The Burying of Devin Mesoraco

[dougdirt]

Fangraphs takes a look at the handling of Devin Mesoraco.

Mesoraco’s ship may not have sailed exactly, but his star has dimmed considerably, and while he hasn’t hit well, he hasn’t been given a proper chance either. This isn’t to say that Mesoraco is a diamond in the rough. Playing time guarantees nothing — we need to look no further than Jesus Montero to see that. But Montero was at least given a real opportunity to succeed or fail. It’s true that the Mariners and Reds are in different situations, but given the fact that Hanigan is pumping a putrid 51 wRC+, the Reds really don’t have anything to lose at this point. Perhaps Mesoraco wasn’t deserving of his top prospect sheen, but given how Cincinnati has buried him behind Hanigan, we can’t really say that we know for sure.

[RedEye]

Sounds like a Tommy Lee Jones movie title. Thanks for the link!

[WVRedsFan]

His arm concerns me. That probably is one reason.

[Chip R]

Is the other Mesaraco thread over 1,000 posts?

[NebraskaRed]

Sounds like a Tommy Lee Jones movie title. Thanks for the link!

Off-topic: The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (which Jones directed) is a good movie.

On-topic: I wonder how much Devin/Mes/Mez/Rocco's playing time will increase as the season goes on. I think he's being used appropriately now because I don't have the most confidence in his arm. He's obviously betting at the plate than Hanigan (even taking Hanigan's injury into consideration), but he's nowhere near Hanigan's level at defense.

[RedTeamGo!]

He hasn't really shown much to show he deserves the majority of the playing time in my opinion. I understand Hanigan is terrible on offense, but until Mesoraco forces Dusty to make the change by proving himself I do not think it is that big of a deal.

I look at it this way:

Hanigan:

Offense: completely awful
Defense: elite

Mesoraco:

Offense: mediocre at best
Defense: medocre


Until Rocco proves otherwise I don't think this is a big deal.

[mdccclxix]

I'm okay with slow and low for Mesoraco.

[NebraskaRed]

I'm okay with slow and low for Mesoraco.

I'm okay with slow and low as long that is the tempo

[jimbo]

Starting two out of five games is buried? Riiiight.

[dougdirt]

Starting two out of five games is buried? Riiiight.

For the top prospect at his position in all of baseball, 40% playing time from the very beginning of his career is absolutely burying him. He is now nearly a year and a half into his career and the only time he has started more than two games in a row is when Ryan Hanigan went on the DL.

[dougdirt]

Is the other Mesaraco thread over 1,000 posts?

If we want to play that game why not just start 40 threads. One for each player on the roster. Then every post goes in one of those?

[westofyou]

If we want to play that game why not just start 40 threads. One for each player on the roster. Then every post goes in one of those?

If it will thin out the Free Devin posts then I vote yes

[Vottomatic]

Then he should have been drafted by another organization if he wanted the full time catcher's job.

Reds did this with Ramon Hernandez and Hanigan and it worked out great. I like the catching platoon way of doing things. Keeps catchers fresh. And if one goes down with injury you're not really missing a beat by playing the other one full time 'til the injured one comes back.

This is a whole lot of something about nothing.

[dougdirt]

Then he should have been drafted by another organization if he wanted the full time catcher's job.

Players don't really get to choose who drafts them or how they are handled.

[jimbo]

For the top prospect at his position in all of baseball, 40% playing time from the very beginning of his career is absolutely burying him. He is now nearly a year and a half into his career and the only time he has started more than two games in a row is when Ryan Hanigan went on the DL.

I can care less what kind of prospect he is, he still has to earn it instead of it being given to him based on potential. Whether you agree with it or not, the Reds brass doesn't think he has as of yet.

And I disagree, starting 40% of his team's games is not being buried on the bench.