Article: Suzuki Scare Exposes Abysmal Catcher Depth

[jimbo92107]

Both performed well in the second half. The AFL will be more opportunity for them to show their skills (behind the plate and at the plate), but Ryan and company will not likely learn anything that they don't already know. I'd like to see both of them go to Chattanooga to start the season next year, playing every other day. 

Stewart Turner is a great defensive catcher, and his hitting improved in the second half. He's not ready to be a good hitter at the mlb level, but his glove right now is the best in the Twins organization.

 

Looking forward to the playoff push, would Turner behind the plate be better than Fryer or Herrmann? Yes. Would his hitting be worse? Hard to be much worse. If Suzuki can't go, then Turner could be the least bad option.

[stringer bell]

Way back this spring, I thought that Turner was a standout behind the plate, compared to any other catcher in the organization. Oftentimes defensive reputations are exaggerated, but Turner has very good defensive tools. 

 

I think Turner will get a look with the Twins at some point next year. If Suzuki is unavailable for more than a day or two, he probably would be recalled so that the Twins could pinch-hit for both Herrmann and Fryer.

[sane]

 

Stewart Turner is a great defensive catcher, and his hitting improved in the second half. He's not ready to be a good hitter at the mlb level, but his glove right now is the best in the Twins organization.

 

Looking forward to the playoff push, would Turner behind the plate be better than Fryer or Herrmann? Yes. Would his hitting be worse? Hard to be much worse. If Suzuki can't go, then Turner could be the least bad option.

I don't think Turner could be made eligible for the playoffs.

[jimmer]

 

I don't think Ryan feels that catching is the problem nearly everyone around here thinks it is.

I don't expect him to do much.

this is clearly true, considering Suzuki is/was our starter to begin with.  The depth at catcher was bad to begin with and started with him being our starter.

[stringer bell]

 

I don't think Turner could be made eligible for the playoffs.

Turner was in the organization on August 31st, so he could be added.

[sane]

 

Turner was in the organization on August 31st, so he could be added.

"Any player who is either
- on the 25 man major league roster, or
- on the disabled list (7, 15, or 60 day DL), or
- on the suspended list, or
- on bereavement leave, or
- on military active duty

as of midnight on August 31st, is automatically eligible to be on the club’s post season roster.

In addition, a club can replace any player who is injured at the time that playoff rosters are submitted"

 

So any player on the original 25-man-playoff-roster (who was injured at the time playoff rosters are submitted) could be replaced by Turner.

Has that playoff roster been submitted?..and is it available to the public, yet?

[sane]

To answer my own question, the playoff roster isn't submitted until right before the playoff series. Anyone on the July 31 25-man roster, who is injured AT THE TIME OF PLAYOFF ROSTER SUBMISSION, may be replaced on the playoff roster. I think I got it......

[mudcat14]

 

Way back this spring, I thought that Turner was a standout behind the plate, compared to any other catcher in the organization. Oftentimes defensive reputations are exaggerated, but Turner has very good defensive tools. 

 

I think Turner will get a look with the Twins at some point next year. If Suzuki is unavailable for more than a day or two, he probably would be recalled so that the Twins could pinch-hit for both Herrmann and Fryer.

 

I'm not disputing Turner's defensive skills, but I'd be hard pressed to believe that he's got anything on Brian Navaretto.  I hope whatever catching upgrades the Twins pursue this off-season will not include any long-term commitments.  Because unless his offensive keeps him from playing, Navaretto will be a perennial GG candidate in three years.

Edited September 11, 2015 by mudcat14

[Thrylos]

few comments on this:

 

a. Early in the season TR Sold Dan Rohlfing for cash to the Mets to further deplete C depth at the high levels of the organization

b. To the ones who are talking about Turner and his potential as a catcher for the Twins:  Son of Sal is Johnny Bench with the bat compared to him, and Chris Herrmann is Babe Ruth.  Turner has been digressing every single year with the stick.  Currently .628 OPS at AA.  Please. Herrmann is a career .752 OPS AA hitter and you see how he is in the majors (but he needs to play more than he does.)

c. I'd rather see them bring Pinto up and see what he can do.  He had 5 hits in his last 3 games with Rochester.  It is inane that he is not with the Twins right now.

d. I had enough of Suzuki this season.  Hope the Twins move on before next season.

Edited September 11, 2015 by Thrylos

[sane]

I'm not disputing Turner's defensive skills, but I'd be hard pressed to believe that he's got anything on Brian Navaretto. Navaretto will be a perennial GG candidate in three years.

I was looking for Baseball America's opinions to refute that, but instead surprisingly, found that BA rated Navaretto the #1 defensive catcher in the Midwest League (Low-A), while Turner and Garver were NOT the #1 defensive catchers in their respective leagues (in AA and High-A respectively).

So thank you for forcing me to re-educate myself.

You are right. Navaretto is a guy according to BA.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I don't think Turner could be made eligible for the playoffs.

 

He's eligible because he was in the Twins organization on Aug 31st, but if the Twins wouldn't put Berrios on the 40 man roster, they aren't going to put Turner on it.He doesn't have to be added to another year either.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Turner or any non-40 man guy would be "eligible", but would still require permission from the league. And AFAIK, it hasn't really happened at this late date since KRod in 2002, so it might be something the league discourages now (since that time, they have really made postseason rosters much more flexible in terms of the 40-man roster -- the August 31st 25-man is basically irrelevant now, but was the tougher standard that K Rod had to crack in 2002).

[jorgenswest]

I have written enough about Suzuki's defense and bat. By any measure they are both significantly below average for the position. On paper, it wouldn't seem like a big drop off to Herrmann or Fryer is possible with the bar set so low. I have come to believe that there is an important aspect of Suzuki's contribution that has gone unmeasured by the myriad of metrics available.

[howieramone2]

I have written enough about Suzuki's defense and bat. By any measure they are both significantly below average for the position. On paper, it wouldn't seem like a big drop off to Herrmann or Fryer is possible with the bar set so low. I have come to believe that there is an important aspect of Suzuki's contribution that has gone unmeasured by the myriad of metrics available.

Bingo!

[stringer bell]

Zuke has picked it up and there is no question he's the best option in the organization. However, his overall numbers just don't merit all the playing time he has received. He should be sharing time with another catcher and it sure looks like that guy will have to come from someone else's system.

[USAFChief]

Zuke has picked it up and there is no question he's the best option in the organization. However, his overall numbers just don't merit all the playing time he has received. He should be sharing time with another catcher and it sure looks like that guy will have to come from someone else's system.

I think it's reasonable to think his production might improve with more rest, as well.

[sane]

However, his overall numbers just don't merit all the playing time he has received. He should be sharing time with another catcher..

If we are talking about playoffs, I think Suzuki can catch every game and still get sufficient rest because of the many playoff travel days. (game,game,travel,game,game,travel,game,game,travel,etc.)

[hybridbear]

 

That said, it's always been an interesting thing but is likely a moot point.  The Twins cast moving Mauer out from behind the plate as a way to protect his health.  In this concussion focused time it would be very tough to move him back. 

Mauer is so bad now that protecting his health shouldn't be a concern. If he gets hurt then the Twins can play someone better. When he's healthy he's taking up space in the lineup & not producing. At least Mauer showed some defensive skills when he played catcher.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Mauer is so bad now that protecting his health shouldn't be a concern. If he gets hurt then the Twins can play someone better. When he's healthy he's taking up space in the lineup & not producing. At least Mauer showed some defensive skills when he played catcher.

 

Except he is a human being.....not someone that should be treated like a robot.