Players' Tribune: Is the ERA of the Everyday Catcher Over?

[weams]

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/johnny-bench-mlb-catchers/

Since the beginning of baseball time, only 13 catchers have made it to the Hall of Fame. So on average, there?s approximately one that comes along every decade.

In my day alone, we had Gary Carter and Carlton Fisk ? names that people will always remember ? and guys like Steve Yeager, Randy Hundley, Jerry Grote and Manny Sanguill?n, who were great catchers in their own right. And because all of us played in that same era, I think we have a tendency to look at the game today and think:

Where have all the great catchers gone?

[Can_of_corn]

He might want to look in San Francisco.

[weams]

He might want to look in San Francisco.

They have a photo of him.

He wears gloves and can deliver in the clutch.

Perhaps we take a vote?

[mdbdotcom]

They have a photo of him.

He wears gloves and can deliver in the clutch.

Perhaps we take a vote?

I vote Buster Posey should deliver Johnny Bench's baby.

[DrungoHazewood]

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/johnny-bench-mlb-catchers/

Ah, weams, you almost got me. I was about to post something like "totally not surprising that a 60 or 70-year-old former player thinks kids these days aren't as good as the awesome players from back in his day."

Then I read the sentence directly after the part you quoted:

But the fact is, catchers today are as good as they?ve ever been.

In fact, 12 of the 30 top catchers of all time by career rWAR have been active since 2000.

You do have to question Bench when he says Jerry Grote (career rWAR of 15) is a "great catcher in his own right." Matt Wieters has been nearly as valuable as Grote in a career that's (so far) half as long.

[weams]

Ah, weams, you almost got me. I was about to post something like "totally not surprising that a 60 or 70-year-old former player thinks kids these days aren't as good as the awesome players from back in his day."

Then I read the sentence directly after the part you quoted:

[/font][/color]

In fact, 12 of the 30 top catchers of all time by career rWAR have been active since 2000.

You do have to question Bench when he says Jerry Grote (career rWAR of 15) is a "great catcher in his own right." Matt Wieters has been nearly as valuable as Grote in a career that's (so far) half as long.

I am glad you read it.

[Can_of_corn]

Ah, weams, you almost got me. I was about to post something like "totally not surprising that a 60 or 70-year-old former player thinks kids these days aren't as good as the awesome players from back in his day."

Then I read the sentence directly after the part you quoted:

[/font][/color]

In fact, 12 of the 30 top catchers of all time by career rWAR have been active since 2000.

You do have to question Bench when he says Jerry Grote (career rWAR of 15) is a "great catcher in his own right." Matt Wieters has been nearly as valuable as Grote in a career that's (so far) half as long.

And Wieters is the worst.

[sportsfan8703]

Another product of baseball being steroid free. Catchers get too beat up to play so often. Drug free that is.

[weams]

Another product of baseball being steroid free. Catchers get too beat up to play so often. Drug free that is.

It's not drug free, but they have to be more careful

[Il BuonO]

He might want to look in San Francisco.

They have a photo of him.

He wears gloves and can deliver in the clutch.

Perhaps we take a vote?

And he has comic timing as well as his timing at the plate.

There was more than a photo.

You hear about Buster Posey. He?s a guy who doesn?t come along very often. He?s already hit over 100 home runs and driven in almost 450 in his young career, and he?s calling great games in the World Series.

[weams]

And he has comic timing as well as his timing at the plate.

There was more than a photo.

Physical comedy as well.

[Il BuonO]

I vote Buster Posey should deliver Johnny Bench's baby.

Eh, I really don't want to think about 68 year old John Bench fathering any more kiddies.

[DrungoHazewood]

Another product of baseball being steroid free. Catchers get too beat up to play so often. Drug free that is.

P'shaw. Chief Zimmer caught 125 games in 1890, without shinguards! Although he coulda been nippin' at Pud Galvin's bottle of bull testicle extract, I suppose.

[scOtt]

I don't care what anyone says, catchers don't affect pitchers' ERA.

[scOtt]

P'shaw. Chief Zimmer caught 125 games in 1890, without shinguards! Although he coulda been nippin' at Pud Galvin's bottle of bull testicle extract, I suppose.

The one time I went to the Hall Of Fame, they had a large display of catcher's masks through all the years. From the 1800's forward. The progression of the mask.