Monday, June 28, 2004
...and thanks for all the fish
So, Olive Oil is clearly our best catcher. (and yes, that's not a very flattering nickname. I don't know if that's currently in use for Miguel, but I've decided to call him that. Let's consider it a term of endearment). What remains to be seen is how soon he starts catching more than Mr. Wilson. Knowing how quickly this organization moves, I'd say it will be at least late August before King Calm makes Olivo the #1 catcher. Is this wise?
Olive is 25 and playing his second full season, one in which he has shown dramatic improvement over last year: .237/.287/.360/.647 in 2003, .270/.316/.496/.812 this year. He is hitting the ball more and farther, and walking a slight bit more. To play him only 2 or 3 times a week would risk slowing his improvement. I see three options on how to work him into the lineup without putting off Mr. Wilson too much, and still allowing for Olivo's and the team's growth.
1. Use Olivo as a "personal" catcher for our young pitchers. Use him for Nageotte, Thornton, and anyone else that gets the call. Also use him for some or all of Pineiro's starts, as he is going to be around during our resurgence, whenever that may be. Moyer is likely gone, and Franklin should be, if we get a decent offer, so let Wilson stay with the vets. This way our future staff and our future catcher can get accustomed to each other and better prepare them for the years ahead. The downside is that some knocks on Olivo are that he is bad at calling games, and he could learn from working with Moyer, as well as hamper the development of the young arms, who would benefit from the experience of Mr. Wilson
2. Use Olivo with Moyer, Franklin, Pineiro, so he can work with experienced starters and hopefully better learn how to handle a staff from the vets. This leaves the experienced Wilson to help the rookies' adjustment and teach them a thing or two about how to challenge hitters. Unfortunately, this prevents Olivo from developing a rappoir with the young arms of tomorrow.
3. Mix and match. Allow Olivo time to work with the younger guys, while also learning from work with Moyer, etc, while allowing the young pitchers some opportunities to work with Mr. Wilson. This is what I would do. Possibly let Olivo catch Nageotte, Thornton/Blackley/Meche/, Pineiro, every other turn through the rotation, and same with Moyer and Franklin. Or just do it completely randomly, abandoning any strategy I have just taken the time to discuss, and assume that doing so will allow Olivo and the young pitchers to work with both young and old.
Hopefully Olivo will start catching at least half-2/3 of the games immediately, increasing as the season progresses. So long Dan Wilson...
Olive is 25 and playing his second full season, one in which he has shown dramatic improvement over last year: .237/.287/.360/.647 in 2003, .270/.316/.496/.812 this year. He is hitting the ball more and farther, and walking a slight bit more. To play him only 2 or 3 times a week would risk slowing his improvement. I see three options on how to work him into the lineup without putting off Mr. Wilson too much, and still allowing for Olivo's and the team's growth.
1. Use Olivo as a "personal" catcher for our young pitchers. Use him for Nageotte, Thornton, and anyone else that gets the call. Also use him for some or all of Pineiro's starts, as he is going to be around during our resurgence, whenever that may be. Moyer is likely gone, and Franklin should be, if we get a decent offer, so let Wilson stay with the vets. This way our future staff and our future catcher can get accustomed to each other and better prepare them for the years ahead. The downside is that some knocks on Olivo are that he is bad at calling games, and he could learn from working with Moyer, as well as hamper the development of the young arms, who would benefit from the experience of Mr. Wilson
2. Use Olivo with Moyer, Franklin, Pineiro, so he can work with experienced starters and hopefully better learn how to handle a staff from the vets. This leaves the experienced Wilson to help the rookies' adjustment and teach them a thing or two about how to challenge hitters. Unfortunately, this prevents Olivo from developing a rappoir with the young arms of tomorrow.
3. Mix and match. Allow Olivo time to work with the younger guys, while also learning from work with Moyer, etc, while allowing the young pitchers some opportunities to work with Mr. Wilson. This is what I would do. Possibly let Olivo catch Nageotte, Thornton/Blackley/Meche/, Pineiro, every other turn through the rotation, and same with Moyer and Franklin. Or just do it completely randomly, abandoning any strategy I have just taken the time to discuss, and assume that doing so will allow Olivo and the young pitchers to work with both young and old.
Hopefully Olivo will start catching at least half-2/3 of the games immediately, increasing as the season progresses. So long Dan Wilson...
# posted by Anonymous @ 4:23 PM 
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How about "Use Olivo 99.9% of the time while Dan Wilson watches helplessly from the bench." as option #4?
Before you trot Olivo out every night - realize (1) Sox pitchers didn't like his pitch calling - no sense to have him call pitches for the young M's pitchers; and (2) check his splits. Almost all his numbers were accumulated against lefties. I had a post about this on Black Betsy.
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