Who will have the better career -- Mesoraco or Grandal?

[Always Red]

Originally Posted by Redlegs

Johnny Bench threw out anywhere from 40 to 50% of would be base stealers. Piazza was as low as 14% or so in his career. A great hitter, no doubt. Easily below average defensively. Part of a winning formula is strength up the middle.

Absolutely.

Below average, but could still play the position, to the point where, unlike Dunn and Encarnacion, he did not have to go to the AL and be a DH until near the end of his career.

And if either one of those guys, especially Mez, has a career like Piazza's, no one here will be complaining that he's not throwing enough guys out on the basepaths. It's all relative.

[Revering4Blue]

Originally Posted by Always Red

Absolutely.

Below average, but could still play the position, to the point where, unlike Dunn and Encarnacion, he did not have to go to the AL and be a DH until near the end of his career.

And if either one of those guys, especially Mez, has a career like Piazza's, no one here will be complaining that he's not throwing enough guys out on the basepaths. It's all relative.

Below average in regards to throwing base runners out. But, IIRC, in regards to other aspects of defense--blocking the plate and preventing passed balls/wild pitches--Piazza fared very well.

[RedlegJake]

Yeah I'm one of those old guys who watched Piazza his whole career. He wasn't even close to Berra, Bench or Rodriguez - those comps have to be based on hitting only. Mike was a bad catcher when he came up in the NL. I mean bad. He simply hit too well to keep down and LaSorda stayed with him when a lot of teams would have moved him. Tom's faith was repayed because Piazza became a decent catcher in every aspect of the game except throwing and he was fairly accurate. By his 3rd or 4th year he was adequate - easily better than our own Eddie Taubensee. SO yeah, he stayed at catcher because he was adequate and he played a lot of games there but that's all he ever was - adequate. What he was good at, I think, were things like taking command of a pitching staff, and working with his pitchers. Calling the game etc. and that is why he stayed a catcher.

[fearofpopvol1]

it's still obviously very early, but a month later, Grandal is having the better season. and he's done it with even less playing time than Mesoraco.

both are small sample sizes, i acknowledge.

[Tom Servo]

I'm still not anymore sold on Grandal, but I am concerned about Mes. He's looked fairly hapless at the plate of late. Hopefully it's just rookie struggles.

[kaldaniels]

Mes, despite some well hit balls tonight, just doesn't pass the eyeball test at the plate.

Not that that is worth anything.

[Vottomatic]

I'm not happy with Mez's bat. But he seems better in his game calling. I see improvement behind the plate. Now he needs to get there standing at the plate.

[dougdirt]

When Mesoraco starts playing 5 times a week, he is going to be better than Grandal is. Until then, Grandal will probably be better because is starting nearly every game.

[edabbs44]

Originally Posted by dougdirt

When Mesoraco starts playing 5 times a week, he is going to be better than Grandal is. Until then, Grandal will probably be better because is starting nearly every game.

Chicken or the egg. Until he starts hitting, especially in a playoff chase, he won't be seeing the field 5 times per week.

[Matt700wlw]

I don't think the Reds went into this season expecting a lot offensively from Mes...

Next year will tell us more.

[Vottomatic]

Originally Posted by edabbs44

Chicken or the egg. Until he starts hitting, especially in a playoff chase, he won't be seeing the field 5 times per week.

Good point.

I think this thread should be dug back up in 2 or 3 years. Too small a sample size right now for both players.

[Wonderful Monds]

I don't have any particularly rational reasons for it, but I'm extremely worried about Mes. Watching him hit, his struggles look like more than just rookie growing pains.

[hebroncougar]

Not worried one bit. He will be just fine. I really do wish he would have had more consistent playing time, but I can understand how good Hanigan is as well. Good problem to have.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk 2

[Vottomatic]

Welsh was really praising Hanigan during one of the broadcasts on Saturday. Paraphrasing, saying how underrated he is.

I've always agreed with that.

[Scrap Irony]

Originally Posted by Wonderful Monds

I don't have any particularly rational reasons for it, but I'm extremely worried about Mes. Watching him hit, his struggles look like more than just rookie growing pains.

He continues to drop his back shoulder and roll over breaking balls.

At this point, he's become an extreme mistake hitter with a slow bat. Maybe he improves, but, as is, he's a .230/.280/.400 career backup.

Grandal, meanwhile, despite not being good yet defensively, is at .290/.340/.550.

Easy choice so far.