Let's face it, as much as we'd like to have a better starting catcher, Tyler Flowers is the best catcher on our roster and he will be our starting catcher. That being said, who do you want to be our backup catcher entering the season?

All aboard the Kottaras train.

Edited January 27, 201511 yr by Buehrle>Wood

I think Kottaras backs up Flowers. Soto and Brantley at Charlotte with Smith and Nieto at Birmingham.

I'm gonna go with Soto.

I voted for Rob Brantly because I don't want anybody to get a zero, but I like Brantly's bat better than his glove:

 

Rob Brantly's stats

 

StatCorner.com listed Brantly near the bottom on it's 2013 pitch-framing web page (he didn't play at the MLB level in 2014.)

 

He has thrown out 18 would-be base stealers in 72 attempts – 25%.

 

That said, the back-up will either be Kottaras for his LH bat or Soto for his defense.

prefer Kottaras, Soto and Flowers just seem like similar players, prefer some versatility

For me, Soto just barely wins out over Kottaras. Only because I think it might benefit if he was used as Samardjiza's personal catcher.

I think Kottaras backs up Flowers. Soto and Brantley at Charlotte with Smith and Nieto at Birmingham.

 

+1

 

Kottaras gets a huge boost due to being a lefty.

I just hope Nieto and/or Brantley have good years. Either guy (mostly Nieto) could very well be the catcher of the future. As far as the backup, I'll go with Kottaras.

Edited January 27, 201511 yr by SoxAce

I voted Other -- Tyler Flowers

I think it'll be Kottaras and that's who I would prefer. Soto will be good insurance to have around in case of any injuries.

 

I WANT it to be Kottarras.

I THINK it will be Soto.

It SHOULD be Brantly based on how awesome he is in my OOTP 15 franchise for some reason, obviously.

+1

 

Kottaras gets a huge boost due to being a lefty.

Agreed, plus Kottaras is a veteran too which makes sense to have in the backup roll on a team looking to contend.

Kottaras is woeful behind the plate. If Soto shows anything with the bat in spring training, I think he gets the job,

Which of the nominees are LH bats? I voted for Brantly for that reason alone.

Well, Kottaras is a walk machine...with shoddy defense.

 

Soto has the most upside, but can he stay healthy? How much is left in the tank?

He's only one year removed from a very solid season with the Rangers in 2013.

Edited January 27, 201511 yr by caulfield12

Which of the nominees are LH bats? I voted for Brantly for that reason alone.

 

Kottaras, Brantly and Nieto (when it matters)

Kottaras, Brantly and Nieto (when it matters)

 

if you are thinking that Nieto will be up in the majors, i don't see that happening. he really needs a full season of at bats and time behind the plate. my thinking is that the sox see potential and the sox want to fully develop Nieto.

 

beyond him, does the sox really have another potential full time major league catcher in the minors??

I voted Kottaras for right now, but I think Soto has more upside and would be thrilled to see him do well enough in ST to earn the job.

Which of the nominees are LH bats? I voted for Brantly for that reason alone.

Kottaras, Brantey and Nieto are left handed bats.

Isn't Nieto a switch hitter?

Kottaras has been awesome at the plate in a backup role every year since 2010.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playe...&position=C

It's probably Soto's job to lose but I voted Kottaras.

Isn't Nieto a switch hitter?

 

Yes.

 

It will be Brantly or Kottaras simply because they are LH and have experience. Nieto will be in AA starting IMO

Yes.

 

It will be Brantly or Kottaras simply because they are LH and have experience. Nieto will be in AA starting IMO

 

I think it is easy to initially make that assumption, but I don't think they care about the backup being lefty as much otherwise they wouldn't have brought in Soto. I love the major league depth that we have at the catcher position heading into spring training. Let them duke it out for a month and see who seems to serve the role best.