I've said this before, but I'm quite worried about the Reds farm system's catching in general. They haven't produced anyone since LaRue--almost a decade ago. If Ross, whom I have questions about goes down with an injury, the Reds catching will be just about the worst in the majors.
Hopefully, they'll restock the farm system with some quality catchers that can have a lasting impact in the next few years.
Where we gonna go?
Please read the scoring definition of a passed ball (PB). A ball that can be caught with normal effort. If the ball is in the dirt, by definition, it requires more than normal effort, ergo, a wild pitch.
I'm not a system player. I am a system.
"I know a lot about the law and various other lawyerings."
Hitters who avoid outs are the funnest.
I think his swing looks extremely long. He stands up very straight and doesn't get his hands out in front of him (when his front foot hits the ground his hands are too far back) and kinda "drags" the bat through the zone. His left hand needs to be the dominant hand and it looks like the right hand almost pushed the bat through. Thus he can't catch up to a hard fastball (Zambrano threw him three around 95 he swung right through) and "steps in the bucket" against the breaking ball.
My .02 anyways
If you ain't first, you're last! - Ricky Bobby
7 AB's, 0 hits, 4 Strikeouts......
Time to let Javy show if he can be this teams Catcher.
I totally agree. He had a major brain cramp last night on the pop-up bunt. He has a decent arm, but his decision making is very tentative, and we all saw last year how well he blocks the plate.
And he looked bad at the plate again, hitting against a soft-tossing lefty, who is someone he should hit, and hit hard.
Ross was a good pick up last year, when LaRue was hurt and the Reds needed a catcher. He had a career first half, and tailed off badly after that. I'm worried about Ross, before June 1 even, because Ross has never done the job as a regular before, his track record is as a back-up, one who is an average defensive catcher at best, hits .230 lifetime, with some pop in his bat.
That occasional pop alone is not enough to be an everyday catcher, in my book.
But of the three catchers on the active roster right now, I think he is the best option to start. Which makes me wonder why we have three catchers???
sorry we're boring
He hit one last night that would have been gone just about any other day of the year. In fact, the Reds hit four last night that normally would have left the yard but ended up as long flyouts.
Not everyone comes out of Spring Training on fire. While I have read some fantastic analyses on this thread regarding his swing, his defense, and his decision making, he's played two games. I remember some timely bombs from Ross last year and I certainly don't mind that type of presence in the 7 or 8 hole night after night. I would imagine someone could work on his fundamentals behind the plate, but he's a decent hitter. Just give him more than two games before calling for Loverboy.
A flute with no holes is not a flute. A doughnut with no holes is a danish. -- Zen Philosopher Basho
at GABP, I don't give credence to "almost home runs." And no one else should, either!
At most other parks, those aren't even warning track shots. The cold served to "normalize" GABP last night.
I'm not giving up on Ross, I'm pointing out why I'm worried about him. He doesn't have a track record as a regular catcher. And I certainly don't think the guys behind him are any better than he- Moeller is AAAA, and I don't understand the love around here for the Latin Love Machine, other than having a great nickname, courtesy of Red Hot Mama. The numbers show Valentin to be a very poor pinch hitter.
sorry we're boring
Ross will be fine.
That near miss HR last night was a result of his overly long uppercut swing. I was in the Scout Seats and he should've absolutely killed that pitch.
If you ain't first, you're last! - Ricky Bobby
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