Royals vs. Rays - July 4

[Mama Hip Rockets]

let's get it started. what a shitty field. i can't believe they make major leaguers play there.

[irishjayhawk]

Originally Posted by BigRock

I wasn't referring to just you. The same question has been raised previously in the thread.

Buck gets a pass because he's not out there saying "hey Banny, throw some really weak looking junk right down the middle so these guys can tee off on it". Banny's doing that all on his own.

Banny happens to be the most recent tanked game. There are others.

[BigRock]

Originally Posted by irishjayhawk

Banny happens to be the most recent tanked game. There are others.

And again... "a catcher calling a good game" and "a pitcher having good stuff" are two completely different things. If there's some recent example of a Royals pitcher being sharp and John Buck's game calling costing the team runs, you'll have to point it out.

[irishjayhawk]

Originally Posted by BigRock

And again... "a catcher calling a good game" and "a pitcher having good stuff" are two completely different things. If there's some recent example of a Royals pitcher being sharp and John Buck's game calling costing the team runs, you'll have to point it out.

Right. That's why I don't think that catchers calling games is as obvious as people think here.


That was my whole point, just zoned in on Buck vs Olivo rather than in general like you are talking about.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by BigRock

And again... "a catcher calling a good game" and "a pitcher having good stuff" are two completely different things. If there's some recent example of a Royals pitcher being sharp and John Buck's game calling costing the team runs, you'll have to point it out.

Neither of our catcher's is calling a game totally on his own. Today FSN showed several shots of Buck looking to the dugout for the signs. Lower ERA when Buck catches is somewhat of a misleading statistic, and unless there's an interview I'm not familiar with, Meche and Grienke don't get to choose their catcher. Hillman makes the decision, and this was stated coming out of spring training.

[Boris The Great]

There is nothing misleading about the stat that the pitchers perform better with Buck. John Buck practically runs the pitching staff. He runs the pitchers meetings. He does indeed call the games. He is involved with the pitching as any catcher can possibly be.

That doesnt mean he is some great catcher, but it cannot possibly be argued that the pitchers have done better with him behind the plate. Why do you think he is the one catching most of the games? What, the team benches Pena, cuts Tomko, sends Butler back to the minors, but they are beholden to the mighty John Buck?

What is he doing, blackmailing them into putting him in the lineup?

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Originally Posted by BigRock

And again... "a catcher calling a good game" and "a pitcher having good stuff" are two completely different things. If there's some recent example of a Royals pitcher being sharp and John Buck's game calling costing the team runs, you'll have to point it out.

if there's some recent example of john buck doing anything well at all in a baseball game, you'll have to point that out too.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Boris The Great

There is nothing misleading about the stat that the pitchers perform better with Buck. John Buck practically runs the pitching staff. He runs the pitchers meetings. He does indeed call the games. He is involved with the pitching as any catcher can possibly be.

That doesnt mean he is some great catcher, but it cannot possibly be argued that the pitchers have done better with him behind the plate. Why do you think he is the one catching most of the games? What, the team benches Pena, cuts Tomko, sends Butler back to the minors, but they are beholden to the mighty John Buck?

What is he doing, blackmailing them into putting him in the lineup?

What I've said before and will continue to maintain, the ability to call a game is the most over-rated "skill" a catcher could possess because this is something that the coaching staff can aid during the game. The staff cannot help a player throw, block, or hit.

Regarding Buck's involvement in the pitchers' meetings, I've heard the same interviews as you. To say that he practically runs the pitching staff sounds like an overstatement to me. I'm guessing that the pitching coach might be a little more involved.

Why does he continue to play? Again, I think Hillman has gotten the most out of two below-average catchers. Leaving either in over the course of the season would cause them to be over-exposed. With that said, I believe that the team could compensate for Olivo's shortcomings more readily than Buck's, and that's why I'd rather the former get the majority of the playing time.

[Mama Hip Rockets]

so now that the royals signed horacio ramirez, does anybody have any idea why jimmy gobble is still on the team? he gave up 3 more runs today, hit a batter, and threw at least 2 pitches about 50 feet.

there is no reason for a team to have THREE left handed relievers, especially one that has a 7.94 ERA.

[BigRock]

Originally Posted by thurman merman

if there's some recent example of john buck doing anything well at all in a baseball game, you'll have to point that out too.

LOLZ HE SHOULD BE BAGGIN' GROCERIES

[ChiefsBlow]

In yer face

You dopes suck

[teedubya]

Buck.

He is 1 for 29 in catching base runners.

His average sucks monkey shit.

He is a minor league catcher. We need to acquire a really ****ing smart catcher.

Oh how I wish that we had paid Ivan Rodriquez and Raul Ibanez in 2004 offseason, instead of Juan Gone and Benito Santiago.

[teedubya]

I think John Buck would be really good at carrying around the Snow Cones in the stands selling them... keep him off the field.

[Boris The Great]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

What Ive said before and will continue to maintain, the ability to call a game is the most over-rated skill a catcher could possess because this is something that the coaching staff can aid during the game.

I dont know what to say except a whole lot of people disagree. Including, obviously, everyone making decisions with the Royals.

[alanm]

Originally Posted by irishjayhawk

You know, I think Buck isn't that much better. Look at Bannister having gone downhill.

Some of that is Banny but some can also be Buck. I think Buck is better at calling a game but not by the margin most on here think so.

Banny's a streaky pitcher and he even admitted it himself I read somewhere this spring.
I guess he's streaking south at the moment. Hell who knows, next start he just may throw a no hitter.

[alanm]

Originally Posted by BigRock

How many times is someone going to say "How good can Buck be at calling games, look how Banny is sucking"?

I can't believe this even needs to be pointed out, but "a catcher calling a good game" and "a pitcher having good stuff" are two completely different things. The greatest game calling catcher in history could be behind the plate and it's not going to help a guy who's up there tossing batting practice garbage.

That was my point earlier about Bannister meeting Buck halfway.