MLB - 2006 Season! Continued!

[Arrian]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui




Huh? Doug Mirabelli is probably one the better backup catchers in the game today.

You disappoint me. Doug Mirabelli is terrible. I think Kelly Stinnet was out-hitting him this year. Think about that. To my eye, Douggie seems decent enough behind the plate, but I don't think he's got much of an arm. In years past he had some HR pop. But he's old now.

Think the Red Sox might like to have Josh Bard back?

-Arrian

edit/p.s. Most MLB have no depth at catcher, at least offensively. Catchers who hit are rare.

[Imran Siddiqui]

He is known for his defensive game (he's like an AL Eli Marrero). And his career batting average wasn't all that far off the mark from Varitek's numbers this year .

[Arrian]

Varitek has hit .243/.331/.411 (a really bad year for him) this year.

Mirabelli has hit .181/.244/.337 this year. And I was right about Stinnet out-hitting him, albeit BARELY (.002 points of OPS!). Last year he hit .228/.309/.412, which is obviously significantly better. But it's still worse than Varitek this year, and is it really likely that 'ole Douggie will play up to his 2005 form, being one year older?

Meanwhile, in part-time play, Josh Bard has put up this:

.348/.420/.551 (!!)

Obviously, he's not THAT good. He's nowhere near that good. But he's way better than Mirabelli. I for one am very happy that Boston made a panic trade when Bard had trouble catching knuckleballs.

-Arrian

[Ming]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
He is known for his defensive game (he's like an AL Eli Marrero). And his career batting average wasn't all that far off the mark from Varitek's numbers this year .

Yeah... true enough. However, both are far below their career averages this year

And his arm does suck now.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Even if his arm is not that great, most likely his overall defensive game is still a decent deal better than Varitek's.

[Arrian]

Heh, try convincing a Red Sox fan that Varitek isn't God's gift to catcher defense.

-Arrian

[Imran Siddiqui]

Like convincing a Yankee fan that Jeter isn't God's gift to shortstop defense?

[Arrian]

Not THIS Yankee fan, no, but most, yeah. Exactly like that.

-Arrian

[Imran Siddiqui]

Speaking of Red Sox catchers:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2538688

Boston is in talks with the O's to acquire Javy Lopez. Of course, in addition to a deal, Lopez has to go through waivers. The problem for other teams trying to block this (by placing a claim) is that the O's may decide to let any claiming team take him and his salary!!

[Arrian]

I think they got him through, didn't they? He's better than Mirabelli. :shrug:

Nice to see Becket get pounded again, and this time the Indians finally managed to hold their lead (albeit BARELY). Having sole possession of first place is nice.

-Arrian

[Ming]

I can't believe Lopez made it through waivers... A good break for Boston. He is a BIG improvement over Mirabelli. And they are going to need him since now they are the team chasing first place.

[Stuie]

Yeah - Javy cleared waivers and they are just waiting for the commissioners office to clear the deal since there is more than $1M changing hands.

[Arrian]

Javy is an improvement... big improvement? Yeah, prolly. Mirabelli has played like a corpse.

Stuie, you're a Philly fan, yes? Enjoying Utley's streak?

-Arrian

[Ming]

Originally posted by Arrian
Mirabelli has played like a corpse.

I thought he was a corpse... He's one of those "rare" players that think the "Mendoza Line" is a batting average worth targeting... Too bad he's still short of it

[Stuie]

Originally posted by Arrian
Stuie, you're a Philly fan, yes? Enjoying Utley's streak?

-Arrian

Oh, yeah! Utley's streak and Howard's chance to break the Phillies' single season homerun mark are the only reasons left to watch this team.

Well... that, and an outside shot at the wild card.

Oh - and watching the next generation pitchers getting a shot now is fun. And Wolfie is back....

Ok - maybe this team is more fun to watch than I give them credit for. Especially when they go to St. Louis and out-score the redbirds 29-12. I'll just avoid watching when Lieber pitches, I guess.