Loading ...I think this is a good decision:
Outfielder Norris Hopper was activated from the 15-day disabled list Wednesday after the Cincinnati Reds decided to go with two catchers instead of three.
The Reds designated catcher Chad Moeller for assignment to the minors to open a spot for Hopper, who bruised his heel while running into an outfield fence on March 19. Hopper opened the season on the disabled list.
The Reds waited until shortly before their game against Houston to announce the move because they wanted to make sure Hopper could make it to Cincinnati in time to play, if necessary.
Moeller signed a one-year, $700,000 contract in November. He didn’t start any of the Reds’ first 14 games and went 1-for-6 overall.
Last year, the Reds carried three catchers for the entire season. The move with Moeller leaves them with David Ross and Javier Valentin behind the plate. Ryan Freel can be an emergency catcher – he played the position in high school.
“You weigh one against the other and see which way you want to go,” general manager Wayne Krivsky said. “We’re going this way for a while.”
Hopper isn’t any great shakes, but he give the team much more flexibility.
Who’s to say the wrong catcher wasn’t sent down?
I’m glad for this move. I think Ross will de-funk soon.
But why isn’t Hatteburg the emergency catcher? Anyone who made a major league living catching both Martinez and Wakefield is a good insurance policy I would think.
I’m sorry, but why is six OFs (if you include Conine who can play in an emergency) a better thing than 3 catchers? Why not bring up someone who stands a chance of playing semi-frequently, like another arm in the pen.
Moeller wasn’t much of a hitter, but I kept hearing from managment that he was a great handler of pitchers. With that being said, Moeller’s a good guy to have on the roster if the team is hitting. This team is not hitting. Hopper’s no power hitter by any means but I think he’s more valuable as a pinch hitter or late inning defensive switch than Moeller was. Moeller’s agent will check out what’s available as a free agent, but I think he’ll end up at Louisville.
Six outfielders means you count Conine AND Freel, where Conine is primarily a first baseman and Freel can, has and does play the infield.
The team already has 12 pitchers. I couldn’t see them carrying 13. The problem with pitching at this point isn’t quantity, it’s quality.
I think the stuff we heard about Moeller’s defense and general mojo is simply because he can’t hit a lick, but people have to say and write something about the guy. It’s like a poor, ugly, fat dude with a hot wife – people are going to assume he’s got a great personality.
The question isn’t “third catcher vs. sixth OF.” It’s “for the 25th spot on the bench, do you want someone who can actually do things to help you win a ballgame, or do you want an overpaid insurance policy?”