Your thoughts on Navarro?

[HERPDERP]

It goes without saying that Navarro is a significant upgrade over what we had last season.

 

But what do you think of him so far, especially with the alternatives on the 40-man roster?

 

Do you think he's worth the money? Should he even be the 1st catcher? Split duties?

 

I think the general consensus when we signed him was "meh", and when he had a good start to the season at the plate and calling the game, people felt he was a steal. But he has cooled down, while showing a pretty bad defensive game. Game calling, as shown with the extended stretch of outings with sub 6-inning starts, has been called into question.

[Frenchsoup]

He's been ok for me, in hindsight I would like to go with a Kratz/Thole but I don't have a problem with him

[Frenchsoup]

I think AA could probably move him to a team like baltimore if he wanted 2, which I wouldn't be opposed against

[G-Snarls]

He's been decent. No better no worse. Offensively an improvement for sure. Sounds like he's a good game caller too. Blocking balls and throwing have been sup par though.

[G-Snarls]

Good timing. Davidi wrote about he anbd Buerhle, who loves him as a catcher:

 

http://www.sportsnet.ca/blogs/blue-jays-rundown/buehrle-and-navarro-working-well/

 

Buehrle is particular about his catchers. He almost never shakes off a sign, and trusts his catcher to have a solid game plan ready. Since he likes to work fast, his catcher needs to work at a quick pace too, and not keep him waiting.

 

Last year he and J.P. Arencibia had trouble getting on the same page, and that probably contributed to Buehrle’s slow start. The reverse is true this year with Navarro, who’s playing a key role in his pitcher’s success.

 

“Big time,” says Buehrle. “I don’t look at scouting reports before the game, so him and Pete (Walker, the pitching coach) go over that stuff and he’s got a game plan. He puts the fingers down, I throw it and try to make the best pitch at that time. I obviously have to make the pitch, but as far as calling it in certain situations, you’ve got to give him a ton of credit.”

[Daniel Labude]

Kratz should be the everyday catcher with Navarro catching 2 times a week

[Spoonovic]

Light years ahead of JPA.

[wilko]

Navarro's a platoon catcher. Nothing more, nothing less.

[G-Snarls]

Light years ahead of JPA.

 

Agreed

 

Though since we did nothing about 2B or SP, we probably should have aimed higher. Ruiz for primary catcher and Navarro or Kratz as backup.

[Key22]

I think you're always looking for upgrades but AA was correct about a few things - it has to be for the dollars that make sense and what talent you have to give up. I think everything these days has a dollar attached to the projections of players. This minor leaguer has X value that major league player has Y value. And you trade hoping to net a higher value.

 

The free agent market kind of stunk. Outside of Tanaka was there any pitcher that truly did it for us? No way could we top the Yankees offer because they could have thrown another $100,000,000 at his if we tried to meet the demand. Jiminez, Garza, Nolaso Arroyo have not exactly been great. Santana has been obscenely good so far (but at least we did try for the guy).

 

There was poo on the FA market at C and 2nd base. We probably got the best Catcher that wasn't going to cost an obscene amount of money. And offense isn't really the problem.

 

It's too bad MB and Dickey can't pitch on 3 days rest - If he could I would rather see a 4 man rotation with an alternating 5th to give those 2 more starts.

 

Something like

 

Dickey

Buerhle

Hutchison

Happ

Dickey

 

Buerhle

McGowan

Hutchison

Dickey

Buerhle

 

Happ

McGowan

Dickey

Buehrle

Hutchison

 

Happ

Dickey

Buerhle

McGowan

Hutchison

 

Dickey

Buehrle etc...

 

Giving extra days to the arms that may explode might help

[shortstop]

4-5 times most weeks and 3-4 other weeks...he's an almost full time catcher but isn't a full time catcher ...at least not now...

 

should be Navarro & Kratz behind the plate, notwithstanding Thole's current BA/OBA...

[RPG]

He seems to hit clutch when he needs to. Doesnt mean he's a great catcher though

[The_DH]

I have to agree with Wilko. Navarro seems to top out at 90 games per year. So somebody has to play at least 72 plus overlapping games caught.

[Terminator]

Agreed

 

Though since we did nothing about 2B or SP, we probably should have aimed higher. Ruiz for primary catcher and Navarro or Kratz as backup.

 

We didn't have the money to outbid the hometown Phillies for Ruiz.

[Terminator]

Navarro is fine as a patchwork starter and for what we are paying him.

 

As others have stated, he's probably better suited as a good backup to a mediocre starter but for 4 mil in FA he's fine.

[TheHurl]

Mainly about the catching at this point, obviously Buehrle is comfortable with him so keep up that battery. The Rogers Centre will probably inflate his numbers enough to make it look like he's an acceptable offensive catcher. He puts the ball in play which is nice (would be nicer if he could make it to first quicker). I don't think you are ever going to get a hugely passionate love or hate review from any fan.

[Deadpool]

One of these days we'll have a catcher who can help control the running game... One of these days...

[Frenchsoup]

One of these days we'll have a catcher who can help control the running game... One of these days...

 

we have one in Kratz

[Frenchsoup]

I think you're always looking for upgrades but AA was correct about a few things - it has to be for the dollars that make sense and what talent you have to give up. I think everything these days has a dollar attached to the projections of players. This minor leaguer has X value that major league player has Y value. And you trade hoping to net a higher value.

 

The free agent market kind of stunk. Outside of Tanaka was there any pitcher that truly did it for us? No way could we top the Yankees offer because they could have thrown another $100,000,000 at his if we tried to meet the demand. Jiminez, Garza, Nolaso Arroyo have not exactly been great. Santana has been obscenely good so far (but at least we did try for the guy).

 

There was poo on the FA market at C and 2nd base. We probably got the best Catcher that wasn't going to cost an obscene amount of money. And offense isn't really the problem.

 

It's too bad MB and Dickey can't pitch on 3 days rest - If he could I would rather see a 4 man rotation with an alternating 5th to give those 2 more starts.

 

Something like

 

Dickey

Buerhle

Hutchison

Happ

Dickey

 

Buerhle

McGowan

Hutchison

Dickey

Buerhle

 

Happ

McGowan

Dickey

Buehrle

Hutchison

 

Happ

Dickey

Buerhle

McGowan

Hutchison

 

Dickey

Buehrle etc...

 

Giving extra days to the arms that may explode might help

 

Yeah i am actually starting to worry about Hutch, he seemed to be wearing down a bit last outing with his fastball consistently being up.

[Governator]

There's a reason he's been a #2 catcher for the last 10 years. I think he's going to be gassed by August at the rate the Jays play him.

[Convo]

There's a reason he's been a #2 catcher for the last 10 years. I think he's going to be gassed by August at the rate the Jays play him.

 

Just get him daily reps at Burrito Boyz and he should be ok

[shortstop]

we have one in Kratz

 

I think so too...he's quite confident back there

[Deadpool]

we have one in Kratz

 

I'm pretty sure Kratz is a DH, otherwise why would we have a defensive liability behind the plate and a decent one DHing?

[Captain Adama]

I'm pretty sure Kratz is a DH, otherwise why would we have a defensive liability behind the plate and a decent one DHing?

 

Not sure if sarcasm.

 

Pretty sure is sarcasm.

[ElNik2013]

He's what he's getting paid. The team's GM said they overpaid to sign him, that should tell you something.

[vic city]

Navarro's a platoon catcher. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

 

And you're a platoon poster. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

Navarro has been our best catcher since Greg Zuan. Honerable mention to Darren Fletcher!

[GD]

And you're a platoon poster. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

Navarro has been our best catcher since Greg Zuan. Honerable mention to Darren Fletcher!

 

not sure if srs

 

Platooning Wilko could be useful though. Wilko posts in the forums, and his platoon partner is active in his fantasy leagues. Hmm...

[kgm1]

There's a reason he's been a #2 catcher for the last 10 years. I think he's going to be gassed by August at the rate the Jays play him.

 

I believe Navarro has the talent which is why I hate him so much. At best he can catch maybe 81 games because he isn't in shape. Too fat and lazy to be a #1 guy . Like his bat but behind the plate he is terrible so yah he is just a backup with a decent bench bat.

[KingKat]

We've seen this pattern on this site far too often. People post all sorts of s*** about a player and eventually the hive on here starts believing it and feels confidant slamming the player pretty much every day. Reality is Navarro is a good ML catcher that several of our starters like. He doesn't free swing at the plate which makes him ideal to our current offence. People arguing Kratz is "better" seem to have ignored the fact that he's just different ( not better, at best you can say he's of similar value ); Kratz has also mostly failed winning a regular job his whole career, so I'm guessing not everything about him is great.

 

Toronto needed a catcher who would call a good game for our pitchers. He's done exactly that. For people to waste energy posting about this guy like he's a negative to the team is stupid. Do you really think the Jays will play better if the players are harrassed endlessly in an unfair manner. The other board spends most of the time slamming Lawrie in the same way.

 

Jays are 1.5 games out and have as much of a chance as anyone to win this division. You'd never know it on here, it reminds me of he NBA thread which was dominated with tank recommendations until the Raptors started winning a ton of games.

 

So you hate Navarro because he's overweight in your opinion. Have you any idea how shallow that is ? Many people have different body types, if you want to get technical, Cabrera isn't exactly in perfect shape either, and he plays OF.

 

How in the world could you possibly evaluate the quality of Navarro's game calling?

[Convo]

We've seen this pattern on this site far too often. People post all sorts of s*** about a player and eventually the hive on here starts believing it and feels confidant slamming the player pretty much every day. Reality is Navarro is a good ML catcher that several of our starters like. He doesn't free swing at the plate which makes him ideal to our current offence. People arguing Kratz is "better" seem to have ignored the fact that he's just different ( not better, at best you can say he's of similar value ); Kratz has also mostly failed winning a regular job his whole career, so I'm guessing not everything about him is great.

 

Toronto needed a catcher who would call a good game for our pitchers. He's done exactly that. For people to waste energy posting about this guy like he's a negative to the team is stupid. Do you really think the Jays will play better if the players are harrassed endlessly in an unfair manner. The other board spends most of the time slamming Lawrie in the same way.

 

Jays are 1.5 games out and have as much of a chance as anyone to win this division. You'd never know it on here, it reminds me of he NBA thread which was dominated with tank recommendations until the Raptors started winning a ton of games.

 

So you hate Navarro because he's overweight in your opinion. Have you any idea how shallow that is ? Many people have different body types, if you want to get technical, Cabrera isn't exactly in perfect shape either, and he plays OF.

 

You preaching about Navarro is no different then everybody else preaching about Navarro, except I'm more likely to listen to everybody else.