Barons pitchers have learned that catcher Donny Lucy calls the shots- and that's just fine with them

I Donny Lucy. We already knew he played plus D, and we've seen his big offensive numbers so far this year. He's improved his stats every year. He's got some speed. And now, the one thing I couldn't find info on - he can also call a good game.

 

I'm hoping he's in Charlotte this year, and if Hall doesn't make it back in 2007, then Lucy should get some consideration for the backup C role.

He looks better than Molina, but I wouldn't want to rush Lucy. It sounds like he is finally comfortable at the plate, let's keep it that way. Also, I'm not going to go crazy over his numbers because we've seen multiple contact hitters rake in Birmingham's big park and then fall flat in Charlotte before adjusting (if they adjust).

 

Ok, I'm gonna admit I didn't look at his splits before I said that. I forgot milb.com has splits now. He is 6-13 on the road with 4 doubles, 7-22 with 3 doubles at home. It's still early, but wow.

Using Donny Lucy as the backup catcher this early in his development would be a major mistake. He's finally starting to come around a bit (at least its looking that way) with the bat and it will be huge for him to stay healthy this year and just get a full season of Ab's so he can continue to grow.

 

Than you consider using him next year (possibly) giving him time to get familiar with the Sox starters as a backup before eventually taking over more and more from AJ (in a perfect scenario).

 

Having him at the major league level this year would prevent that (he still needs more minor league AB's).

He looks better than Molina, but I wouldn't want to rush Lucy. It sounds like he is finally comfortable at the plate, let's keep it that way. Also, I'm not going to go crazy over his numbers because we've seen multiple contact hitters rake in Birmingham's big park and then fall flat in Charlotte before adjusting (if they adjust).

 

Ok, I'm gonna admit I didn't look at his splits before I said that. I forgot milb.com has splits now. He is 6-13 on the road with 4 doubles, 7-22 with 3 doubles at home. It's still early, but wow.

 

Its those doubles that say even more than just his numbers, to me. He must be driving the ball really well.

 

Using Donny Lucy as the backup catcher this early in his development would be a major mistake. He's finally starting to come around a bit (at least its looking that way) with the bat and it will be huge for him to stay healthy this year and just get a full season of Ab's so he can continue to grow.

 

Than you consider using him next year (possibly) giving him time to get familiar with the Sox starters as a backup before eventually taking over more and more from AJ (in a perfect scenario).

 

Having him at the major league level this year would prevent that (he still needs more minor league AB's).

 

I agree that ideally, he gets in a year this year in AA/AAA, then maybe he starts getting MLB time next year. And I'm sure you are right that getting more time starting somewhere is better for him this year than being a backup. But if Hall is out the year, and Molina and Wiki still look bad, and the Sox are in the thick of things... well, I think its something to consider.

Its those doubles that say even more than just his numbers, to me. He must be driving the ball really well.

I agree that ideally, he gets in a year this year in AA/AAA, then maybe he starts getting MLB time next year. And I'm sure you are right that getting more time starting somewhere is better for him this year than being a backup. But if Hall is out the year, and Molina and Wiki still look bad, and the Sox are in the thick of things... well, I think its something to consider.

In those cases you trade for a backup catcher. Jose Molina could come for a fringe prospect (maybe Heath Phillips whom the Angels could consider using as the lefty out of the pen).

Lucy = stud... finally, we might actually have a bonafide catching spect!

Edited April 20, 200718 yr by BearSox

Lucy = stud... finally, we might actually have a bonafide catching spect!

Its too early to get there, but I agree if he keeps it up he has the tools to be one of the better catching prospects in all of baseball (and I should warn people that there rarely are many good catching prospects in baseball).

Isn't he too old to be considered a top prospect?

I'm not being snarky -- I love this guy, from what I've read -- but isn't he, like, twenty five?

Isn't he too old to be considered a top prospect?

I'm not being snarky -- I love this guy, from what I've read -- but isn't he, like, twenty five?

He turns 25 in August.

Isn't he too old to be considered a top prospect?

I'm not being snarky -- I love this guy, from what I've read -- but isn't he, like, twenty five?

 

He turns 25 in August.

 

Keep a couple things in mind, about him being 24. For one, catchers typically take longer to move up the chain than other players because there are simply more skills to pick up. Second, Lucy lost most of a year (2005) injured. Third, he spent the beginning of his college career backing up a big time college star ahead of him (Garko), so his development at the catcher position is a little behind the curve.

 

I personally feel that, whether discussing Lucy or anyone else, the whole "he's more than 24 he is no longer a prospect" mentality his highly flawed. You have to look at the whole picture for a player. Is he 26 (for example) because he changed from shortstop to pitcher? Or was he injured? Or did he choose to graduate college first? Was he stuck behind some other really great players? If any of those apply, then his being 26 is sort of irrelevant, if he can perform.

 

Now, if he's 26 because he's meandered through the minors with mediocre numbers for 6 years, then yeah, that says something negative. Or if he's 32 or a much older age like that, then you have a serious diminishing returns problem. But that's not the case all the time.