With Varitek back, who is the second catcher?

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With Varitek back, who is the second catcher?

#1 86spike

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Posted 30 January 2009 - 02:26 PM

Bard?

Kottaras?

Brown?

As-Yet-Untraded-For-Catcher?

Discuss.

Before I could spit it out, I guess the words had burnt my mouth. What can I say?
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#2 yep

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Posted 30 January 2009 - 02:30 PM

86spike, on Jan 30 2009, 02:26 PM, said:

Bard?

Kottaras?

Brown?

As-Yet-Untraded-For-Catcher?

Discuss.

Varitek?

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#3 Trautwein's Degree

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Posted 30 January 2009 - 02:31 PM

One can only hope the answer to this question is Jason Varitek.

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#4 TheShynessClinic

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Posted 30 January 2009 - 02:31 PM

Trautwein, on Jan 30 2009, 02:31 PM, said:

One can only hope the answer to this question is Jason Varitek.

With a games played incentive, this is hopeful wishing at best.

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#5 5belongstoGeorge

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Posted 30 January 2009 - 02:32 PM

Hopefully someone that can actually hit a fastball.

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#6 The Napkin

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Posted 30 January 2009 - 02:34 PM

TheShynessClinic, on Jan 30 2009, 02:31 PM, said:

With a games played incentive, this is hopeful wishing at best.

The games played incentive doesn't kick in until 2010.

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#7 Razor Shines

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Posted 30 January 2009 - 02:37 PM

In an ideal world, the Red Sox now acquire Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and run a LHP/RHP platoon. You try to get it done with Bowden+. If that doesn't work, I am in the minority that would trade Clay Buchholz straight-up for Saltalamacchia.

2008 splits
Salty vs RHP: .311/.426/.451
Tek vs LHP: .284/.378/.484

Let 'Tek use his 1-2 years here to mentor Saltalamacchia. If he is as great with pitchers and as great of a leader as his reputation dictates, he should be able to impress these skills upon a young stud catcher.

This is the only role that makes sense for Varitek at this point.

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#8 D Jack's Dome

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Posted 30 January 2009 - 02:42 PM

I'm going with Bard here. They signed him, and I think they want to show a little good faith after ditching him so fast last year. Financially, they could just cut him and using Kottaras/Brown makes more sense. But after this signing, I think anyone making a point for financial responsibility at the catcher position is barking up the wrong tree.

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#9 Beomoose

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Posted 30 January 2009 - 02:43 PM

With the catchers we have "now" the plan is likely Tek/Bard with everyone crossing their fingers that George or Dusty knocks someone off with a phenomenal Spring Training.

So, how much does Pedro want to pitch out of our Pen?

#10 RingoOSU

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Posted 30 January 2009 - 02:49 PM

Well, since Kottaras is out of options, aren't Bard and him fighting for the second spot in Spring Training? We can't keep both.

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#11 86spike

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Posted 30 January 2009 - 02:49 PM

The glaring problem with Josh Bard is that he, just like 2009 Varitek, struggles mightily to hit RHP.

It could be the worst possible combo, in my opinion.

Before I could spit it out, I guess the words had burnt my mouth. What can I say?
There's the thought, I laid it down so you could take it out of context either way.
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#12 Foulkey Reese

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Posted 30 January 2009 - 02:50 PM

Tek/Salty 50/50 split is my fantasy at this point. They need somebody who can hit righties and Bard is not that guy.

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#13 Green Monster

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Posted 30 January 2009 - 02:53 PM

Is it possible that Bard could become part of a trade to either Texas or Arizonia, that gives him a better opportunity to play? Or is it not possible to trade him since he signed as a FA?

#14 86spike

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Posted 30 January 2009 - 02:56 PM

Green Monster, on Jan 30 2009, 02:53 PM, said:

Is it possible that Bard could become part of a trade to either Texas or Arizonia, that gives him a better opportunity to play? Or is it not possible to trade him since he signed as a FA?

he signed a minor league deal... so not sure if that comes with the same no-trade protection as an MLB contract.

That said, if he does get that protection, he can approve the trade if he wants to.

more likely, he would ask to be released to try to catch on with another team.

Before I could spit it out, I guess the words had burnt my mouth. What can I say?
There's the thought, I laid it down so you could take it out of context either way.
- Modest Mouse

#15 Talon

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Posted 30 January 2009 - 02:56 PM

Green Monster, on Jan 30 2009, 02:53 PM, said:

Is it possible that Bard could become part of a trade to either Texas or Arizonia, that gives him a better opportunity to play? Or is it not possible to trade him since he signed as a FA?

Bard, as with any new FA signing has a full no-trade clause until (IIRC) June 1st. So he would have to agree to any trade.

This post has been edited by Talon: 30 January 2009 - 02:56 PM

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#16 xjack

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Posted 30 January 2009 - 03:05 PM

86spike, on Jan 30 2009, 02:56 PM, said:

he signed a minor league deal... so not sure if that comes with the same no-trade protection as an MLB contract.

That means the Sox could park Bard in Pawtucket, right?

If so, I feel bad for the guy. Given Theo & Co's track record of trying to hold onto players, it seems incredibly likely that the Sox will keep Kottraras, since they'll have Bard as Plan B in case Kottraras flops in the majors..

This post has been edited by xjack: 30 January 2009 - 03:06 PM

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#17 Rudy Pemberton

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Posted 30 January 2009 - 03:06 PM

I believe Bard signed a non-guaranteed deal, I don't believe it's a minor league deal though. They could potentially trade him, because if he's dealt he gets to keep his deal. If they simply release him, he'll have to negotiate a new deal with another team and be unlikely to make as much as he has in his contract.

#18 Talon

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Posted 30 January 2009 - 03:07 PM

xjack, on Jan 30 2009, 03:05 PM, said:

No because the Sox signed Bard to a non-guaranteed major league contract. Meaning he is on the 40 man roster but if they release him before a certain date they do not have to pay his 2009 salary. If the Sox wanted Bard in Pawtucket they would have to go through the same dfa/waiver procedure as with any player on the 40 man roster.

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#19 j44thor

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Posted 30 January 2009 - 03:14 PM

xjack, on Jan 30 2009, 03:05 PM, said:

It is too bad that if anything Kottaras hits LHP better than RHP despite being a lefty pull hitter (stats are nearly identical vs. LHP/RHP).
Going from AAA to MLB he might be expected to hit RHP a little better than Tek but not by a significant margin.

#20 xjack

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Posted 30 January 2009 - 03:14 PM

Talon, on Jan 30 2009, 03:07 PM, said:

I still don't think Bard makes the team if Kottraras shows anything in spring training. Bard would be making $1.7 million, and as others have pointed out, his platoon splits make him a poor partner for Tek.

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