The Tampa Bay Rays have been a by the numbers team. When to shift, on who to shift, should they let the starting pitcher only go through the batting order twice because the third time around he gets hammered, the Rays have been there and done that. So, why exactly would a numbers team trade for a catcher, Hank Conger, who has a severe Achilles Heel as a catcher, he can't throw base runners?
In 43 stealing attempts in 2015, baserunners reached base safety 42 times, though FIveEightyFive website says this, " By all accounts, the 27-year-old Conger is a good guy: He just won an award that says so. Conger is well-liked in the clubhouse,politically conscious and a master of memes." And he has pop in his bat. In 201 ABs last year, Conger hit 11 home runs, more than any Rays catcher.
As well, it's not like Conger's throwing isn't correctable. As FiveEightyFive noted, Conger got rid of the ball in 2.12s. The league avereage is 1.97s. In conjunction with that, when Conger did release the ball he threw it an average of 76.6 MPH. The MLB average was 79.4. Both are highly correctable with mechanical changes..However, recently, more responsibility has been put on the pitcher where steals are related (see here), making it less of a catching red flag. Pitch framing and staff management are more of an indication of the catcher's ability. Conger's lack of throwing people out last year had more to do with the Houston Astros' pitcher than it did Hank Conger's arm.
The Rays can provide Conger with the ultimate motivational tool. Because neither Rene Rivera and Curt Casali neither have a lock on the job, Conger has the chance to be the Rays starting catcher.
Tell us what you think abot Conger's acquisition. Do you like the directiion the Rays are going? Speak up Rays fans.
