Wetmore: Catchers were too easy to run on

[Seth Stohs]

1500 ESPN's Derek Wetmore is in Ft. Myers this week. He wrote about how easy it was to run off of the Twins catchers last year. Or, at least they did not throw out many base stealers. Some of that, of course, is on the pitchers as well.

 

Paul Molitor plans to fix that, pointing out that power is down, so base stealing may be up again. 

[stringer bell]

Except for catchers with absolute cannon arms, it is on the pitchers. Neither Suzuki nor Pinto have cannons, so they need help from their pitchers. The key thing is for the catchers to stay fundamentally sound so that the average runners don't take advantage of them. Pinto was a mess by the time he was optioned last year. Someone needs to stay on the catchers to stay sound in their technique.

[JB_Iowa]

Someone needs to stay on the catchers to stay sound in their technique.

 

I think that is Joe Vavra's job. 

 

Phil Miller ‏@MillerStrib  · 5h5 hours ago 

Interesting. Long after Twins clubhouse had emptied, Kurt Suzuki worked w/ Joe Vavra on pitch-framing and footwork.

[Ben Noble]

I think that is Joe Vavra's job. 

 

Phil Miller ‏@MillerStrib  · 5h5 hours ago 

Interesting. Long after Twins clubhouse had emptied, Kurt Suzuki worked w/ Joe Vavra on pitch-framing and footwork.

Man, Joe Vavra really does do it all. I wasn't opposed to Vavra as the bench coach, but was wondering who on Molitor's staff was going to work with catchers after Davis was hired for 1B. Vavra's apparently the guy.

[Mike Sixel]

Framing? But, framing is bunk!

[Thrylos]

Part of the reason that Steinbach sucked at his job the last couple seasons and was fired, btw...

[Seth Stohs]

Framing? But, framing is bunk!

 

I've never said that pitch framing isn't a thing. I was a catcher for a few years. Pitch framing is a big part of the game, it's absolutely a coachable skill. I question that statistic Pitch Framing, as I believe there is too much human error that goes into that skill. Who the hitter is, who the pitcher is, who the catcher is, who the umpire is, etc. 

[iTwins]

If my memory serves me correctly - Suzuki frequently seemed to be at a disadvantage because his pitchers did little to help hold / slow the runners. He'd make good, on target throws - but the runner was already at the base by the time the ball got there.

 

Pinto, meanwhile, had execution issues. Poor foot placement, wild - off target throws (how many sailed into CF and LF?)

 

I wouldn't just say the catchers were too easy to run on (that may apply to Pinto) but the whole pitching staff as well. Hopefully both sides of this equation are a large focus for Molitor and co. this spring.

[Parker Hageman]

If my memory serves me correctly - Suzuki frequently seemed to be at a disadvantage because his pitchers did little to help hold / slow the runners.

 

 

Runners were 20-for-21 against Sam Deduno (10-for-11) and Jared Burton (10-for-10). Burton's time to the plate is ridiculous.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Splange.gif

 

One thing about Tim Stauffer is that he is very quick in his delivery and changes up his delivery:

 

 

(OK, ignore the HR results...)

 

With both of those guys out of the bullpen, I believe we'll see better control of the run game. 

[Kwak]

"Easy to run on the catchers"?--previously that phrase was only used for pitchers.  While I 't think all that much of Twins' catcher defense,  I place most blame on the pitchers.  My memory doesn't recall very many "pickoffs".  Nor very many instances where the baserunner was leaning "back-to-base" while a pitch was delivered to homeplate.  The intimidation factor just isn't very high--for either the pitchers or the catchers--nd that has to be earned.

[Parker Hageman]

My memory doesn't recall very many "pickoffs".

 

 

13 in 2014 -- fourth highest in AL last year: http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2014-basesituation-pitching.shtml

[ashbury]

(OK, ignore the HR results...)

Yeah, I was thinking, he gave his catcher NO chance to nail the runner on that one.