12/23/18

Tom Brennan - BLIND TEST SELECTION - CATCHER

OK, for now we don't know the names of these two catchers - all we have are stats.

It is blind test time.  So, pick from:

CATCHER A:

.245/.306/.406 lifetime.

248 Ks in 1,469 PAs

Latest season with significant ABs: .245/.306/.406, 16 HR, 57 RBIs in 348 PAs

In that season, 2 passed balls.  Career 21% caught stealing rate.

37th overall pick in his draft season.


CATCHER B:

.218/.308/.330 lifetime.

175 Ks in 804 PAs

Latest season with significant ABs: .210/.315/.370, 7 HR, 30 RBIs in 234 PAs

In that season, 0 passed balls.  Career 23% caught stealing rate.

35th overall pick in his draft season.


OK, blind folds off.  

Based on the foregoing, do our readers prefer Catcher A, or Catcher B?


Hint:  A = Travis d'Arnaud;  B = Kevin Plawecki


I go with A, TDA.  

About equal defense, but superior offense.

Now it is the reader's turn.  PICK!

7 comments:

Mike Freire said...

One key stat is that TDA is making a lot more money (3.5, I think) then KPlaw and you have to ask, is the difference in salaries worth the minimal gain in production? Especially for your backup who will only play in 35 or so games (fingers crossed).

With a tight budget, I would move TDA and KPlaw for depth pieces and spend what TDA is going to get in order to secure Martin Maldonado as my #2.....he would be worth the money with his superior defense, right?

Short of that, KPlaw can be the cheaper #2 for the amount of time that he will play, IMO.

Reese Kaplan said...

I'll do this Tom Brennan style:

Catcher A would average for a 162 game period .220/14/51 and has a 21% caught stealing percentage for his career.

Catcher B would average for a 162 game period .224/12/49 and for his career averages 31% caught stealing.

Catcher A earned $3.9 million last year and would likely command around $5 million per season since he wants to be a starter.

Catcher B earned $1.25 million and knows his role is backup catcher. You could probably snag him for $1.5 million since he was non-tendered by his last team.

Catcher A is Martin Maldonado.

Catcher B is Caleb Joseph.

If it's me, I go for the cheaper, pure defensive specialist and trade both d'Arnaud and Plawecki. Lower your payroll and fill a need for late inning defense.

Tom Brennan said...

Mike, not do' #1, TDA, not do' #2, K Plaw, but do' #3, Maldona-do. That could work.

Tom Brennan said...

Reese, we will see if they pick one of your Pieces to catch!

Dave Schulps said...

Tom: While the Let's Make a Deal scenario made me laugh, I'm not sure why, given the stats that Reese posted, anyone would go with do' #3 over do' #4. It seems that Joseph is the better option of the two for an estimated $3.5 less. Unless the equivalent of two solo HRs means a whole lot to you, why would you spend millions more on a player whose 162-game stats are nearly identical and who throws out 21% as opposed to 31% of opposing runners? (Not mentioned by Reese, but also true, is that they are the same age, both turn 33 this summer -- Joseph is two months older.) Would love to know why you consider do' #3 a better option than do' #4. Is there something important missing from Reese's stats?

Tom Brennan said...

Dave, you got me there...I picked the wrong door!

Anonymous said...

Ten Points of No Interest

1. What to do with Met Dominic Smith.

Keep him. Bring him into ST and see what he can do. He plays a nice first base and is learning left field, a new position for him. Dominic can hit and can also hit for some power. He's a rookie, so let's wait and see what he can do. With Juan Lagares, Brandon Nimmo, and Michael Conforto, Dominic's bat could fit right in and provide adequate blow time for the other three. I still believe that the sky is the limit with Dominic. And at first base, give him games with Peter Alonso as well. Good bat to have around.

2. When will the Toyota Manufacturing Co. realize that their Toyota Prius is sort of uglier than unconventional? The Prius is kind of only designed for older people who are trying their best to be hip still and impress their gas mileage savings onto their other old neighbors in the gated community, before they too are deceased.

3. I was just wondering if it is at all possible for President Trump to permanently shut down the government, save some taxpayer bucks, and maybe just keep open the public services side of all this? Perhaps with the savings open up more casinos. (Just kidding Marge.)

4. Maybe one day (if possible) the NY Knickerbockers will finally realize that you simply cannot win very many games with 15 guards on your team, all running around like a bunch of banshees and missing outside three-pointers one after another. You will need a true powerforward (or two) and plays designed like the occasional pick and roll even. Remember that one?

5. Maybe the NFL should seriously consider having the NY Jets and NY Giants franchise licenses either revoked, or maybe just combined into one really horrifying team to watch instead of two.

6. Should the Mets trade Travis d'Arnaud or not?

Probably, unless fifteen at bats a season somehow appeals to you. Maybe just get Rene Rivera again and let Tomas Nido (of Puerto Rico) or Patrick Mazieka keep working on their hitting games (until ready) down at AAA. Wilson Ramos is now in the house and I am sleeping much better, thank you.

7. In an imaginary wrestling match (Pay Per View perhaps) Rosie O'Donnell or Oprah Winfrey, and then why?

8. In an imaginary cross-country vehicle road race (can use as many cars as you want to), Jerry Seinfeld or Jay Leno, and then why?

9. Is it true that Mr. and Mrs. Met procreated already in this off season? Heard a rumor online to that affect that it was a boy, and all balls too.

10. Did Keith Hernandez finally get a stewardess/fitness trainer for Christmas? He ain't that old for crying outloud. You go Keith!