How much longer is Brad Ausmus going to be allowed to be our everyday catcher?

Ausmus isnt nearly the defensive catcher he once was....and Im not saying Chavez is a gold glover either...but Ausmus' defense should NOT be a reason why he is still in the game 4 out of 5 times. I will give Phil the benefit of the doubt and assume that Chavez is MUCH worse....although he does seem to be htting the ball thus far...and he cant be that bad if he catches our ace

 

Good post.

My opinions:
--Ausmus is still that good defensively (seriously).
--I see where you're coming from about the weakened lineup, but the Astros do not have better-hitting options, because...
--Chavez will come back to his career norm. For the first two weeks last season (or was it '03?), Ausmus hit .450 with four or so dingers. We all knew *that* wouldn't last. Additionally, Chavez is below average defensively, something you can't afford when you're already not scoring enough runs.
--Chavez is worse historically hitting than Ausmus, not "not much better". Worse. And he will settle back to that average--just like he always does.

 

From where do you get this observation? I haven't caught much on TV this year, so perhaps you're seeing something I'm not. As of last season, he was still top notch in all the areas I've listed. If you have this impression because a talking head said so, or simply because he's older so he *must* have gone downhill, or because his caught stealing numbers are down, those really aren't good sources from which to arrive at that conclusion. To know how good a catcher is, you have to watch him closely, and know what you're looking for.

 

Actually, the most disciplined pitcher often draws the backup catcher. In the late '90s, Shane Reynolds was the *best* location pitcher on the Astros' staff. *That* is why he pitched to Eusebio, not because he had a "favorite". Greg Maddux for years pitched to the backup catcher for the hated Br*ves, for much the same reason.

 

namely that reason...i understand your other points about what makes up a good defensive catcher...or at least what helps make up a good defensive catcher...and i agree on those points.....BUT, our lack of run production puts an empahasis on keeping guys off base...let alone out of scoring position and he just does not throw guys out anymore

 

then he would be catching Roger

 

Here's why that's a bad measure. Certain pitchers are far, far easier to run on than others. Power pitchers and slow-delivery pitchers are the *easiest*.

In the late '90s, the Astros had a staff of mostly fast-working finesse pitchers who were methodical and quick in their delivery. Very hard to run on. Astros fans got spoiled to the high CS numbers. Now, we have power pitchers with slow, deliberate deliveries. Much, much easier to run on. Yet, people look at the numbers without watching the guys play and think, "wow, Ausmus isn't nearly what he used to be defensively," when that is actually a very, very inaccurate conclusion.

Catching is far, far, far more than throwing the ball to 2nd base.

 

Except that Clemens and Pettitte both requested Ausmus (if the media is to be believed).

 

Good point....BUT, Clemens happens to have a pretty good move to 1st.....and Pettitte has perhaps the BEST move to first in the entire major leagues...we dont have a Maddux or Nomo that takes forever to throw the pitch...and we dont have a knuckleballer or a guy that throws a lot of balls in the dirt (at least not on purpose). Occasionally the runner will get a SB on the pitcher....but I dont think our guys are the type that have such slow moves to first

 

But the move to first isn't what hurts or helps CS numbers at all. A good pick-off move keeps the general number of attempts down. But what hurts the CS numbers is that long delivery, even from the stretch. Clemens, Backe, and Oswalt are long to the plate. So, if someone is running, he is more likely to succeed because of the slower delivery. I don't know much about Pettitte's delivery, but the sample size for Pettitte is far too small to judge Ausmus on due to last year's injury.

 

Furthermore, good pickoff moves can actually hurt CS numbers! If less runners are running, fewer runners will get caught. If fewer runners are running, but the pitcher is slow to the plate, then a higher percentage of those who actually run will succeed.

That said, I *do* think Ausmus's arm is less than what it once was, but not nearly so much less as what the CS numbers would indicate. However, as I said earlier, catching is far, far more than throwing the ball to 2B. He's one of the best.

 

Yeah, how the hell did Clemens win all those other Cy Youngs without Bradley?

 

when did eusabio retire? i had forgotten about him!

 

You've got no logic to offer, so I guess this is all you have to fall back on.

Already explained, earlier. You missed it.

I have friends who caught professionally and in college and amateur leagues.

We've already covered (ad nauseum) the argument that the Astros can't afford his lack of offense due to their already weaker lineup. As far as "lacking fire", I watch the games too, and I think that's a steaming pile. But, you can believe whatever you like.

 

Strawman. Look it up.

 

I don't remember exactly when he retired, but after the Astros didn't renew him (I believe after the '99 season) he was in Colorado's system but never really caught on in the bigs again (IIRC).

 

it does because it limits the lead a guy can take if he is worried about getting picked off

 

Two or three feet is nothing when a guy is getting a great jump because the pitcher is slow to the plate.

 

you are so wrong about that ....how many guys do you see go into 2nd standing up....or how many guys beat the throw by more than a step? NONE...the step and a half that a good move to first takes away is a HUGE factor in being able to throw a runner out.