{"id":114,"date":"2010-04-15T15:31:33","date_gmt":"2010-04-15T20:31:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/?p=114"},"modified":"2010-05-09T04:17:49","modified_gmt":"2010-05-09T09:17:49","slug":"catch-my-drift-by-mike-rosenbaum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/archives\/114","title":{"rendered":"Catch My Drift?"},"content":{"rendered":"
April 15, 2010<\/div>\n

\"taylor\" After a most unpredictable and exciting first week and a half of the Major League Baseball season, I\u2019ve noticed a trend that has become all too clear to GMs and fantasy owners alike.\u00a0 They wish that they had Joe Mauer<\/strong><\/a> and his sweet, sweet 1.167 OPS%.\u00a0 During the off-season, Mauer and the Twins<\/strong><\/a> inked a 8yr\/$184mil contract that essentially made him a Twin for life.\u00a0 Yes, that is an obscene amount of money, but why not?\u00a0 Who wouldn\u2019t shell out the big bucks for a 6\u20194\u201d, 5-tool, left-handed hitting catcher? However, Mauer\u2019s greatness also brings to light a vast discrepancy in the quality of catchers across the league.\u00a0 In both the AL and NL Central, there are too many teams receiving little or no production from their catcher(s).\u00a0 Yes, I know that it\u2019s early in the season and I sympathize with how constricting and relenting the cold can be, but I am not surprised by the specific catchers that are struggling.\u00a0 Some have been over-hyped while others have fallen victim to the minors.\u00a0 Some are just too old.\u00a0 I guess that what I\u2019m really trying to say, is that I\u2019m sure Brad Ausmus<\/strong><\/a> is feeling pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good about being on the DL to start the season .<\/p>\n

NL Central<\/em>
\nCubs:
\nShould we really attribute Geovanny Soto\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> highly disappointing 2009 campaign to the \u201csophomore slump,\u201d or do the Cubs have a greater problem on their hands?\u00a0 Soto\u2019s slow start to the current season is reminiscent of his slow start last season that ultimately resulted in a .218\/.321\/.381.\u00a0 Entering Wednesday, Soto was just 2-for-15(.133) with no extra base-hits and three walks.\u00a0 The Cubs don\u2019t seem to have the patience that they did last year with Soto; Koyie Hill<\/strong><\/a> was given consecutive starts on Thursday and Friday in lieu of Soto\u2019s lack of production.\u00a0 In those two games Hill went 1-for-6 (.167), which means that Cubs\u2019 catchers are hitting a combined .143.\u00a0 But wait, it gets worse.\u00a0 Neither Soto or Hill have an extra base hit and neither have tallied an RBI.\u00a0 In 2008, Soto carried the Cubs on his back into the postseason and it seems as though he will need to do so again this year.\u00a0 On a personal note, Soto is the skidmark on my fantasy team; he\u2019s really making me look an asshole for expecting immediate results.<\/p>\n

Astros:
\nAs Griff alluded to in his previous article, this is going to be a painful year for the Houston Astros.\u00a0 Rather than trying to solve any of their offensive deficiencies, the Astros deemed it best to sign RP Brandon Lyon<\/strong><\/a> to a 3yr\/$15mil contract. After trying to produce a homegrown catcher for the better part of a decade(with minimal success), when do you give up?\u00a0 Apparently, not quite yet.\u00a0 Former top prospect J.R. Towles<\/strong><\/a> was given the opening day nod(by default) and has done nothing to prove that he deserves it.\u00a0 Prior to Wednesday\u2019s games Towles was 1-for-16(.063) and yet to draw a walk.\u00a0 Towles initial struggles prompted the Astros to mix in Humberto Quintero<\/strong><\/a>, who has only responded by hitting .111.\u00a0 Much like the Cubs, the Astros\u2019 catchers are yet to drive in a run and seem highly unlikely to do so with any consistency.\u00a0 I\u2019m tired of seeing them play catcher roulette every season.\u00a0 On the bright side, Jason Castro<\/strong><\/a> is lurking in the minors and seems destined to assume the catching duties at some point this season.\u00a0 For the sake of Asros\u2019 fans, let\u2019s just hope that it is sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n