Does Donaldson allow you to not have a backup catcher if you keep Navarro as DH?

[Ultimate]

Josh Donaldson used to be a catcher, that is definitely in the past and he won't be going back there. But in an emergency due to an injury to a catcher he could finish a game behind the plate. (in an emergency only).

 

Martin is the catcher, Navarro DH. Navarro could catch 1 in 5 games or so. (maybe catch MB) and Martin could DH that game.

 

If Martin is being counted on a your #2 hitter, you probably don't want his bat out of the lineup for 20% of the games.

 

Under this scenario most teams would still feel the need for a 3rd catcher on the roster (IE Thole) in case there is an injury to the starting catcher in game. IE if Navarro is DH and Martin gets hurt, you would need to remove your DH and have your pitcher bat for the rest of the game.

 

I think the risk of this is low enough that I would take my chances and not carry the 3rd catcher and waste a roster spot.

 

You probably would not pinch hit for either Martin or Navarro. Martin because he is too good of a hitter to pinch hit for and Navarro is a switch hitter and would not be exposed to certain relievers. You would lose the ability to pinch run for Navarro when he is catching, but you could still pinch run for him when he is the DH (which he would be 70-80% of the time).

 

The Blue Jays would likely have a 7 man bullpen. Meaning a 4 man bench. It would give you so much more flexibility to not have to waste a roster spot on Thole. You could have a bench of Mayberry, Pillar, Goins, Tolleson or Smoak. A lot would depend on who the 2nd basemen is. If its a average-below average defender you would want Goins around as a potential defensive replacement. If its a lefty hitter with pronounced splits you might want Tolleson as a Platoon partner.

 

I would probably keep Thole and send him to AAA as insurance in case of an injury or if Martin and Dickey don't click.

[Terminator]

I don't think an in-game injury is very concerning. The odds are low and if it happens you just yank the DH and pinch hit for the pitchers the rest of the game. Even IF that happens, it's not guaranteed to cost the game. You could be up by 6 runs when it happens or down by 6 and the injury doesn't affect the outcome. Or the injury could happen in the 8th and you wouldn't even need to pinch hit.

[KingKat]

Josh Donaldson used to be a catcher, that is definitely in the past and he won't be going back there. But in an emergency due to an injury to a catcher he could finish a game behind the plate. (in an emergency only).

 

Martin is the catcher, Navarro DH. Navarro could catch 1 in 5 games or so. (maybe catch MB) and Martin could DH that game.

 

If Martin is being counted on a your #2 hitter, you probably don't want his bat out of the lineup for 20% of the games.

 

Under this scenario most teams would still feel the need for a 3rd catcher on the roster (IE Thole) in case there is an injury to the starting catcher in game. IE if Navarro is DH and Martin gets hurt, you would need to remove your DH and have your pitcher bat for the rest of the game.

 

I think the risk of this is low enough that I would take my chances and not carry the 3rd catcher and waste a roster spot.

 

You probably would not pinch hit for either Martin or Navarro. Martin because he is too good of a hitter to pinch hit for and Navarro is a switch hitter and would not be exposed to certain relievers. You would lose the ability to pinch run for Navarro when he is catching, but you could still pinch run for him when he is the DH (which he would be 70-80% of the time).

 

The Blue Jays would likely have a 7 man bullpen. Meaning a 4 man bench. It would give you so much more flexibility to not have to waste a roster spot on Thole. You could have a bench of Mayberry, Pillar, Goins, Tolleson or Smoak. A lot would depend on who the 2nd basemen is. If its a average-below average defender you would want Goins around as a potential defensive replacement. If its a lefty hitter with pronounced splits you might want Tolleson as a Platoon partner.

 

I would probably keep Thole and send him to AAA as insurance in case of an injury or if Martin and Dickey don't click.

 

Lawrie also used to be a catcher. Either one can catch in an emergency but you wouldn't plan on using them that way. This doesn't really change the catcher situation for either team.

[Dr. Dinger]

Navarro is a league average hitter, there's really no justification for going into the season with him as our primary DH.

[GeorgiaPeach]

Navarro is a league average hitter, there's really no justification for going into the season with him as our primary DH.

 

Agreed.

[Ultimate]

A lot of former catchers have become better hitters after giving up being a primary catcher. So you could see an improvement from Navarro offensively.

 

Not having a big money DH gives you lineup flexibility to give position players days off in the field while keeping their bat in the lineup.

 

Terminator I think we agree on the low probability of the injury being a concern. It does seem that a lot of managers worry about it though. I was hoping Donaldsons presence would take away that concern (even if that concern is fairly unnecessary in the first place).

 

I didn't realize that Lawrie had been a catcher. Donaldson has been one more recently and at a higher level though as Lawrie's time behind the plate must have been quite a while ago.

[ineedsheet]

i still like EE as our primary DH and allowing valencia and smoak to platoon at 1b. both of them do much better in their natural platoon and are much better at defense.

 

navarro's value has never been higher. also AA has shown a great deal of loyalty to jays when trying to trade them (think halladay trade) and i think he wants navarro to have a full time job to build value in his contract year.

[Ultimate]

I am open to trading him if you get good value. But I don't think you have to trade him and I am not convinced we will get great value for him as there are legitimate concerns about his durability as starting catcher.

 

He could get just as many at bats this year as last year, maybe more and not catching regularly could lead to a spike in his numbers. No reason why his market value in free agency would be hurt by that.

[ineedsheet]

he's just not very good.

 

i dont really understand your blind optimism

[Ultimate]

Never claimed that he was "very good" just "good enough".

[o2cui2i]

Navarro is a league average hitter, there's really no justification for going into the season with him as our primary DH.

 

people are having trouble differentiating between hitting good for a catcher and being a good hitter.

[o2cui2i]

has Cruz signed anywhere yet? would love to have him as a primary DH. I wouldn't want to see him in left field though.

[ineedsheet]

Never claimed that he was "very good" just "good enough".

 

well lets put it this way

 

he won't be better than valencia / whoever he platoons with

[Ultimate]

I don't think Valencia is of much use to the Jays anymore.

 

Last year they were lefty heavy and needed guys who hit lefties. Now they are righty heavy and he isn't as valuable as the other Right handed bench options.

 

If you need a right handed bat to play 2B, thats Tolleson. If you need a right handed bat to play LF you have Mayberry or Pillar, if you need a right handed bat to play 1B/DH you have Mayberry.

 

Valencia is a 3Bman platoon option and we we won't be platooning at 3B anymore.

[ineedsheet]

he will be platooning at 1b/dh...mark my words i think he should be at 1b where him and smoak are both better defenders than EE there.

 

he completely destroyed lefties 135 wRC+...and is a better hitter than navarro and makes less money... even a crappy smoak platooned with valencia will provide more value than dioner.

 

if martin can catch dickey even up to 75% as effective as thole, we will punt him as well and sign a defensive catcher.

[Atothe]

has Cruz signed anywhere yet? would love to have him as a primary DH. I wouldn't want to see him in left field though.

 

WHAT? A primary DH in 2014?

[Ultimate]

he will be platooning at 1b/dh...mark my words i think he should be at 1b where him and smoak are both better defenders than EE there.

 

he completely destroyed lefties 135 wRC+...and is a better hitter than navarro and makes less money... even a crappy smoak platooned with valencia will provide more value than dioner..

 

Mayberry and Tolleson have provided similar domination against lefties and provide more defensive versatility. Valencia will probably be a sweetener in a trade at some point.

[Ultimate]

well lets put it this way

 

he won't be better than valencia / whoever he platoons with

 

A platoon of Smoak or Dirks with Mayberry or Valencia at 1B or DH might be better than Navarro. I'll agree with you there. I do not think it would be significantly better than Navarro.

 

Navarro even if slightly worse than a platoon gives you the advantage of roster flexibility (not having to have a backup catcher on the roster) and you avoid the obvious disadvantages of a platoon (IE there would be cruicial situations where SMoak would have to face a lefty or Valencia would have to face a righty)

[ineedsheet]

navarro makes more money and has value as a catcher but you want to leave him on the team and trade away a cheaper, better more versatile player instead?

[Ultimate]

I said I would keep him if we do not get value for him in a trade. If we get value for him I am okay with trading him.

 

Valencia is not better than Navarro. Valencia is limited to being a bench player or the less used side of a platoon, he will never be an every day player. The way our roster is shaping up I don't see that skillset as a fit for us.