Twinkie Town: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
Around SBN: Sean Keeley's Week 12 College Football Buffet

Redmond determined to keep playing


According to MLB.com, Mike Redmond is determined to try his hand in the free agent market this winter in hopes of continuing to play somewhere in major league baseball.  I am not in any position to analyze his worth over Morales or Butera or Ramos so I'll leave that to the heavy lifters here on this site.

Apparently Redmond brought a lot of good energy to the clubhouse, and every team needs some veteran leadership.  In addition, it sounds like Redmond is interested in coaching and might be an effective coach for the organization, so it might be beneficial to keep him around.  Nonetheless, I find it hard to believe he is worth keeping after a season where he "batted a career-low .237 with two doubles, seven RBIs and a .588 OPS in 135 at-bats. He also threw out only five of 40 runners while behind the plate."  

No matter how raw Morales is, its hard to imagine he wouldn't be a significant upgrade over that.

Poll
so who should be the backup catcher next year?
Redmond (NBP and veteran leadership make up for declining skills)
5 votes
Morales (last season proved he's capable)
86 votes
Butera (when Mauer is down, defense is the highest priority)
2 votes

93 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 22 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Montana, you needed another choice...

…that would be either (other) or (Wilson Ramos). Ramos is the second best catcher in the organization and most other teams in baseball would have him with the parent club next season. I see the Twins having Morales as the back up with Ramos playing every day in Rochester until he is needed with the Twins. But don’t be surprised if he is on the opening day roster next spring.

by roger13 on Oct 25, 2009 8:00 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Agreed. I tried to add two choices, but the interface wouldn't let me.

My other two choices would have been:

4) Wilson Ramos (He’s young, but he might be ready)
5) Meatwad (yes he’s a cartoon, but he can transform himself into a giant catcher’s mitt)

by montanatwinsfan on Oct 25, 2009 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm not going to be one bit surprised

when the Twins trade Morales this off season and sign Redmond, holding the place for Ramos for one year.

by ajmargarine on Oct 25, 2009 12:12 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I would

not be against this. I think Morales is overvalued right now. With his poor defense (estimated to be 5 runs below average there, that puts him at replacement level. I don’t expect him to get much better either.

Also at replacement level? Redmond. So when it comes down to it, if you can get something of value by trading Morales that you value more than the 600K in cost savings, why not do it?

by Milt on Tilt on Oct 26, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

"Redmond determined to keep playing"

Sort of like “Rasputin determined to keep living”

by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Oct 25, 2009 2:45 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Aww, Redmond isn't that bad.

I mean, his defense leaves something to be desired. And well, his offense is touch and go. But erm…where was I going with this?

by fischean on Oct 26, 2009 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Gosh, Mike, this is awkward. Um, do you mind catching in the bullpen?

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Oct 25, 2009 4:06 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Keep playing.......

If someone offers you a half million to be a backup for another season, is that better than taking a job coaching in the minors?

Until you can’t get a job offer, I say go-fer-it!

Hey, Chad Moeller, Henry Blanco, Corky Miller, Javier Valentin were just some of the former Twins backstops still finding major elague playing time last season!

Visit www.TwinsCards.com and check out "rosters" to see my collection!

by rosterman on Oct 25, 2009 7:14 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

No doubt

Hey, if you can get a job playing, play. It just shouldn’t be for the Twins, because Morales is ready to be the backup catcher.

by Eric in Madison on Oct 25, 2009 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Morales can't throw a guy out stealing 2nd either.

How about AJ Pierzynski? They’re not booing, they’re saying, “Pier-BOOO-zynski!”

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett 

—Hasta la victoria siempre ¡Patria o Muerte! –Ernesto "Che" Guevara

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Oct 25, 2009 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Mauer threw out 26% (19-73) of baserunners in 2009,

compared to Morales’ 31% (8-26), and Redmond’s 13% (5-40).

I blame the pitching staff.

by benhertz on Oct 25, 2009 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Mauer had a lot more chances

though his percentage seems really low (since he’s just so awesome at everything else, you know). Huh.

I’m sure it does have a lot to do with the pitchers, though.

by fischean on Oct 25, 2009 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Pavano

Is one of the slowest to home plate in all of baseball. Mauer’s % was a lot better before we acquired him (close to 40% if I recall correctly).

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Oct 25, 2009 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

FYI

I checked out the validity of this claim. Results, baserunners had 13 SB with 0 CS against him. 10 of those were vs Mauer. His CS% without Pavano is 30%, right about average. His career CS% is still 38% Not too shabby.

by Milt on Tilt on Oct 26, 2009 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I dunno.

Those numbers look pretty close. If I was smart enough to figure out how to add the other two choices I wanted, so that I would have had five options like you had, it would probably be closer.

by montanatwinsfan on Oct 25, 2009 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

A 3rd way

Dump Redmond, trade Morales (higher value as a starter than as a backup) and sign a different FA backup catcher (Toby Hall, Rod Barajas). Backup catchers aren’t too difficult to find and they might be able to sell “high” on Morales.

by DJL44 on Oct 26, 2009 11:08 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Not a bad plan

There are some clubs out there looking for a young starter in waiting. And veteran back-ups are not that hard to come by. If they could package him with a pitcher for a good middle infielder, it would be good for both teams.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Oct 26, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hell

You can always keep Butera as the backup for a year. Assuming you would rather have Butera than Morales coming off the bench. Morales slowed a bit in the hitting department. So, yes, it would be a good time to trade high.

The only kicker is if something happens to Mauer. Than you better hope Ramos is ready.

Visit www.TwinsCards.com and check out "rosters" to see my collection!

by rosterman on Oct 26, 2009 3:15 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

TT is an SB Nation blog of, by and for the fans. We strive to be the best Minnesota Twins blog by providing quality content and analysis, as well as daily news and notes on the team. We hope you'll make Twinkie Town your home for all things Twins!
Start posting about the Twins »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Small
Organization Review (Relief Pitchers)
Small
On Roy, Ramos, and RISK

Recent FanPosts

Small
Anybody want to talk revenues?
Joel87bw5_small
Signing up for the Minors
Small
Roy, Ramos, and RISK, Part II
Small
30 Cents on the Dollar = 2B Indifference
P1060527_small
New Uni Thoughts
Small
Minor League Report...November 14, 2009
Pose_small
Prediction Time (My Guess at 2010 Organizational teams)
Minnesota_twins_vinyl_baseball_small
New Uniforms on Monday

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Twinkie Town On Twitter

SPONSORS


Editor-In-Chief

Twinkietown_small Jesse

Senior Writer

Hrbek_small Jon Marthaler

The_jet_small cmathewson

Gladdentwins_small Adam Peterson

Hosken_powell_autograph_small RandBall's Stu