How the White Sox are positioned at catcher
First in a series
Editor's note: As the countdown continues toward the April 6 opener for the White Sox, Daily Herald Sports Writer Scot Gregor will offer his analysis of each position on the team and the key issues facing the club this season.
Q: The Sox had such trouble throwing out runners last year. Any reason to believe it'll be any different this season?
Gregor: Unless they call pitchouts two or three times whenever a dangerous runner is on first base, probably not. A.J. Pierzynski had the lowest success rate (10.3 percent) among regular American League catchers in 2008. Backup Toby Hall (now with the Houston Astros) was even more hideous at 6.5 percent (3-for-46).
The Sox' pitching staff has got to be better at holding runners on and getting the ball to the plate quicker. Base runners stole 30 bases off Gavin Floyd last season, the highest total against any pitcher in the league, and were a laughable 16-for-17 on Octavio Dotel.
Q: Just who is Cole Armstrong and what can we expect from him this season? Any chance we'll see Tyler Flowers this year or is he in need of more seasoning?
Gregor: Manager Ozzie Guillen raved about Armstrong last spring while he was batting .625 (5-for-8) in five Cactus League games. This year, Armstrong is the big favorite to replace Hall as the Sox' reserve catcher. The 25-year-old has a strong throwing arm and batted .275 at Class AAA Charlotte last season after being promoted from Class AA Birmingham.
Flowers has attracted much more attention is the early days of training camp, for good reason. Acquired in the Javier Vazquez trade, he put up big numbers (17 HR, 88 RBI) in the minor leagues last season. But the big guy did his damage at Class A Myrtle Beach.
Look for the Sox to send Flowers to Birmingham to open the season and move him up to Charlotte later on. If he hits with similar authority against tougher competition while continuing to develop his defensive skills, the Sox could really have something as early as 2010.
Q: How has A.J. changed from when he first signed with the Sox. Is there anyone in the game with a higher baseball IQ? How do his teammates get along with him?
Gregor: A.J. realized his already dicey reputation really took a hit during his one forgettable season with the Giants in 2004. For the most part, he's toned it down during his stay with the White Sox. He still gets booed everywhere he plays, but Pierzynski is a workhorse catcher, he's a dangerous hitter and - most important - he plays to win.
It might be clubhouse legend, but A.J. supposedly scored a 1,500 on his SATs when he was prepping at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Fla. He claims not to remember, but good luck finding a smarter player in baseball.
Q: A.J. did pretty well at the top of the order. Does he stay there this season and beyond or do you see him dropping down in time. And speaking of time, how many more years will he be sporting White Sox' black?
Gregor: Ideally, Pierzynski drops back down to No. 6 or 7, where he belongs. He did a good job batting second last year after Orlando Cabrera was bumped up to the leadoff spot, but he doesn't have the speed or bunting ability you usually see at the top of the order. He is signed through 2011 and should be the regular catcher for at least two more years. But if Flowers blooms early, that could change.
Q: How much did Toby Hall's pie-to-the-face routine rile his teammates? Is that one of the reasons he's not around anymore?
Gregor: When Hall aggravated his bum shoulder last season while hitting Jermaine Dye with a "pie," that sealed his departure. Now that Hall is gone, here's hoping the Sox ban the childish stunt.
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