O's skipper Buck Showalter talks pitch-framing and more (video)

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - In a video interview this morning with MASNSports.com, Orioles manager Buck Showalter provided his take on pitch framing metrics for catchers.

Orioles executive vice president yesterday Dan Duquette mentioned that some teams have given those metrics bigger importance when looking to evaluate and add catchers. The Orioles are looking for a catcher now.

How does Showalter feel about the pitch framing stats?

"There are a lot of variables," he said. "One thing that came out - the harder the throwing staff you're catching, the less your framing numbers will be. That is why the Houston people lead. They average 89 mph, while some of the harder throwing staffs, like the Mets, their catchers finish near the bottom. You have to take it all in and realize circumstances don't always play out.

"I always let my eyeballs be the litmus test for it. We take it all in, look at it. But it's another way for people to sit up an ivory tower and think they can evaluate catchers. But there is a lot more to it than that."

Showalter addressed a few other topics.

On prioritizing offense versus defense in looking at outfielders: "The last four or five years, it (outfield defense) has been one of our strengths. A couple of spots, it was a challenge for us last year. It's the old thing, you are letting in two and driving in one. That math doesn't work too good.

"There is just so much you can judge analytically with the pie charts and all the other stuff. Some of it is your eyeballs. A guy like Mark Trumbo drove in a lot more than he let in. He worked hard at defense and he cared and he threw well.

"We are all looking for that five-tool guy that is the perfect player. They don't exist - the perfect player. I tell our minor league guys all the time and it has really become a mantra in our minor leagues. You've got to defend to get a chance up here because you will have struggles offensively. The thing that allows me to keep you on the field is your ability to defend."

On possibly losing key players, specifically catcher Matt Wieters: "It stings anytime you are with somebody that contributes as much as Matt has for a long period of time. Obviously, his children and his wife. Things all happen for a reason. We'll see how it all plays out. Matt contributed a lot, on and off the field for us, and helped us set up a culture that has been very win oriented."

On wanting to do his homework on a player before the Orioles add him: "Yeah, there's a lot more to it. Shame on us in today's world if you are surprised by something like that. Sometimes you take a chance on a guy that you have a lot of trust in your culture and players in your lockerroom. But we think it's a special fraternity. We don't want to let anybody in there. We're going to lose some strong pieces potentially. It's about the players, not the manager or coaches. We want to be consistent in winning. That is what our fans have come to expect."

On which Orioles he has high hopes for to have bounceback seasons in 2017?: "Well, I don't want to start naming names. I think it's pretty obvious with a couple. We think there is another level that guys can go to. They take in their experience, especially young guys. Joey Rickard, if he's healthy, I think a lot of people miss what a loss for us it was over an extended period of time not to have him and Darren O'Day last year. It was worth two or three games and we'd have been playing some home games in the playoffs. We can't talk about guys statistically from the past that are capable of a lot better, whether it's Caleb Joseph or even Chris Davis. That potential is there because they're better than that."