No More Pillow Pet Behind The Plate
July 14th, 2016
The Rays’ Barney Fife will go from Tampa Bay to Tobacco Road.
In a move that should surprise no one, catcher Hank Conger was demoted to Triple-A Durham this week.
‘You’ll remember there was much handwringing over his addition in the offseason after he threw out just one potential base stealer in 43 attempts last year with the Astros.
Conger has come as advertised. He hasn’t been as horrible as that 1-for-43 clip, but he has thrown out only eight in 43 attempts this season. That’s unacceptable.
Whenever Conger is behind the plate, the Rays might as well pass out ski masks and moneybags at first base.
Joe would like to see Conger become more than a pillow pet behind home plate, but it’s hard to envision a Hallelujah moment happening. Conger’s defensive disaster would be easier to stomach if he was a Babe Ruth in the batter’s box, but he’s hitting .194 with three home runs and 10 RBIs.
What justifies him earning a major-league paycheck? Nothing.
The Conger misstep is the latest miserable chapter in the Rays’ horror story with catchers. Joe understands Johnny Bench-type players don’t fall out of the sky, but it’s like Tampa Bay is allergic to quality catching talent.
Adios, Conger.
July 14th, 2016 at 2:36 pm
Now it’s time to trade Desmond Jennings to Toronto where he hits like Babe Ruth. Jays must have a multitude of talent in the minors.
Route 44
July 14th, 2016 at 3:53 pm
This smelled from the very first I heard of it. Getting a catcher that was 1 for 43 in throwing out batters for his prior team. THAT alone should have put the Kabosh on the deal. Memo to the front office: This team has to be built on pitching AND defense ! We have the lowest payroll in all of baseball. You simply CAN’T have a sieve behind the plate who can’t throw out runners stealing second. Why is this so hard for you to understand ??? Get some adults in there !
July 15th, 2016 at 12:17 am
The Buster Posey curse is no joke!!
July 15th, 2016 at 12:42 pm
I can not understand why the Rays kept Conger and sent Rene Rivera out and let the Mets scoop him up. Granted Rivera could not hit higher than 0.165 but at least he cut down a fair % of basestealers and called a good game behind the plate where the starters usually did not allow a crooked number in one of the first 2 innings like Conger has. Simply another bonehead move by the front office!
July 15th, 2016 at 3:42 pm
What ever happened to JP Arencibia?! He has always shown WAY more potential behind, and AT, the plate than pretty much anyone else we’ve had grace this roster in some time…I still remember listening to the game on the radio when he put on his own Home Run Derby against us–surely that talent hasn’t all suddenly vanished…