I'm going to start out this article by George Kottaras was my last choice to be the Milwaukee Brewers 2010 back-up catcher. From what I have seen of Jonathon Lucroy, I thought that he would be the perfect candidate for the back-up job because he would learn from Gregg Zaun while at the same time not be facing a lot of pressure to perform at the Major League level. Apparently they feel like he could use some more regular playing time and he has been assigned to AA Huntsville. He's good enough to play at AAA Nashville but the starting catcher there is my 2nd choice for the Major League back-up job, Angel Salome. Since the top brass obviously wants them to both play everyday and get ready for their future with the Brewers, they couldn't play on the same team. Lucroy and Salome are both just 23 years old, so they will no doubt have their shot when the time is right. Gregg Zaun isn't getting any younger so it's hard to believe that he'll be around more than a year. Matt Treanor (whom I previously mentioned is married to Misty May-Treanor) was traded to the Texas Rangers, which opened up the back-up spot for Kottaras.
Kottaras is still pretty young (at 26 years old) and he's only played in 48 games in the big leagues. So he too could stand to learn a lot from Zaun. Last year he studied under Jason Varitek when he was with the Boston Red Sox, and he was the personal catcher of knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. That had to be a ton of fun to catch that guy. Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker (a former Major League catcher) has a great line about the knuckleball, "The way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until it stops rolling and then pick it up" Uecker always has the best lines and stories. Kottaras didn't get a whole lot of playing time with the Red Sox, especially since he got injured and then the Sox acquired Victor Martinez from the Cleveland Indians. Kottaras would spend the rest of the year at AAA. When the Red Sox put him on waivers, GM Doug Melvin snatched him up because you can never have enough depth at the catching position. Melvin has made a lot of good waiver claims in the past (Scott Podsednik, Derrick Turnbow, Todd Coffey and Casey McGehee to name a few) so we'll see if he works his magic again.
Last year with the Red Sox Kottaras hit .237 with 1 HR and 10 RBIs. He only had 98 at bats in 45 games so those numbers are going to be a little low. Zaun should start around 100 games give or take, so Kottaras should see similar playing time give or take a few depending on Zaun's performance. So unfortunatley we might be looking at similar numbers. But Kottaras is regarded as an offensive catcher, and while I once again have to mention to not use Spring Training statistics as a guide, he did make a good impression on the Brewers management by hitting .333 with 3 HRs and 8 RBIs this spring with his new team. That and some of the scouting reports that they had on him made him the winner of the back-up catching position. Time is only going to tell on his longevity with the Brewers, because like I mentioned, there are a couple of catchers down in the minors waiting to take the starting role.
If Kottaras does well he just might find himself sticking around with the team and splitting time behind the dish with one of the up and coming young catchers. And if not then no harm, no foul. We took a chance on this guy and if it doesn't pan out then we're in no worse shape then we were before. That would also mean that Salome or Lucroy could get an early call up to be his replacement. I'm going to be keeping a watchful eye on both of our Major League catchers so that I have a further understanding of who they are and what kind of game that they play. And speaking of playing games, I'd like to play Naked Twister with that reporter. Grrrr. Right hand yellow! Left hand boob! I'm sorry for giving you that image. Actually no I'm not. I warned you on the top of the page to beware for all types of Ill Shit on this blog. And I also don't like to apologize for who I am because that it was makes me me. And if you don't like it you can get the hell out of here. But you don't like it, you love it. Which is why you are still reading this article even after I mentioned playing Naked Twister. But one thing that you will like rather than love is Kottaras' 2010 statistics:
.245 avg, 3 HRs, 18 RBIs, 52 games played and wondering why he's being interviewed by Telly Hughes and not some hot blonde.
The next player featured in "25 Brewers in 25 Days" is another newcomer who like George Kottaras, will see limited playing time in 2010. That would be utility infielder Joe Inglett, who also was a waiver wire pickup in the offseason. Although extremely versatile (he can play 2nd, 3rd, shortstop and the corner outfield spots) Inglett probably won't be playing too often because he is the backup to the backup infielder (Craig Counsell) and the backup to the backup outfielders (Jody Gerut and Jim Edmonds). I hope he enjoys pinch hitting and does a good of it because at least for the time being, that's going to all that he is going to do. But pinch hitters are very important role players, especially on a National League team. But that my friends, is a topic that will be covered tomorrow. Brewers! Brewers! Keep Turnin' Up the Heat!
- pookon -
www.pookon.com
email: pookondotcom@gmail.com
Last year with the Red Sox Kottaras hit .237 with 1 HR and 10 RBIs. He only had 98 at bats in 45 games so those numbers are going to be a little low. Zaun should start around 100 games give or take, so Kottaras should see similar playing time give or take a few depending on Zaun's performance. So unfortunatley we might be looking at similar numbers. But Kottaras is regarded as an offensive catcher, and while I once again have to mention to not use Spring Training statistics as a guide, he did make a good impression on the Brewers management by hitting .333 with 3 HRs and 8 RBIs this spring with his new team. That and some of the scouting reports that they had on him made him the winner of the back-up catching position. Time is only going to tell on his longevity with the Brewers, because like I mentioned, there are a couple of catchers down in the minors waiting to take the starting role.If Kottaras does well he just might find himself sticking around with the team and splitting time behind the dish with one of the up and coming young catchers. And if not then no harm, no foul. We took a chance on this guy and if it doesn't pan out then we're in no worse shape then we were before. That would also mean that Salome or Lucroy could get an early call up to be his replacement. I'm going to be keeping a watchful eye on both of our Major League catchers so that I have a further understanding of who they are and what kind of game that they play. And speaking of playing games, I'd like to play Naked Twister with that reporter. Grrrr. Right hand yellow! Left hand boob! I'm sorry for giving you that image. Actually no I'm not. I warned you on the top of the page to beware for all types of Ill Shit on this blog. And I also don't like to apologize for who I am because that it was makes me me. And if you don't like it you can get the hell out of here. But you don't like it, you love it. Which is why you are still reading this article even after I mentioned playing Naked Twister. But one thing that you will like rather than love is Kottaras' 2010 statistics:
.245 avg, 3 HRs, 18 RBIs, 52 games played and wondering why he's being interviewed by Telly Hughes and not some hot blonde.
The next player featured in "25 Brewers in 25 Days" is another newcomer who like George Kottaras, will see limited playing time in 2010. That would be utility infielder Joe Inglett, who also was a waiver wire pickup in the offseason. Although extremely versatile (he can play 2nd, 3rd, shortstop and the corner outfield spots) Inglett probably won't be playing too often because he is the backup to the backup infielder (Craig Counsell) and the backup to the backup outfielders (Jody Gerut and Jim Edmonds). I hope he enjoys pinch hitting and does a good of it because at least for the time being, that's going to all that he is going to do. But pinch hitters are very important role players, especially on a National League team. But that my friends, is a topic that will be covered tomorrow. Brewers! Brewers! Keep Turnin' Up the Heat!
- pookon -
www.pookon.com
email: pookondotcom@gmail.com
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