Earlier in the week, Vance Wilson agreed to a one year contract for $750,000. While I hold no grudge against Vance, I’m less than enthused from a roster management stand point. I know it’s not a popular viewpoint, but I’d rather see Brandon Inge resume backup catcher duties.
Now there is nothing wrong with Vance Wilson as the backup catcher. He plays solid defense, the pitching staff seemed comfortable with him, and by all accounts he was the ultimate team player. Any chubby white guy who will break dance in the dugout gets my admiration. He had a very poor year offensively, but teams don’t typically carry a backup catcher for their sticks. But wouldn’t it be great if a team didn’t need to explicitly carry a backup catcher?
Well, the Tigers have that luxury in Brandon Inge. Inge could still be the main thirdbase man, and also backup Pudge. Omar Infante, could be the extra infielder on days when Inge is behind the plate. Infante, who has talent and is still young, needs playing time. The Tigers (and Infante) need to find out if Omar’s 2004 season was a glimpse at his potential or an abberration. When Inge catches the Tigers would be giving up some defense at third, while gaining some behind the plate.
But then there is the whole, “Brandon Inge can’t hit when he’s catching” belief. With the way Inge started last year, I had even begun to buy into the theory. However, his 236/282/400 line after the All Star break has me doubting that theory. I’m pretty sure Brandon could hit that well even as a catcher, which would be a mild upgrade over Wilson. With Omar taking Brandon’s at-bats at third (or essentially taking Wilson’s at-bats) it stands to be a slight net offensive gain.
Then there is the matter of roster configuration. The Tigers have 3 first base/DH types, which is tough to carry on a roster. By utlizing Inge’s versatility and freeing up the backup catcher position, it would make it easier for both Dmitri Young and Carlos Pena to come back. If it came down to keeping one of Pena/Young or Vance Wilson, I’d have to go with Pena/Young.
Ooooo don’t start with me about Inge and catching, young man! He’s said himself it’s too much of a mental strain when he’s behind the plate! I’ll rumble ’bout this one, I will.
Gee, I remember the days when the Tigers had two backup catchers behind Lance Parrish, someone else and John Wockenfuss, who was the super-sub (C/DH/1B/3B/OF). I have no problem with the current setup (plus factor in Shelton as a FOURTH catcher). Assuming Young trims enough to go back to playing some third and left, the Tigers should be in okay shape.
I don’t think there’s anyone in the organization that still considers Shelton a catcher, Mike.
I do agree with you Billfer. I know Brandon’s no genius, but I’m sure the guy can handle catching one game a week. Even if there is a slight net offensive loss, the roster flexibility is worth it. It’s a very easy way to carry an extra fielder or pitcher.
BTW, You got my hopes up, because I first read that headline as
http://www.answers.com/resign&r=67
Count me in on the “don’t put Brandon Inge back behind the plate” camp… And, yup, Shelton is allright for an emergency catcher when the starter has been pulled because he’s tired and the backup got hurt in the 17th inning… But then, Brandon Inge is good for that spot, too. Don’t get me wrong, I like Dombrowski… I like him a hell of a lot better than Randy Smith… But the odds of him thinking this far outside of the traditional baseball box are about slim and none.
Shelton is allright for an emergency catcher when the starter has been pulled because he’s tired and the backup got hurt in the 17th inning
Sure, but so is anyone that’s ever strapped on the gear in high school. That situation might happen a couple times in a decade, so it really doesn’t matter. We’re talking about the guy who will catch 6 games a month to rest Pudge’s legs.
You’re right that it is “outside the box” and I really don’t know enough about DD to say whether or not he’ll venture out there, but it certainly an intriguing option that offers tremendous roster flexibility.
I don’t understand why they are wasting a 40 man spot on Wilson, or why they wasted one on Mike DeFelice. I like Wilson too, but these kind of guys are a dime a dozen. Sign a couple to minor league deals, invite them to camp and sort out the options in March. I would rather have kept Sean Douglass or Juan Tejeda rather than Wilson. I will go to my grave saying that Inge is a perfect supersub who is stretched playing every day. If he caught once a week, backed up at third and the OF, was spotted to see a lot of lefties, he’d get 300-400 ABs, he’d hit well and he’d be a huge asset. As an every day 3B he’s not terrible but he certainly no better than league average. His versatility is his biggest asset and they are wasting it, and wasting a roster spot on an extra catcher to boot. Billfer identified one of my pet peeves.
PS: Why aren’t we interested in Nomar for two years at Kenny Rogers money to play third and turn Inge in to exactly what we need? Nomar can’t even get a two year offer. He can still hit, he’d be a great fit.
Why not Nomar for two years? The same reason everyone complained about Percival for two years. I don’t see him getting more than a year until after he has played an entire season at reasonable health.
As for carrying a pitcher over an extra catcher, I don’t see the need for wasting a roster spot on someone who will see an innings work every month (mostly because the manager feels sorry for him) when you can carry an extra bat. Seven relievers is more than any team needs. Honestly, I’d rather see five in the bullpen. The last two guys are most often AAA players that are just filling out the roster and hurt the team more than they help.
My point is I would rather have Douglass on the 40 man roster with a chance to make the team than have a third string catcher we don’t need. If you don’t want another pitcher, carry a bat. Like Carlos Pena, who is likely a goner while we keep Wilson. Pena is miserable a lot of the time but when he’s hot he can carry the team. If you don’t want Pena carry another lefty (Ledezma?) for the pen. Or give the losers of the Verlander/Zumaya/Colon contest a shot as middle relievers. Or carry Marcus Thames and give him a shot. All better options than Wilson.
Nomar was healthy at the end of last year. His range is shot but he can still hit. He’s as good a gamble as Rogers, Jones, Percival, Ordonez, Pudge, Vina, Johnson, White, etc. Need I go on?
PS (again) and Billfer makes the point that they don’t even need another 3B to save the roster spot. Infante, Guillen, Polanco and Young can all play 3B. Shelton would be fine as an emergency catcher.
I like the out the box thinking! It would be nice to carry an extra player without having to have a full time backup catcher.
Though, I think the Tigers are covering their asses. They don’t have any quality catchers in the minors. So, if Pudge goes down they are stuck with Inge. This way they are not having to scramble to find a decent backup. Wilson is a good teammate and backup. If they didn’t sign him he would be on anothe team then the Tigers would be stuck with someone like Raul Casanova off the waiver wire…Ugh!
So sign a couple of guys to minor league deals. Do you really think Raul Casanova couldn’t catch once a week and hit .200?
I don’t agree with it…I am just trying to figure out their thinking. The organizational direction is confusing. Illitch talks of urgency, but Dombrowski doesn’t seem to be making urgent moves. He must think that Leyland can turn this team in a playoff team since he hasn’t changed much this off season.
to be fair to dombrowski, it’s not like there are a lot of free agents that are actually worth acquiring nor are the Tigers in an overwhelmingly strong position to trade away minor league and/or bench-level talent because we’re still a few years away from having a nice deep farm system. holy run-on, batman.
Illitch talks of urgency, but I think DD’s looking at it the right way. We can’t build a team with free agents, we can’t coax them here that easily. We need to build the team up from the minors, which I think is the direction DD is taking.