Casali vs Barnhart

[Ben Zinger]

Fill me in on why TB should get double the at bats of CC.

Platoon? Contract? Familiarity with staff? Defense? Favoring home grown players?

I haven't watched much when CC plays, so I can only speak of his stats, not style.

[mth123]

Fill me in on why TB should get double the at bats of CC.

Platoon? Contract? Familiarity with staff? Defense? Favoring home grown players?

I haven't watched much when CC plays, so I can only speak of his stats, not style.

This is a good question. I like Barnhart OK I guess. But I think his perceived value greatly exceeds his actual value. If the Reds could deal him for what it seems everyone thinks he's worth while handing the catching duties to a Casali (65%)/Farmer (35%) tandem, I'd be perfectly happy with that.

[KronoRed]

Barnhart is being paid to be a starter so he shall be.

[757690]

The Reds pitcher staff is own the league’s best so far this year. I wouldn’t be messing around with whose is catching them.

[mth123]

The Reds pitcher staff is own the league’s best so far this year. I wouldn’t be messing around with whose is catching them.

There is that perceived value rearing it's head again.

[757690]

There is that perceived value rearing it's head again.

If the pitchers want to pitch to one catcher over another, I’m listening to them. Barnhart got his job because pitchers wanted to pitch when he was first called up.

[Wheelhouse]

If the pitchers want to pitch to one catcher over another, I’m listening to them. Barnhart got his job because pitchers wanted to pitch when he was first called up.

...in lieu of Mesoraco, who was not a good defensive catcher. At the plate, I don't believe Barnhart can catch up to a fastball over 93 or 94, and I don't believe he can connect on anything better than a mediocre breaking pitch. He just looks absolutely overwhelmed by middle-of-the-league arms.

[redsfanmia]

...in lieu of Mesoraco, who was not a good defensive catcher. At the plate, I don't believe Barnhart can catch up to a fastball over 93 or 94, and I don't believe he can connect on anything better than a mediocre breaking pitch. He just looks absolutely overwhelmed by middle-of-the-league arms.

And yet the Mets pitching staff loved throwing to Meseroco. Wheeler in particular credited him for his great second half last season.

[TNRED]

The Reds pitcher staff is own the league’s best so far this year. I wouldn’t be messing around with whose is catching them.

Isn't he the same guy who caught the league's worst last year?

[InsaneinthBrame]

What is amazing is how much better Barnharts pitch framing is this year over two last year when he is catching better pitchers. Maybe the pitch framing stats are not accurate?

[RedTeamGo!]

Isn't he the same guy who caught the league's worst last year?

There you go again, bringing logic to a narrative fight.

[757690]

Isn't he the same guy who caught the league's worst last year?

Good point.

Not saying Tucker is responsible for the pitching turnaround. But now that the Reds have quality pitchers, I wouldn’t mess with their success too much.

[InsaneinthBrame]

If you look at the complete picture of how both are hitting. There is not much difference in value. Their obp is the same. Barnhart walks way more and strikeout less. Casali has higher average but that is do to much higher babip. I think casali also gets the benefit of playing against beneficial match ups. His weaknesses get exposed more the more he plays. The giants show that they knew how to get casali out. It is likely the reason that he has been a fringe MLB ballplayer

[mth123]

If you look at the complete picture of how both are hitting. There is not much difference in value. Their obp is the same. Barnhart walks way more and strikeout less. Casali has higher average but that is do to much higher babip. I think casali also gets the benefit of playing against beneficial match ups. His weaknesses get exposed more the more he plays. The giants show that they knew how to get casali out. It is likely the reason that he has been a fringe MLB ballplayer

I think there is probably truth to this, but Barnhart is viewed as a solid primary catcher and Casali a back-up on the edge of being pushed off the roster. If the actual production is similar, why not cash in on that perceived difference and just play the other guy and get the same production along with whatever Barnhart could bring back in a deal? Teams were scrounging for Catchers in January/February. Maybe Barnhart bringd back a decent fix for other problems. Too late by now. My guess is the rest of the league will catch on.

[Kinsm]

This is how Bell viewed the two tonight...