Cool gif of Collins working behind the plate. Maybe a framing exercise?

 

https://twitter.com/whitesox/status/819267851043438592

 

Definitely a very cool inside look. It's a drill to teach him to catch the ball while moving his hand as little as possible. So yeah, would play a big role in framing. We saw our catchers move enough pitches outside of the strike zone last year.

Scott Merkin ‏@scottmerkin 22m22 minutes ago

Todd Steverson on Zack Collins: "That looks like a nice No. 1 pick for us,"

 

Somewhat related: I was coincidentally watching video today on several of our prospects (YouTube has some cool stuff on many of our guys), and I was absolutely awe-struck how many zillion times better Moncada looked than Collins while hitting.

I believe framing is a real stat unlike some, but I do wonder if it gets to a point where an umpire will see a catcher always posting good framing numbers, and start to use it against him. They are human. I am sure they see these lists. If Tyler Flowers always gets balls called strikes, couldn't it eventually lead to an umpire calling what he considers borderline pitches thrown to him balls because they figured his framing has given them an illusion?

 

This is probably true, but I think that bad receivers will be able to turn borderline strikes into balls LONG after good receivers have lost the ability to turn balls into strikes. I wouldn't look at the Collins exercise as "framing practice" as much as I'd look at it as "quiet hands" practice.

Somewhat related: I was coincidentally watching video today on several of our prospects (YouTube has some cool stuff on many of our guys), and I was absolutely awe-struck how many zillion times better Moncada looked than Collins while hitting.

 

Is this more of a compliment for Moncada or a warning about Collins?

Is this more of a compliment for Moncada or a warning about Collins?

 

Collins is not a guy who will bat .300 consistently, but he knows how to draw walks and his patience will allow him to post very good OBP #'s overall

 

He also has above average power potential. If he can stick at catcher he could be really valuable

Is this more of a compliment for Moncada or a warning about Collins?

 

It's both, I guess, depending on the context. Maybe just an observation that Moncada is simply in a totally different class than anyone we have been used to evaluating in the FS era. Different precedent.

 

I guess it also means that putting Collins on the "slow track" may be just as good for his bat as it is for his glove, especially if Moncada (as a point of comparison) isn't necessarily MLB ready.

Collins is not a guy who will bat .300 consistently, but he knows how to draw walks and his patience will allow him to post very good OBP #'s overall

 

He also has above average power potential. If he can stick at catcher he could be really valuable

 

Yeah, he could very well hit something like .260 with an OBP around .390 and 30 dingers. Moncada might be more of a .295 hitter with an OBP around .370 and 20 dingers. I guess it's kind of preference as to which of those statlines you'd prefer to have.

Yeah, he could very well hit something like .260 with an OBP around .390 and 30 dingers. Moncada might be more of a .295 hitter with an OBP around .370 and 20 dingers. I guess it's kind of preference as to which of those statlines you'd prefer to have.

 

At catcher and 2b?! Give me either statline and non butcher defense and you'll have a star.

At catcher and 2b?! Give me either statline and non butcher defense and you'll have a star.

Now imagine if we get Meadows and he hits his ceiling

 

3 monsters who play positions not requiring insane offense.

 

So fun to daydream about

I think framing is a legit skill, but I'm not sure that the stat is that accurate. I suspect that there are a lot of other variables that haven't been isolated from framing. SABRE Defensive stats have been around a lot longer and they are still lacking,imo. It may take a while.

I think framing is a legit skill, but I'm not sure that the stat is that accurate. I suspect that there are a lot of other variables that haven't been isolated from framing. SABRE Defensive stats have been around a lot longer and they are still lacking,imo. It may take a while.

 

I don't know, read how BP calculates it. For one, the main reason this became a thing was a technology update (pitch F/X) but then they've even been able to make interesting retro models for it.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article....articleid=25514

I don't know, read how BP calculates it. For one, the main reason this became a thing was a technology update (pitch F/X) but then they've even been able to make interesting retro models for it.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article....articleid=25514

They can take it all away and use technology to call balls and strikes. MLBN had a thing where Eric Byrnes called a game, I think it was an independent league, behind the plate. They set it up and had someone watch the box on a monitor and told him in an earpiece if the pitch was a ball or a strike. Not one complaint for batter or pitcher or catcher. Seems pretty simple.

They can take it all away and use technology to call balls and strikes. MLBN had a thing where Eric Byrnes called a game, I think it was an independent league, behind the plate. They set it up and had someone watch the box on a monitor and told him in an earpiece if the pitch was a ball or a strike. Not one complaint for batter or pitcher or catcher. Seems pretty simple.

 

I'm totally fine with robot umpires but did want to note some recent pieces showing that the distance between bad and good pitch framers is tightening so the good news is so long as we don't sign Dioner Navarro, soon teams will adjust so even if you have a bad pitch framer it will be no where near as bad as having the worst pitch framer 4-5 years ago.

Yeah, he could very well hit something like .260 with an OBP around .390 and 30 dingers. Moncada might be more of a .295 hitter with an OBP around .370 and 20 dingers. I guess it's kind of preference as to which of those statlines you'd prefer to have.

 

5 players in baseball put up a .390 or better OBP last year and only 3 of those hit 30 homers.

 

I would guess closer to Brian McCann numbers if he hits his peak, and more mid to late career McCann than early career McCann, .250/.340/.460, something like that.

5 players in baseball put up a .390 or better OBP last year and only 3 of those hit 30 homers.

 

I would guess closer to Brian McCann numbers if he hits his peak, and more mid to late career McCann than early career McCann, .250/.340/.460, something like that.

 

If he hits over 20 homers and can stick behind the plate, I take those numbers all day.

If he hits over 20 homers and can stick behind the plate, I take those numbers all day.

 

Yes, that is a 2-4 WAR player.

I feel like Catcher war is often lower due to games played, is that an accurate statement?

I feel like Catcher war is often lower due to games played, is that an accurate statement?

 

Probably. Maybe it's adjusted? I'll admit that I have no clue.

I feel like Catcher war is often lower due to games played, is that an accurate statement?

 

League wide, yes, it's a fairly accurate statement, which is why having a durable, strong receiver is incredibly valuable. There were only 24 catchers in all of baseball last year who ended up with more than 300 plate appearances. Oh, and on a per game basis, Dioner Navarro was the worst catcher among those who qualified for that, but you already knew that.

I feel like Catcher war is often lower due to games played, is that an accurate statement?

Just by way of comparison, Johnny Bench (maybe the best?) totaled 70 WAR in his 12 prime seasons.

Just by way of comparison, Johnny Bench (maybe the best?) totaled 70 WAR in his 12 prime seasons.

 

So an average of 5.83 WAR per season. Nice.

Chuck Garfien ‏@ChuckGarfien

PODCAST: Zack Collins on hitting, catching in majors (says he's ready) & Cubs fans calling him a Schwarber wanna be.

 

If Collins sticks at catcher, wouldn't Schwarber be a Collins wanna be?

 

Oh well, that cracked me up when I read it so I thought I would share.

I recommend Garfein's podcast if you are starved for sox news. Garfein is pretty entertaining outside of a studio setting and he does a good job putting together interesting people for the podcast outside of expected regulars like hayes/merkin/etc

Mariners DFAd Jesus sucre who is not good offensively but I feel like has a pretty good framing rep. Could be a good minor league deal

Mariners DFAd Jesus sucre who is not good offensively but I feel like has a pretty good framing rep. Could be a good minor league deal

Oh yeah gimme some sugar. This seems like a no-brainer for a camp invite.