Importance of a Third Catcher

[Can_of_corn]

1 minute ago, DrungoHazewood said:

He's hitting .400 this year, so he's white-hot.  And last year he OPS'd .771.  I think that's more than enough evidence to conclude he's a late bloomer. 

If he keeps up his .400 streak he'll either be a great asset as they move deep into the playoffs, or they can flip him for a top prospect at the deadline.

I'd like a bit more of a divide between BA and OBP myself.  He just doesn't walk.

[MCO'sFan]

On 8/15/2020 at 1:32 PM, Bahama O's Fan said:

But this is what I mean. How many games per week will one catch and one DH? How often will the catcher that day get injured? How many at bats will that affect? If he gets injured in the first inning, it's still only two or three at bats. You pinch hit in the late innings because you have the bullpen pitching. The next day, you have a catcher up. Is that worth another OF? or pitcher?

Sorry for being slow to respond. I've been busy the last week or so. Anyway, some of this has worked itself out over that time frame. You make a valid point and I guess I would say that normally I would agree with you but with the expanded rosters and the flexibility of several of the current players I would say having a third catcher is a luxury  that they can enjoy. You can make the same argument with pitchers and outfielders. It is extremely unlikely that the O's would run out of pitchers in a single day and if an extra outfielders is needed then call him up the next day.

[MCO'sFan]

On 8/15/2020 at 4:55 PM, DrungoHazewood said:

There's no reason Severino or Sisco couldn't DH without a third catcher.  If something happens to the starting catcher you shift them behind the plate and you lose the DH for a few innings.  You're already switching pitchers about every inning late in the game, so just pinch hit when his spot comes up.

I agree completely that what you are suggesting is possible. It goes against the norm but, I agree. My point was that they don't have to do it that way with the current roster make up and expansion. 

[SteveA]

On 8/15/2020 at 1:32 PM, Bahama O's Fan said:

But this is what I mean. How many games per week will one catch and one DH? How often will the catcher that day get injured? How many at bats will that affect? If he gets injured in the first inning, it's still only two or three at bats. You pinch hit in the late innings because you have the bullpen pitching. The next day, you have a catcher up. Is that worth another OF? or pitcher?

We have kind of a perfect storm situation:

   -- Due to COVID, we have a 28 man roster this year only

   -- One of our catchers is currently the #1 hitting catcher in the American League

   -- The other catcher hit well in the minors and has looked very good at the plate so far this year

   -- The guy who would be our primary DH will now see a lot of action at 1B as long as Davis is on the DL 

There are fewer good hitters at C than at most positions.   It's very rare that a team will have 2 of its top 6 or 7 hitters on the roster be catchers.   When you compound that with Nunez now playing a lot of first, we will probably want to start a C at DH with more regularity than anyone in MLB history.   And doing it in a year with some roster breathing room at 28.

So we probably have the best case for carrying three catchers of any team in the last 50 years due to this unusual confluence of circumstances.