[TOBTTReds]

Originally Posted by kheidg-

Personally I'd rather see LaRue starting before Ross just because he is way better defensively and throwing runners out. He also handles the pitching staff better than either of the other two. IMO, LaRue 4 days a week, Ross 2, and Valentin 1 would be the way to go. The record with LaRue catching says enough in itself.

I'm gonna have to disagree big time.

But I've been over it many times before. This is my opinion from a post in June:

I think his (LaRue) game-calling is rather poor, and he has trouble literally receiving the pitches and loses many close strikes because of his eratic catching style and movement behind the plate.

Since I don't feel we have any catcher that is really a good catcher (so far I think Ross is the best receiver), then I feel we stick with the best offensively. And I think LaRue will be fine offensively with some more AB's.

But LaRue is costing us 3 mil a year, and we already have a very good hitter vs. LH'ers in Ross, and JV can handle RH'ers. Where does that leave LaRue? Hopefully sent out with that contract.

Here is another argument about LaRue that I agree with from DFS:

He still has problems with plays at the plate and I don't think he'll ever frame pitches properly, but he has at least conceded to setting a target for his pitchers which he simply has not done in years past. He's leading the team in past balls again, and if you watch him stab for the ball I think you'll agree that's just technique. It's been 5 years now and he hasn't ever fixed it, so I think that's what it is.

I responded with

I will throw in there, that he thinks his pitchers have better fastballs than they really do and calls for them too often in situations where they shouldn't be called.

Here is that thread: http://www.redszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50220