Ausmus re-signs with Houston

[sweaver]

Determined to have one "black hole" spot in their lineup, the Astros re-upped with Ausmus for a two year deal. Ausmus is a terrific glove man, but one of the worst hitters in the majors.

[Wolf Hopper]

Yanks gave Joe Girardi 400+ PA in 1996 and won a World Series. Sometimes, with catchers, the "other stuff" they bring offsets the lack of hitting.

You never know. Maybe a good idea for another thread.

[nyy26wc]

The most common "other stuff" that offsets mediocrity is having good taste in teammates.

[Wolf Hopper]

True, but, a good catcher can, even with a weak bat, help those good teammates. For example, if you have 4 stud SP, perhaps the weak hitting catcher, who is good at game calling, and blocking balls, and framing pitchers, helps them more than the good hitting, stone hands, bad pitch calling catcher.

[nyy26wc]

So, who are these are "good catchers" who are able to take their pitchers and raise the level of their performance beyond what they were able to do before they got to pitch to him?

If you want to exert that they exist, then you should have some examples of some oft hem.

[clemente21]

I don't think it's "raising the level" of the pitchers' performance as much as "not screwing up."

Is Biggio still considered the emergency catcher? Does he get any practice at it during spring training, like in intrasquad scrimages? If so, then they can be aggressive in pinch-hitting for Ausmus in late-innning situations.

[Wolf Hopper]

So, who are these are "good catchers" who are able to take their pitchers and raise the level of their performance beyond what they were able to do before they got to pitch to him?

If you want to exert that they exist, then you should have some examples of some oft hem.

I'll use the 2002 Devil Rays as an example.

They had a really bad pitching staff, most would say. Toby Hall started 83 games for the 2002 D'Rays behind the plate. John Flaherty started 74 games for them at catcher that same year.

The pitcher's ERA when Hall caught was 5.93.
The pitcher's ERA when Flaherty caught was 4.53.

Same pitchers, two different catchers. Either one catcher gets the blame, or the other deserves some credit. But, the difference of a 1.4 ER per game has to be accounted for somewhere within the role of the catcher, no?

[Wolf Hopper]

I don't think it's "raising the level" of the pitchers' performance as much as "not screwing up."

Good point, and, as the post before this one shows, someone should get the credit for not screwing up.

[SmedIndy]

Steve - I think it's been shown that for the most part Catcher's ERA doesn't carry over year to year. But I don't recall SEEING the report - just allusions to the report.

[Wolf Hopper]

I think we're getting off topic here. Let's start a new thread if needed. Thanks.

[SmedIndy]

to veer us back on - Ausmus' value as a receiver is in no way offset by his pathetic offensive skills. I used to really like him - but he's just a walking outmaker now.