Originally posted by DeepNinerValue:
Originally posted by SteveWallacesHelmet:
Originally posted by Niners99:
Anyone who thinks Patrick Bailey is a backup doesn't know baseball. You dont bench a gold glove catcher because he doesn't hit. You bat him 9th and ignore his offensive production. His defense is something of far greater value.
Mark me down as someone who doesnt know baseball then.
It was an ignorant take by 99.
Patrick Bailey is having a terrible year even with his defense, per WAR (0.8) he's the 28th best catcher.
I think the obvious solution is to get a hitter+ catcher and have them split the time. Bailey should not be starting majority of the time. He's not that good in his current form. We have seen him much better in years past. They tried to do that with Tom Murphy but he got hurt... so its a glaring need and the glare gets brighter every day.
The reason it doesnt appear like you would ever "bench a gold glove catcher because he doesnt hit" is because very few catchers in MLB history have been allowed to be a starting catcher when they hit as abysmally as Bailey does.
Take a look at Austin Hedges as an example. If Hedges was allowed to be an everyday player, he would make runs at being a gold glover. But because he regularly hits under the Mendoza Line, he is a part time catcher.
So 99 saying "you dont bench a gold glove catcher because he cant hit" might seem accurate to him because you dont see it happen ever, its can easily be explained because great defensive catchers who cant hit a lick never really get the opportunity to be everyday starters.