Fact: The Yankees have never had a dynasty without a HOME GROWN catcher.
Look it up.
Bill Dickey. Yogi Berra. Elston Howard. Thurman Munson. Jorge Posada.
Home grown.
The wretched 1960s and 1980s? Matt Nokeses and Ron Hasseys.
This was one of the reasons why the trade of Dioneer Navarro seemed such a disaster. You don't want to give away the home grown, all-star catcher than might anchor your next boom period.
Everything considered, yesterday's news that Joe Mauer, age 27, has signed an 8-year, $184 million contract with the Twins -- is good for us.
Of course, he won't go the full eight years with Minnesota. One bad season, one injury, or one Twins' collapse, and the cheapskate franchise will peddle him to anybody that comes calling. There's no bigger wheeler-dealer in baseball than a small market team with a big market salary, and once Mauer stumbles, they'll blame him. So in four years, he might come on the market.
By then, Jesus Montero or Austin Romine must have taken the spot.
If he can catch, Jesus could be an all-star catcher.
Romine can catch, but he's not necessarily a cleanup hitter.
In four years, Jesus is 25, Austin is 26 -- top of their games.
Fact is, we have a ton of catchers in the minors. It's our best position, by far. Most will fizzle out. But at least now we don't have Joe Mauer towering over them.
The best high always comes from home-grown.
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1 comment:
Jesus can do anything if his head doesn't get too big.
There is only one foundry in the Western World which can still make a face mask large enough to fit him.
It weighs 74 pounds if made with teflon, but only 33 if we make it from a stealth bomber.
Can you imagine if Jesus were a relief pitcher?
We could say, "Jesus Saves!!!"
Now, we can only say, " Jesus has a very large head which is difficult to turn."
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