April 10, 201214 yr John Buck is what he is: an average MLB catcher. If a clear upgrade presents itself, fine, but until that happens, he is certainly not hurting us. I do not like discussing player's early-season performance. The average catcher last year (at least 250 PAs) was .237/.324/.408/.732. John Buck was .227/.316/.367/.683. The league average catcher throws out right around 25% of potential base stealers. He threw out 17%. He's not average. The guy sucks but managed to have a career year in a contract year and we were stupid enough to sign him. That contract is amongst the worst we've given out in a while.
April 10, 201214 yr Buck is what he is, other than his contract year with Toronto he's shown to be an slightly below average hitter with occasional pop. If that holds true watch out next year because he'll be an all-star again! As for Realmuto he certainly appears to be ahead of Skipworth, though I still feel the organization did him no favor by skipping high A last season, he was clearly overmatched and lost his job, they should have sent him down at that point.
April 10, 201214 yr The average catcher last year (at least 250 PAs) was .237/.324/.408/.732. John Buck was .227/.316/.367/.683. The league average catcher throws out right around 25% of potential base stealers. He threw out 17%. He's not average. Where are you getting your batting stats for the average catcher? Also, even if he "sucks," as you say, we are only paying him $6 mil per year for the next two. He was a 1.9 WAR player last year. The going rate for a win on the free agent market is $4.5 million. So it's not really among the worst we've ever given out. It was a market-rate contract. it's not like we paid him to be an All Star.
April 10, 201214 yr The average catcher last year (at least 250 PAs) was .237/.324/.408/.732. John Buck was .227/.316/.367/.683. The league average catcher throws out right around 25% of potential base stealers. He threw out 17%. He's not average. Where are you getting your batting stats for the average catcher? He says at least 250 PAs, I'm sure some backup catchers who got that many appearances brings those stats up or down, whichever.
April 10, 201214 yr No I get that. It just doesn't sound right. 33 catchers last year had at least 250 PAs, and 20 of them finished with OPS below that .732 number. For what it's worth, yes he was 25th out of 33 in OPS. I think if his playing time is managed better, his play would also improve. His career high in games caught before last season was 118. In his 118th game last season, he had a .723 OPS. Essentially that average. He put up a .476 the rest of the way. I think there are plenty of signs pointing to him playing better than he did last season.
April 10, 201214 yr I've read that playing in the Marlins Park, with ac and a roof, he will have a more durable season and probably his numbers will go up a little. Really don't know if there is a correlate on that or not. It sounds plausible.
April 10, 201214 yr No I get that. It just doesn't sound right. 33 catchers last year had at least 250 PAs, and 20 of them finished with OPS below that .732 number. For what it's worth, yes he was 25th out of 33 in OPS. I think if his playing time is managed better, his play would also improve. His career high in games caught before last season was 118. In his 118th game last season, he had a .723 OPS. Essentially that average. He put up a .476 the rest of the way. I think there are plenty of signs pointing to him playing better than he did last season. http://espn.go.com/m.../true/minpa/250 34 actually. And Buck was 27th. I guess league average was .728, not .732. My bad. Still, in the role he's being used and will be used while he's here (and rightfully so with what we're paying him), he sucks.
April 10, 201214 yr Also, I'm not certain, but since that page does not actually offer an average anywhere, it appears as if you meant "median" when you said "average." Am I interpreting this correctly?
April 10, 201214 yr Also, I'm not certain, but since that page does not actually offer an average anywhere, it appears as if you meant "median" when you said "average." Am I interpreting this correctly? You are. Words is hard. Point still stands.
April 10, 201214 yr I mean, sure. If you think what he did last year was his true talent level. I don't, and have explained why. Would you like to explain why you do?
April 10, 201214 yr I mean, sure. If you think what he did last year was his true talent level. I don't, and have explained why. Would you like to explain why you do? I do think last year was a bad year for him but his talent level surely isn't anywhere near the .800 he posted in 2009 and with the way his defense is (career -19 defensive WAR), thats kind of where he needs to be in order to be the least bit valuable to the team.
April 10, 201214 yr No catcher needs to put up an .800 OPS or anything close to be worth $6 million. That's absurd.
April 10, 201214 yr I'll ask the OP this question....who would be available to us that would present a CLEAR UPGRADE over Buck-o? Sorry, Hayes is not your answer there either.
April 10, 201214 yr I think Buck will be slightly better than last year, he came to a new league, new staff and the grueling heat of nameitwhatyouwant stadium. I think this year with a little experience under his belt and the comfort of marlins park he'll put up much better numbers.
April 11, 201214 yr For what it's worth, he did have a career year in Toronto while playing in a climate-controlled atmosphere for half the year. I'm sure he suffered from Sun Life Stadium, considering he played in more games than I think any catcher in the league. Marlins Park should help him regain some of that form IMO.
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