If you've ever talked to him or heard him comment on games, you would understand. He's an incredibly sharp guy and has good relations with the minor league kids already. I hated that he f'ed up his shoulder when he did, completely changed him as a hitter and pretty much ended his career. If I were Reid Ryan, I'd fire Ashby tomorrow and put Ensberg in his place. He's done a bunch of college games and is outstanding in the booth.
Just about the best all-around catcher in baseball. Elite defense, solid offense. Terribly underpaid. Hope his head issues aren't too serious, concussions are scary once you have 2 or 3.
Gattis cannot even play first base because of his hips/knees, he isn't going to be catching. The Astros are not going to keep Castro if they get Lucroy, that is a waste of finances. If you trade for Lucroy you are going to want him to primarily catch, his bat isn't nearly as impressive at DH. Adam Lind is a better bat than Lucroy, Castro and Gattis and costs less to trade for if you intend to rotate. Under that scenario you let Lind DH and play first and let Castro just catch.
I live in Chicago. He isn't hated but he isn't beloved or a fan favorite either. There is very little discussion of him like there is of the others in the city. While he was liked in Houston, people here are really indifferent. I don't think many would care if he left to go elsewhere.
Cubs fans are starting to love JD. Hard to appreciate an announcer in one year, it takes time to warm up and get used to them. He is gaining the respect.
I cannot look it up now but I believe this was his third year with the Cubs and has one more year on his contract.
Lind is an extreme platoon player, Lucroy isn't. Over the last 4 years Lucroy has posted a .353 OBP and an .808 OPS, that would instantly make him our 4th best on base guy. It is obviously more impressive as a catcher, but that is still a bat I want in the lineup every single day. To that end, I don't want him playing 130 behind the plate for the next 2 years, I want his knees protected. I want a backup catcher that you are OK starting almost half the time, or full time is anything happens to LuCroy. Maybe they can find a more cost effective guy than Castro to fill that role. The only reason I bring Gattis into the conversation is because in my scenario Castro (or whoever) and Lucroy would both be in the lineup at the same time quite often. Having a guy who is capable of playing catcher in a pinch would be nice, but wasting a roster spot on a 3rd catcher is unnecessary. I'm really not a fan of Gattis at this point, but he would provide that emergency 3rd catcher.
This needs to be pulled and bolded: Adam Lind's career OPS against LHP is .586. He cannot play against left-handed pitchers.
Lucroy is under contract for only the next two years, I want him primarily playing catcher if. I am giving up the assets it would require to get him. I don't want Castro's bat in the line up and I don't want to pay what he is likely to get in arbitration. I personally get Lucroy and either keep Conger as the back up or trade for an inexpensive back up to start 30-40 games. Yes, Lind is a platoon player (although really only sits 40 games). While he struggles against lefties, he crushes righties to an OPS of 900. He can start 3/4th of the games and there are other options to face lefties. Also, if Reed is ready you can slide Lind to DH. I am not a Gattis fan either but my understanding is he cannot catch anymore.
Count me in the "all in for Lucroy" camp. The guy is a legit catcher, one of the best overall catchers in the game when healthy. Not only do we add an elite player at the catcher position, but we can then take out Castro. I know his value derives mainly from defense, but as he keeps getting more expensive (and less productive at the plate), the justification to keep him becomes harder and harder. I definitely do the VV and Tucker for Lucroy deal that was hypothesized, and I don't even hesitate. I also have no problem adding Appel to the mix, but if that is the case, I'd love to get both Lucroy and K-Rod. We address 2 major needs, and both are very cost-effective.
Dallas Keuchel loves him some Castro. Luhnow should exercise greater than usual circumspection on ditching Castro for Lucroy. Its that chemistry thing.
Lucroy would be an upgrade, but I suspect he would require too many assets. Speaking of Conger, anyone know if he was hurt this year? That trade didn't look that great in retrospect, would have been better off just letting Perez back up Castro. If he wasn't hurt this past year, I have a hard time seeing him on the roster next year. If a batter got on base, he was almost guaranteed to be on 3rd base two pitches later. I think he threw out one runner on something like 43 attempts this year.
Not "something like"...he threw out exactly 1 runner. 1 for 43. IMO, he doesn't offer enough offensively or defensively if this is the way it's going to be with him. Something must be wrong with him. He was at 24% the previous 2 years with roughly the same amount of attempts.
But he has all the intangibles you could ask for: A robot dance and dirty inside jokes. What more can you ask for?
