Saturday, August 23, 2014

So, what does Bochy think of moving Posey to another position down the road? - Giants Extra

Buster Posey, A.J. Ellis, Vic Carapazza

The numbers below don't lie. Small sample size is a given for the simple reason that they don't give him that many nights off from behind the dish, but the overall numbers are still very revealing. I didn't realize there was this much of a differential between the C Buster Posey and the 1B Buster Posey as a hitter. It just speaks to how stressful catching is on a hitter and how much it saps  his overall offensive potential.

from Giants Extra:
So, what does Bochy think of moving Posey to another position down the road? - Giants Extra:
What if Posey didn’t have to catch? What if he didn’t have to take time off — three games this year, Bochy said — to deal with the hip tightness, or the occasionally sore back, or the other dings and dents that come with being an MLB catcher. Manager Bruce Bochy acknowledged Friday that Posey can be a different hitter when he gets to play first base, something the numbers back up. 
Posey is hitting .265 with a .425 slugging percentage in 332 at-bats as a catcher this season. He is hitting .385 and slugging .526 in 78 at-bats as a first baseman. It’s a small sample size, but Posey has had similar splits in past years.

“It does affect him,” Bochy said. “You can tell with the way he swings the bat. I do think it’s easier on the body playing first base. It takes you away from the mental grind of catching every day. It’s a a little bit easier and it does make sense if a guy is comfortable at first and has no stress at first, that he should hit a little bit more.”
 Bochy said that if Posey does eventually move, it would be to first base, not third. He thinks Posey has the arm and hands to handle the hot corner, but there are plays that are much more difficult on that side of the diamond. It would take “a lot of work” to get Posey comfortable with slow rollers and other such plays at third base, Bochy said.
'via Blog this'

To me, you lose the guy at least 10% of the time just in terms of lost AB's (the numbers below reveal that) from giving him the entire day off. If you lose another 10% of the guy just due to the cumulative stresses of catching, your basically getting 80% out of your best hitting asset on a daily basis. Unless Posey is significantly more valuable behind the dish than your next best option, I think you have to make the move ASAP.


Buster Posey116427521222211561405701.286.345.447.793
Pablo Sandoval124464571322421459316700.284.328.435.763
Michael Morse1224104611629216572811300.283.339.480.819
Hunter Pence12852586148269175538100115.282.333.463.796
Madison Bumgarner26559152031322300.273.305.473.778


With Susac developing into a guy who could handle the grind 120-130 times a year, who knows? He looks like he might be OK behind the dish, better if he stops stabbing at balls in the dirt and starts blocking more often. Offensively, he looks like he handle the bat well enough to give you a .250 average +/- 20 points. That would be fine with the occasional pop that comes with it.

Interesting to see they have made up their minds that it will be 1B rather than 3B. Good news for Pablo, maybe worse news for Michael Morse and / or Brandon Belt.

Now, if the brain trust can only figure out why Brandon Crawford, who should be hitting .275 continues to languish as .225, we may have something to cheer about.

No comments:

Giants Top Minor League Prospects

  • 1. Joey Bart 6-2, 215 C Power arm and a power bat, playing a premium defensive position. Good catch and throw skills.
  • 2. Heliot Ramos 6-2, 185 OF Potential high-ceiling player the Giants have been looking for. Great bat speed, early returns were impressive.
  • 3. Chris Shaw 6-3. 230 1B Lefty power bat, limited defensively to 1B, Matt Adams comp?
  • 4. Tyler Beede 6-4, 215 RHP from Vanderbilt projects as top of the rotation starter when he works out his command/control issues. When he misses, he misses by a bunch.
  • 5. Stephen Duggar 6-1, 170 CF Another toolsy, under-achieving OF in the Gary Brown mold, hoping for better results.
  • 6. Sandro Fabian 6-0, 180 OF Dominican signee from 2014, shows some pop in his bat. Below average arm and lack of speed should push him towards LF.
  • 7. Aramis Garcia 6-2, 220 C from Florida INTL projects as a good bat behind the dish with enough defensive skill to play there long-term
  • 8. Heath Quinn 6-2, 190 OF Strong hitter, makes contact with improving approach at the plate. Returns from hamate bone injury.
  • 9. Garrett Williams 6-1, 205 LHP Former Oklahoma standout, Giants prototype, low-ceiling, high-floor prospect.
  • 10. Shaun Anderson 6-4, 225 RHP Large frame, 3.36 K/BB rate. Can start or relieve
  • 11. Jacob Gonzalez 6-3, 190 3B Good pedigree, impressive bat for HS prospect.
  • 12. Seth Corry 6-2 195 LHP Highly regard HS pick. Was mentioned as possible chip in high profile trades.
  • 13. C.J. Hinojosa 5-10, 175 SS Scrappy IF prospect in the mold of Kelby Tomlinson, just gets it done.
  • 14. Garett Cave 6-4, 200 RHP He misses a lot of bats and at times, the plate. 13 K/9 an 5 B/9. Wild thing.

2019 MLB Draft - Top HS Draft Prospects

  • 1. Bobby Witt, Jr. 6-1,185 SS Colleyville Heritage HS (TX) Oklahoma commit. Outstanding defensive SS who can hit. 6.4 speed in 60 yd. Touched 97 on mound. Son of former major leaguer. Five tool potential.
  • 2. Riley Greene 6-2, 190 OF Haggerty HS (FL) Florida commit.Best HS hitting prospect. LH bat with good eye, plate discipline and developing power.
  • 3. C.J. Abrams 6-2, 180 SS Blessed Trinity HS (GA) High-ceiling athlete. 70 speed with plus arm. Hitting needs to develop as he matures. Alabama commit.
  • 4. Reece Hinds 6-4, 210 SS Niceville HS (FL) Power bat, committed to LSU. Plus arm, solid enough bat to move to 3B down the road. 98MPH arm.
  • 5. Daniel Espino 6-3, 200 RHP Georgia Premier Academy (GA) LSU commit. Touches 98 on FB with wipe out SL.

2019 MLB Draft - Top College Draft Prospects

  • 1. Adley Rutschman C Oregon State Plus defender with great arm. Excellent receiver plus a switch hitter with some pop in the bat.
  • 2. Shea Langliers C Baylor Excelent throw and catch skills with good pop time. Quick bat, uses all fields approach with some pop.
  • 3. Zack Thompson 6-2 LHP Kentucky Missed time with an elbow issue. FB up to 95 with plenty of secondary stuff.
  • 4. Matt Wallner 6-5 OF Southern Miss Run producing bat plus mid to upper 90's FB closer. Power bat from the left side, athletic for size.
  • 5. Nick Lodolo LHP TCU Tall LHP, 95MPH FB and solid breaking stuff.