Power Pros Forum

Mirabelli is now a coach in Texas. He can't hit, run, or field well; he became Wake's personal catcher as a way of keeping an MLB job. Cash did it just as well last year, with better fielding and average.

Any of the guys could catch Wake - Kottaras, Brown, and definitely Bard. Kottaras and Brown have been catching Zink's knuckler for years. It doesn't break the same, but it's about the best practice you can get.

Wake might not even be a starter all year (Penny/Smoltz/Masterson/Bowden/Buchholz to bump him if he is past his prime). No reason to keep a personal catcher if he goes to the bullpen or DL; Mirabelli wouldn't offer much outside of catching Wake.

I wanted Mirabelli to stay on, or at least find work, and I want Wake to keep pitching forever...mainly for sentimental reasons. It might not go that way.

Well one thing I liked about Mirabelli was that he had power. Sort of like ,Davis Ross who has power but a bad average

This is where you are wrong, when you said anyone can catch the knuckler, I have to disagree heavily with that. While it's obvious alot can, the knuckler breaks anywhere no pattern, I used to throw it in High School for alittle while and none of my catchers could really catch it consistantly. While I understand that's high school, I just can't see everyone being able to catch the knuckler.

I'm not a huge fan of the Red Sox but I know them enough to say that Wakefield WILL be in the starting rotation. To me, it's not even a thought of him not being there. I love watching him pitch. I would be shocked and amazed if he isn't in the rotation on opening day. Wakefield was third in the AL for Batting Avg. Against (BAA). I mean I do know that Wake gets stolen on alot beacause of the slow pitch.

When I watched Wake pitch, they always stressed that Kevin Cash and Mirabelli didn't need to have good offense, they had them JUST to catch his knuckler. How old is Mirabelli anyhow?

I also can't see how Wake could be a bullpen, they have the bullpen. Oh, and I doubt Masterson will be in the rotation unless he's really good. I think in a scouting report, they said he struggles with starting.

I would have to think, have Brown or Kottaras catch the knuckler, get them major league experience beacause there is one thing I do know, the Red Sox do NOT have a good line of catchers after Bard and Varitek.

I also know, while speculative, beacause Wake throws a knuckler he doesn't get as much pressure on his shoulder and doesn't need a very big wind-up. That knuckler is the only the reason why Wake is still pitching, and if he stays healthy, he could pitch into his late 40's. I understand how speculative that is but I did hear in a Spring Training report that Wakefield came into Spring training in very good shape.

Alloutwar:

1. Mirabelli is a high school coach in Michigan, not Texas.
2. Bard tried catching Wakefield in 2006. He was so unsuccessful, they re-acquired Mirabelli after a month.

DrMario:

1. Mirabelli is 38 and didn't play at all last season.
2. I agree that Wakefield will be in the rotation to start the season. However, I can see him moving to the bullpen, as he's done in the past, if all of the other starters are still healthy when Smoltz is ready to come back. I don't see Smoltz going to the bullpen unless Papelbon is injured.
3. It's unlikely that the team will carry a third catcher, so either Varitek or Bard will have to catch Wakefield. Brown and Kottaras would only be brought up in case of injury. Team officials have to have planned for this scenario, so they must be comfortable with it.

Mario, I think you misunderstood him. He said, and I quote: "Any of the guys could catch Wake - Kottaras, Brown, and definitely Bard. Kottaras and Brown have been catching Zink's knuckler for years. It doesn't break the same, but it's about the best practice you can get.". By any of these guys, I think he was referring solely to Kottaras, Brown and Bard. I could be wrong, but I think Bard is in the Yankees system, but it could be Cash I'm thinking of.

Cash is in the Yankees system not Bard

I think that they should just trade Wakefield to a team that can catch him and be done with it.

That woudl probably be there best bet.

No, trading Wake wouldn't be good... He's third all-time in Wins for the Sox. He was Third in the AL for BAA. Don't ever underestimate Wake. Great pitcher.


Cownip, That's just silly thinking it was bard in the system. I think most Red Sox fans know that the Yankees only signed Cash to keep him away from the BoSox. They already have plenty.

They tried to trade for Mirabelli just to keep them away from the Sox.

Boston can't trade Wakefield without this consent, as he became a 10 & 5 guy a few years ago. And he probably wouldn't agree to a trade. The rolling contract that he signed in 2005 allows the team to keep him as long as they want, with the same base salary every year (and some incentives based on the number of games started). Every time the team exercises its option, it automatically adds another team option for the next year. This contract only makes sense for someone who wants to stay with the same team until he retires.

that's exactly like the reserve clause before the free-agent era came on.

But who's gonna catch him?

Bard caught him in his first appearance this spring (two innings).

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/r ... past_bard/

Yeah, still was struggling, from the looks of that picture. Can't blame him though, eh?

Ah! I love this time! Baseball is starting back up again!! It's almost SPRING!

Not spring up here in Boston, from Sunday and mondays its gonna snow 6-12 inches...again