Josh Bard, anyone?

The Red Sox have released Josh Bard. He had a couple of very nice seasons with the Padres before completely tanking last year. I don't know what his defensive rep is, but he looks like he could be an upgrade offensively from Hill or Bako, and he's a switch hitter.

almost 3 years ago davidalanu 14 comments 0 recs |

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No, thanks.

Hill will be just fine. Remember, we’re talking about a guy who will start maybe 20 games this year.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 18, 2009 1:11 PM CDT reply actions

Bard is an upgrade

Why wouldn’t you want the better player, Bard, if it wouldn’t cost more?

by Acapulco Taco Pie on Mar 18, 2009 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions

plus Hill is 30

he is a career AAAA guy, and we cannot count on him to produce……

sorry, had to :=)

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 18, 2009 3:01 PM CDT up reply actions

sign him to a minor league contract

Hill knows the staff, which is what he will do 130-140 games.

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Mar 18, 2009 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm aware of how much the backup catcher plays

but the better that player is, the more flexibility Piniella has. Soto is quite capable of playing 1B as well, and that would be a good opportunity to keep his bat in the lineup while resting Lee. It’s silly to look at the backup catcher spot as being a throwaway. I don’t know enough about Bard to say that he would be an upgrade, but looking at his 06 and 07 seasons, it seems possible.

"Enough foreplay- let's get crackin'"- Fred Garvin

by davidalanu on Mar 18, 2009 1:55 PM CDT reply actions

The whole "reply button thing" is obviously too high tech for me, sorry

"Enough foreplay- let's get crackin'"- Fred Garvin

by davidalanu on Mar 18, 2009 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Paul Bako will be the backup

Enough with this ridiculous love affair for Koyie Friggin Hill. The guy is neither a distinguished catcher or a hitter. He strings two hits together in Mesa and Cub fans are ready to throw the valuable proven veteran Paul Bako out the window? The same Bako who is very well respected by pitchers, coaches and managers. The same Bako who logged heavy playing time in Cincinnati for awhile and can hit at a minimal enough level.

Koyie Hill is Triple A fodder. Enough of this guy. Get him out of here.

by BLou on Mar 18, 2009 5:13 PM CDT reply actions

plus he is older than Hoff

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 18, 2009 5:35 PM CDT up reply actions

So is Bako.

What’s your point?

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 18, 2009 7:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Paul Bako is a proven and quality major league catcher

Kindly explain to me the love affair for Koyie Hill, because I’m at a total loss to see the wondrous attraction. Everytime he has had big league trial he has not looked good behind the plate nor swung the bat with any level of competency. In Bako we know what he can do defensively and we know that he is well respected among pitchers. We even know what to expect out of his bat.

by BLou on Mar 18, 2009 9:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Are you serious? We know what to expect out of Paul Bako's bat????

Paul Bako has proven himself to be a tragically bad hitter. For years. Eleven of ‘em. It won’t change, and if it does, it will be for the worse. What’s worse than tragically bad? Horrifically bad?

And please, don’t give the “he knows how to handle a pitching staff” garbage, because, the pitching staff loves Hill.

"Enough foreplay- let's get crackin'"- Fred Garvin

by davidalanu on Mar 18, 2009 10:07 PM CDT up reply actions

I am not a Bako supporter

but does it seem like a good idea to have Bako and a vet back up instaed of a 30 year old rook in Hill?

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 18, 2009 10:35 PM CDT up reply actions

that Hill is older than Hoff

so I am trying to see what people will say to defend a 30 year old catcher, that is a career AAA player to date, while ripping a 29 year old 1B who has been raking balls all over Arizona.

It reeks of double standard to me, and it seems that it is more “I hate Bako, so lets cheer for Hill, while keeping Hoff down when DLee has been declining and continues to show decline this ST”

I am not saying Hoff is in the same league of talent, but who knows without seeing him get more than a cup of coffee with the Cubs. But a career 190 hitter in Hill, who is not as good defensively as Bako getting the love here on BCB, while Hoff gets ripped at every chance available seems a little strange to me.

That being said, if my comment was about the age of Hoff, no one woujld have even replied, hell it might have been rec’d.

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 18, 2009 10:32 PM CDT up reply actions

Because what you are doing...

… is suggesting that Hoffpauir could even replace Derrek Lee, which is ridiculous.

Koyie Hill is a backup catcher, nothing more. When you say he’s a career AAA player — well, so is Hoffpauir.

I think Hill will play defense as well as Bako, and possibly hit a bit more. He has actually hit well in the minor leagues, and at one time was a top catching prospect for the Dodgers.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 19, 2009 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions