Go With 14 Position Players and Only 11 Pitchers for the 1st Month?

by zogger on Mar 20, 2011 1:00 PM EDT

I have been thinking about the bench and the dilemma of too many players to “choose” from. Do we carry a 3rd catcher? Do we keep Rodriguez? How much weight to give to Marte’s and Bowker’s ST performances?

One approach to delay making a decision is to only carry 11 pitchers but carry 14 position players for the 1st month. The risk is that the SP has a history of not going deep into games, so cutting back on the bullpen is a gamble. Also we have issues with which pitchers have options left.

But assuming we could go with 14 position players, what would we do? Well we have 10 spots “committed” (Snyder, Doumit, Overbay, Walker, Cedeno, Alvarez, Tabata, McCutchen, Diaz, and Jones), leaving 4 spots open. It looks like the team wants a 3rd catcher, if we can add Jaramillo we are down to 3 spots. We “need” 2 guys to backup SS, 2B, and 3B. One will probably be Ciraciao, so we are down to 2 spots. So we come down to selecting 2 players from Bowkers, Marte, and Rodriguez (I am assuming that Pearce gets send down because he has an option and can get playing time at 3B in AAA).

If we keep both Marte and Rodriguez, then Bowkers is waivered. If we keep Bowkers and Rodriguez, we lose a better backup at 3B in Marte. If we keep Marte and Bowkers, we may lose Rodriguez unless we can swing a deal for him.

Another consideration is playing time for all of these bench players. There is already a platoon in RF and at catcher. The rest of the positions have regulars who will play most games.

I don’t have an answer to all this. I am glad I don’t have to decide because it seems we won’t be able to keep all of these players.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the managing editor (Charlie) or SB Nation. FanPosts are written by Bucs Dugout readers.

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Comments

Barring a crazy stretch of doubleheaders, there is no reason to carry 12 pitchers at any point of the season.

by bolton on Mar 20, 2011 1:18 PM EDT reply actions

Normally, I would agree with a short staff in April as there are generally quite a few off days the first month of the season, where a 5th starter might not be a necessity. This year is a little different. There are only 2 off days scheduled in April this year. The Pirates can’t consider skipping a starter till the 5th time through the rotation.

by Thunder on Mar 20, 2011 1:26 PM EDT reply actions

Without any idea of how this rotation will shake out, it is entirely possible(probable) that our collection of 4th and 5th starters opens the season getting through a few bad starts. Until we have an idea of who can hold their own, which we should know by May, we have to have some long men in the bullpen. However I think a thrid catcher is a waste of a roster spot.

by dack2001 on Mar 20, 2011 1:48 PM EDT reply actions

I want to know

Who actually has said they are thinking about keeping 3 catchers. I seriously don’t think this will happen. It’s silly.

by titanlord91 on Mar 20, 2011 7:14 PM EDT reply actions

There is a chance that Snyder opens season in the 15-day DL, so J.J. will make the team as the 2nd catcher in this situation.
As zogger’s mentioned, the playing time is an issue. We won’t feel any better because someone sits on the bench (only Ken Griffey Jr. and a few can take that job.) I will keep Bowker and JRod because of the risk to lose them entirely, but not because of their performances (Bowker hit 6 hrs last ST, maybe he is the ST monster?)

by taiwania on Mar 20, 2011 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions

bowker also hit those dingers in arizona. little bit lighter air out there, ya know.

by white angus on Mar 21, 2011 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions

IIRC, the P-G voiced it as a possibility. I don’t know that anyone actually thinks it’s a good idea, though.

by Vlad on Mar 21, 2011 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions

The only thing is that

if we only have 2, Doumit will never be a PH, and that’s not good, as he’s a useful tool off the bench.

And as you and others have mentioned, Snyder is pretty prone to injury.

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Mar 21, 2011 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions

not the first time Doumit has been called a tool

by white angus on Mar 21, 2011 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions

BTW

You do recall correctly.

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Mar 21, 2011 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions

I really think this point has been overblown. If Doumit were to pinch hit for someone, he then stay in the game as part of a double switch.

by jmarter on Mar 21, 2011 10:40 AM EDT reply actions

Exactly

by titanlord91 on Mar 21, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions

But

the thought is that if (when) Doumit gets hurt, we have no catcher for the remainder of that game. Now, is a couple innings worth keeping three catchers? Personally I say no but I think it’s a reasonable debate.

by bosten7 on Mar 21, 2011 1:36 PM EDT reply actions

I think not

Your scenario provides no reason to keep an extra catcher. I imagine walker could fill in for an inning or two in an emergency.
The bigger issue, I think, is the nagging injury. If Snyder has a sore back, for example, then Doumit starts, but no back-up. We would have to either put Snyder on the 15 day DL, or demote someone else in order to bring up JJ. That scenario is a bit more concerning then the inning or two after a pinch hit.
I don’t want to see 3 catchers break from ST, but I can see how they would worry about such a scenario.

by Wizard of Woz on Mar 21, 2011 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions