Post by MizzouTiger on Jan 5, 2008 11:46:17 GMT -5
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Around the Horn: Catchers
Royals acquire Olivo, but Buck to start behind the plate
By thingy Kaegel / MLB.com
The following is the first in a series of weekly stories on MLB.com examining each Major League club, position by position. Each week until Spring Training camps open, we'll preview a different position. Today: Catchers.
KANSAS CITY -- New Royals manager Trey Hillman didn't hesitate for a moment.
"John Buck will come into Spring Training as our primary catcher. My plan, initially, is for Bucky to be our starting catcher," he said.
There was room for doubt about that after the Royals signed free-agent catcher Miguel Olivo last month. Olivo had been the Marlins' primary catcher for the last two seasons.
Even before the Royals enlisted Olivo, the speed-dialing Hillman was on the cellular phone with Buck to alert him the deal was coming.
"I don't want you to read this in the newspaper and think that you're not our guy back there. You are," Hillman told him.
Not that the job was being handed to him on a golden home plate.
"I did tell John that with any starting position there needs to be a certain level of performance that's maintained to be able to keep that position," Hillman said.
For Buck, obtained in June 2004 in the Carlos Beltran trade, last year was his third full season as the Royals' No. 1 catcher. At bat, he banged a career-high 18 home runs, but just three came after the All-Star break. His average sagged to a career-low .222, and he had 48 RBIs. As usual, he gained high marks for his defensive work.
Former manager Buddy Bell started Buck in just 104 games, his fewest in three years, even while backup Jason LaRue floundered badly at bat. LaRue, a free agent, has moved on to the Cardinals.
Olivo started 111 games behind the plate for the Marlins last season. His offensive statistics last year -- 16 homers, 60 RBIs, .237 average -- weren't too far off Buck's.
A huge part of catching, however, is what goes on when the mask and pads are in place.
"I've seen John's DVD; I've studied it pretty extensively," Hillman said. "I love the way he calls a game, and I love the way he sets up. He's a little bit long sometimes throwing, but there's arm strength there.
"Miguel has the reputation of being a great catch-and-throw guy, but sometimes his game management has had issues as far as pitch selection and running the game," the manager continued. "But that's something that all catchers need to stay on top of and continue to improve on."
In 2007, Buck had eight errors and three passed balls; Olivo had 12 errors and 16 passed balls. According to Stats Pass, Buck was 9-for-53 (17 percent) against basestealers, and Olivo was 20-for-51 (39 percent).
Hillman said both catchers will come under the supervision of John Mizerock, the new bullpen and catching coach. Mizerock last year managed Class A Wilmington (Del.), and he was the Royals' interim manager for 13 games in 2002.
Although the Royals likely will carry just two catchers (and 12 pitchers), Hillman said he wouldn't hesitate to use either Buck or Olivo as the designated hitter.
"I have absolutely no fear whatsoever about DH-ing one or the other -- most probably Miguel over John -- even if we are carrying only two catchers, which is our plan," Hillman said.
"A lot of managers are afraid of that. I'm not fearful of that. If your catcher gets hurt, then your pitcher has got to hit. We play Interleague games, too. It's just one of those things."
Olivo has the second-highest average at Kauffman Stadium among players with at least 50 at-bats there, hitting .415 (22-for-53). Just how significant that might prove to be over the long run is hard to predict.
"It's a pretty nice statistic to throw out there, though," Hillman noted.
The addition of Olivo apparently blocks out the other catcher on the roster, Matt Tupman. A left-handed batter, Tupman hit .281 in 86 games last year for Triple-A Omaha. However, he has no Major League experience. Paul Phillips, who does, was released last month after being with the Royals for parts of four seasons.
General manager Dayton Moore has called the Buck-Olivo alliance as "one of the most powerful catching duos in baseball." Hillman, taking over the Royals after five years in Japan, certainly hopes so.
"It's exactly the same in Japan as it is here in the United States," he said. "Quality catching is so difficult to find, it's not even funny. It's almost non-existent over there, and it's almost non-existent over here."
thingy Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Around the Horn: Catchers
Royals acquire Olivo, but Buck to start behind the plate
By thingy Kaegel / MLB.com
The following is the first in a series of weekly stories on MLB.com examining each Major League club, position by position. Each week until Spring Training camps open, we'll preview a different position. Today: Catchers.
KANSAS CITY -- New Royals manager Trey Hillman didn't hesitate for a moment.
"John Buck will come into Spring Training as our primary catcher. My plan, initially, is for Bucky to be our starting catcher," he said.
There was room for doubt about that after the Royals signed free-agent catcher Miguel Olivo last month. Olivo had been the Marlins' primary catcher for the last two seasons.
Even before the Royals enlisted Olivo, the speed-dialing Hillman was on the cellular phone with Buck to alert him the deal was coming.
"I don't want you to read this in the newspaper and think that you're not our guy back there. You are," Hillman told him.
Not that the job was being handed to him on a golden home plate.
"I did tell John that with any starting position there needs to be a certain level of performance that's maintained to be able to keep that position," Hillman said.
For Buck, obtained in June 2004 in the Carlos Beltran trade, last year was his third full season as the Royals' No. 1 catcher. At bat, he banged a career-high 18 home runs, but just three came after the All-Star break. His average sagged to a career-low .222, and he had 48 RBIs. As usual, he gained high marks for his defensive work.
Former manager Buddy Bell started Buck in just 104 games, his fewest in three years, even while backup Jason LaRue floundered badly at bat. LaRue, a free agent, has moved on to the Cardinals.
Olivo started 111 games behind the plate for the Marlins last season. His offensive statistics last year -- 16 homers, 60 RBIs, .237 average -- weren't too far off Buck's.
A huge part of catching, however, is what goes on when the mask and pads are in place.
"I've seen John's DVD; I've studied it pretty extensively," Hillman said. "I love the way he calls a game, and I love the way he sets up. He's a little bit long sometimes throwing, but there's arm strength there.
"Miguel has the reputation of being a great catch-and-throw guy, but sometimes his game management has had issues as far as pitch selection and running the game," the manager continued. "But that's something that all catchers need to stay on top of and continue to improve on."
In 2007, Buck had eight errors and three passed balls; Olivo had 12 errors and 16 passed balls. According to Stats Pass, Buck was 9-for-53 (17 percent) against basestealers, and Olivo was 20-for-51 (39 percent).
Hillman said both catchers will come under the supervision of John Mizerock, the new bullpen and catching coach. Mizerock last year managed Class A Wilmington (Del.), and he was the Royals' interim manager for 13 games in 2002.
Although the Royals likely will carry just two catchers (and 12 pitchers), Hillman said he wouldn't hesitate to use either Buck or Olivo as the designated hitter.
"I have absolutely no fear whatsoever about DH-ing one or the other -- most probably Miguel over John -- even if we are carrying only two catchers, which is our plan," Hillman said.
"A lot of managers are afraid of that. I'm not fearful of that. If your catcher gets hurt, then your pitcher has got to hit. We play Interleague games, too. It's just one of those things."
Olivo has the second-highest average at Kauffman Stadium among players with at least 50 at-bats there, hitting .415 (22-for-53). Just how significant that might prove to be over the long run is hard to predict.
"It's a pretty nice statistic to throw out there, though," Hillman noted.
The addition of Olivo apparently blocks out the other catcher on the roster, Matt Tupman. A left-handed batter, Tupman hit .281 in 86 games last year for Triple-A Omaha. However, he has no Major League experience. Paul Phillips, who does, was released last month after being with the Royals for parts of four seasons.
General manager Dayton Moore has called the Buck-Olivo alliance as "one of the most powerful catching duos in baseball." Hillman, taking over the Royals after five years in Japan, certainly hopes so.
"It's exactly the same in Japan as it is here in the United States," he said. "Quality catching is so difficult to find, it's not even funny. It's almost non-existent over there, and it's almost non-existent over here."
thingy Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.