Brewers sign C Wil Nieves to a non-guaranteed $775K deal

[Mass Haas]

I guess if you can't hit, can't throw people out, are 32 or older, and are still in the league logic dictates you MUST be able to "call a good game", right?

 

Those types of guys get a job every season on many different clubs at various times some on very good ones. One would have to think either a lot of clubs have very stupid management or those players have something of value that isn't seen in the stats. The only thing that can be is game calling.

For the record, I love it when Backupcatchers chimes in on the topic of backup catchers...

 

 

[hawing]

For the record, I love it when Backupcatchers chimes in on the topic of backup catchers...

Who would know better? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

 

Will any casual fans think, "Nieves...that no-hitter dude is still around? Sweet."

[CheezWizHed]

Nieves...that no-hitter dude is still around?

 

Ahhhhh.... good memories of a purer, more innocent times... 1987 was my favorite BB year of all time (too young for 1982).

[PrinceEatMeat]

I really hope he doesn't somehow win the backup job. This is an awful signing. Hopefully Doug finds someone better to bring in.

[reillymcshane]

Who would have thought a Wil Nieves thread would be more than one page and over 1000 views. This just proves how desperate we are news.

[Oxy]

I think the most important "hidden stat" for catchers is wild pitches and to a lesser extent passed balls. I have no idea if anybody even keeps a wild pitches given up stat for catchers but they should. I also have no idea if Nieves is any good at blocking balls, but after watching LuCroy and Kottaras at times last year, I don't mind some competition in that spot. A team with a poor backstop (literally) has almost no chance of being a good defensive team. Pitchers feel very uncomfortable throwing breaking pitches with guys on base; their strand % goes way down, and they get angry. I think this is what it means when people say "pitchers like throwing to him." They are confident they can let anything loose.

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

Our pitching was sooooo strong when we had a guy like Jason Kendall behind the plate because he could "call a good game".

Why don't we just buy Nieves a ticket and have him flash signals from the front row behind home plate if he's so damn good?

[Mr QL]

Maybe he's a great cook

[reillymcshane]

Maybe he's a great cook

or maybe he cuts hair for the guys.

[Dragonbait]

Maybe he throws really good BP.....

Schoeder's (sp) replacement?

[davemakovec]

No blue text - is Henry Blanco available? If you're going for a zombie catcher why not get one who's good at defense?

[sbrylski]

Maybe he speaks both English and Spanish.

[SeriesFinale]

I can't be the only Extra Innings-watcher fan here who initially read about this and first thought of this commercial that MASN constantly aired when the Crew played the Nats:

 

 

The content of which, of course, doesn't make me feel any better about this signing. If it's about "competition," why even bother to allocate the league minimum at this juncture?

[Invader3K]

"Now we know who Wil Nieves is."

 

How apt.

[And That]

It's even possible the deal is non-guaranteed. Still not worked up about this.

[brewers19]

"...who in 12 years, has never hit a home run in the majors."

 

Disregarding the fact that in those 12 years, he had a whopping 159 AB. And wasn't even in the majors 9 of those years. But hey, I'm just being nitpicky.

[Mass Haas]

It's even possible the deal is non-guaranteed. Still not worked up about this.

McCalvy indicates that's the case -- non-guaranteed.

[craigharmann]

It's even possible the deal is non-guaranteed. Still not worked up about this.

McCalvy indicates that's the case -- non-guaranteed.

And I am much happier because of this.

[dlk9s]

It's $775,000 with $45,000 in incentives. Non-guaranteed, as stated. He'll be competing for the backup job with our old buddy Mike Rivera and Kottaras.

 

I'm not a hater, but man, I should have gotten into the "terrible baseball player" business.

 

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/111674539.html