Comments on: Tigers take $50 million risk that Victor Martinez is rare catcher to age well into his mid-30s

By: spindervish

spindervish — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 20:36:57 +0000

I don’t disagree with anything you’ve said, except you got his split wrong. He was a monster from the right side this year. Sucked hitting lefty.

By: Glenn

Glenn — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 20:22:11 +0000

The comments section about this signing on the Boston Globe site is hilarious. Sox fans are furious, excoriating Theo, and predicting the end of the Red Sox as a contender. This is a good thing for the Sox. This deal will look pretty ugly in a year or two for the Tigers. Martinez was also a bit disappointing at the plate this year, especially from the right side. If you look at him as a DH/first basemen, he is really being overpaid for the production and he is not a real catcher anymore.

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 20:19:48 +0000

Carlos Ruiz has never been a free agent. I’m sure the Tigers would love to pay Ruiz that kind of money to be their catcher. If Carlos Ruiz was a free agent today, he’d make a lot more than $2 million.

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 17:32:54 +0000

As Charles mentions there is no protection for Ruiz. Also CBP is not a bandbox, and OPS+ is adjusted for that anyway. Since Carlos had a better OPS+ jump from OPS one could be lead to believe that BAhhhstan is more of a bandbox than CBP is actually. I’d take the HUGE discount in Ruiz before the HUGE bath of signing that V-mart contract any day.

By: Charles Gates

Charles Gates — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 17:21:17 +0000

He hits 8th. The pitcher slot offers no protection. He might earn a few extra non intentional intentional walks which will inflate is OBP, but he is definitely not protected.

By: apbaguy

apbaguy — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 17:18:36 +0000

It will be interesting to see how the Tigers us him. I think he’ll be more than a backup, but the Tigers have the twin goals of nurturing Avila and sparing V-Mart significant wear and tear. Look for him to catch at most 50% of the time.

By: BC

BC — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 17:17:17 +0000

Good luck with that. He’s basically done as a catcher. So do you platoon Cabrera and V-Mart at 1B/DH? I don’t know… that’s not a good investment of that much money in my mind.

By: xpensivewinos

xpensivewinos — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 17:16:39 +0000

Woo-Hoo………These dopes saved the Red Sox from themselves!!!!!

Oh, and speaking of ludicrous contracts, while they’re in the mood and have their checkbook out, would the Tigers like J.D. Drew as well????

By: heiniemanush

heiniemanush — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 17:13:14 +0000

Maybe Ruiz is a better bargain but doesn’t he benefit from hitting in a bandbox and being protected by that lineup? He’s only played in 120 games once in his career and will be 32 on opening day. He’s a nice cog in the Phillies’ machine but I’ll take Victor at the premium price.

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 16:58:10 +0000

Carlos Ruiz is batting just under what Martinez brings, he’s a superior defensive player to Martinez. And he is collecting 2 million a season.. Not the best deal in the world for the Tigers imo. Actually OPS+ says Chooch is better. I know,the rbi’s and HR’s aren’t even close, but the salaries are much much further apart aren’t they?

By: heiniemanush

heiniemanush — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 16:43:19 +0000

It’s a perfectly decent signing. At the very least Martinez gets on base 37% of the time and the Tigers could use a disciplined hitter, even one that might end up being a full-time DH by the end of the contract. Magglio’s been a terrific player but I’m not sure he bounces back from that broken ankle so quickly. If Carlos Guillen was off the books, they could have signed Ordonez as a DH by that’s a moot point, now.

By: andrewkw

andrewkw — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 16:34:33 +0000

I thought they were planning on using him as a DH and backup catcher?

By: cjvirnig

cjvirnig — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 16:26:37 +0000

The Tigers, as predicted, have been bold. The fundamental question is whether a healthy Victor Martinez is a better hitter than a healthy Magglio Ordonez?

The answer is probably no, but V-Mart’s defensive abilities (except throwing out baserunners) probably tips the scale in his favor.

I’m still waiting for Kenny Williams to make his ubiquitous splash on the South Side, but as of this moment, the Tigers definitely look like the Twins chief competition in the central.