Prediction-Eric Fryer becomes the starter

[curt1965]

This may seem crazy, but Fryer is the superior catcher defensively. He and Suzuki will hit about the same- Fryer has the biggest upside though. What's everybody think?

[darin617]

works for me.

[Badsmerf]

Earn it.

[Oxtung]

Suzuki will continue to be the starter for the same reasons Pelfrey remains in the rotation.

[sane]

Fryer almost fainted after fieldng a bunt in the July 12 game vs. the Tigers.

 

He looked to first base, THEN looked to second base which is fundamentally backward. He then looked again to first and threw wildly over second base into center-field. The throw looked like a blooper over Dozier's head. Everyone makes errors, but few have a obvious panic attack on a routine play.

[blairpaul715]

 

Fryer almost fainted after fieldng a bunt in the July 12 game vs. the Tigers.

He looked to first base, THEN looked to second base which is fundamentally backward. He then looked again to first and threw wildly over second base into center-field. The throw looked like a blooper over Dozier's head. Everyone makes errors, but few have a obvious panic attack on a routine play.

It was an error yes, but i dont think he panicked, he is a good catcher who made a mistake and he knew it.......he is definitely a better defensive catcher, and I hope he plays 2 days a week to keep Suzuki fresher and see if that helps Suzuki, and if we cant find someone else in the offseason............. I would be alright with Fryer competing with Suzuki for playing time next yr so we dont have to have Suzuki reach the vesting option in his contract for 2017.

[Linus]

Fine by me. Suzuki looks worn out and really isn't contributing on either side of the ball. If Fryer is truly better defensively then let him play.

[jorgenswest]

Fryer could not be viewed by other clubs as a good defensive catcher. Good defensive catchers get traded for or at least claimed when DFA'd. It is unlikely there is any team in baseball that would trade their number 2 catcher straight up for Fryer.

[nicksaviking]

I thought it was a given when he got called up, why would you replace the back up catcher if he wasn't going to play?

 

Suzuki can't hit, throw anyone out, or block passed balls. They must really, really like how he calls games, though with this veteran staff, I'd guess the pitchers actually have a ton of say in the pitch selections.

[jimbo92107]

 

Fryer almost fainted after fieldng a bunt in the July 12 game vs. the Tigers.

He looked to first base, THEN looked to second base which is fundamentally backward. He then looked again to first and threw wildly over second base into center-field. The throw looked like a blooper over Dozier's head. Everyone makes errors, but few have a obvious panic attack on a routine play.

He double clutched after shifting his eyes to first. That was an embarrassing brain fart, but it wasn't a sign of doom. Fryer is an excellent defensive catcher, has a much better arm than Suzuki, and his bat is better because he's not physically worn down from starting 90 percent of games. I'd start Fryer for a couple weeks, then platoon him and Suzuki 50/50 for the remainder. That way, Suzuki is relatively fresh for the playoff push, we'll know more about Fryer's long term, and meanwhile Chris Herrmann is getting his batting eye back in Rochester.

[HitInAPinch]

 

Fryer could not be viewed by other clubs as a good defensive catcher. Good defensive catchers get traded for or at least claimed when DFA'd. It is unlikely there is any team in baseball that would trade their number 2 catcher straight up for Fryer.

Very true.  

 

The Twins need to concentrate on finding the next catcher prospect for every MiLB level.  Otherwise, they'll be doing what they are now:  cherry-picking the waiver wires or other teams backup catchers to fill their starting MLB spot.

[HitInAPinch]

 

 

because he's not physically worn down from starting 90 percent of games.

 

That's it right there!   Suzuki is not a big guy, even though he's listed at 205.  Catchers take a beating. 

 

There was only one non-hitting catcher that I've ever seen that was truly an "excellent defensive catcher":  Henry Blanco.  He was really something to watch.

[DaveW]

No

[howieramone2]

It makes no sense to break up a winning lineup.

[twinsnorth49]

Earn it.

Playing would be a good way to do that.

[drjim]

I think the anyone but Suzuki plan is starting to get a little out of hand. Embracing a starting role for Eric Fryer...

[twinsnorth49]

I think the anyone but Suzuki plan is starting to get a little out of hand. Embracing a starting role for Eric Fryer...

Yeah, I'm not going that far. I still want them to deal for someone established but not past their expiry date, of course that's way easier said than done. Barring that I don't see what the issue is in playing Fryer more, it's what he should become there for, especially with Suzuki doing jack all.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

 

Fryer could not be viewed by other clubs as a good defensive catcher. Good defensive catchers get traded for or at least claimed when DFA'd. It is unlikely there is any team in baseball that would trade their number 2 catcher straight up for Fryer.

would another team in baseball trade a number 2 catcher straight up for Suzuki? I wouldn't

[Rosterman]

August will be interesting. See what players the Twins put out there on the waiver wire and see who gets claimed, and then the Twins have to make a decision to let the player go, see if they can get anything in trade, or keep. I would like to see both Pelfrey and Suzuki put out there. If Suzuki is grabbed, you bring up Pinto for the rest of the season and play him with Fryer and not have to worry about Suzuki for next season. Enough teams are looking for catchers, so you aren't going to trade for one necessarily. And many teams may think that Suzuki is an upgrade for them. 

 

The BIG QUESTION in Twins land, can Pinto catch a reasonable number of games and is Fryer for real. IF the Twins put Fryer out there on waivers, they would lose him for sure. Then we are back to Herrmann. 

 

But don't see the Twins making many deals as everyone else is looking for a strong bullpen arm or a catcher. Better to play next years free agent market, unless A.J. can be ahd for a song. The waiver wire will be mighty interesting this August!

[stringer bell]

I don't know if we can count on Pinto playing another game for anyone this year. He probably wasn't right after being hit in the head in mid-March, as reflected by his poor hitting. He was disabled over five weeks ago and I've seen no word that his return is imminent. This appears to be a lost season for Pinto, his last option year.

[Andrew]

It makes no sense to break up a winning lineup.

Unless in that lineup there was a deep black hole in the 8th spot named Suzuki....

Kurt Suzuki

[jorgenswest]

would another team in baseball trade a number 2 catcher straight up for Suzuki? I wouldn't

Does Suzuki bring value behind the plate that goes unmeasured by anything measured? I hated the move to acquire him knowing that Pinto wouldn't be given an opportunity in 2014. I saw the bad framing numbers, poor throwing numbers and weak bat. I hated the extension. I wonder if I was wrong. I wonder if he brings value that isn't measured.

[Mike Sixel]

Why didn't that immeasurable stuff work all the other places he was? I don't buy it. He is not good at his job imo.

[jokin]

 

Does Suzuki bring value behind the plate that goes unmeasured by anything measured? I hated the move to acquire him knowing that Pinto wouldn't be given an opportunity in 2014. I saw the bad framing numbers, poor throwing numbers and weak bat. I hated the extension. I wonder if I was wrong. I wonder if he brings value that isn't measured.

 

Ryan, the old field managerial regime, as well as the new regime, all have praised him for his deft handling of pitchers.   They've specifically talked about his exhaustive game prep for how to game plan an attack on each individual opposition hitter.   All still true this year, even as his bat has regressed, and as his one and only tangible defensive skill, pitch blocking, has all but evaporated. Besides the salary realities, it's pretty apparent that Zuke is going to be playing just about as often in August and September as he has to this point.

 

Regarding the extension, the working assumption by the organization has always appeared to have been to try and reward a previously-signed FA with an extension offer, provided they meet or exceed production expectations. It's a defensible position and a sound strategy for luring future FAs, but as many argued at the time one year ago, it was even more defensible to trade Suzuki to a contender before the deadline at peak value, hold an open tryout for the remainder of the 2014 season, and then look to upgrade at the position in the offseason.

[jorgenswest]

Why didn't that immeasurable stuff work all the other places he was? I don't buy it. He is not good at his job imo.

I argued strongly that it was a bad signing. I compared him with all other A's and National's catchers in 2012 and 2013. Pitchers had better strike out walk numbers with the other catchers. He caught a lot of games for both those teams. Those teams had ERAs among the best in baseball. At the time they acquired Suzuki, I argued it was in spite of him. Maybe I was wrong.

[ScrapTheNickname]

I don't know.

 

The last 3 years in AAA he has thrown out 41% of baserunners attempting to steal. That is more than excellent.

 

Suzuki this year has thrown out 19.6%. (League Average 32%.)

[jorgenswest]

I don't know.

 

The last 3 years in AAA he has thrown out 41% of baserunners attempting to steal. That is more than excellent.

 

Suzuki this year has thrown out 19.6%. (League Average 32%.)

I am not sure how well it transfers. Herrmann has thrown out 42% the last three years in AAA and has better career numbers in the major leagues.

[Platoon]

Does Suzuki bring value behind the plate that goes unmeasured by anything measured? I hated the move to acquire him knowing that Pinto wouldn't be given an opportunity in 2014. I saw the bad framing numbers, poor throwing numbers and weak bat. I hated the extension. I wonder if I was wrong. I wonder if he brings value that isn't measured.

NO

[Rosterman]

 

I don't know if we can count on Pinto playing another game for anyone this year. He probably wasn't right after being hit in the head in mid-March, as reflected by his poor hitting. He was disabled over five weeks ago and I've seen no word that his return is imminent. This appears to be a lost season for Pinto, his last option year.

If Pinto can't catch, then we have troubles. We need a body. We need someone. I would only trust the prospects of Turner and Graver so far as to take the place of an injured starting backstop. I'm not sure if I would put Fryer in that category, or Herrmann, right now, if something happened to Suzuki. But it is sad if Pinto can't catch. Then he has little or no value to another team at this moment, elt alone the Twins. 

[SheboyganBrats]

The Twins could have drafted Alex Jackson in 2014 and Austin Rei in 2015.  Why they passed on these two players is inexplicable to me.  Catching remains IMO an organizational weakness.  Barring a trade, we are stuck with Suzuki and some combination of Fryer/Hermann.  I don't think the others are ready yet.  I'm not as down on Suzuki as some, but he's regressed this year and seems to be playing more than he should.  I'd be in favor of Fryer catching more games, but I don't think he's done anything to merit the starting role yet.  Nevertheless, catching needs to be addressed.