Article: Is Mitch Garver Still a Catcher?

[jkcarew]

 

Nice to meet a few fellow goalies! No wonder why we get along... We're all crazy enough to willingly let someone shoot a puck as hard as they can against us!

Goalie??  Obviously, you didn't have a younger brother!

[jkcarew]

If Garver can play first AND an outfield corner at an acceptable level, he'd be a good utility guy, with the RHB. But, that's the only way he has much value if he isn't a catcher. An every-day 1B/DH that can be expected to OPS 720 to maybe 800 on a really good year? Sounds familiar...but I'm going to say no thanks.

[Vanimal46]

Goalie?? Obviously, you didn't have a younger brother!

I was the youngest brother and my older brother obviously needed someone to shoot on in the basement!

[Thrylos]

 

If the batter is in the batters box, it's the catcher responsibility to move back enough so he doesn't get hit in the head. 

 

Then if a batter has his body parts outside the batter's box towards the plate, it should not be the pitcher's fault if they get hurt with the ball...

[terrydactyls]

 

I was the youngest brother and my older brother obviously needed someone to shoot on in the basement!

I also am the youngest.  My older brother was also a goalie and when he finished his college career, I inherited his hand-made equipment.  I had no choice.

[big dog]

 

If the batter is in the batters box, it's the catcher responsibility to move back enough so he doesn't get hit in the head. 

If you are in the batter's box and you take one hand off the bat on your followthrough you could just about hit the umpire.  The catcher can't get far enough back.

Edited December 7, 2018 by big dog

[Penthang]

So Garver and Astudillo are the Twins remaining OBP potential…interesting

[glunn]

 

They are making strides in better catching gear.  Tyler Flowers is part owner of what is supposed to be the new revolution of catcher masks, Force3.

 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/the-year-of-catcher-concussions-and-mlbs-battle-to-do-better-with-head-trauma/

From the article:

 

"What makes the Defender mask unique is its unusual, spring-loaded design that absorbs shocks. "It's really logical, and it's kind of baffling that nobody came up with this idea before," Flowers said. He compared the mask's structure to a car's suspension system, explaining that the Defender comprises two masks: an outer one (the part exposed to foul tips) and an inner one (the part with padding). The two are connected by the spring system. "When the outer mask is impacted, the springs compress and absorb the majority of the energy; it rebounds," Flowers said. "You feel just a little bit of it. But the reduction is remarkable.""

 

All of the Twins' catchers should try this.

[glunn]

The test results suggest that this is a major improvement.

 

[rdehring]

I recall a spring training game maybe five +/- years ago.  Not 100% certain, but I think our catcher was Ramos.  I believe we were playing Baltimore and the catcher was hit in the head by bats three times.  Again not 100% certain, but I think Machado was the culprit two or all three times.  

 

Perhaps that infraction, assuming the catcher is in the area he is supposed to be, should be handled a bit like hockey.  Rather than a 2-minute penalty, the batter is ejected from the game.  After a second occurrence, he is ejected and must sit out the next game.  Three times and it becomes two games, etc.  Add that he doesn't get paid for those next games and they would be adding some real teeth to something that is a problem and no one talks about.  

 

Now the argument would be where do those dollars go?  And I would go so far as to give the teams losing the player the right for a free callup from the minors for those games, kind of like the 26th player for double headers.

 

Edited December 8, 2018 by rdehring

[jorgenswest]

I hope he is still a catcher because I don’t think he is a major leaguer without catcher.

 

He can compete with Tyler Austin with the bat and roster spot. They both had WOBAs of .325 last year. They both are 27. They get to their WOBAs in different ways.

 

Garver gets on base more often and had less power. His platoon splits are less extreme and in the reverse direction where he has hit right handed pitching better than left handed pitching. As a catcher having less extreme platoon splits is a benefit since mangers are reluctant to pinch hit for that spot. It also helps because it is difficult to platoon catcher by swing as they can often be tied to their own starting pitcher.

 

Austin WOBA is power driven. He has extreme platoon splits. His WOBA is skewed given his disproportionate use against left handed pitching. A more normal distribution with a greater percentage of his at bats against right handed pitching may give us a different picture of his future value. He certainly can hit lefties. This is great as a bench bat and platoon player. It is not so great if he is in the middle of the order and has a key at bat late in the game against a right handed pitcher.

 

I am not sure who is more valuable on the bench (assuming that Astudillo is there as a catcher). Austin has no positional flexibility but can really hit left handed pitching. Garver has more position flexibility but isn’t going to scare a right or left handed pitcher.

 

Which is more helpful to the team? One great skill in the short side of the platoon with little else or a broader set of mediocre skills?

[joefish]

RIP TARKN10

RIP JOHNNYGRINGO

Go t'ins

[butterspud]

If he continues to grow in the hitting department, could he be a valuable DH?

[Mr. Brooks]

If he continues to grow in the hitting department, could he be a valuable DH?

No.