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Varitek_image

I'm not dead yet.

via ESPN

over 2 years ago Limes_125_tiny Sky Kalkman 23 comments 0 recs  | 

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and his BABIP is only .250

St. Louis Cardinals... defying win expectancy since 2008

by vivaelpujols on May 17, 2009 12:17 AM EDT reply actions  

Seriously?

Holy cow. The Corpse/Zombie/Dude is proving a lot of users on OTM wrong.

by bdalebs on May 17, 2009 1:29 AM EDT up reply actions  

a bit early

for that claim no? didn’t he start a epic suck in the middle of the season last year?

by RollingWave on May 17, 2009 12:20 PM EDT reply actions  

A good example of why not to be stubborn

I get why the Red Sox signed him. He’s the “heart and soul” of that team. The fans love him. He’s a folk hero. He’s also a backup catcher waiting to happen.

http://statspeak.net

by pizzacutter on May 17, 2009 2:44 PM EDT reply actions  

This year? Immediately?

In simplistic catcher defense metrics, he comes out above average. His AVG sucks, meaning his OBP will be below average, but not Jose Molina territory, and while 2008 was bad in the power department, are there specific scouting pieces of information that convince us a Marcel projection (with aging) isn’t a good assumption? Good defensive catchers don’t have to hit all that well to deserve starting jobs.

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on May 17, 2009 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions  

is he a good defensive catcher?

seems like more guys are running on him. or maybe their pitchers.

White Sox Minor League Updates: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry

by larry on May 17, 2009 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions  

right.

it’s mid-may. what’s he doing now? i see the CS% is down some and more guys are running.

White Sox Minor League Updates: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry

by larry on May 17, 2009 9:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

Just what are you implying about Craig Counsell?

"I didn't realize his velocity was that high," said Macha, noting that radar readings aren't flashed during exhibition games.

by battlekow on May 18, 2009 3:04 AM EDT up reply actions  

There's more to catcher's defense than throwing.

Controlling bad pitches, getting to short grounders, etc. – most of which isn’t easily measurable in stats available now.

by bdalebs on May 17, 2009 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions  

certainly.

so how about we then focus on things that are rather easily observable, such as how teams are now making the tactical decision to attempt to steal at a rate of about 1.6 attempts per game when varitek is behind the plate? this is quite a bit higher than the rate in recent years against him and i find it unlikely – though not inconceivable – that random variance caused by craig counsell’s OBP is what is causing teams to run more when varitek is behind the plate.

White Sox Minor League Updates: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry

by larry on May 18, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

hee hee

tremendous last line, rec’d

I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.

by Matt Klaassen on May 18, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions  

Could also be the pitchers' fault.

They have to get the ball to Tek fast enough for him to have a chance – Penny was taking forever the day that Crawford was tearing up the basepaths.

by bdalebs on May 18, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions  

that was one of the things i pointed out above.

i think i’ve seen one red sox game all year and i certainly wasn’t watching varitek or how fast the pitchers were getting to the plate (or would be able to compare to previous years). i figure with the heavy AL east presence on here someone might know.

White Sox Minor League Updates: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry

by larry on May 18, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions  

What has the SB+CS / G rate been for Varitek in prior years? What's a league-average rate?

What’s that rate for teams the Sox have played so far? What’s it look like when other Sox have caught? What’s it like for Sox starters with and without Varitek behind the plate.

I’m not asking Larry to answer all those, just thinking out loud as to what questions we want answers to to put it all in context.

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on May 18, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions  

thank you for breaking out the implicit questions in my query.

and, to answer your first question, the last few years for varitek it’s been about .60-.65 or so (iirc from last night).

White Sox Minor League Updates: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry

by larry on May 18, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions  

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