Apr 06 2019 09:10 PM
An endangered species that prospers when given a preserve to live on, the AAA backup catcher is an animal of a fascinating stripe.
They've made it all the way to the top of the minors, but nothing short of a cascade failure will give them a shot at a big league spot. We are generally solid defenders and leaders, who just don't have the bat to catch up with MLB pitching. While we're still playing, we've more or less moved onto the coaching track the last few years. Some of us are hitting under .200, but we're willing to mentor the younger starter on the team and we give the prospect pitchers a steady solid hand to throw to twice a week while they hope to join the show. Crash is our hero.
So yeah, that may make us the textbook definition of organization guys, but I'm Colton Plaia, and so far this year, I'm 1-for-1 with a two run double, and when I can look up at the scoreboard and see a 3.000 OPS next to my name, damned if that big league dream I thought I had put aside doesn't start filling my heart and my head all over again.
I haven't been a disaster with the bat, either. Yeah, a .252 / .324 / .347 // .671 career line isn't going to put me in a lot of headlines, but by backup catcher standards, it's not that bad either.
So think of me. I mean, you know, if Ramos gets hurt, and Nido gets drunk, and d'Arnaud gets arrested, and Rivera misses a plane and Mesoraco doesn't get his head out of his ass, and Mazeika isn't yet ready, please think of me.
And you know ... why wait? Think of me now. It may be the last time this season you think of me. Maybe the last time ever. But think nonetheless and tell me what my season is going to look like.