last night, but one game isn't a career.

by goose1 on Aug 17, 2007 12:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Mike Piazza

types of offensive catcher don't happen that often, that is why he is a first ballot hall of famer unless something dramatic happens before them. I think there are only three really good offensive catchers right now: McCann, Martinez and Martin.

"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. " ~Frank Sinatra

by Sammy G on Aug 17, 2007 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

posada's pretty nuts this year

by Dalton on Aug 17, 2007 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

joe mauer?

Geoff
Ducksnorts 2007 Baseball Annual

by Geoff on Aug 17, 2007 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Giles and Kendall

Would bringing in Kendall make B. Giles bring even more life to him? I know they were BFFs in Pittsburg and a reunion would probably be great for the team.

CaleciaPad

by CaleciaPad on Aug 17, 2007 1:16 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

right.

I mean, everyone can see the rejuvenating effects Marcus has had on his brother.

by pjbno4 on Aug 17, 2007 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wish there was a way

that KT could fleece Jon Daniels again and grab Salty from the Rangers. Of course, the Rangers proably wouldn't give up Salty up for free since they gave up Tex to get him.

Also, I'm not sure how much teams like the Rangers feel about trading with the Padres anymore.

I also wonder how Cleveland feels about giving up Kouz for Barfield. I definitely think we came out on the better end of that deal.

by Phantom on Aug 17, 2007 1:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yorvit!

by Spec20 on Aug 17, 2007 3:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I thought this was intresting

Mike Piazza: Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics

Paul Lo Duca: Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, ?

by CurbEnthusiasm on Aug 17, 2007 3:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Wiggins' vote

Go Bard! Not only does he run out of the dugout and yell at umpires, but he reads stories to kids at the library.

Plus, Bard is only one letter change away from TARD. But wait... that rminds Wigginz heh hadl teh xex wTI8 RETRDUD;E GILR OH NO WIGGINS GO DI8E NOWO!!!!!!!!!

Wiggins: Voted "Creepiest Gaslamp Baller" by his fans.

by wiggins4ever on Aug 18, 2007 11:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs