Drinking the Yadier Kool-Aid
Yadier Molina has always rubbed me the wrong way. It’s not (strictly) because he’s a punk. It’s not because a life-size poster of him hung on the wall of one of my exes (but come on, that’s creepy). It’s not even because he took offense to Brandon Phillips’ tapping of his shinguards and started the big Cardinals/Reds brawl a couple weeks ago.
It’s more likely because he’s considered to be some kind of revelation at the position of catcher. He plays good defense and calls an adequate game (how skilled do you have to be to catch pitchers on the “Dave Duncan ‘vitamin regimen’”?). His offensive numbers? Disgusting. For an everyday catcher, he produces at the rate of a guy who splits time at best. But he is lauded in St. Louis, because… well, I actually have no idea why he’s so respected there.
He’s so respected, in fact, that after his hand in provoking the benches-clearing brawl that got LaRussa suspended and Jason LaRue (his back-up) injured, he was given a standing ovation by the Cards fans during his first at-bat of the team’s next home stand. Now, you may remember St. Louis standing ovations from such other events as “McGwire announces he did steroids” and “McGwire scratches himself where his balls used to be,” so keep that in mind when considering the seriousness of the matter.
I can’t let it go this time. It’s like St. Louis fans have the exact opposite in mind when it comes to what’s most important for their team. Getting your manager kicked out for two games (even if they were against the Cubs) when you’re a few games out of first place in August is not a good thing. Getting involved in altercations that often cause injury is not a good thing. Jason LaRue was a scrub, but I’m betting he’s not glad to be injured. What if it had been Carpenter or Wainwright who got in the mix?
Speaking of those two, did you know that they received a higher number of votes for NL MVP last season than Tim Lincecum, the NL Cy Young winner? The Baseball Writers of America are so off-their-rocker that at least one of them also included someone else on their list of the top ten MVP candidates: Yadier Molina. He came in 8th place on one ballet last year (I wonder what city that writer was from?). He will forever own 23rd place in the 2009 MVP vote.
Whatever is wrong with the city of St. Louis seems to be wrong with everyone. The team, the fans, the writers… all of them are gaga for Yadi.
Cardinals fans, please sound off and explain to me what it is that I’m missing. Otherwise, just keep sipping the Kool-aid.
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This may be the most ridiculous article yet! Seriously? You need to ask about the validity of Yadier? You cub fans are blinded by your jealousy.
He started over a gold glove catcher in the play-offs! He throws out 50 percent of would be base-stealers. Since 2004 he leads the league in pick-offs, despite the fact that no one tries to run on him. He throws behind runners at first. Who does that?
Even the rest of you cub fans have to admit he’s great. He is the best catcher in baseball. The last 3 years he batted .274, .304, and .294. Granted he has not been as stellar from the plate this year, but the guy plays hurt, he plays everyday, he calls 75 percent of his own pitches, and no one ever shakes him off.
Asinine.
Now, you may remember St. Louis standing ovations from such other events as “McGwire announces he did steroids”–
That is so true.
I would end up somewhere in the middle of the discussion. He’s not the best catcher in baseball, that’s for sure. Maybe you’ve heard of Joe Mauer?
And the fact he got a vote for MVP is ludicrous.
True. Offensively Joe Mauer is much better(although not really this year). However when we are having a discussion about catcher, it has so much more to do with defense. Sorry, it just does. I love Joe Mauer. He has long been a Rajun’ Asian fantasy team member. However, we are talking about a position, not fantasy numbers.
When it comes to the whole package – what he contributes to the Cards and his influence on pitching and toughness, there is none better.
Just to be clear-
If you were forming a team right now and had your choice of taking any catcher in MLB right now, who would you take?
I understand that Molina is probably one of the best defensive catchers in baseball. But you can’t just discount catchers that are offensive studs as well.
Is money no object? If that’s the case, I am taking the best offensive player at every position. Fact is, most teams are going to not worry about offense from a catcher, they are going to take a catcher for the way they call games and play defensively. If they hit for average, that’s a huge bonus. If they are an offensive stud, that’s even better. We are talking about the position of catcher though, again not some all-star team that you only look at home run totals.
“Even the rest of you cub fans have to admit he’s great. He is the best catcher in baseball. The last 3 years he batted .274, .304, and .294. Granted he has not been as stellar from the plate this year, but the guy plays hurt, he plays everyday, he calls 75 percent of his own pitches, and no one ever shakes him off.”
This is exactly the kind of fan I’m talking about.
I will admit that he’s okay overall. Great defender. So is Henry Blanco, even at the age of 63 for the Mets this season.
For the record, .274 is nothing to brag about. Other averages for seasons include .267, .252, and .216.
HE WAS HITTING .229 WITH 3 HOMERS AND 31 RBIS WHEN HE WAS NAMED AN ALL-STAR STARTER.
To be hitting .260 now is a miracle. I guess all it took was pissing him off…
He is a catcher! How many catchers end the year hitting .274? I am not comparing him to Albert Pujols. Yadi plays at a position that is very, very taxing. Very few catchers can play over 500 AB’s and keep their average above .260. There is a reason for that. Knowledgeable fans know this. I never said he was MVP, I think that whoever voted that way was ridiculous. However, he is a great, great catcher. If you want Mauer, fine, I don’t believe he calls games as well, I don’t think that defensively he’s as good. He does carry a big stick, and I know that all you cub fans really dig the long ball. To say he is not the best or the second best catcher in baseball is laughable. For those of us that look at more than offensive stats, we will keep Yadi.
So you are making a big deal because Molina was 23rd in MVP balloting last year? Who cares!
Is he a decent catcher, yes. Great, no. But if you are building a team, ON A BUDGET, and already have Pujols & Holliday, Yadier fits right in. If you are building a team and money is no object, I’m taking Pujols, Mauer, Hanley Ramirez, etc, etc.
I mean I can see cubs fans being jealous of an actual decent and consistent catcher. You’ve had to deal with Todd Hundley, Geovany Soto, and now Koyie Hill.
The Henry Blanco comment is awesome! So looking up the fielding percentage of both Molina & Blanco, Molina at .994 and Blanco at .996. WHOA! .996 for Blanco, he must be awesome!
Upon further review, Blanco has a .996 fielding percentage in 297 innings. While Yadier is carrying a .994 fielding percentage while playing 944.1 innings!!!
Ryan here…like the article and I think you pose some interesting questions about the overall passion and popularity of the Yadier Molina. Personally, I think it’s a bit nuts to get too hyped up about a catcher in any from aside from calling a good game and being feared among stealers and lead-off hogs. Of course, I’m speaking blocks away from Mauerville where this hometown hero is lauded almost as loudly as Carlton Fisk of Johnny Bench. Don’t get me wrong, I’m pumped…Mauer is great for this town, for baseball and for the Twins because of one thing, He is a consistent leader. In essence, that’s what a good catcher is. Anything above defense and a well called game is a bonus. Offensive prowess, a way with pitchers, maybe a handsome smile or a loud voice and advocate for your teammates are all things I would consider a bonus.
Now, I can’t speak for much of the Cardinal nation, but what I can tell you is that every sports club has its’ share of idiot fans who applaud at all the wrong times. People love controversy and a bench clearing brawl is about all you have to get really jazzed up about in baseball…I mean when dudes fight in hockey the place always goes nuts because of some tribal connection to our love for watching people fight for any reason. Molina’s no-nonsense “punk” attitude just meant to StL fans that he is willing to stand up for his team and “his city”. People love that shit.
Molina for me is a few of those things…consistent, good defensively and puts a little fear in the runners on base because in the last 5 years he has ended 1st, 2nd or 3rd in caught stealing %. I think that’s worthwhile. And with an career OBP of 327 I can’t complain and cry out for a Pudge or a Piazza to come rescue our team. I think we have a good catcher in Molina…do I praise the way he calls a game? No. Do I think he’s even close to earning a vouch for MVP? absolutely not. BUT. He is a good catcher who knows the game and has come through in the clutch for StL fans many times…and when you have a catcher that you can count on or even get excited about being at the plate is rare…
I respect your opinion Kyle, but I do think Mr. Molina deserves a spot in the top 10 active catchers. He’s no McCann or Martinez…but he does the job for us.
So in conclusion, can we agree that Yadier (overall) is a pretty good catcher, but not an elite catcher?
I just looked up his salary and he is making $4.3 million this year, and will make $5.2 million in 2011. I’ll admit, that’s a pretty good deal for the Cardinals.
Yadier owes me money.
I’m sure Yadier is great for team morale. Maybe even as good as Ryan Dempster’s Harry Caray impression or Kyle Farnsworth’s tackle of Paul Wilson.
I just hope voters get it right next year when guys like Buster Posey, Miguel Montero, and McCann are putting up good offensive numbers while handling their staffs and playing decent defense.
My hunch is that they will not, because Yadier somehow earned perennial All-Star status, courtesy of a strong voting campaign from the city of St. Louis, and the rest of the world votes perennials All-Stars into every conceivable All-Star game year after year until they are dethroned by a young up-and-comer.
A rookie-of-the-year victory by Posey might be the only thing that could help. Or a return to ROY form by Geovany Soto… ah, who am I kidding? Might as well pass the Kool-Aid.
Remember when Ozzie Smith was voted in to start the All-Star Game when he didn’t even start for the Cardinals? Hmmmm…