|
Post by iPatriot on Apr 2, 2009 15:53:09 GMT -5
For rules see here.You are a well respected and powerful manager for a National League ball club and you face this situation. Your current catcher is aging: Kevin Graham He is 34 years old. Both his offense and defense has diminished is recent years. Historically, he has been one of the best in the league in all aspects of the game but has sharply declined in recent years. By the current projections, he is capable of a .250/10/60 line, with a career line of .300/18/90. A decent season, but a shell of what everyone is used to. He has continually refused a move to first base. He has the history of being difficult in the club house and has a powerhouse agent to back him up. However, the fans love him and he has been the face of your successful franchise for a number of years and has developed a very strong relationship with your current staff . Your top prospect is also a catcher: Felix Tobias He is 23 years old and has absolutely torn apart minor league pitching since being drafted two seasons ago out of a top college program. He has a cannon for an arm and has already developed a reputation in minor league baseball as a guy you do not even think about running on. Your scouts tell you he his ready to play NOW and his contract is quickly needing attention. He has a reputation as a very amiable guy and has never had behavioral issues at any level. He has the potential to be a perennial all-star with .300/25/100 not out of the question. He has no experience playing any other position and no experience with a major league staff. Opening day approaches and both guys have had a solid spring. You have a middle of the road first basemen. Do you try to move one of the catchers- perhaps for an upgrade at first? Do you force one to play first? Do you stick with Graham and demote Tobias? Do you platoon? Be creative.
|
|
|
Post by MxHT413 on Apr 2, 2009 19:32:52 GMT -5
I'm glad we've got this started again. Now that I'm a head coach in real life, this became a little more fun.
To start out, I'd keep both on the roster, and Graham would be my Opening Day catcher. I would also keep a utility man on the team, someone of the Brandon Inge type who can play the corners and catch. If I don't have one of them, I deal my mediocre first baseman, and my new utility man becomes my starter at first for the time being.
Now, first base isn't an extremely hard position to learn. My first plan of action would be to see how Tobias feels about giving it a shot during various BP's. I know that many catchers play other positions during practice just in case a certain situation comes up, like when Carlos Ruiz played third towards the end of last season.
When that doesn't work (because it most likely won't), I keep Graham catching until he starts performing very poorly. This gives Tobias some time to learn the ropes, and he'd still catch every 6th game or so. During this time, I'd also make use of my defensive options towards the end of games. Since I have my utility man, I can freely substitute Tobias for Graham in the late innings and not have to worry about the chance of injury.
Now comes May/June and Graham is hitting .245 with 2 homers and 18 RBI. I can start integrating Tobias in the lineup more, and eventually work him into starting most games without the fans rioting outside the stadium. At this point, I could have two reactions from Graham. If he realizes his time is up, then I'd definately keep him on the roster until the end of the season. However, if he becomes a cancer, I'd have no choice but to send him packing. Tobias is my present and my future, and if Graham can't appreciate that, I wouldn't want him on my squad.
|
|
|
Post by Nyi28nhl on Apr 2, 2009 20:19:50 GMT -5
It would be very risky to move Graham right away and insert Tobias. There will be growing pains for sure, but he could downright bust. Can't afford to put all my eggs in that basket.
If Tobias Succeeds in MLB Think Joe Girardi/Jorge Posada in the mid/late 90s of the Yankees. Graham starts opening day, and they platoon the month of April with Graham getting around 60-75% of the starts.
If Tobias is looking more and more comfortable, and the pitching staff is complaint free, that platoon becomes 50/50 for May and June. If Tobias asks for the starting role (and deserves it), Graham is a goner come the deadline. Fans will quickly forget him if a 23 year old out performs him by a landslide.
If Tobias doesn't approach me asking for the job, the splits gradually move towards 75% Tobias, 25% Graham. Then, after the season, either let Graham become a free agent or trade him depending on his contract situation.
If Tobias struggles.. Now, if Tobias does not outperform Graham by June, he goes down to the minors for a month. Let him tear that league back up, gain confidence, and bring him back for the second half and a 50/50 platoon with Graham the rest of the way.
Then, we just start this process again next spring from the beginning.
For 1st Base Middle of the road first basemen is better than a declining player playing an unnatural position. No need to put Graham there. If the opportunity arises to grab an upgrade for little or no expense in terms of prospects then I move forward that way. If not, I trust that the rest of the team will makeup for whatever lack of production will come from there.
At some point, I try out Tobias at 1st Base during practice. If he doesn't have immediate success there, then I put him back at catcher right away.
|
|
|
Post by BlackOps on Apr 2, 2009 21:25:37 GMT -5
Normally, I'm one who prescribes to the "out with the old, in with the new" philosophy. To me, the biggest issue is whether or not Tobias will respond to the promotion. -If he doesn't, then conventional wisdom will either send him down to AAA to let him gain some confidence in himself and his hitting or let him ride it out in the bigs. Most catchers won't become good pitchcallers/rotation handlers until they've been with a pitcher for at least a season. If he's hitting fine, there is no concern. Leaving him in the big leagues to fix his issues there is obviously the bigger issue; some guys do fine playing terrible for a few seasons and end up hitting expectations or even gaining something from the time, while others flame out. Good scouting or even personality evaluation will let you know beforehand if this is an issue.
If Tobias gets promoted and plays poorly, will Graham try to mentor him or be what you describe him to be, a cancer? What if Tobias does need to go down to the minors? Will Graham be comfortable with stepping in knowing he was the second choice? Of course, you have to trust your report that Tobias is ready, and not worry about him struggling.
I'd lean toward sending Graham away for an upgrade at first. If Tobias is ready to play, he's got to move up or else no progression will be made.
If Tobias has as good of an arm as you say, maybe he could play third? Graham's numbers aren't great, but are pretty much average for a catcher. If he's got two or three more seasons at that performance, you can stomach it, especially if he's important to the fans. Tobias would hit as a seemingly average first baseman, a pretty good third baseman, and a top-tier catcher. The issue is obviously injuries; the decision would come based on scouting reports. Any injury concern and you've got to move him away from catcher and take advantage of his hitting abilities.
I can see some parallels in this story to Pablo Sandoval's situation in San Francisco and the huge logjam in Texas between Salty, Teagarden, and Max Ramirez.
|
|
|
Post by GEO's Backup Account on Apr 5, 2009 17:31:57 GMT -5
You keep Graham, first of all. Teams need to respect their franchise players and not be so quick to just "cast them away."
The ideal situation would be to keep Tobias around and all Graham to mold him into the new franchise catcher.
If I'm in the position, I send Tobias down so he can get more playing time and continues to develop, and call him up after the All Star break to allow the transition to begin.
|
|
|
Post by mainstreet52 on Apr 15, 2009 22:43:54 GMT -5
I'd want to know a few more things here:
First off, how experienced is my pitching staff? If my staff is filled with young arms still learning how to pitch in the bigs, then Graham is my everyday starter, with Tobias getting another year in AAA most likely. If I have mostly veterans who already know the game, then I consider playing Tobias and Graham roughly 50/50, with Graham as my Opening Day starter. If I have a mix, then I look at carrying three catchers and finding another position to get guys at, which brings me to point #2...
Second, how good is my third baseman? If I have a crappy third baseman, I will certianly attempt to try both Graham and Tobias at third base. See if either can play well. If so, I carry three catchers and both Graham and Tobias start Opening Day. (I'd have my third catcher be able to play 1B as well, but he'd still be a backup.)
Third, how is Graham's health status? Aging does not not necessarily mean a decline in health. If Graham is simply being overworked due to health/stamina concerns, then I definitely keep Tobias in the major leagues and limit Graham to about 60-80 starts. (a la San Diego Padres' use of Mike Piazza a few years back) If he's just tailing off, then, well... the two factors above come in to play more than this.
I do not consider wasting Tobias's strong arm at 1B. Nor do I consider trading either catcher.
|
|