MLB

[BDB]

When you are too much of a pussy to throw to a base, cant handle the bat one single bit and you mandate David Ross play in a major league game you better be lights out. Lester has just been a slight disappointment this year as a result....

155 million dollars...

if his two playoff starts would have been up to expectations (wins), then I think the regular season performance is forgiven. This is why they have him is for these games. He just appears to have no confidence on the mound.

[E.H. Ruddock]

Royals/Mets would be an awful series

[numbers]

I've always thought Lester wasn't near good enough to merit a personal catcher.

[spike]

I've always thought Lester wasn't near good enough to merit a personal catcher.

[verb_to_trust]

The personal catcher is such a rediculous concept. If anything, they should be partnered with young first year starters about to grind through their first year in the bigs, not top dollar proven commodities.

[The Argonaut]

I think it's an extension of the pervasive superstitious character of baseball players in general. It really shouldn't be endorsed by management.

[numbers]

I don't have a problem when a team has a pairing hat is obviously working, but when guys have their own personal catcher and they can't work with another one is where I draw the line.

[The Argonaut]

Some guys just can't catch the knuckleball.

[verb_to_trust]

It wouldnt be as big of an issue if guys like Ross weren't such a zero at the plate.

[The Argonaut]

Yeah, it's not really an issue that a back-up catcher gets a point in his favor for having a good relationship with an ace. But it seems like the idea of signing David Ross was a conversation Lester had with the Cubs before he signed with them. The right catcher can be very important to a young pitcher. A veteran like Lester shouldn't need to be so dependent on a specific catcher.

[spike]

oh but david ross has been invaluable in the clubhouse with all these young players!

[Norah]

david ross is the man

[verb_to_trust]

He may be, but he sucks at baseball.

[Norah]

he went on a tear in the 2013 alcs

[Chris_H_2]

i don't know. Greg? maddux insisted that paul bako be his catcher because of trust and he made him more relaxed.

[The Argonaut]

The back-up catcher is probably the least important spot on the roster. Offensively, most teams don't get a lot out of their starting catcher, let alone the backup. Teams just need a guy who can go out there 25-40 times a year so the starting catcher's knees don't break in half every August. So having a specific pitcher-catcher pairing doesn't really change what a team would be doing anyway. In the postseason, it's obnxious. The only reason to have a backup catcher in the postseason is as insurance.

[spike]

i don't know. Greg? maddux insisted that paul bako be his catcher because of trust and he made him more relaxed.

lester is no maddux

[spike]

The back-up catcher is probably the least important spot on the roster. Offensively, most teams don't get a lot out of their starting catcher, let alone the backup. Teams just need a guy who can go out there 25-40 times a year so the starting catcher's knees don't break in half every August. So having a specific pitcher-catcher pairing doesn't really change what a team would be doing anyway. In the postseason, it's obnxious. The only reason to have a backup catcher in the postseason is as insurance.

the catcher, whether it be the starter or backup, has a huge influence on games.

[Norah]

Cubs fans are starting to lose their cool.

[spike]