Other than Realmuto, no catcher appeared in more than 116 games in 2022, so your target number seems about right. I prefer using the traditional backup catcher based on a platoon advantage, rather than for a particular starter. Regardless, Wong is not a big guy. The beginning of McGuire's rehab stint has reduced my flashbacks to Saltalamacchia being pretty worn out by the end of the 2013 season after Ross missed a couple of months mid season.
Yeah, there’s been at least a half dozen occasions where I’ve groaned because Wong has reached to catch a ball in the zone with kind of a flourish that takes the ball out of the zone without pausing on the catch. I’ve noticed it less more recently, so hopefully it’s something he’s improving.
Of all the skills required of a catcher, I cannot think of any other one easier to teach, and learn, than framing. It is much harder to teach throwing properly to the bases, calling for pitches and overall field management, than making sure strikes are called strikes (and maybe even some fringe piches as well!).
There is some interesting info about how much Realmuto improved his pitch framing skills in this article. I agree that framing is easier to improve than blocking or throwing.
I actually think the difference is most likely that umpires have had to improve their ability with the increase in technology.
Reminds me a bit of Thurman Munson [/ducking], who made up for arm strength with an insanely quick release.
| 2021 | WOR | INT | AAA | 50 | 199 | 22 | 51 | 88 | 13 | 0 | 8 | 26 | 9 | 0 | 58 | 7 | 1 | .256 | .288 | .442 | .730 | 0.76 |
| 2022 | WOR | INT | AAA | 81 | 323 | 47 | 93 | 158 | 20 | 0 | 15 | 44 | 27 | 0 | 80 | 7 | 3 | .288 | .349 | .489 | .838 | 0.96 |
Not directed solely at you, but whatever happened to the days when a guy got on a good streak and we sorta' sat back, enjoyed and accepted it for what it is. Yeah, I'm old.
For reference I don't think the statcast measurements get updated immediately like standard stats do; check those graphs again tomorrow and you may see some movement.
5 home runs in 60 plate appearances is nothing to sneeze at, he only had 9 all of last year. But the rest of the metrics are still the old Wong: a lot of K's, very few walks. He he has cut his K rate to 26.3% so far this year. And he had a really good spring in terms of strikeouts. So he might have gotten better at putting the ball in play. But he's also only taken one walk the whole year.
From my vantage he's being more aggressive, swinging earlier in the count, so not falling into 2-strike counts and having to be so defensive. Which is also why so few walks. He might end up just being a good, maybe streaky hitter. Having McGuire as a decent backup also means he can sit more and stay fresh.
One year of Mookie has generated 6 years of Wong, 3 years of Verdugo, and whatever the trio of Yankee arms turn into. We can debate the decision to trade him forever. Obviously the Dodgers don’t regret it. But given that the trade happened, the return could have been a lot worse.
I mean... I hate to reduce the whole thing to numbers, but if we compare the results of the trade itself (one year of Mookie + Price contract) without taking into account the LA contract Betts signed after the trade:
No disagreement here but I was simply highlighting the fact that Wong, who was a product of that trade, looks pretty good at present. Its not all terrible.
In one sense, this is definitely true. There’s a kind of strategy vs. tactics distinction that’s operative.
