Post by sharksrog on Mar 26, 2013 9:27:33 GMT -5
I know we don't think the East Coast media has anything good to say about the Giants, and I realize some here think Buster Posey should move to first base.
And as I begin this morning to watch the replay of yesterday's Giants/Cubs game on the MLB Network, I find the Cubs' announcers reminding us that Buster Posey is hitting only .250 this spring.
But they then go on to immediately say one could make an argument that Buster is the best player in the game -- based in part on his playing a premium position.
The second name they mentioned in their discussion of candidates for "best player in the game" is Mike Trout, another
West Coast player. Indeed, Trout had a far better season last year than Posey, being a plus plus player at bat, in the field and on the bases.
But Mike doesn't play as much of a premium position as Buster does.
It is true that Buster's career could likely be extended if he played first base, but there have been many catchers still catching a lot in their mid-30's. Buster could still be a force at catcher close to a decade from now. And as we have seen, there are MANY active first basemen with a higher career OPS than Buster, whereas as a catcher, he's the best hitter of the bunch.
Things could change over time, of course, and Buster will likely play more and more at a position or positions other than catcher. But considering all facets of the game, would we rather have Buster, Belt and Blanco/Torres in the lineup, or Buster Belt and Hector Sanchez?
The latter lineup likely doesn't improve the Giants offensively, and it certainly hurts them defensively and on the bases.
Looking at the immediate, if it takes Hector Sanchez a while to get healthy, we can expect Buster to do an even higher percentage of the catching than usual. Guillermo Quiroz is a decent backup, but not a bat one would like in the lineup very often.
If would seem that for a while, Buster's rest might come more in the form of a few days off, as opposed to playing a lot of first base and exposing Quiroz's bat.
Long-term, Buster may well wind up playing some third base, a position he has yet to play. But it doesn't look like Brandon Belt is going anywhere, and he appears to be a premium defensive first baseman. Pablo Sandoval will eventually need to become a first baseman or designated hitter, so he will likely be traded by the Giants or leave in free agency.
Buster's bat would play well at the hot corner, but it wouldn't be the comparative force it is when he can fill the position behind the plate.
Let's not forget either that Buster WANTS to play behind the plate. Nor should we forget that the Giants believe his leadership abilities can best be used at the position. Nor that he has caught two young pitching staffs to the World Championship and is one of the smartest catchers in the game.
When the East Coast media, even as far west as Chicago, see Buster as perhaps being the best player in the game BECAUSE HE PLAYS A PREMIUM POSITION, it seems likely Buster will catch pretty much as long as he can.
We don't know how the future will play out, but really. Posey, Belt and Blanco/Torres at their best defensive positions, or Posey and Belt out of position playing with the raw-catching, out-making Hector Sanchez behind the plate?
The answer is as clear as Buster's desire to be a catcher.
And as I begin this morning to watch the replay of yesterday's Giants/Cubs game on the MLB Network, I find the Cubs' announcers reminding us that Buster Posey is hitting only .250 this spring.
But they then go on to immediately say one could make an argument that Buster is the best player in the game -- based in part on his playing a premium position.
The second name they mentioned in their discussion of candidates for "best player in the game" is Mike Trout, another
West Coast player. Indeed, Trout had a far better season last year than Posey, being a plus plus player at bat, in the field and on the bases.
But Mike doesn't play as much of a premium position as Buster does.
It is true that Buster's career could likely be extended if he played first base, but there have been many catchers still catching a lot in their mid-30's. Buster could still be a force at catcher close to a decade from now. And as we have seen, there are MANY active first basemen with a higher career OPS than Buster, whereas as a catcher, he's the best hitter of the bunch.
Things could change over time, of course, and Buster will likely play more and more at a position or positions other than catcher. But considering all facets of the game, would we rather have Buster, Belt and Blanco/Torres in the lineup, or Buster Belt and Hector Sanchez?
The latter lineup likely doesn't improve the Giants offensively, and it certainly hurts them defensively and on the bases.
Looking at the immediate, if it takes Hector Sanchez a while to get healthy, we can expect Buster to do an even higher percentage of the catching than usual. Guillermo Quiroz is a decent backup, but not a bat one would like in the lineup very often.
If would seem that for a while, Buster's rest might come more in the form of a few days off, as opposed to playing a lot of first base and exposing Quiroz's bat.
Long-term, Buster may well wind up playing some third base, a position he has yet to play. But it doesn't look like Brandon Belt is going anywhere, and he appears to be a premium defensive first baseman. Pablo Sandoval will eventually need to become a first baseman or designated hitter, so he will likely be traded by the Giants or leave in free agency.
Buster's bat would play well at the hot corner, but it wouldn't be the comparative force it is when he can fill the position behind the plate.
Let's not forget either that Buster WANTS to play behind the plate. Nor should we forget that the Giants believe his leadership abilities can best be used at the position. Nor that he has caught two young pitching staffs to the World Championship and is one of the smartest catchers in the game.
When the East Coast media, even as far west as Chicago, see Buster as perhaps being the best player in the game BECAUSE HE PLAYS A PREMIUM POSITION, it seems likely Buster will catch pretty much as long as he can.
We don't know how the future will play out, but really. Posey, Belt and Blanco/Torres at their best defensive positions, or Posey and Belt out of position playing with the raw-catching, out-making Hector Sanchez behind the plate?
The answer is as clear as Buster's desire to be a catcher.