2:15 AM Eastern
Sorry, I would have gotten to this post earlier in the evening, but I found out that the Blue Jays had signed Rod Barajas while I was on my way to start the last series of the regular season in the Sim league that I run (It’s called THROW, and we’re an owner or two short going into next season). I played the first four games of the series, holding a two-game lead on the final playoff spot with nine games to play, and proceeded to go 1-3, including a 15-inning loss. My lead on the final playoff spot is down to one game, with five to play, and I’m staring my first missed playoffs square in the face. This is the 22nd year of this league, and I’ve never sat out a post-season, but the boys don’t seem to be co-operating. The final five games will be played Friday night, so wish me luck.
It should be noted, by the way, that Rod Barajas is not now nor has ever been on one of my sim teams. Nor has he ever pretended to sign a contract, then backed out at the last minute, then come back just over a year later and signed another one. I leave that to the Blue Jays.
Frankly, I can’t believe they signed him. 14 months ago, after Barajas signed his letter of agreement (I think that’s what it’s called), then bailed on his physical because his new agent (with a big reported push from the MLBPA) wanted to renegotiate the $5.25 million, two-year salary, the Jays were pretty peeved. Among other things, J.P. Ricciardi said “I’m gonna take the high road”, “We don’t want anyone who doesn’t want to be here”, and “We’ll remember this one.” You can’t tell me that Rod Freakin’ Barajas was so much better than all the other back-up catcher options out there that J.P. and the club would swallow their pride and go back and give the guy another shot. Never mind he’s not so much with the hitting.
What does Barajas give the Jays that Sal Fasano doesn’t? Not all that much. They both have great throwing arms, and neither of them can hit at the major-league level. You’d think that The Captain would bring more power to the table than Big Sal, since he’s had seasons of 21 and 15 homers while Our Pal’s career high is 11, but over the course of their entire careers, Barajas’ slugging percentage is just 14 points higher than Fasano’s. Barajas is more of a threat at the plate, though, right? He gets on base more? Actually, he doesn’t. Even after his career high .352 on-base percentage with the Phils last seasons (small sample size warning – just 122 AB), Barajas has a career obp of a disgusting .288 – actually five points LOWER than Sal’s.
(By the way, I’ve been calling Barajas The Captain for years. Because if you pronounce his name slightly differently, it could rhyme with “courageous”, and who doesn’t like Captain Courageous? Sorry, just a brief glimpse into my apparently-damaged psyche for you all.)
Look, it’s not like they’re replacing one all-star for another, and if Gregg Zaun stays healthy, we’re not going to see the guy start more than 40 games this season, but the fact is that the Jays had in their hands a good soldier, great clubhouse guy and coach on the bench, and they have just replaced him with a guy who left them high and dry barely a year earlier, and whom the people in Philadelphia couldn’t wait to be rid of, all for a nine-point bump in career OPS.
Yes, Barajas has been a starter in the past, and has proven that if Zaun goes down for an extended period, he could step in and catch, throw some people out, and not hit well. Fasano hasn’t proven that he can do that, since he’s never even played half-a-season’s worth of Major League games in a single year. Also, Fasano is nearly four years older than Barajas.
After spurning the Jays last year, Barajas signed a one-year (plus an option) deal with the Phillies to be their starting catcher, but he spit the bit so badly early on that he finished the season as the number three guy behind Carlos Ruiz and Chris Coste. It’s ironic that early in the season he was walking like a champ (for him). Barajas had 19 walks through the end of June, on pace to obliterate his previous career high of 26, but he was hitting only .210, so he lost his job. He went on the DL early in August with a groin strain, and apparently stayed on after he was healthy enough to return to action because the Phillies didn’t have room for him. He was activated when rosters expanded on September 1st, and got FIVE whole at-bats in the final month as the Phils chased down the Mets and won in the greatest comeback/choke job in NL history.
Granted, the Jays are hopeful that this will only be a half-season gig, and that Robinzon Diaz will be ready for the bright lights by around the all-star break. But isn’t that all the more reason to stick with Fasano?
Maybe The Captain handles pitchers really well. Last year, the Phillies’ club ERA was 4.73. When Barajas caught, it was 5.17. In ’06, with the Rangers, the club ERA was 4.60 and with Rodney behind the plate it was 4.73. No real indication that he has a beneficial effect on his pitching staff. He did throw out 7 of 19 runners who tried to steal on him last year, but I’d be stunned if his arm is significantly better than Fasano’s. Sal has a cannon, as does Barajas, apparently.
It’s not even that the money could be much better spent elsewhere, it’s only $1.2 million. And it’s not the same as when the Jays brought in Bengie Molina at the last minute a couple of years ago – The Captain isn’t here to take Zaun’s job, and has been given no illusions about that, and Bengie, for all his flaws, was one of baseball’s best against left-handed pitching for a few years there, including his season here. Barajas can’t hit anybody particularly well.
I don’t get it.
Comments are welcome, and the e-mail address is wilner590@hotmail.com. There will be a mailbag early next week, I promise.
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Hot Rod Barajas in the 416. Time for me to buy those World Series tickets.
Ok, maybe theat was sarcasm.
- LannyI don’t get it either Mike, the catcher we should got was Miquel Olivo (not sure about the spelling) his L/R splits wouuld of worked well with Zaun, and I’m still waiting for J.P. to sign bonds, Why not he would make the jays line up so much better, The Tigers added Caberra for for two five star prospects we could add Bonds for nothing. wouldn’t that be a smart play?
- Dan MooreAs usual it seems that the JP “plan” can only be to confuse the fans (and maybe the analysts too). How does this help the team? Is JP trying to send a message to Doc Halladay??? Halladay has been a supporter of both Fasano and Johnny Mac and now one is out while the other is largely burried in the depth charts. Given the events the last time the Jays went after Barajas it seems to me that this is a case of belittling the team for the sake of disappointing your only proven superstar – way to go JP!
- Mike KindyGood luck tonight Mike! Just try not to hurt anyone on the other team.
- Kyle from ThornhillI am pretty sure that Olivo chose KC because he thinks he’ll get more playing time than in Toronto. At least that’s what I recall reading on rotoworld.
I think (or is that hope..?) that Barajas was signed because he’s good defensively and has a good arm.
- TestSubjektHi Mike,
I hate this signing and I hate the player. I’m booing him at the games.
- Dave from ScarboroughCareer numbers aren’t the greatest thing to go by for a 36-year-old catcher. Fasano showed all signs of totally breaking down offensively (as backstops tend to do around that age) in 2007 and after a lousy start to his career, Barajas seems to have figured out how to hit recently.
Fasano has had one year with an OPS above 60 since 2000, when he was 28. Barajas has put up 80, 97, 80, 89 over the last 4 years. Not a huge upgrade, but for 1.2?
- JonathanHave you seen Barajas’ numbers in the skydome–or just against the Jays in general?
Right. I thought not. Actually, I bet you have, but you didn’t post them, and for good reason–they don’t mesh with your argument.
Yeah, his career OB% and walks aren’t high–because he hits home runs instead of for average.
With Texas, I remember him being at least equal with Zaun in terms of offensive production, which is why he was offered all that money before last year. Yeah, the guy had a lousy year in a new league where he didn’t know the pitchers(as well as injured) and got bumped for a youth movement.
Big deal.
Doesn’t mean he can’t catch anymore, or he’s lost the pop in his bat. Now, the Jays are definitely getting him on the cheap–but make no mistake, this a steal at that price.
It’s nice to give career averages to make your point about Sal, but I don’t care what the numbers say–Sal hit .188 for much of the season. He was utterly, totally, useless outside of his throwing arm.
Barajas simply isn’t.
Sal CAN’T hit major league pitching. Barajas can. When has Sal ever hit 20 home runs? Oh yeah, never. Guess who has?
That is a huge difference. Barajas is your garden variety catcher that will probably hover around 260 when healthy and going good, and probablly 235-250 when bad. Maybe in a hitter’s friednly skydome he jerks out 15-20 and manages to hit .255. Not bad, not bad at all.
Guess what? That’s WAY better than .188, no matter what way you slice it.
I know that Sal is a great guy and a great quote. Yes, Halladay loves Sal, yes, he’s a great soldier. He just isn’t very good.
I love Sal too, in fact, I wouldn’t have been mad if they’d just kept him as the backup–but make no mistake, this is an upgrade. Not scrub to all-star, but scrub to very passable. It doesn’t look as shiny and snazzy as some like, but it’s better all the same. Sal is better served to help get Diaz here sooner, anyway. Because it’s DIAZ who is the major upgrade. And his major weakness according to the scouts? Calling a good game and his throwing arm–whatdaya know?
- David MoroSomething that should also be mentioned. JP seems to absolutely love catchers (whether starting or backup) who has some pop but can’t hit for much of an average. Look at catchers JP has brought in and the amount of HR they average in about 400 ABs: Jason Phillips (10 HR), Fasano (17 HR), Zaun (10-12 HR), Molina (15HR), Myers (11-12 HR), Estalella (steriod inflated 20-23 HR), and Tom Wilson (10 HR). The only guy JP brought in who wasn’t capable of hitting HRs was Huckaby but he was really the 4th catcher on the depth charts in 2002 and was kind of forced into play due to injuries and did a decent job. Barajas fits the mold of a guy who could pop around 13-15 HR in about 400 ABs.
- JT“It’s not even that the money could be much better spent elsewhere, it’s only $1.2 million. ”
I think you hit the nail on the head here. $1.2 million is nothing in today’s game. Barajas will be the primary back-up, and while I think Thigpen could have handled this, its not a big deal.
The ERA against when Zaun is catching (3.55) vs Fasano (5.91) or Thigpen (5.13) warrants sticking with Zaun and his meager bat.
Spending more money on a higher profile backup or even platooning catcher isn’t going to put the Jays over the top.
- MopupdutyHey Mike – we need a mailbag from you. The Jays are holding a “state of the Franchise” session for season ticket holders next week. We could use some grist for questions to direct at the brass.
- IanCatcher’s ERA can be a VERY misleading stat in the days of pitchers having designated catchers. If, for instance Zaun caught every one of Halladay’s starts then naturally his CERA (Catcher’s ERA) would be lower than someone who caught Tosh Jowers.
- Lanny