Alright, let's settle this once and for all...

[CHENZ A!]

I'd be willing to take just about anyone other than Buck's sorry ass.

[Mr. Arrowhead]

stats dont lie especially in baseball, olivo is 100 times better than worthless buck

[Reaper16]

Originally Posted by Mr. Arrowhead

stats dont lie especially in baseball, olivo is 100 times better than worthless buck

And which are the stats that show that?

[Mr. Arrowhead]

Originally Posted by Reaper16

And which are the stats that show that?

olivo has thrown out 9 runners out of 19, when buck has thrown out 5 out of 38. Also olivo has almost twice as many HRs, more RBi's, and a better batting avg.

[BigRock]

Originally Posted by Mr. Arrowhead

olivo has thrown out 9 runners out of 19, when buck has thrown out 5 out of 38.

You can't consider that a more important stat than the team winning more games and the pitching staff having a better ERA with Buck in the game.

Originally Posted by Mr. Arrowhead

Also olivo has almost twice as many HRs

When they both have less than 10, "almost twice as many" is kinda misleading. Olivo has 4 more.

Originally Posted by Mr. Arrowhead

more RBi's, and a better batting avg.

Olivo does have a better batting average, but his OBP is .291. Buck's is .322.

The only stats in Olivo's favor are thrown-out base runners and the fact he has 4 more HRs and 1 more RBI. Absolutely everything else, including rather important ones like wins and ERA, point to Buck.

If the "stats don't lie", you're backing the wrong horse.

[CoMoChief]

Buck is the better catcher, Olivio is a MUCH better hitter. Buck ****ing sucks at hitting. every once in a while he'll get hot but not for long.

[teedubya]

John Buck's rookie card's value is HUGE.

[ChiefsCountry]

I want to hear tk13's take on this.

[Coach]

Miguel Olivo's VORP is 7.8
John Buck's VORP is 1.8

[Coach]

Buck's OPS+ is 87
Olivio's OPS+ is 100

[doomy3]

Olivo's career OBP is below .300

That is horrendous. He had a hot stretch this year, and hits lefties pretty well, but Buck has a higher career OBP, OPS, has hit more homeruns in a single year than any of Olivo's years, and our pitchers have a full run lower ERA with Buck behind the plate. Plus the fact that the Royals win at a much higher clip with Buck behind the plate than Olivo, and I think this is pretty simple. Buck is not good, but Olivo really isn't good. The only argument against Buck is this year's % of runners thrown out, which is horrible. He has been decent at that in years past. Plus, for all the runners Olivo has thrown out, he has allowed 5x that many to advance by simply not catching the ball, so the runner takes an extra base. Seriously, watch how many balls Olivo drops.

[DeezNutz]

Not really defending Olivo, as I've maintained that both he and Buck aren't the best, but...

From the All-Star break in '07 until now, Buck has hit 8 HRs. His first half of '07 seems to be anomaly.

Also, to claim that Buck blocks well is laughable. Like most ML catchers, he usually stabs at the ball and when he does try to get his body in front, which isn't often, the five hole is almost always open, and this is where many of his pitchers' "wild pitches" end up. Olivo generally does a better job of squaring up the ball.

[Mama Hip Rockets]

update: john buck goes 0-4 with 2 more strikeouts tonight. batting average is now down to .247.

[BigRock]

Originally Posted by thurman merman

update: john buck goes 0-4 with 2 more strikeouts tonight. batting average is now down to .247.

Feel free to keep us all updated on his batting average, but...

It’s no longer a platoon situation at catcher. John Buck made his season-high sixth straight start Friday and appears in line to get the majority of playing time over Miguel Olivo for the foreseeable future.

“Game management,” Hillman explained. “I like what he does for us behind the plate as far as helping us read swings and helping the pitchers follow the game plan.

“Miggy will still mix in there, but I just feel that if we’re going to be successful, we need to be as consistent as possible with who is running our game. I believe Buck does a better job at that.”

[Mama Hip Rockets]

john buck 0-4 with 2 more strikeouts today, now hitting .230 on the season. olivo is hitting .264. in case anybody is still keeping track.