Bully4you wrote: ↑06 Jun 2025 04:46 am
I've noticed he's the best defensive option now.
Didn't realize he'd been this good.
Here's the data from SIS:
Pedro Pagés, Cardinals C
Pedro Pagés led all catchers with 8 Defensive Runs Saved in May. He entered the month with -2 Runs Saved for the season and finished it with 6 Runs Saved. Only Patrick Bailey (8) and Alejandro Kirk (7) have more for the season.
For the season, Pagés has added value in Stolen Base Runs Saved as well as our stats for pitch blocking and pitch. framing
He’s thrown out 8 of 32 baserunners attempting to steal (25%) and picked off two others. The average caught stealing rate for a catcher is 18%.
He’s successfully blocked 94% of potential wild pitches. The average block rate is typically around 91% or 92%.
Staff ace Sonny Gray seems to enjoy pitching to Pagés. Gray had six starts in May. His three scoreless ones featured 28 strikeouts and 3 walks. Pagés caught all three. For the season, Gray has a 2.32 ERA in 9 starts with Pagés catching. He’s allowed 14 runs in 14 2/3 innings with others catching.
Excellent post.
Confirms what those of us who understand this game have been saying for a long time.
It could not possibly be any more obvious the pitching staff and coaches trust Pages - and THAT settles the matter.
Now, to your question.
Is Pages the long-term solution?
He is the starting catcher until someone takes the job away.
One of the prospects may do so - but it won't be easy and won't be handed over.
In the current chapter of Cardinal baseball, the job belongs to Pages.
Someone needed to comment on Pages.
He's been terrific.
And with the offense being so good,
he doesn't need to hit the lights out.
He's handled the duties well and has
stabilized the position.
I think he will continue to improve.
Much to like about Pedro.
Run prevention is very important too.
rockondlouie wrote: ↑06 Jun 2025 08:33 am
1000000000% NO!
No to what.
The OP title ???
Let me paint you a future WS picture- Pallante on the mound pitching to Paige’s. Now that is a vision, haha, sorry couldn’t resist the temptation.
BDog you're.........
No more Mister Nice Guy
No more Mister Clean
No more Mister Nice Guy
I figured you could use some humor on this Friday morning. From Jackson Browne- “ do not remind me of my failures;I have not forgotten them.”
Great song. He is an incredible lyricist.
No doubt, my wife's favorite and now one of mine too!
Take it Easy
Looks like Pedro did pretty well for himself last night.
He's looking more and more like that long term option.
KABOOM.
Depends on the young catchers coming thru the system, they could make him expendable when he hits ARB time.
Either way lets hope he keeps improving at the plate.
If he does, then you could be right.
Worst case is he's building some good trade value if those kid catchers end up being the real deal.
I tell you; I really like this kid.
He's brought stability to a bad situation.
A couple of years ago we were hurting.
This kid to me is a keeper.
I have faith.
rockondlouie wrote: ↑06 Jun 2025 08:33 am
1000000000% NO!
No to what.
The OP title ???
Let me paint you a future WS picture- Pallante on the mound pitching to Paige’s. Now that is a vision, haha, sorry couldn’t resist the temptation.
BDog you're.........
No more Mister Nice Guy
No more Mister Clean
No more Mister Nice Guy
I figured you could use some humor on this Friday morning. From Jackson Browne- “ do not remind me of my failures;I have not forgotten them.”
Great song. He is an incredible lyricist.
No doubt, my wife's favorite and now one of mine too!
Take it Easy
Looks like Pedro did pretty well for himself last night.
He's looking more and more like that long term option.
KABOOM.
Depends on the young catchers coming thru the system, they could make him expendable when he hits ARB time.
Either way lets hope he keeps improving at the plate.
If he does, then you could be right.
Worst case is he's building some good trade value if those kid catchers end up being the real deal.
I tell you; I really like this kid.
He's brought stability to a bad situation.
A couple of years ago we were hurting.
This kid to me is a keeper.
I have faith.
No doubt he's doing a fine job handling the pitchers and his arm is well above league average.
But that .214 .255 .357 .612 slash puts him 30% below league average as a hitter, that's an issue.
I'm not in any hurry to move on from him (not even ARB eligible until 2027) UNLESS one of those kid catchers (Crooks, Bernal, Rodriguez) down below matches (or exceeds) his catching skills AND hits!
Let me paint you a future WS picture- Pallante on the mound pitching to Paige’s. Now that is a vision, haha, sorry couldn’t resist the temptation.
BDog you're.........
No more Mister Nice Guy
No more Mister Clean
No more Mister Nice Guy
I figured you could use some humor on this Friday morning. From Jackson Browne- “ do not remind me of my failures;I have not forgotten them.”
Great song. He is an incredible lyricist.
No doubt, my wife's favorite and now one of mine too!
Take it Easy
Looks like Pedro did pretty well for himself last night.
He's looking more and more like that long term option.
KABOOM.
Depends on the young catchers coming thru the system, they could make him expendable when he hits ARB time.
Either way lets hope he keeps improving at the plate.
If he does, then you could be right.
Worst case is he's building some good trade value if those kid catchers end up being the real deal.
I tell you; I really like this kid.
He's brought stability to a bad situation.
A couple of years ago we were hurting.
This kid to me is a keeper.
I have faith.
No doubt he's doing a fine job handling the pitchers and his arm is well above league average.
But that .214 .255 .357 .612 slash puts him 30% below league average as a hitter, that's an issue.
I'm not in any hurry to move on from him (not even ARB eligible until 2027) UNLESS one of those kid catchers (Crooks, Bernal, Rodriguez) down below matches (or exceeds) his catching skills AND hits!
And to your point, if any of those babybird catchers really start to swing a good stick, I'd rather them play a less demanding position. Maybe I've watched too much Cardinal ball for the past 35 years, but I'd really rather move a good hitting/average (even above average) fielding catcher elsewhere and have an absolute wall behind the plate, than the opposite. Especially if the offense is cooking like it should where you can handle a hitter like Pages behind the plate.
I know it's not popular to admit to many people nowadays, but games aren't played on paper.
Most teams have two starting catchers these days although the playing time may not quite be equal.
Teams have averaged about 560 innings so far this season.
Only 18 catchers have logged 336 innings so far, which would be 60% of their team's innings. Pages is at 349.
I like the majority catcher to be good defensively. Then if his batting spot comes up in a crucial situation late in the game, you can pinch hit for him and bring in the other catcher. We just can't have the 2nd catcher be as bad as Cruz, Knizner, Bennett, ...
