Changing Catchers Mid-Season Is No Easy Transition
This falls in line somewhat with “chemistry issues,” but catcher is a unique position, considering the amount of time the quarterback on the baseball diamond puts in with his pitching staff.
Before Giminez, Gomes had a great report with his starting rotation. He knew how to handle them and his pitchers would often note how great the combination was.
Even though Gomes was hitting poorly, he had to deserve at least some of the credit for the great performances of the starting rotation.
Giminez has been the next in line to keep the good starts going and even Perez is beginning to put some good games together with his starters.
Giminez had some familiarity with the starting rotation from his last stint in Cleveland in 2014, although it was short-lived. Being on the roster since May this season, he has had a chance to learn the ins and outs of each pitcher, and the combination has worked, not just with Bauer, but throughout the staff.
Perez played in 70 games last year and the starting rotation is almost identical to what the Indians were using in 2015. The continuity of knowing what to expect each time the catcher and pitcher take the field has to be a positive.
Let’s look at Lucroy’s report with his starting pitchers. Three of Milwaukee’s five starting pitchers have had above-average seasons, but the Brewers have had three pitchers who have made at least nine starts on the season with ERA’s below five. It would be unfair to pin all of that on Lucroy, but it’s not like he doesn’t play a part in it.
This is not to say Perez and Giminez are better or even close to as talented as Lucroy, but perhaps Perez and Giminez are just the right guys when it comes to this situation.
How do we know the pitching staff would stay at this elite level if there was a drastic change to the guy behind the dish? Calling 100-plus pitches per game and having to learn each pitcher’s tendencies on the fly in the heat of a playoff push is not something that can be expected to happen overnight.
Sabermetricians and statisticians can say what they want about Gomes, Perez, and Giminez, but guess what? Those are the guys who got the Indians here in the first place. It won’t be the end of the world if they keep doing what they’ve been doing, which is helping the team lead the American League Central.
4 Comments
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Nick Lauren
August 1, 2016 at 11:11 am
This could quite possibly be the dumbest article I’ve ever read. Lucroy vetoed because he was told he would be a part time backup next season…
To say Gimenez or the other jokers behind the plate are even close to Lucroy’s talent is ridiculous…when you have guys batting .165 at a position you have a serious problem. Lucroy is not only clutch, but hits over 300 consistently and also hits for power…not to mention his pitch framing and defense.
I get being a hometown homer…but comeon man
Matt Medley
August 1, 2016 at 11:16 am
Thanks for reading! Did he really veto because of that or was that what his agent fed reporters? More than one side to every story!
If you misread any point in the article that you thought said Giminez and Perez were more-talented or close to as talented as Lucroy, that’s unfortunate. But it never says that at any point. Direct quote: “This is not to say Perez and Giminez are better or even close to as talented as Lucroy, but perhaps Perez and Giminez are just the right guys when it comes to this situation.”
Also he has hit above .300 in 2 out of 7 seasons… so saying he hits above .300 consistently is not true at all. Lucroy’s career-high in home runs was 18 in 2013. Aside from that he has never hit more than 13 home runs in a season. This season he might hit 20 if he keeps up at the pace he’s going.
Matt Medley
October 19, 2016 at 11:12 pm
So what do you have to say for yourself buddy?
Matt Medley
October 19, 2016 at 11:12 pm
So what do you have to say for yourself, buddy?