Repeat after me, Jason LaRue good - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

M2 · 06-09-2005, 11:56 PM

LaRue's season totals to date: .245 BA, .348 OB, .396 SLG

Major league average for catchers: .247 BA, .310 OB, .378 SLG

So despite that swoon, he's back to being better than the position average and, now that he's seemingly found his power stroke, he could be on his way to a career year.

He may not be a superstar, but he's not a bad guy to have on your team.

Sabo17 · 06-09-2005, 11:59 PM

I totally agree. He is a good hitter,calls a decent game, good defense (except for a few to many passed balls, but not many pounce on a bunt like him), and has a great arm. I can only think of a handful of catchers I would rather have..

smith288 · 06-09-2005, 11:59 PM

He's a gamer /grande

Caveat Emperor · 06-10-2005, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M2

LaRue's season totals to date: .245 BA, .348 OB, .396 SLG

Major league average for catchers: .247 BA, .310 OB, .378 SLG

So despite that swoon, he's back to being better than the position average and, now that he's seemingly found his power stroke, he could be on his way to a career year.

He may not be a superstar, but he's not a bad guy to have on your team.

I don't deny he's more than an adequate ML catcher, I just would rather they have spent his money to increase whatever the offered Matt Clement this offseason.

pedro · 06-10-2005, 12:08 AM

I said the very same thing before this year. "repeat after me..."

One thing about guys like Larue is that when they're hitting .180, that's the time to pick them up in fantasy BB, because they'll be hotter than hades as they "correct" to their carreer norms.

And JL career norms are good. The Reds will be lucky if his eventual replacement is as good as he is.

Another thing about JL is that in the right situation he could be very valuable. If a contending team loses it's catcher, JL could be pretty tempting as a trade target.

good catching is scarce.

how many catchers in the NL would you *really* rather have than JL? Michael Barrett? Molina? I don't know....

SteelSD · 06-10-2005, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caveat Emperor

I don't deny he's more than an adequate ML catcher, I just would rather they have spent his money to increase whatever the offered Matt Clement this offseason.

That would have been possible minus the Randa and Milton signings or minus the Ortiz trade and the Milton singing.

Keeping Larue had nothing to do with losing better pitchers. That was all O'Brien.

WVPacman · 06-10-2005, 12:48 AM

I like Larue and think he is a decent player but I think he can be alot better than he is in all catagorys.I love the way he shows emotion after he gets out or gets a big hit I wish alot of other reds players would show that kind of emotion on the team.Larue could be a decent hitter if he would just work a little harder with the way he goes up there swinging away on every pitch.I really think He could easly bat around 285 with 25 homers and that right there would put him up there with the best catchers in the league.

He also needs to work on his defense better mainly stoping those pitchs that he lets go by him.IMO he only gives half of an effort when trying to stop them just with his glove hand.He needs to jump and move in front of the ball and that would cut down 90% of the past balls.

If he can work on these things then people he would be a catcher that people will remember when he is gone and retired.We all know he has the heart of a lion and if he could improve on the things that I just wrote then he will be a GREAT catcher imo.

pedro · 06-10-2005, 12:53 AM

Johnny Bench had a career OPS of .817

Jason Larue has a career OPS of .732

catching is hard.

edit: granted JB's stats are based on full career sample size and JL's aren't.

WVPacman · 06-10-2005, 01:02 AM

Pedro,bud I agree with you 100% Catching is the toughest position to play in baseball and I think the catchers should get more respect than they do.I have always liked Jason as our catcher. I can't deney that I was upset with his play earlier in the season BUT im here to say that im glad that Jason has finally turned it around and started playing well.He is a worrior and plays as hard as he can and thats all I ask for.

Good job Jason Larue!!

wheels · 06-10-2005, 01:44 AM

Speaking of passed balls...

How many has Larue actually had this year?

I can't recall more than maybe one or two.

Besides, it doesn't really amount to much as far as runs allowed over the course of the season. He creates more than he gives up.

Good little catcher, that Larue.

ochre · 06-10-2005, 03:42 AM

So, it seems that the Reds have average to above average production from most positions (with the "right" people in the lineup). Of course that can't be true, because they would be 30 or 40 games over .500 if the offense would pull its weight.

puca · 06-10-2005, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wheels

Speaking of passed balls...

How many has Larue actually had this year?

I can't recall more than maybe one or two.

Not many balls are even making it passed the hitters this year.

RFS62 · 06-10-2005, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puca

Not many balls are even making it passed the hitters this year.

No kidding.

RedFanAlways1966 · 06-10-2005, 07:57 AM

I'll take LaRue on my team. Not a superstar, but better than average. Good catchers are few and far bewteen. And he can throw people out on the basepaths.

OldRightHander · 06-10-2005, 08:03 AM

I know a lot of people think I'm crazy every time I say this, but I'm speaking about the total package. I would take Larue over Piazza at that position any day. Now if Piazza played a different position, that would be a different story, but as a catcher he's quite possibly the most overrated player at any position that I can readily think of. Larue is streaky as a hitter and he has shown some defensive lapses in the past, but he's still better behind the plate than Piazza and that is the most important think when it comes to playing that position.