2006 Position Analysis: C

Can you feel it? The chill New England mornings are starting to be permeated by that pervasive humidity, the air pregnant with the expectations of spring. You can smell the grass stirring beneath the snow, you can hear the buds shake the branches in anticipation of the birds that will soon perch upon them. You can imagine the thwack of the ball as it smacks into the catcher's mitt, and the first crack of the bat as spring training opens.

Pitchers and catchers report in 9 days, and as we get ready to ogle the Globe's pictures of the equipment vans leaving Yawkey Way, it is time to take stock of the players that will make up the 2006 Boston Red Sox. I'll go position by position, and in the end, we'll take a look at the Sox's top prospects. Forget the varied reference sites for now. I'll get you what you need.

Though the backstop is the second position on the baseball scorecard, we're going to begin there for a couple of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that I'm exhausted and couldn't do a post on the pitchers right now. Ready? OK. (Note: stats and scouting reports will be provided by baseball-reference.com, The 2006 Sporting News Baseball Register and Fantasy Handbook, and anything else I can get my hands on.)

STARTER
JASON VARITEK
Year Ag Tm Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG TB SH SF IBB HBP GDP
+--------------+---+----+----+----+---+--+---+----+---+--+---+---+-----+-----+-----+----+---+---+---+---+---+
1997 25 BOS AL 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 1.000 1.000 1 0 0 0 0 0
1998 26 BOS AL 86 221 31 56 13 0 7 33 2 2 17 45 .253 .309 .407 90 4 3 1 2 8
1999 27 BOS AL 144 483 70 130 39 2 20 76 1 2 46 85 .269 .330 .482 233 5 8 2 2 12
2000 28 BOS AL 139 448 55 111 31 1 10 65 1 1 60 84 .248 .342 .388 174 1 4 3 6 16
2001 29 BOS AL 51 174 19 51 11 1 7 25 0 0 21 35 .293 .371 .489 85 1 1 3 1 6
2002 30 BOS AL 132 467 58 124 27 1 10 61 4 3 41 95 .266 .332 .392 183 1 3 3 7 13
2003 31 BOS AL 142 451 63 123 31 1 25 85 3 2 51 106 .273 .351 .512 231 5 7 8 7 10
2004 32 BOS AL 137 463 67 137 30 1 18 73 10 3 62 126 .296 .390 .482 223 0 1 9 10 11
2005 33 BOS AL 133 470 70 132 30 1 22 70 2 0 62 117 .281 .366 .489 230 1 3 3 3 10
+--------------+---+----+----+----+---+--+---+----+---+--+---+---+-----+-----+-----+----+---+---+---+---+---+
9 Seasons 965 3178 433 865 212 8 119 488 23 13 360 693 .272 .350 .456 1450 18 30 32 38 86
+--------------+---+----+----+----+---+--+---+----+---+--+---+---+-----+-----+-----+----+---+---+---+---+---+
162 Game Avg 534 73 145 36 1 20 82 4 2 60 116 .272 .350 .456 243 3 5 5 6 14
Career High 144 483 70 137 39 2 25 85 10 3 62 126 .296 .390 .512 233 5 8 9 10 16

OFFENSE: Varitek, who has a long, sweeping stroke, is a better righthanded hitter despite having better bat speed from the other side. Likes to extend his arms for balls out over the plate. Is more willing to hit to the opposite field from the left side. Can drive it out of any part of the park. Strikes out chasing balls up and out of the strike zone. Is a good high-ball and mistake hitter. DEFENSE: He is mobile and has good hands. Is aggressive at blocking and shifting with pitches in the dirt. Has a strong arm and has improved his release. Is one of the league's best at calling games and has instilled confidence in the pitching staff. OUTLOOK: Varitek, a team leader, has improved all aspects of his game. A future major league manager. 9.5

BACKUPS
JOHN FLAHERTY
Year Ag Tm Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG TB SH SF IBB HBP GDP
+--------------+---+----+----+----+---+--+---+----+---+--+---+---+-----+-----+-----+----+---+---+---+---+---+
1992 24 BOS AL 35 66 3 13 2 0 0 2 0 0 3 7 .197 .229 .227 15 1 1 0 0 0
1993 25 BOS AL 13 25 3 3 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 6 .120 .214 .200 5 1 0 0 1 0
1994 26 DET AL 34 40 2 6 1 0 0 4 0 1 1 11 .150 .167 .175 7 2 1 0 0 1
1995 27 DET AL 112 354 39 86 22 1 11 40 0 0 18 47 .243 .284 .404 143 8 2 0 3 8
1996 28 TOT 119 416 40 118 24 0 13 64 3 3 17 61 .284 .314 .435 181 4 4 2 3 13
DET AL 47 152 18 38 12 0 4 23 1 0 8 25 .250 .290 .408 62 3 1 1 1 5
SDP NL 72 264 22 80 12 0 9 41 2 3 9 36 .303 .327 .451 119 1 3 1 2 8
1997 29 SDP NL 129 439 38 120 21 1 9 46 4 4 33 62 .273 .323 .387 170 2 2 7 0 11
1998 30 TBD AL 91 304 21 63 11 0 3 24 0 5 22 46 .207 .261 .273 83 4 3 0 1 9
1999 31 TBD AL 117 446 53 124 19 0 14 71 0 2 19 64 .278 .310 .415 185 1 10 0 6 14
2000 32 TBD AL 109 394 36 103 15 0 10 39 0 0 20 57 .261 .296 .376 148 2 2 2 0 11
2001 33 TBD AL 78 248 20 59 17 1 4 29 1 0 10 33 .238 .269 .363 90 5 1 1 1 9
2002 34 TBD AL 76 281 27 73 20 0 4 33 2 2 15 50 .260 .296 .374 105 2 4 0 1 6
2003 35 NYY AL 40 105 16 28 8 0 4 14 0 0 4 19 .267 .297 .457 48 5 1 1 1 6
2004 36 NYY AL 47 127 11 32 9 0 6 16 0 2 5 25 .252 .286 .465 59 2 0 2 1 5
2005 37 NYY AL 47 127 10 21 5 0 2 11 0 0 6 26 .165 .206 .252 32 2 2 0 1 4
+--------------+---+----+----+----+---+--+---+----+---+--+---+---+-----+-----+-----+----+---+---+---+---+---+
14 Seasons 1047 3372 319 849 176 3 80 395 10 19 175 514 .252 .290 .377 1271 41 33 15 19 97
+--------------+---+----+----+----+---+--+---+----+---+--+---+---+-----+-----+-----+----+---+---+---+---+---+
162 Game Avg 522 49 131 27 0 12 61 2 3 27 80 .252 .290 .377 197 6 5 2 3 15
Career High 129 446 53 124 24 1 14 71 4 5 33 64 .284 .323 .435 185 8 10 7 6 14
+--------------+---+----+----+----+---+--+---+----+---+--+---+---+-----+-----+-----+----+---+---+---+---+---+
Year Ag Tm Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG TB SH SF IBB HBP GDP

A solid professional with excellent instincts, Flaherty runs a pitching staff well. Has good hands and sets up well behind the plate. Arm strength has declined slightly but is quick to get rid of the ball and is accurate. Became the personal for Randy Johnson. Offeensively, he's a pull hitter who can handle pitches down and out over the plate with a little pop. Is not a good breaking ball hitter and can be a very defensive swinger at times. Aptitude and experience are big pluses. If forced to play a lot, his offense will become a liability. 5.1

JOSH BARD
Year Ag Tm Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG TB SH SF IBB HBP GDP
+--------------+---+----+----+----+---+--+---+----+---+--+---+---+-----+-----+-----+----+---+---+---+---+---+
2002 24 CLE AL 24 90 9 20 5 0 3 12 0 0 4 13 .222 .255 .378 34 1 0 0 0 6
2003 25 CLE AL 91 303 25 74 13 1 8 36 0 2 22 53 .244 .293 .373 113 1 3 1 0 9
2004 26 CLE AL 7 19 5 8 2 0 1 4 0 0 3 0 .421 .478 .684 13 0 1 0 0 0
2005 27 CLE AL 34 83 6 16 4 0 1 9 0 0 9 11 .193 .266 .277 23 1 2 0 0 2
+--------------+---+----+----+----+---+--+---+----+---+--+---+---+-----+-----+-----+----+---+---+---+---+---+
4 Seasons 156 495 45 118 24 1 13 61 0 2 38 77 .238 .289 .370 183 3 6 1 0 17
+--------------+---+----+----+----+---+--+---+----+---+--+---+---+-----+-----+-----+----+---+---+---+---+---+
162 Game Avg 514 47 123 25 1 14 63 0 2 39 80 .238 .289 .370 190 3 6 1 0 18
Career High 91 303 25 74 13 1 8 36 0 2 22 53 .244 .293 .373 113 1 3 1 0 9

With the emergence of Victor Martinez as the everyday catcher, Bard doesn't see a lot of playing time. Relies on a short, quick release to compensate for a short arm that can be erratic, especially when he rushes. Is agile defensively but drops too many pitches. Has a long stroke from both sides of the plate, with slightly more power from the left. Must commit early when hitting and has problems adjusting to and picking up the spin on breaking balls. 4.5

OK, so we all know Tek is once again going to anchor the starting nine behind the plate, providing excellent game calling and leadership. That leadership and captaincy will be particularly important going into this upcoming season, as he's going to be working with four new starting position players and a number of new, incoming pitchers. He was the best offensive catcher in the majors last year and was deservedly awarded his first Gold Glove. Unfortunately, he's another year older and this year he will be without the regularly scheduled day off (or so we imagine) once provided by Doug Mirabelli. That could definitely be a problem for his offensive numbers simply because the wear and tear on his body will likely result in significant fatigue.

That being said, whoever wins the backup catcher position in Doug's stead will have an influence on whether or not Tek can get the break he needs. Flaherty, originally drafted by the Sox in the 25th round in 1988, is miserable offensively (see above numbers, or lack thereof...) but is a very good game caller. We all remember how Randy Johnson dubbed him The Unit's Catcher for last season, and you'd be hard pressed to find a regular observer of Flaherty's appearances and say anything but that he is consistent, calming, and generates a feeling of steadiness from behind the plate. I could see Flaherty winning the backup job because of his defense, his experience, and his ability to effectively learn the tendencies of a single pitcher.


The younger half of this backup picture is Josh Bard, the 28 year old catcher we picked up from Cleveland in the Coco Crisp deal. Just like the catching prospect we gave up, Kelly Shoppach, Bard is a non-threat offensively. His strength, according to Theo Epstein during the conference he gave after the trade, is his ability to nail runners and call a game. His defense is pretty sound (career .989 FP over 4 years) but his range is significantly higher than the league average, meaning there's a good chance he could learn the tricks and tools needed to turn that range into steadier defense. Given his age, Bard would be a great option to spell Varitek throughout the season, and his energy as a younger player would certainly be valuable in what is still a relatively elder clubhouse.

Final Prediction:
STARTER: Jason Varitek
BACKUP: Josh Bard