'07 Positional Forecast: Catcher
MLB
Michael Barrett
Opening Day age: 30 ($4.5MM)
'06: .307-16-53 in 107 games
Stay on the field.
Coming off a career offensive year in '06, that's all that can be asked of the Cubs starter in '07. Among NL catchers who played as many or more games than Barrett, he was 2nd in batting and 4th in HRs. Suspension and a somewhat painful injury cost him about 35 games last year.
It's safe to expect a .280-15-60 year, as he should slide into the #6 hole in the order. His defense will be as spotty as ever, but Barrett's established a reputation as a diligent worker, making copious adjustments as the season goes along to compensate where his natural ability comes up short.
Henry Blanco
Opening Day age: 35 ($1.8MM)
'06: .266-6-37 in 74 games
Blanco's extension (2y/$5+MM) was panned as an example of the Cubs' careening Brinks truck of an offseason. His solid offense and at-times-spectacular defense warrants the investment.
AAA
Geovany Soto
Opening Day age: 24
'06: .272-6-38 in 108 games @ AAA Iowa
Look at the little guy! We gave him a facemask and everything. What a cutie. Are you going to be a big leaguer someday? Aww, look at that face.
AA
Jake Fox
Opening Day age: 24
'06: .294-21-86 in 121 games between high-A Daytona & AA West Tennessee
As Rich Hill's batterymate for 2 years at Michigan, he caught a pretty good pitcher. And he knows how to swing a bat. The fact that he was passed over in the Rule V Draft and Oneri Fleita recently called his defense "shaky" says a lot about his future behind the dish.
A
Mark Reed
Opening Day age: 20
'06: .252-2-30 in 101 games @ low-A Peoria
Big brother Jeremy's climb through the White Sox and Mariners' organizations has shown him what it takes to get to the show. As a third-round draft pick in 2004 out of high school, he's got the talent and is touted by many as the organization's best all-around catching prospect. He's an above-average singles/doubles hitter who needs work where plate patience is concerned (3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio at Peoria).
OVERALL GRADE: C+
Barrett is a top 10 catcher and a Hendry favorite, which will be enough to keep him a Cub through 2011 or so. However, the lack of depth is reason for slight concern, given the injurious nature of the position and extra years of grooming most draft picks require.
Michael Barrett
Opening Day age: 30 ($4.5MM)
'06: .307-16-53 in 107 games
Stay on the field.
Coming off a career offensive year in '06, that's all that can be asked of the Cubs starter in '07. Among NL catchers who played as many or more games than Barrett, he was 2nd in batting and 4th in HRs. Suspension and a somewhat painful injury cost him about 35 games last year.
It's safe to expect a .280-15-60 year, as he should slide into the #6 hole in the order. His defense will be as spotty as ever, but Barrett's established a reputation as a diligent worker, making copious adjustments as the season goes along to compensate where his natural ability comes up short.
Henry Blanco
Opening Day age: 35 ($1.8MM)
'06: .266-6-37 in 74 games
Blanco's extension (2y/$5+MM) was panned as an example of the Cubs' careening Brinks truck of an offseason. His solid offense and at-times-spectacular defense warrants the investment.
AAA
Geovany Soto
Opening Day age: 24
'06: .272-6-38 in 108 games @ AAA Iowa
Look at the little guy! We gave him a facemask and everything. What a cutie. Are you going to be a big leaguer someday? Aww, look at that face.
AA
Jake Fox
Opening Day age: 24
'06: .294-21-86 in 121 games between high-A Daytona & AA West Tennessee
As Rich Hill's batterymate for 2 years at Michigan, he caught a pretty good pitcher. And he knows how to swing a bat. The fact that he was passed over in the Rule V Draft and Oneri Fleita recently called his defense "shaky" says a lot about his future behind the dish.
A
Mark Reed
Opening Day age: 20
'06: .252-2-30 in 101 games @ low-A Peoria
Big brother Jeremy's climb through the White Sox and Mariners' organizations has shown him what it takes to get to the show. As a third-round draft pick in 2004 out of high school, he's got the talent and is touted by many as the organization's best all-around catching prospect. He's an above-average singles/doubles hitter who needs work where plate patience is concerned (3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio at Peoria).
OVERALL GRADE: C+
Barrett is a top 10 catcher and a Hendry favorite, which will be enough to keep him a Cub through 2011 or so. However, the lack of depth is reason for slight concern, given the injurious nature of the position and extra years of grooming most draft picks require.
Labels: catchers, geovany soto, henry blanco, it's great to be a michigan wolverine, jake fox, mark reed, michael barrett, positional forecasts
posted by Nick D. at 3:21 PM
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