This should really comes as no surprise.
GM Brian Cashman said Wednesday that he believes prospect Austin Romine is more likely to begin the year in Triple-A. That likely would mean Cervelli and Stewart are handling the major-league staff.
“I expect Romine to go to Triple-A,” Cashman said. “He missed all of last year, almost . . . I don’t expect him to be our everyday catcher out of the gate. He always has the possibility of taking it, but realistically, if I were in prediction mode, I’d say Triple-A. But he has a chance to alter that.”
This leaves Chris Stewart, a career .583 OPS hitter (61 OPS+), and Francisco Cervelli, who had a .657 OPS versus Triple-A pitching last year.
24 Comments
Neil Hollander January 3, 2013 10:36
Francisco Cervelli is a gamer……He brings enormous passion to the game….Given a chance to be an every day catcher he will excel……I don’t worry about him in the least…..
Karl January 3, 2013 10:41
Is this a joke?
Capt Obvious January 3, 2013 13:11
Sarcastic commenter is being sarcastic!
Jarrod Saltalamacchia January 3, 2013 10:40
Fuck.
Advanced Sabermetrics January 3, 2013 10:43
You don’t even cite his fist-pumps over replacement?
The Jersey crowd wants to know.
Joba January 3, 2013 10:47
Cervelli is the bomb. How he got screwed over for the back up spot last year I will never know. We could have used him with RISP… check out his career numbers. Small sample I know, but is it just luck that a career low average guy becomes at .300+ hitter with RISP? Why not find out?
Karl January 3, 2013 10:49
Is this also a joke? You think Cervelli magically becomes a better hitter with guys on base? Why doesn’t he just hit .300 all the time then?
Routine Groundball January 3, 2013 12:37
Okay, he’s not making a solid argument and is potentially being sarcastic, but…
Why don’t all .300+ hitters perform with RISP? What happened to our above average lineup in the post season this year? Why was that considered a collapse and not a statistical aberration? Why are some guys considered clutch? Why are others considered choke artists?
I’m not saying this guy is right, and I wouldn’t even defend Cervelli. The guy had a lucky streak when he first made the show and us fans never forgot. He’s been riding that high for longer than he’s entitled. Let’s just acknowlege that certain players perform better under pressure, and others don’t.
Karl January 3, 2013 13:52
I agree with that. Anyone who has played a sport knows that nervousness plays a role. However, with professionals, that would seem to be less so. After all, they are professionals.
To Joba, I agree. Cervelli over Stewart. But Stewart is better defensively.
Deep Thoughts by Perverts January 3, 2013 20:49
You think porno guys get nervous when they have to bang a really hot chick at work or in real life? What if it was a living legend like Nina Hartley?
Schlongtravius Johnson January 3, 2013 11:32
Cashman might have good reason to say this for political reasons that we don’t understand as organizational outsiders. Still, if he means what he says, that’s silly. Why not give a top prospect the chance to test himself against Major League pitching if you’re already punting offense at the position? Wouldn’t it be better to know near the end of 2013 if we need a long-term solution at catcher or a two- or three-year stopgap to Gary Sanchez? Why not give Romine the chance to grow in the show? His value is unknown. He could make adjustments and hit .260 with power plus his usual stellar defense. That’s more valuable than Cervy and Stewart, who are known entities (and replacement-level players).
Joba January 3, 2013 13:39
My comment was only partly a joke. Cervelli in very limited playing time has hit .315 with RISP. I was absolutely flabbergasted last year when Chris Stewart was signed. Stewart makes Cervelli look like Barry Bonds. When you have an in-house option why not just use him, especially when he has given you some reason to think you may get production out of him? Flukey as that reason may be. Would I expect his performance to continue? Not really.
kdrck January 3, 2013 14:45
Don’t forget Bobby Wilson. I think they are really going to give him a shot to make this team. Better rep than both Cervelli and Stewart defensively.
This is the downside of having an ex-catcher as your manager. It’s going to be torture.
Stubhub January 3, 2013 16:08
Cervelli, Stewart, Matt Diaz, and harder to get cheap tickets
Mike Burke January 3, 2013 16:48
Box seats, $1.75. Those were the days.
The only problem with having an ex-catcher as manager is that ours is Girardi. Yogi never got the credit he deserved. Torre got way too much.
Mixed bag. Which reminds me…bag of popcorn for a quarter. Those were the days.
whocarestom January 3, 2013 17:03
(sigh as deep and long as Alex Rodriguez’s contract)
A-Rod's Dick January 4, 2013 00:36
Longer than me and deepthroater, too.
Fan of Rookies January 3, 2013 17:25
Every team needs young guys without big contracts to win. Cervelli’s not a starter on most teams, but I’m willing to roll the dice with him. I’m not gonna miss Martin & his 0-for-April/May/June/July.
Porje Josada January 3, 2013 18:18
I like young players too, but Cervelli has no upside. Id rather see someone like David Adams get a shot. And Martin hit 21 hrs despite his low batting average. Great reputation for handling a staff too
Russel Martin January 3, 2013 18:09
Suck it, Bitches!
Arnold Schwarzenneger January 3, 2013 19:59
Fuck you Russell, suck on my muscle!!! Hey Nomaas, why don’t you write something useful and put the cookie down! You are a bunch of assholes with nothing but a lame agenda to ride on. And the Sense bullshit, you think Karate Kid holds up next to Terminator, fuck off! Karate Kid can’t hold a light to Twins and that may be one of the worst movies of my career.
Instead of talking out your ass why don’t you analyze actual issues, like if Arod can actually come back from this hip surgery, or how I am going to shit down your spine after I get upset and rip off your head!
Bo Diaz January 3, 2013 20:18
Why not sign me, I can hit as well as these scrubs and bring back memories of “electric stuff”!
Brandon January 4, 2013 00:21
They let Pierzynski get a one year deal and Martin a two year deal, and they’re content with this shit? Come on.
Jesus Montero January 7, 2013 22:57
too soon?