C Eric Munson Avoids Arbitration, Signs for $525,000

[Mass Haas]

Link

 

Munson's LH bat should give him a leg up on the backup catcher spot, you'd think. I'd be comfortable with him for 40-50 starts next season.

[monty57]

IIRC, Kendall's contract has a bonus structure that pays him max if he gets 130 starts, so I'd guess he'll get that as long as he stays healthy and somewhat productive. That said, I think you're correct that this shows us who our backup catcher is going to be next season. I don't see the Brewers paying him $525k to sit in the minors.

[Thurston Fluff]

IIRC, Kendall's contract has a bonus structure that pays him max if he gets 130 starts, so I'd guess he'll get that as long as he stays healthy and somewhat productive. That said, I think you're correct that this shows us who our backup catcher is going to be next season. I don't see the Brewers paying him $525k to sit in the minors.

 

It's also why they probably didn't want Miller back. Miller would get a lot more money for those same 40 some starts. It also gives the Brewers a chance to see if a former very high draft pick has anything close to major league capabilities. Not likely but stranger things have happened.

[yoyomayoma]

I prefer Rivera over Munson. I realize they'd like to have a lefty to go opposite of Kendall but I think Rivera is a better catcher overall.

[monty57]

Whenever he's been given the chance at the big-league level, Rivera has always impressed me as well. It seems there's something about him that the Brewers' brain trust doesn't like.

[jwill535]

I think Rivera's batting has clouded people's minds in regards to his defense.

[razzzorsharp]

The Brewers got Munsoned on this deal.

[JohnBriggs12]

I think Rivera's batting has clouded people's minds in regards to his defense.

 

Munson has no edge on Rivera defensively. I think it comes down to how they handle pitchers and I give Rivera a huge edge here. Nashville had the lowest ERA in the PCL by nearly a half a run over the second place team. Munson's Round Rock staff was over a run higher. Some of that had to do with Gallardo and Parra being there for half a season, but the rest of that staff was primarily veteran AAA types, not prospects.

[chuckiehacks]

Some of that had to do with Gallardo and Parra being there for half a season, but the rest of that staff was primarily veteran AAA types, not prospects.

Some of that? Also, don't you think veterans are less impacted by the way a catcher calls a game than prospects? I don't put that much stock in catcher-ERA, especially in the minor leagues.

 

Rivera hit .215 in AAA last year. I don't think that endeared him to the organization. Munson's not a world-beater by any means, but he's left-handed and he has played other positions in his career, most notably 180 games at 3B.

 

Over the course of 40 games max, the difference in performance is minimal and the salaries are almost the same so I'll trust Doug on this one.

[Thurston Fluff]

I wouldn't read too much into AAA pitchers ERA with regard to how well the catcher calls a game. There are so many factors that go into it as to be pretty much useless. Poor fielding/fields, team preference as to how to use AAA, the fact that some pitchers are working on improving a weak pitch, young players vs older players, high ceiling guys like YoGa make a huge differance, ect. I don't know enough about Munson except Detroit tried to make him an infielder so his time as a catcher was interupted along the way. Rivera we know isn't a very good defensive catcher.

[reillymcshane]

Munson offers some decent left handed pop.

 

I really don't know how good he is, defensively. He's cheap, which the team is looking for. I wouldn't be surprised if he's our back up this year.

[pogokat]

munson's got a good walk rate...i think he'll hit like, well, a backup catcher...but there's the potential that he hits like estrada this year...

[JJHardy7]

Munson has no edge on Rivera defensively. I think it comes down to how they handle pitchers and I give Rivera a huge edge here. Nashville had the lowest ERA in the PCL by nearly a half a run over the second place team. Munson's Round Rock staff was over a run higher. Some of that had to do with Gallardo and Parra being there for half a season, but the rest of that staff was primarily veteran AAA types, not prospects.

 

Rivera only played in about half of Nashville's games (at catcher), so I wouldn't give him all the credit for the low ERA -- Rottino deserves almost just as much (17 fewer games than Rivera). A .215 AVG and .270 OBP in the PCL doesn't make for a highly regarded player. He's all or nothing -- in terms of extra base hits or most likely some type of out. He's not a bad player, but his performance in Nashville this year put a sour taste in Milwaukee's mouth IMO.

[Ennder]

Munson seems to be a LH version of Rivera... low avg, a little pop. Rivera looks to have a better arm, Munson a better OBP. Since we have a RH catcher I'd think the LH bench C would win out.

[TooLiveBrew]

I bumped the Kendall thread yesterday to ask this, but I'll throw it out here, too:

 

What about Palmisano? Is he still a year away from any shot (backing up included) at MLB?

[JohnBriggs12]

I don't just base my comments on Rivera's handling of pitchers on the Nashville ERA. I've seen him with the Brewers. He doesn't possess a strong arm but he's a good receiver and seems to be on the same page as the pitcher.

 

Hitting wise, Rivera's got more power than Munson. He had a bad year average wise in 07 (after two very good years in 05 and 06 when he posted OPS of .895 and .827 respectively) but he still popped 21 HR (19 at Nashville, 2 with the Brewers) and drove in more than 60 runs splitting time.

[Zycho32]

The Brewers got Munsoned on this deal.

 

Really? So where's the rubber throwing hand that covers the hook?

[wcswimmer712]

How good is Munson defensively? Does he have any special attributes, like a strong arm?

[pogokat]

Mike rivera has always been a guy that would struggle to carry a .300 obp in the majors...to prove this point, he didn't do it in AAA this year...

 

on the other hand, Munson carried a .300 obp in the majors last season and a much higher one in AAA...

 

since we're only talking about 100-150 ab's here, Rivera's advantage in slugging is only going to show up as a handful of homers, where munson's sizeable advantage in OBp could actually help this team...i suspect he'll be as good or better than miller was last year... and he's still a slight breakout candidate, so there's a chance he could be a decent big league stick...

 

i think kendall's going to catch a lot more than estrada did last year