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Today is the day everyone! Pitchers and catchers report today to Surprise Arizona. Ross did a great job looking at the starting pitching prospects, so I am going to look today at the 3 (or 4) guys who will be trying to win the starting catching spot on the roster. As you all know, if you do not have a good catcher, your pitching staff will not be able to perform at it top level. So, for your reading pleasure, here they are!
1. Yorvit Torrealba– Torrealba is considered the no. 1 guy going into the season, that is the reason the Rangers brought him in. He is 32 years old, and he has only averaged around 230 at bats per season over the past 3 seasons, and he has been hitting around .260. He is not really a long ball hitter, but that is not really why they brought him in. He is know as a guy that works really well with a pitching staff. The Rangers really liked the way Molina worked with the staff in 2010, but he was musing retirement and the Rangers decided to not resign him. It will be interesting to see how much time Torrealba actually gets as the starter. The Rangers will have 3 catchers on the roster at all times, and Torrealba has not played in a whole lot of games over the past few seasons. I still think he will get the nod at the no. 1 spot.
2. Mike Napoli – Mike, in my opinion, has swooped in and taken the no. 2 spot from Matt Treanor, and Matt may be relegated to a “only catching C.J. Wilson” roll on the team, barring injury to Mike. Napoli was a very interesting sign for the Rangers, already having 2 catchers, a full time DH (Michael Young), and a full time first baseman in Mitch Moreland. Young was also slated to be the backup at that spot. The Rangers flirted with Jim Thome and Manny before finally signing Napoli, and the Napoli signing seemed to be the final straw that began the Michael Young drama. Napoli has not been an everyday catcher in recent years, but I think he will be good in the backup role behind Torrealba. Napoli had a career high in homeruns (26) and RBI (68) in 2010, which made him a more desirable free agent. Look for Napoli to get some good time at catcher, maybe as much or more than Torrealba, and look for him to get some time at first and some time at DH. Depending on how the Young situation works out, Napoli may be the DH at some point during the season, but I expect Young to stay with the Rangers and Napoli to get most of his time catching.
3. Matt Treanor – Matt Treanor was a fan favorite last season, he was brought in to be insurance in the minors, but wound up being the guy for a little while. Matt did a great job working with the pitchers in 2010, and I was glad to see that the Rangers resigned him for the 2011 season. It looks like his at bats will be down, unless something happens to the two guys in front of him on the depth chart. Matt will be a professional, and he will be ready when his number is called.
4. Taylor Teagarden – Teagarden is a “what if” player. He has shown some talent, and he has also (kind of like Chris Davis) had some trouble solving major league pitching. Teagarden does not have much of a chance to make the team without a injury or terrible play with someone in the depth chart in front of him. Taylor just needs to keep working hard and being professional, and his chance will eventually come, either with the Rangers or in a trade. I like Taylor and kind of hope he shows some stuff this season and becomes the Rangers catcher of the future, because that is what he is in the 2011 season. The catcher of the future.
I hope you enjoyed our look at catching in the 2011 season. Feel free to leave comments where you think I am wrong or right or if you just want to praise the great job that the Report has been doing.
