Jeez, Miguel Olivo turns thirty in July. And here I was thinking of him as a young guy still.

You could certainly do worse than him as your backup catcher.

Well I guess it's good to have a quality backup catcher in case your starter goes down. I wasn't too excited about Tupman or Philipps or whichever one was left as the backup catcher. I just hope Hillman doesn't give him all of LaRue's at bats (which really should have been Buck's at bats in the first place)

And here I was thinking of him as a young guy still.

My first thought was, "At least someone is still burning a Miguel Olivo potential-candle."

Why aren't there more defensive substitutions at catcher? Wouldn't it make some sense for the backup catcher to talk to the top relief pitchers and scout them for the first few innings, see what's working and not working on that particular day, then come in for the 8th and 9th as a defensive sub? I feel like a catcher and closer could form a really good relationship that way and learn each other especially well.

This signing reaffirms the Royals' commitment to losing. Olivo would be a poor addition to the 1939 Browns.

This signing reaffirms the Royals' commitment to losing. Olivo would be a poor addition to the 1939 Browns.

How is signing Olivo as a backup catcher reaffirming of the Royals commitement to losing? I mean, why this move especially?

Yes, please do explain why signing a backup catcher reaffirms our commitment to losing. I'm curious who else should be backing up (or replacing) Buck.

#4: Teams are worried about having the backup get hurt in such a situation, since they'd then have to use a non-catcher behind the plate (assuming they don't carry three on the 25-man, or pull some crazy double-switch to keep the primary in the game at another position).

Does Kansas City have any real chance next year?

They sure are acting like they do.

Olivo would be a poor addition to the 1939 Browns.

The '39 Browns had backup catchers who put up an OPS+ of 59 and 39. Olivo's at 76 for his career. If you ignore the whole pre-Robinson wrong skin color thing, Olivo would've been great in St Louis. Hell, I might have started him over Joe Glenn, though that team needed base runners more than it needed power.

I think it was Steven Goldman who wrote about Joe Torre's non-usage of his backup catcher in close games as covering his a$$ in case someone pops out from the clubhouse and sedates the primary catcher with a blowdart. Made me giggle.

Does Kansas City have any real chance next year?

From a year ago, take out Kansas City and enter Colorado.

Just preparing us for the Spring Training threads where everyone has a chance, well except Pittsburgh.

I think it was Steven Goldman who wrote about Joe Torre's non-usage of his backup catcher in close games as covering his a$$ in case someone pops out from the clubhouse and sedates the primary catcher with a blowdart.

I'm surprised someone said that about Joe because for all his other flaws, he was never shy about using Posada as a PH when he was getting a day off, and also not espcially shy about using a PR for Jorge.

I've heard Red Sox fans complain endlessly around here, however, that if Varitek is getting a day off, he's getting a day off by God, come hell or high water.

When your backup is as offensively capable as Doug MiraSmelli, that's how it goes.

Yes, please do explain why signing a backup catcher reaffirms our commitment to losing. I'm curious who else should be backing up (or replacing) Buck.

As an Angels fan, BHW is probably remembering Olivo's time in Seattle, where he looked completely out of his depth, both on offense and defense. He probably hasn't watched him much since, and doesn't realise that Olivo has become merely mediocre in the interim.

Meh. Not a huge deal. I kinda wanted to see what Tupman can do - he has terrific BB-K numbers in the minors, but I don't know what his defense is like, and that's probably more important. Olivo is probably a better overall hitter, although I still think Tupman could out OBA him.

Hopefully Hillman will stick with Buck five days a week.

I hardly see how a backup catcher move can be seen as a commitment to losing. Pretty much every team in baseball has a schlub backing up their primary backstop.

How is signing Olivo as a backup catcher reaffirming of the Royals commitement to losing? I mean, why this move especially?

JRE nailed it ... when Olivo was with the Mariners, he was the absolute worst major league player I've seen in my life. This is not an exaggeration or a joke. He was that bad. Olivo's been a punchline of mine ever since. (Obviously the Browns line above was something of a joke.)

I knew that he had gone somewhere else and done well ... San Diego. I see that his last two years have not been historically terrible, as he's re-found some pop. There are probably worse choices for backup catcher, but I wouldn't want him on my team.