Talking about the catchers
Forgive the length of this entry, but Orioles manager Dave Trembley had some very interesting things to say about his catchers.
Trembley noted how Gregg Zaun walked into his office again at 6:30 a.m. with a cup of coffee and reviewed the pitchers he caught the previous day.
"Every time, he gives me a rundown the day after he catches," Trembley said. "He's been very good here."
Zaun brings other intangibles that were missing last season.
"I've been happy with Zaun," Trembley said. "Zaun's blocked the plate twice in spring training. I don't want to compare and contrast, but you know where I'm going there. He blocked the plate twice."
Trembley raved about two at-bats from Matt Wieters yesterday - how the kid didn't need the take sign to let two 3-1 pitches pass with the Orioles behind, 4-0.
"He's beyond his years," Trembley said. "What a great kid. I mean, really and truly. I told him, there's only been one or two other guys in all my years that I can equate him with. They don't come around that often.
"I put him on the back fields on purpose. Hits all day in the back, takes infield, catches every guy in the bullpen back there. Then I've said to him, 'After the national anthem, you're not playing today, you can go.' Out of respect for him. I'm watching, and he goes and sits at the end of the bench down there in the bullpen and he catches every guy.
"I gave him a homework assignment at the beginning of the season. I said, 'Here's the video. I want you to go through the video system and I want you to review every hitter in the American League on every team.' I asked him the other day, 'How many more teams have you got to go?' He said, 'I'm down to two, and I'm almost finished with one of them, so I've only got one team left.' Most guys I'd say that to, they'd be like, 'Yeah, I'll get it later.' This guy's done what I've asked him to do."
It's true. I've seen Wieters studying video in the middle of the clubhouse on numerous mornings. I didn't know he was following Trembley's orders.
"Hopefully, next year he's no longer compared to (Joe) Mauer. He's Matt Wieters," Trembley continued. "This guy's going to be something. He really is. Do you know what's his better side (at the plate)? You can't tell. Block the ball, catch. Wow."
Chad Moeller figures to be the backup when the season begins, though Trembley hasn't made it official.
"Moeller is a catch-and-throw guy," Trembley said. "He's a guy who knows how to call a game. His value is working with the pitchers. He's had experience. He blocks the ball. Offensively, whatever you would get, you would take. He's a guy who will bunt, hit-and-run, move runners. You probably would want to pinch-hit for him late in a game."
Robby Hammock has an out-clause in his contract and can join another organization if he's promised a job in the majors. Otherwise, he goes where the Orioles send him, which could be Triple-A Norfolk as Wieter's backup.
"Hammock has versatility in that he can catch, (play) first, third, left field," Trembley said. "Gosh darn, he had to be something. He was basically Randy Johnson's personal catcher. He's got experience."
Trembley has been impressed with Guillermo Rodriguez behind the plate, but where else could he play besides Double-A Bowie if Hammock stays in the organization?
"Rodriguez can throw. He's more of a defensive guy," Trembley said.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Buster Olney over at ESPN is reporting that the Padres are aggressively looking for bullpen help, needing 4 relievers. Any chance the O's would look in that direction to move some players instead of giving them an outright release, Penn, Baez, Walker?
Yeah yeah, don't rush the young guys. Clearly Wieters is ready both mentally and physically to play on this team. So why not start him and keep Zaun as the backup? Better than having Chad Moeller take up a roster spot he has no business keeping.
Trembley has a man crush on Wieters. My daughter and I had one that started last year. We came home after watching him hit two homeruns in a game singing. "The Wiet, the wiet is on fire!"
I saw him play UMD a few years ago. I walked away thinking he was the best college player i'd ever seen. and when i was watching that draft live on espn and went freaking nuts when the pirates passed on him and we actually took him. i thought it was a changing of the guard and the greatest luck in many, many years. we will be talking about this kid for years to come. I CANNOT wait till he makes his debut. Watch him debut at home against the royals and 30,000 plus are on hand!
Roch - what do you think would happen if Zaun and Moeller start the season in Baltimore, and one of them gets injured in the first few weeks? Do they call up Wieters or Wieter's backup from Norfolk? Do you think the issue of delaying arbitration and free agency would be such an issue if Scott Boras was not Wieters' agent?
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I think it depends on the date and how Wieters is hitting in Norfolk. As for the Boras issue, this is strictly my opinion and not based on anything I've heard, but I'd have to think that he's a factor because he likes his guys to test the market. - Roch
Roch,
You simply out do yourself with all the transcribed quotations you put into your entries. With talk about financial bonuses all the current rage, you of all people should be in line to receive one for your exemplary blogging from down there in Florida. The suits at MASN definitely scored a coup when they stole you from the Sun!
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Thanks! You know, I could use an agent... - Roch
The Pads don't have much the O's can use. It may be because of how they're developing their system to fit the park, but I think that's just an excuse. Their farm system was rated 29 out of 30.
Roch, Just got home from a long walk with the dogs and read this post. Great job! Thanks for the insights.
Matt Wieters is a once in a generation type player and he is a catcher at that. When he makes his debut, he is the best catcher in the MLs (better than Mauer, McCann, Soto, you name it). He will also be one of the top five best players. Book it!
I saw Wieters play at UNC when he was a sophomore on TV: he hit, hit with power, caught and was the closer. That's when I began to hope that Wieters would become an Oriole. When he was chosen, I was ecstatic.
I think that McPhail made a decent trade to get rid of R Hernandez (no way you wanted Ramon to be around Matt) and then I'm so glad he signed Zaun to tutor Wieters. Zaun is a catcher's catcher, and a real baseball player. I really can't wait to see it when Wieters puts the O's uniform on for good.
Sounds like Zaun and Moeller are the 2 O's cathers to start the season...Hammock is not bad but seems to be headed to AAA...at least that is 2 vets to catch and cal games...experience speaks volumes witha young staff..Weiters...the ink nebver stops drying on this guy...everyone everywhere sasy the same thing....what else needs to be said but what you wrote here...he is a once every generation player apparently....how lucky are we to have him on the O's...amazing.
Thanks Roch! That post was amazing, simply for Trembley's quote about Zaun blocking the plate. Twice. You know where I'm going there.
As a Simpson's fan (and I know you're with me), every time Wieters name comes up I recall that first season episode "Bart the Genius." Behind the principal's desk there are the two framed pictures: one of Einstein, one of Bart. In my mind, it's Bud Selig at the desk, with Babe Ruth and Matt Wieters in the pictures.