Exactly. Especially with the same team having a penchant for not DLing players. I know most backup catchers are bad, but Butera is bad even for that threshold.
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Given Doumit and Mauers' playing off catcher so often, we need a good 3rd catcher who can catch but doesn't waste a roster spot on someone who can't do anything besides catch (hit, run, play outfield). It seems like a great idea to have 3 catchers like Mauer, Doumit, and Hermann on the roster next year. We need versatility from that other catcher spot.
Mauer: C, 1B, DH
Doumit: C, DH, RF?
Hermann: C, LF, RF
I kinda expect Gardy to sabatoge Hermann over the last 18gms or so ;)....playing him against tough lefties (Sabathia/Sale next trip etc) & limiting his possible success, so as protect his boy Drews #3 status!!!!
Hermann thought he was done & now will make about 50K over the next 3wks.....not a bad gig!!!!
Exactly. Herrmann replacing Butera's time, filling in a bit more for Mauer and Doumit (esp. if Morneau is no longer on the team) as the catcher, and being a 5th OF should get him about 200 plate appearances and he can be very effective in the role for the Twins through the duration of Doumit's contract.
An aggressive team would have Hermann on the Roster next year. I predict he is in AAA to start the year, with Butera somehow keeping his job and being up here instead. The will say "He needs some AAA at bats to get ready" or something like that.
Gardy said pregame that he doesnt plan on playing Hermann alot since he hasnt played for 2wks & is afraid of getting him hurt
LEN3 disagrees:
"Hermann: Gardenhire said he's committed to playing catcher-outfielder Chris Hermann, who was called up because of the Mauer-Doumit situation. Gardenhire, however, is trying to put his best team on the field to face the contending White Sox and probably won't give Hermann a shot until they get to Cleveland."
I have no doubt that Herrmann will get a little playing time. But since he hasn't played in two weeks, I don't think having him sit against Sale and LIriano is a bad thing. That's not setting him up for any kind of success as a left-handed hitter. Let him get back into the 'swing' of things with some BP for a couple of games first.
This is such flawed, aggravating thinking. No one is claiming Drew Butera sank the 2012 season, let's get off that. It's disingenuous and distracting to the real point. Of course he isn't the main reason we're a bad team. But just because you're bad doesn't excuse bad decisions. In part, some of the very same thinking behind the bad decision to scholarship Butera into a roster spot is why this team is as bad as they are. Is he single-handedly or even directly responsible for that? No, but that doesn't excuse the bad decision, which is what is being criticized.
If your manager is going to insist on a third catcher and your highest paid player needs to be a part-time catcher - then you better have one that can be a regular contributor to the team in that role. Especially if you also have a penchant for playing a thin bench.
This represents some scarily lowered expectations for the team. No matter how bad you are it doesn't excuse you poorly constructing your roster.
While Mauer and Doumit are out I'd start him every game just to see what he's got. He can't do any worse then what Butera has been doing the past two years. You know what you have in Butera, a decent fielding weak batting catcher, why not find out what you have in Herrman?
Butera started season 9-25 over his first 8gms (7starts) w/3doubles for a .360/.385/.480 start & all the Butera lovers were sayin 'see, he's improved his hitting & is now a viable major league backup.
Since then.....3 days short of 4 full months
32gms (23starts) 12/78 4runs 2doubles HR 5rbi 23k 8bb for a line of .154/.250/.218.......how is that capable of sustaining a job in the majors ?
The .468OPS for these 4 months is LOWER than his career average of .499...he's hitting worse than he EVER has!!!
How is playing him over Chris Hermann fielding a better lineup vs a contender???