20 pass balls in one season is unheard of by a catcher. Obviously the Reds need to upgrade the position. But if you're another team looking for a catcher, what reasoning would you have to take LaRue?
20 pass balls in one season is unheard of by a catcher. Obviously the Reds need to upgrade the position. But if you're another team looking for a catcher, what reasoning would you have to take LaRue?
None. Jason should not be on the major league roster. Yeah, he has come through in the clutch on four or five occasions, but the Reds need to look for another catcher.
20 pass balls in one season is unheard of by a catcher.
It would really be unheard of from a 3rd baseman.
Not to defend LaRue (I'll leave that windmill for someone else)
But..... it's more common then you'd think
Since 1950
Code:PASSED BALLS YEAR PB PB 1 Geno Petralli 1987 35 35 2 J.C. Martin 1965 33 33 T3 Earl Williams 1972 28 28 T3 Ted Simmons 1975 28 28 T3 Gus Triandos 1959 28 28 T6 Bob Uecker 1967 27 27 T6 Bob Didier 1969 27 27 8 Mike Macfarlane 1995 26 26 T9 Dick Dietz 1970 25 25 T9 Jason Varitek 1999 25 25 T9 Ted Simmons 1973 25 25 T12 Ed Herrmann 1973 24 24 T12 J.C. Martin 1964 24 24 T14 Benito Santiago 1993 23 23 T14 Dick Bertell 1961 23 23 16 Benito Santiago 1987 22 22 T17 Joe Ginsberg 1959 21 21 T17 Jody Davis 1983 21 21 T17 Jesse Gonder 1964 21 21 T17 John Bateman 1966 21 21 T17 Fran Healy 1974 21 21 T17 Gus Triandos 1961 21 21 T17 Chad Kreuter 1989 21 21 T17 Lance Parrish 1979 21 21 T25 Phil Nevin 1998 20 20 T25 Bill Freehan 1965 20 20 T25 Ellie Rodriguez 1974 20 20 T25 Geno Petralli 1988 20 20 T25 Dick Dietz 1971 20 20 T25 Luis Pujols 1982 20 20 T25 Geno Petralli 1990 20 20 T25 Don Slaught 1987 20 20 T33 Ed Herrmann 1969 19 19 T33 Lance Parrish 1991 19 19 T33 Bob Boone 1973 19 19 T33 Mark Bailey 1985 19 19 T37 Earl Battey 1960 18 18 T37 Tim McCarver 1965 18 18 T37 Ted Simmons 1971 18 18 T37 Milt May 1975 18 18 T37 Harry Chiti 1958 18 18 T37 Tim McCarver 1971 18 18 T37 Jorge Posada 2001 18 18 T37 Ed Herrmann 1972 18 18 T37 Joe Ferguson 1973 18 18 T37 Mike Stanley 1996 18 18 T37 Mike Stanley 1987 18 18 T37 Jason Varitek 1998 18 18 T37 Johnny Bench 1968 18 18 T37 Brian Harper 1993 18 18 T37 Donnie Scott 1984 18 18
Last edited by westofyou; 09-14-2002 at 02:11 AM.
20 passed balls, over 110 strikeouts, less than 30 walks. Terrible stats.
If Larue's only problem was the passed balls I might live with him at catcher. He got several catching the knuckleball and, if he could hit, I might live with this. But his only real attribute is his throwing arm and the Reds' lineup needs a stronger catcher. Other than pitching, getting a new starting catcher is the number one offseason priority in my view. Unless the Reds decide that Miller can be a starter I think they really need to acquire a new catcher.
Rangers are gonna be in desperate need of a backstop once "Pudge" is wearing Bench RED!
Larue doesn't have a lot of trade value, and would probably be a throw in on any trade. The Reds need a catcher. I would not even be opposed to a guy like Joe Girardi, who can handle and stabalize a pitching staff and give you a clutch hit from time to time. Whoever they might go after, I would hope it would be someone who can handle a pitching staff and call a good game. And, of course, catch the baseball.
Rodriguez has too many miles on him at age 31. He is in a similar stage as Bench was in his career. The knees were starting to bother him and the Reds ended up moving him to 3rd base, which was worse yet.
Montreal has two fine catchers in Marty Barrett and the left-handed swinging Schenider. If the Reds could get either one along with a pitcher like Tony Armas, that would be a good deal.
Krusty,
I think "Pudge" stats at 31 are Monstorous compared to Bench.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/alltim...d?playerId=881
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/player...s?statsId=4680
Plus, Johnny rapidly declined in 1976 at age 29.......
Then bouced back with a 30 homer campaign in 1977.
Ivan Rodriguez, would make this lineup better in the 2 hole behind Larkin and in from of Griffey.
He will hit .300+30+100+ score 100+ smack 30-45 doubles, and win a gold glove.
What you are saying about Rodriguez is the Rodriguez in the past. The injuries are starting to catch up with him after catching all those innings over the years. What he will ask for as a free agent and the risk involved isn't worth the Reds to pursue given their tight budget and the need for starting pitching.
The Reds can't afford Rodriguez anyway.
Considering the Reds catchers bat eighth in the lineup, I can live with their weak bats. Just give us solid defense baby. With LaRue, he has killed us defensively this season more ways than one.
LaRue is a backup on most of the other MLB rosters. But, for some reason, LaRue is starting over Miller, even Stinnet for that fact. Like Krusty says, I just want a good defensive catcher, that can bat .250. LaRue is certainly NOT that.
Sony High Definition TV: $2000
Digitable Cabe: $50
Watching Peter Gammons "inform" on Baseball Tonight: Priceless
Don't forget to add that he never had more than 465 AB's in a season after that too... or that he was 29 in 1977 and that he never had more than 20 2b's after 77 or that he only had more than 120 hits once in his last 6 years.Then bouced back with a 30 homer campaign in 1977.
All because he by the age of 30 he had caught 1600 games.
Ivan = Pass and that doesn't include the fact that he doesn't fit in our "budget'.
Just like Rolen and Sosa and Maddox and Castillo and every other high priced FA vet.
Krusty, I really disagree with you on this one. As Larkin gets older, with the prospect of a weaker hitting shortstop, we should have a catcher who can hold his own hitting 7th or maybe even 6th in the lineup. Upgrading Larue does not only mean less passed balls. It means a decent offensive player.
Larue's strikeouts to walks ratio is a disgrace. He is toast against a breaking pitch low and outside. If you go with a receiver who can't hit, the bottom of the order becomes an easy target. I know a middle of the order catcher is hard to get, but a solid .260 guy with some strike zone judgment is necessary.
Somebody suggested a deal with Montreal. Looks like the Reds may match up well with them.
Larue has trade value. He's the best catcher in baseball at throwing out basestealers. He's, at worst, an average hitting catcher. He's got some power, and drives in runs. He's a bit of a clutch hitter. His PB's are abysmal, but if 10 is average(?), and considering a number came with Fernandez, is 20 really costing us so much? Certainly not enough to say he has no trade value. We will not get Rodriquez. It would be a ridiculous signing for a small market team.
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