“I think if you had to describe Rob as a young catcher, the biggest thing for me is the word ‘presence’,‘’ Wakamatsu replied. "I think he gives a belief system to a lot of pitchers out there. There are things we talk about daily that he’s got to get better at, but the one thing he has, for a young guy, he has a strong presence back there. He’s not afraid. He’s a very tough young player.’’
When given a position to speak about his players he’s going to do so on a personal/character level from time to time. He is their manager after all and he works with them on a daily basis. You can’t expect Wak to always give the cold/dispassionate analyst answer. I imagine it is very hard to judge the people you work with every day and not let character or personality get into it.
By removing Cabrera from the roster, the Nationals will eat the remainder of his one-year, $2.6-million contract.
“You have to put your best 25 players on the roster that are giving you a chance to win,” acting general manager Mike Rizzo said. "I look beyond the contract and look at the execution and performance of the player, and it wasn’t up to par. I was tired of watching him.
The GM’s job is to make critical evaluations like that. The manager’s job is to best utilize the tools he’s given, and protect their delicate litte egos, which sometimes means seardching for things to say when a player isn’t very good that still makes it sound like the player’s still valuable.
“While some pitchers indicated a preference for someone besides Johjima last year, Wakamatsu is having none of that. He said during spring training there’d be no personal catchers this season and he’s sticking with that.
“I’ve looked at all the matchups and catcher’s ERA and this and that,” he said. “But I also said at the start of the year we’re not going to go down that road where we’re playing favorites. Because something could happen to Rob, too, and all the sudden you’re forced to catch somebody you haven’t caught before.”"
July 7, 1969 – In Canada, the Official Languages Act is adopted making the French language equal to the English language throughout the Federal government.
Here is Baker
on the subject
msb - July 1, 2009
From that article
“I think if you had to describe Rob as a young catcher, the biggest thing for me is the word ‘presence’,‘’ Wakamatsu replied. "I think he gives a belief system to a lot of pitchers out there. There are things we talk about daily that he’s got to get better at, but the one thing he has, for a young guy, he has a strong presence back there. He’s not afraid. He’s a very tough young player.’’
Yuck.
bluemax - July 1, 2009
So one could say his grit potential is high?
kentcheesehead - July 1, 2009
Look, Wak is not a baseball analyst.
When given a position to speak about his players he’s going to do so on a personal/character level from time to time. He is their manager after all and he works with them on a daily basis. You can’t expect Wak to always give the cold/dispassionate analyst answer. I imagine it is very hard to judge the people you work with every day and not let character or personality get into it.
manyoso - July 1, 2009
You can't expect Wak (or any manager)
to EVER give the cold/dispassionate analyst answer. That’s not their job.
pdb - July 1, 2009
Maybe not from the manager, but
OlSalty - July 1, 2009
Yeah, not the manager
The GM’s job is to make critical evaluations like that. The manager’s job is to best utilize the tools he’s given, and protect their delicate litte egos, which sometimes means seardching for things to say when a player isn’t very good that still makes it sound like the player’s still valuable.
pdb - July 1, 2009
But it's not just an answer.
He’s not just talking up a bench player’s intangibles. He’s acting on his beliefs about Johnson’s “presence” and putting a better player on the bench.
Manzanillos Cup - July 1, 2009
That being said
We could do a lot worse. If catcher defense (and presence) is this organization’s blind spot, etc, etc.
Washburn also might have just said that he will pitch to Johnson, period.
Manzanillos Cup - July 1, 2009
If we're incredibly lucky...
They’ll have it recorded, and can use it trick another team into taking both of them off our hands at the same time.
Sidi - July 1, 2009
From Greg Johns, June 23
“While some pitchers indicated a preference for someone besides Johjima last year, Wakamatsu is having none of that. He said during spring training there’d be no personal catchers this season and he’s sticking with that.
“I’ve looked at all the matchups and catcher’s ERA and this and that,” he said. “But I also said at the start of the year we’re not going to go down that road where we’re playing favorites. Because something could happen to Rob, too, and all the sudden you’re forced to catch somebody you haven’t caught before.”"
msb - July 1, 2009
Big Brother is glorious.
JY - July 1, 2009
Felix, Olson, Morrow in Boston.
Ugh.
Fuckmikereilly - July 1, 2009
Felix!
Jeff Sullivan - July 1, 2009
I like him.
SethGrandpa - July 1, 2009
Well balls
Graham MacAree - July 1, 2009
He only would've lasted about 3 innings against Boston anyway
Jeff Sullivan - July 1, 2009
I don't understand why we're rigging this so that Bedard gets the start before the AS break
When we could do it so that Felix gets that extra start
calim - July 1, 2009
Because we're shopping him for a possible trade and want him to get as many starts as possible before the deadline
OlSalty - July 1, 2009
Not starting on the 4th, eh?
Is this because he’s not American, and would therefore try to sabotage our chances on such a glorious day of Americanness?
evanr - July 1, 2009
I think it's part this
And part the fact that sliced bread was first sold on July 7.
seattlecougar - July 1, 2009
Ooh, wait, found a better one
July 7, 1969 – In Canada, the Official Languages Act is adopted making the French language equal to the English language throughout the Federal government.
seattlecougar - July 1, 2009
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