6
2010
Rod Barajas Seizing The Moment
An article by Doug Branch
Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.
When Omar Minaya’s failed dalliance with Bengie Molina culminated in the late February signing of veteran backstop Rod Barajas, he hit on Black Jack, Number 21.
Barajas has not only provided long-distance service, from a previously power starved position, he should also be credited (and Henry Blanco) with gaining the trust of the young pitchers on the staff.
For a catcher, it’s all about the relationship he shares with the hurler. Can he motivate him-kick him or cajole him, and execute the game plan? Can he bring out the best and guide him through the many bumps in the road?
Conversely, can the pitcher have absolute confidence, in not only his pitch-calling, but receiving abilities? ”If I bounce the breaking ball can he block it?” That swirls often in the pitcher’s head.
(The less that runs through a pitcher’s mind the better chance at winning-its called, ”The “uncluttered mind”. Remove the road block named doubt and success follows.)
If you don’t think the new catching tandem hasn’t helped John Maine, Oliver Perez, and Mike Pelfrey immensely, you have been watching the American League too much. Think about the aforementioned trio in terms of personality; Maine’s bark (at himself) is harder than Mike Tyson bites on an ear of corn or flesh.
Perez is a pitch-by-pitch adventure, but when he can get in a groove and commands his repertoire, is capable of Monday night’s line: 6 innings, 6 hits, and 2 earned runs. The Mets will gleefully sign for that every fifth day.
Finally, his last start not withstanding (because the Phillies also torched Johan Santana) Big Pelf has been the Mets best starter this season, hands down.
By the way, Maine’s performance Tuesday night was his best of the year. The only noise maker a Brandon Phillips (love to have him at second base) first inning bomb. Nevertheless, the rest of his performance virtuoso; a four-hitter over six innings, and one earned run (and still kicking himself afterwords no doubt).
Getting back to the backstops. They have all nurtured the Mets pitchers, and don’t forget the lefty with the most upside-Jon Niese. Barajas’ lethal stick is a bonus.
His latest 9th inning blast was his team leading 7th, and kept the Mets out the extra frames that the Reds excel in. The drama was even kept to a dull roar when K-Rod greased the Little Red Machine to close shop.
After losing three straight, Hot Rod seized the moment and morphed into the catching version of the “stopper.” Say what you want about Minaya’s stewardship, signing Barajas was a stroke of blind luck.
So a season that looked to be dashed and trashed (sorry Clyde) two weeks ago has a modicum of optimism attached. The Phillies may be a powerhouse over the long haul, but the Mets can-and should contend for a Wild Card.
Barajas won a big pot on this road trip, but Minaya is the proverbial blind squirrel who found an acorn this winter, and 21 beats the house every time.
About the Author: Doug Branch
Doug has been sports writing since 1983. He first wrote about the Mets at spring training that year, and his first interviewee was surly catcher Ron Hodges. He currently writes for Mets Inside Pitch, among other magazines published by Scout Publishing-which is owned by Fox Sports. He began following the team during the Wes Westrum era, and redeemed many Borden milk coupons for free Saturday baseball. The night of Tom Seaver's imperfect game against the Cubs, he was in line to buy a ticket when the windows slammed shut and abject disappointment ensued.
14 Comments + Add Comment
Recent Comments
- Des: on Series Preview: Mets @ Pirates: Bayonne -- you never let a bad...
- jessep: on Series Preview: Mets @ Pirates: Mets 5th in the NL in batting...
- Bayonne Mets Fan: on Series Preview: Mets @ Pirates: Bobby Ojeda again on pre game ripping...
- Petey Pete: on On The Road With Petey Pete: New Britain, CT & The Binghamton Mets: Well I made it, I'm sitting in...
- stick: on Enough Is Enough, Send Ike Down Already: and making those simplifications/adjustments are exactly the...
MMO Live Chat
Recommended Links
Write Your Own Mets Post
Advertisement
Advertisement
We Appreciate Your Help
Affordable Graphic Design
LUCK? only to those who never understood a plan was obviously in place. How many pundits/blogheads skewered Omar for cornering the catcher market early? Certainly the best available guide for our talented but rudderless Enigmas was Molina, aka THE PRIMARY TARGET, since Omar was informed the entire staff wanted drastic change to the backstop crew, Omar snared every potential improvment available in Coste & Blanco before focusing on his primary, yet reluctant prize(remember this wasn’t Omar’s first flirtation with Bengie). the fact a Plan B was available can’t be dismissed as Luck; but the relative swiftness of still adding another HR hitter in Barajas at little relative expense, MUST be seen as more planned alternative than Ksmet. Why not use Coaste/Blanco/Santos as the backup to Molina if that’s all Barajas was. Bengie Molina popped 20HR last season to Barajas’ 19. Obviously Omar wanted more than Blanco’s 0hr in ’09, Coste’s 2Hr in ’09 & even Santos’ 7HR in ’09. he knew he needed double digit HR production & if not Bengie, than Rod would fit the requirement as both pitching guide & lineup lengthener! 7 TOTAL HR YTD FROM #8 HOLE! Who in NL has that?
LUCK?
I think the “luck” part was that Barajas was still available after the Molina thing fell through. If Barajas was signed elsewhere, we might’ve had Coste/Blanco/Santos. The “blind luck” is that Barajas (with 2 more, and the game-winner tonight) is outperforming so much. But I understand what you’re saying.
LUCK…SCHMUCK! Why is it when things go wrong(’09) it’s pisspoor decisionmaking; but going right is dismissed as LUCK? I, for one, bvelieve Barajas’ situation was being closely monitored, thus enabling Omar to negotiate firmly with his top choice. I would concede that the Barajas-Blanco tandem performing so closely up to expectations of a potential Molina-Blanco tandem, could be the fortunate hand of Providence(LUCK)
eVERYONE SEEMS TO FORGET this certainly was not Omar’s first dance with Bengie as they’d two-stepped previously when Omar had 2 bacjup alternatives in Hernandez & LoDuca.
He wasn’t gonna pay for Molina…its pretty simple. It was take the 4.5 million overpay we are about to hand you, or we will sign someone else.
I mean its a phenomenal story and a great pick, and the value is tremendous considering GMJ makes more the Barajas and GMJ is useless.
What we as Mets fans have to hope is – will Josh Thole come back around, or will Rod be our catcher next year as well? Chris Ianetta is still a possibility, and trading Barajas, however horrible for the clubhouse would give them a few years of a 27 yr old power-hitting catcher.
they aren’t dealing Barajas.
Thats just speculation on my part. gotta say something different then the rest sometimes. ha.
Sean y deal Rod? Thole’s not an answer until next yr. Blanco’s going to be 40 in August. Why not slide Barajas behind Josh for next yr & go with the tandem of Thole/Barajas. Does anyone know if Josh has gone back to non-chokeup abs in attempt to add pop? he seems, statistically to have reverted back to his initial nonproductive or eyepopping stats!
Im not a major proponent of dealing Rod at all – but honestly, if the Rockies don’t trade Chris Ianetta (he’s in the minors being paid MLB money) id be amazed. Thole can be the catcher of the future, but at his best he could hope to be Paul Loduca, with worse defensive skills.
Ianetta is no ace in the hole, but 2008 he hit 18 hr and .264 platooning with someone in 333 AB’s. he’s 27…the Mets could build around that. Im all for giving Thole a shot…but i really don’t feel bullish on calling him our catcher of the future.
Mark Malusis of WFAN was doing a segment on Geico Sportsnite on SNY after the post game. He was asked if the Mets missed Bengie Molina. He said of course they do, Molina is infinitely better than Barajas and has a .380 obp. He said the Mets would swap Barajas for Molina in a heartbeat. He said Barajas was barely a major league catcher too and that if not for the Mets he wouldnt be playing baseball right now.
Lisa, in my opinion Malusis has no more credibility than Jonas Schwartz, Eaman Mc or Adam Schein regarding Major League Baseball, I often suspect they are provided with perspectives along with talking points in support of what they’re told to say. There are dozens of contributors on this site alone who’s opinions warrant more respect.
As I’ve lived in Philly area, Atlanta area, Los Angeles area over my lifetime(60 yrs), I’ve concluded SNY is the absolute worst home team betwork in existance where every anti-Met perception is cultivated & orchestrated to discourage supporters in an attempt to disgust owner Fred so much as in desperation he turns it over to his son & walks away. BTW, his son, Jeff is the sole NYM board director with official sway @ SNY!
Interesting comparisons between Molina and Barajas
This year
Molina BA is .333 OBP is .409 2 hr 10 RBI, 13 runs
16 SBs in 19 attempts
Barajas BA is .231 OBP is .253 7 hr 14 RBI, 11 runs
6 SBs in 6 attempts
Molina lifetime has BA of .277 and OBP of .309
Look for Molina’s numbers to go down as the year progresses.
Okay Danny comparing numbers is fine. But you should also compare how much each player is being paid, where they are hitting in the line-up,Which diamonds are they hitting in?? I would like you to take into consideration the fact Molina hits in a ballpark condusive to right handed hitters.Where Barajas hits at Citifield where it is not known as a homer park.
Luck or not Barrajas is what the Mets and their staff needed.
I think that Omar did have a backup plan, contrary to other comments, when it came to catching and his signing early Coste, Blanco, etc, meant they were addressing this concern. That Mets wound up with Barrajas and not Molina, so what. Pitch calling was the primary focus along with defense and offense was ok but not the end all for filling this spot.
Barrajas is a good pickup and if he is with Mets next year then he can be a primary catcher while Thole plays equal amount of games until he gets better.
Comment by Ralph Kiner on one of his regular stints on TV was that back in the “day” catchers were not brought up until they spent 5-7 years in minors learning how to call games and work on defense.
I don’t know if Mets are willing to allow Thole to better learn the nuances of catching in the mis-guided notion to get another bat in lineup.
I am with you MF62, what or how much has Thole improved in calling games, defense, throwing, taking charge to make him an automatic for Mets next year?
I think Mets have to think in another direction for 2011 in case Thole is not ready. You don’t want your staff, which if it continues it’s improvement under Blanco and Barrajas, to take a step back with a rookie catcher, IMO.
[...] Rod Barajas Seizing The Moment (metsmerizedonline.com) [...]