I profiled Barry Larkin earlier and this time I'll do the same with Pudge.
http://forums.operationsports.com/vB...d.php?t=110938
Ivan Rodriguez had a terrific season at age 32 for the Tigers, hitting .334/.383/.510 and leading them to a 29 game improvement in the standings. He caught 124 games, low for him, but it's typical for catchers his age. He has now caught 1688 games. This was the also the year that he reached a number of significant career markers, 1000 runs scored and driven in, 2000 hits, 250 homers.
Pudge arrived in the majors at age 19, with no triple A experience and only 50 games at double A. He had hit .274/.294/.389 in double A Tulsa, but the Rangers were so impressed with his defence that he got the call. His arm was indeed fabulous, and within a year or two, he was the consensus best defensive catcher in the majors. He hit .260 with 3 homers in 280 at-bats his first season, but over the next 4-5 years, his average and power steadily improved. His plate discipline was poor when he arrived in the majors, and has improved more slowly than the other aspects of his offensive game but it is now average.
At the age of 32 he stacks up very well with Gary Carter, Yogi Berra, and Johnny Bench, and Ted Simmons in virtually every offensive category.
So, what next for Pudge? Looking at his peers might be a start. After age 32, Ted Simmons had one season left of catching. He caught 86 games that year, and then finished out his career as a DH. Yogi did a little better, catching for significant parts of 3 more seasons between 63 and 116 games per year, and playing outfield and first base. By age 32, Johnny Bench was done as a catcher, while Gary Carter had 2 more seasons left.
Pudge’s career path is more favorable than any of his peers here. He’s hitting as well as ever, if not better. My guess is that he’ll follow the Yogi career path and catch between 250-300 more games. However, his slow steady improvement with the stick will, in my opinion, lead to a productive end of career as a DH. I'm projecting he will end his career with around 375 homers which would place him above Bench (356) but below Piazza as the 2nd greatest HR hitting catcher.
With his defensive skill (11 Gold Gloves already putting him in first place among catchers), he’s basically achieved Johnny Bench’s career already. When he’s done, I don’t think that there will be any question who the greatest catcher is.
So to conclude, not only is Pudge a first ballot HoF'er, he will be the greatest catcher to ever play Baseball.
http://forums.operationsports.com/vB...d.php?t=110938
Ivan Rodriguez had a terrific season at age 32 for the Tigers, hitting .334/.383/.510 and leading them to a 29 game improvement in the standings. He caught 124 games, low for him, but it's typical for catchers his age. He has now caught 1688 games. This was the also the year that he reached a number of significant career markers, 1000 runs scored and driven in, 2000 hits, 250 homers.
Pudge arrived in the majors at age 19, with no triple A experience and only 50 games at double A. He had hit .274/.294/.389 in double A Tulsa, but the Rangers were so impressed with his defence that he got the call. His arm was indeed fabulous, and within a year or two, he was the consensus best defensive catcher in the majors. He hit .260 with 3 homers in 280 at-bats his first season, but over the next 4-5 years, his average and power steadily improved. His plate discipline was poor when he arrived in the majors, and has improved more slowly than the other aspects of his offensive game but it is now average.
At the age of 32 he stacks up very well with Gary Carter, Yogi Berra, and Johnny Bench, and Ted Simmons in virtually every offensive category.
So, what next for Pudge? Looking at his peers might be a start. After age 32, Ted Simmons had one season left of catching. He caught 86 games that year, and then finished out his career as a DH. Yogi did a little better, catching for significant parts of 3 more seasons between 63 and 116 games per year, and playing outfield and first base. By age 32, Johnny Bench was done as a catcher, while Gary Carter had 2 more seasons left.
Pudge’s career path is more favorable than any of his peers here. He’s hitting as well as ever, if not better. My guess is that he’ll follow the Yogi career path and catch between 250-300 more games. However, his slow steady improvement with the stick will, in my opinion, lead to a productive end of career as a DH. I'm projecting he will end his career with around 375 homers which would place him above Bench (356) but below Piazza as the 2nd greatest HR hitting catcher.
With his defensive skill (11 Gold Gloves already putting him in first place among catchers), he’s basically achieved Johnny Bench’s career already. When he’s done, I don’t think that there will be any question who the greatest catcher is.
So to conclude, not only is Pudge a first ballot HoF'er, he will be the greatest catcher to ever play Baseball.
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