Well, I believe this is the third year in a row that Gar has tried giving backup catchers more playing time in a desperate search for offense. If any of them had hit well, Ausmus may have been relegated to backup. Hell, they even claimed Munson basically from the scrap heap and moved him back to a position he hadn't played since college, hoping to find a catcher that can hit.
Jim yesterday said this was "nine kinds of wrong." Here you go:
1.
I believe this is the third year in a row Raul Chavez was the backup catcher in '04 and '05. Before Chavez, there was Gregg Zaun, who slugged .400 last year with Toronto with more playing time. Why would the Astros cut Zaun in favor of a guy like Chavez?
2.
that Gar has tried giving backup catchers more playing timeChavez's games played went down from 64 to 37 in Garner's first full year as manager, and probably went down substantially after Jimy got fired in '04. Ausmus was at the top of league in games caught last year.
3.
in a desperate search.If the search was really so "desperate" then there probably would have been more turnover than three backups in 3 1/2 years (Chavez, Quintero, Munson). A desperate move would be something like moving Mike Lamb to catcher.
4.
for offenseBeing that Munson is a better offensive catcher than Quintero, and that Quintero is the superior defensive catcher, it would seem that the team isn't primarily looking for offense from their catchers because they demoted Munson and promoted Quintero in-season last year. Munson wasn't even really considered to make the team out of spring training this year, but has been promoted since he improved his defense. Also, Gimenez had a pretty good offensive year at Round Rock in '06, but Quintero got the promotion.
5.
If any of them had hit wellWhile none of these three backups have "hit well," clearly getting them to "hit well" has not been a priority of Garner's because he plays them once every five days and rarely gives them opportunities to pinch hit. If he was really looking for a catcher to "hit well," he would have played them in such a way as to make them more able to get in an offensive rhythm.
6.
Ausmus may have been relegated to backup.No way he would have been a backup, if for no other reason than Oswalt, Clemens, Pettite, and now Woody have made it clear they want him to catch for them.
7.
they even claimed Munson basically from the scrap heapMunson signed as a non-roster invitee. He was a 28 year-old free agent. While being released by the Devil Rays is not exactly something to be proud of, he was recently a first round pick and top prospect.
8.
and moved him back to a position With Lance Berkman and possibly Bagwell entrenched at first base, Munson moved to catcher because he and the club knew it was pretty much his only chance of making the team. Him making the team was probably the biggest surprise of last year's camp.
9.
hoping to find a catcher that can hit.Again, as has been shown previously, if "hoping to find a catcher that can hit" was their motivation then they would have signed one in the offseason.
