Three Catchers for Playoffs?

ALB123 · 07-21-2020, 06:00 PM

What are your thoughts about playoff rosters and catchers? Always go with 3? Or roll the dice with 2?

I've lost catchers in the regular season before, but all I had to do is call up someone from AAA and I was okay. I just won the 1990 AL East on Game #161 and in the process, I lost my starting CF, SS & my best RP Set-Up guy. Plus, I have a couple of players that suffered multiple leg & ankle problems through September. So, I'm looking to squeeze as much replacement talent onto my Playoff 25 man roster. I don't have much and the 3rd catcher slot could be another utility player.

Am I tempting fate with the Baseball Gods? They have blessed me recently, but there is always a price to pay for their help and they always seem to collect at the worst possible time.

Advice?

pgjocki · 07-21-2020, 07:16 PM

Ouch, some bad luck there.

I've never had 3 catcher's on my 25 man roster ever, and usually only have 3 catchers on the 40 man total.

Honestly if I lost my starting CF and SS right before the playoffs getting a 3rd catcher would be the last priority and I might just sim and start the offseason.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Rain King · 07-21-2020, 07:24 PM

It isn't worth having a 3rd catcher unless the backup catcher is someone you want to use on a regular basis (i.e. if he is a top pinch hitter or can play other positions well). Otherwise, the backup is your 25th man and you don't use him unless the starter gets injured.

Brad K · 07-21-2020, 07:40 PM

I usually go with two but when I go with three I cut a Pitcher not a position player. However I don't play much past 2000 so this may not apply to modern baseball.

CBeisbol · 07-21-2020, 09:42 PM

Put me with the consensus. I (almost) never use 3.

Now, if I have a catcher who, say, is like a 120 wRC+ (i know you know what that means now) player or better, I do try and find someone who has some latent catcher ratings so I can use the other catcher at DH or 1B more often.

EDIT
You could also do it if your catchers were extraordinarily weak hitters. You'd want to pinch hit for them more often, so, a third player who could catch would have extra value

BBGiovanni · 07-21-2020, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain King

It isn't worth having a 3rd catcher unless the backup catcher is someone you want to use on a regular basis (i.e. if he is a top pinch hitter or can play other positions well). Otherwise, the backup is your 25th man and you don't use him unless the starter gets injured.

This is it; assuming you are playing 2020 MLB games most catchers are pretty crummy, and it's bad enough you have to spend a roster spot on one backup, much less two. You'll get more mileage out of Swiss Army Knife type guys (say Marwin Gonzalez) or even a designated pinch-runner/defense type. And those guys will probably hit no worse than your 5th wheel catcher.

Also, I assume you realize that if a catcher is injured you can add a replacement to your 26 man roster. It won"t help you in a game where 2 C are injured, But as long as you have some humdrum C on your 40 man you can add him the next game.

ALB123 · 07-22-2020, 04:22 AM

Ooops! I must have forgotten to mention that I am entering the 1990 AL League Championship Series. So, it's not exactly today's style of play.

Thanks for all the great advice, everyone. It looks like I'll be starting the Playoffs today with 2 active catchers. I do have a 3rd on my 40-man that is Playoff Eligible and I always forget I could add him as an injury replacement, if such a situation arises. Someone on Reddit pointed out that they believe OOTP needs to add a little more realism to catchers defensively. Like, foul balls which make catchers sit out the rest of the game, or whatever other little issues catchers deal with.

Unfortunately, my MLB/AAA catchers all had ho-hum seasons. I wouldn't want any of them pinch hitting, if I could help it.

My MLB starting catcher was a Top 10 MVP candidate until the last two seasons. Thankfully, they are all really good to awesome on the defensive end.

thehef · 07-22-2020, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBeisbol

You could also do it if your catchers were extraordinarily weak hitters. You'd want to pinch hit for them more often, so, a third player who could catch would have extra value

This ^^^, and the other scenario would be like the '77 & '78 Dodgers:

- In 77, veteran Jerry Grote was their 3rd catcher (behind starter Steve Yeager and lefty-hitting backup Johnny Oates); Grote also could play 3rd base and had pinch-hit value.

- in 78, the Dodgers actually brought FOUR catchers to the postseason. In addition to Yeager and Oates, there was Joe Ferguson (who could also play the corner OF spots), and Grote. (All four spent time behind the dish in the 78 World Series, btw.)

07-21-2020, 07:16 PM	#2
pgjocki All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Maryland - just outside DC Posts: 1,590	Ouch, some bad luck there. I've never had 3 catcher's on my 25 man roster ever, and usually only have 3 catchers on the 40 man total. Honestly if I lost my starting CF and SS right before the playoffs getting a 3rd catcher would be the last priority and I might just sim and start the offseason. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk __________________ - - - World Series championships: 1926, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1967, 1982, 2006, 2011

07-21-2020, 09:42 PM	#5
CBeisbol Banned Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Ban land in 3...2... Posts: 2,943	Put me with the consensus. I (almost) never use 3. Now, if I have a catcher who, say, is like a 120 wRC+ (i know you know what that means now) player or better, I do try and find someone who has some latent catcher ratings so I can use the other catcher at DH or 1B more often. EDIT You could also do it if your catchers were extraordinarily weak hitters. You'd want to pinch hit for them more often, so, a third player who could catch would have extra value Last edited by CBeisbol; 07-21-2020 at 09:44 PM.

07-22-2020, 04:22 AM	#7
ALB123 All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 638	Ooops! I must have forgotten to mention that I am entering the 1990 AL League Championship Series. So, it's not exactly today's style of play. Thanks for all the great advice, everyone. It looks like I'll be starting the Playoffs today with 2 active catchers. I do have a 3rd on my 40-man that is Playoff Eligible and I always forget I could add him as an injury replacement, if such a situation arises. Someone on Reddit pointed out that they believe OOTP needs to add a little more realism to catchers defensively. Like, foul balls which make catchers sit out the rest of the game, or whatever other little issues catchers deal with. Unfortunately, my MLB/AAA catchers all had ho-hum seasons. I wouldn't want any of them pinch hitting, if I could help it. My MLB starting catcher was a Top 10 MVP candidate until the last two seasons. Thankfully, they are all really good to awesome on the defensive end. __________________ "I'm on the side that's always lost against the side of Heaven. I'm on the side of snake-eyes tossed against the side of seven" - Leonard Cohen "The Captain"

07-21-2020, 06:00 PM	#1
ALB123 All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 638	Three Catchers for Playoffs? What are your thoughts about playoff rosters and catchers? Always go with 3? Or roll the dice with 2? I've lost catchers in the regular season before, but all I had to do is call up someone from AAA and I was okay. I just won the 1990 AL East on Game #161 and in the process, I lost my starting CF, SS & my best RP Set-Up guy. Plus, I have a couple of players that suffered multiple leg & ankle problems through September. So, I'm looking to squeeze as much replacement talent onto my Playoff 25 man roster. I don't have much and the 3rd catcher slot could be another utility player. Am I tempting fate with the Baseball Gods? They have blessed me recently, but there is always a price to pay for their help and they always seem to collect at the worst possible time. Advice? __________________ "I'm on the side that's always lost against the side of Heaven. I'm on the side of snake-eyes tossed against the side of seven" - Leonard Cohen "The Captain"

07-21-2020, 07:24 PM	#3
Rain King Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 3,120 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	It isn't worth having a 3rd catcher unless the backup catcher is someone you want to use on a regular basis (i.e. if he is a top pinch hitter or can play other positions well). Otherwise, the backup is your 25th man and you don't use him unless the starter gets injured.

07-21-2020, 07:40 PM	#4
Brad K Banned Join Date: May 2016 Location: St Petersburg Florida USA Posts: 6,693 Infractions: 0/2 (4)	I usually go with two but when I go with three I cut a Pitcher not a position player. However I don't play much past 2000 so this may not apply to modern baseball.