Lucroy and Salome in 2010

[TooLiveBrew]

D'oh! Sorry Nate, and sorry for the confusion, Crew http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif That's what I get for not actually quoting the post.

[coach32sm]

Gamel will be OK if they let him play and let him be!!

[nate82]

That sounds like a plan, but again, if they bring up Salome as they did with Braun, in May or June, who is doing the catching until then?

I'm going to go with the Corporan and Rivera split for a few months. If Salome proves himself in AAA the first couple of months and has a good spring he should be up in May or June replacing Corporan.

[TooLiveBrew]

Gamel will be OK if they let him play and let him be!!

Coach, I'd love to get your take on Casey McGehee (offense/defense/whatever), if you feel you've seen enough of him to comment.

[BrewerBrent]

Bill James just released some early season projects

 

He projects Angel Salome to hit .296/.345/.442

 

Yes please.

[TooLiveBrew]

I just blacked out for a second... that can't be a projected line for a Brewers catcher, can it?

[Invader3K]

Is that a projection for AAA or MLB?

[marty22]

Bill James projections are always optimistic. I imagine that's an MLB projection, but I wouldn't put too much weight in it. The guy's a genius, but his projections are flat-out over the top.

[coach32sm]

I havent see Casey enough I was coaching the whole summer in Europe, but when I did see him early in Spring I liked him and said to myself, "hey, he can take somebody's job real fast" He swung the bat well, with authority and with a little pop. Didnt seem to get fooled too much and appeared to make adjustments. If I can remember he looked pretty good with the glove, that was why I thought he could take Bill Hall or Gamels spot. I like him alot and even had him on my Fantasy team (which sucked by the way) As far as Angel. The plan sounds good but would you want to go with 2 back up lifers as your 2 main catchers if you have a good enough team to fight for a playoff spot? How bad can Angel be behind the plate? That is the mistake the Yankees make all the time when they sit Posada for Molina for defense, it's a joke. Posada isnt great but how much will his defense effect the game ? Especially when his spot come up in the line up a few times that can change the game offensively, they get a big out with Molina, then have to fight back, then bring Posada in to pinch hit and play defense at the end of the game anyway. That defense thing isnt as big as you make it, unless it's on the positive side of a game changer like Pudge was when he came up That was the way I expected Salome to be, and still do if he can get his head on straight and do the things that come natural to him. Nobody worries too much about his stick and that should be a BIG plus in that line up and compensate for ANY lack of defense, which Im sure will get better and better as he plays more in the highest level. I think each year his defense has improved and he is always ready to work hard. I know he will be killing himself with us this winter!!! "Coach"

[thebruce44]

Coach, sorry if you have answered this before, but I have a question about catchers calling a game.

 

It seems like a lot of the praise we have heard for Kendall has been for the way he handels pitchers and calls a game. It makes me think that when coaches and scouts talk about catcher defense, they are not just talking about fundaments, footwork, and athletic ability, but also about experience and general baseball knowledge.

 

Could this be one of Angel's shortcomings at this point? Is this something you worked on with him or have you heard what the Brewers are doing in regards to this aspect? How often does the next pitch come from the dugout and not even from the catcher? If it is often, why not pay Kendall to sit in the dugout and relay in pitches to a much more athletic catcher?

 

Any input would be greatly appreciated as this is something I don't really know much about myself. Thanks!

[battlekow]

ESPN Insider article on Lucroy (not an Insider, so I don't know what it says).

[marty22]

The article says basically that Lucroy has passed up Salome because he is more well-rounded. Viewed as an offense-first catcher when drafted, his athleticism and agility "allow his average arm to play up", and he's developed into a solid defensive catcher. Still working on blocking pitches, but getting better; game calling developing as well. Grey says he could start as soon as 2011, which is disappointing. On offense, his weakness is against off-speed stuff; he can recognize it, adjust, and make contact, but he doesn't drive it as consistently as he does the fastball.

[coach32sm]

Thebruce When I get a young talented catcher I try to teach them all aspects of the mental side of the game. We go through the whole winter trying to learn how to call a game. when the season starts I let them call the game but make certain calls in certain situations and immediately ask them if they know why I did it and explain my thinking in that situation. Angel was below average as a young kid but actually learned quickly and I dont think I called more than a few pitches his last 2 years. We also have a little sign where my catcher will flash to me what is is going to call and I will OK it or shrug it off so he can re- think it. Angel became great and we were always on the same page. When he played his first pro season, I was getting a National award the same time and place as Rodgers. I asked him about Angel and he was in love with his catching and game calling (granted he also was fresh out of HS so who knows his background on that stuff) Our two stud catchers now are very different. One is a Manny bat with an Angel arm 15years old and throws 1.7 but needs work on the game calling stuff. The other kid is a year older a big kid 6'2 250, not as athletic but blocks great and calls a great game. They are al different and require different things to focus on in the off season. The times I've seen Angel in the minor leagues, he always seems to command total respect from his pitchers and be in control, he also called good games, but I had a small sample to choose from, that was why I was always baffled when I heard he was a "bad" catcher in any of his defensive parts of the game. also most of what comes from the dugout is throws to first, stepping off, holding the ball ("freezing" the runner/batter) and all that stuff. you don't see much pitch calling from the dugout. As far as Lucroy, I think they are at equal points at their respected careers but Angel has done it a few more years. The only reason i can see putting Lucroy ahead of angel at this point is to maybe shake him up. I think there may be some feeling that Angel "quit" on his team last year, but in reality, he was hurt and fingers and hands are the worst things to hurt as a catcher and/or batter. He missed ten games and then tried to play, when he struck out twice and looked bad because he really couldn't hold the bat. Money said to him, "That's not you can you play? Do you want to keep playing?) angel is a gamer and said he will do what ever they wanted, but in reality his finger was toast. Lets hope the Lucroy talks motivate him. The worst thing any player can do is to become complacent.We are going to have lunch tomorrow and talk about all this stuff!!!!!!! "Coach"

[TooLiveBrew]

Thanks as always for your insights, Coach.

[thebruce44]

Thanks Coach. Let Angel know we are all pulling for him.

[coach32sm]

We will have lunch on Wednesday, I'm still not back to work yet after my surgery and then he is getting ready to "take it to another level" He's also going to work with an Olympic and a World Record holder in sprints and hurdles who both work with my team, his footwork will improve dramatically and maybe get back or close to his 6.7 sixty from his high school days. He's psyched and ready. Thanks and I will pass on the good words to him, he looks great. And Im glad Lucroy is doing well, it makes for better competition (in the good, team way) for both of them, I hope they push each other in the Spring as my catchers and other position players have always done, it makes a healthy environment where everybody is helping and pushing each other for the good of the team and organization, everybody wins!! "Coach"

[TooLiveBrew]

He's also going to work with an Olympic and a World Record holder in sprints and hurdles who both work with my team, his footwork will improve dramatically and maybe get back or close to his 6.7 sixty from his high school days.

 

It's too bad you don't have access to awesome resources, Coach. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

 

Yes, please do send our best to Angel. I think he can take comfort in knowing that he's very close to being a big-league catcher, whether it winds up being in Milwaukee or elsewhere. It must be exciting to be on the cusp of realizing your life-long dream http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[coach32sm]

Im hoping he does realize that, it would make al the difference in the world.

[clancyphile]

Why not stick Salome in the outfield? If the Crew is going to lose Cameron, how about going with Braun in left, Hart in center, and Salome in right?

[PlayerHader]

Wow. People are worried about our porous OF if we'd put Gamel out there. I'd imagine this setup would cost us a ton of runs.

[clancyphile]

Wow. People are worried about our porous OF if we'd put Gamel out there. I'd imagine this setup would cost us a ton of runs.

The Brewers have done the C-to-OF thing before - Charlie Moore, BJ Surhoff, and Dave Nilsson all moved from C to the OF. Surhoff had good offensive years as an OF, and Nilsson managed to stay on the field more.

[battlekow]

Clancy, none of those guys were 5'7" & 200 lbs.

[sheetskout]

I have been a HUGE Salome supporter, but he just doesn't have the build or physical tools to stick in the outfield (for that matter, I'm not confident Gindl could stick out there either). This is why you rarely see a shorty outfielder unless they have good speed; which Salome (and Gindl) don't.'

 

I really hope Salome's lack of performance last year was injury-related. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[trwi7]

for that matter, I'm not confident Gindl could stick out there either).

Not to go off topic, but why? Gindl is a good defender.

[Tbadder]

I have to admit that I love the idea of Salome, a kind of Kirby Puckett of the catching world, but I can't bring myself to actually believe it will come to fruition. And his inability to be moved to another position would seem to me that his best chance is in the American League with a small market team willing to take a chance on an anomaly. I think Lucroy will make to the major leagues in the middle of the 2011 season. Jonathan reminds me of a young Kendall. I'm hoping (and probably assuming) that the Brewers continue to emphasize catching in the draft as both Salome and Lucroy probably have just as much a chance of being back-ups or failing altogether as being a starter.