RSS
Home
Who's on first? A multi-part look at the Giants by position
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
This is the first of a series of player reviews that examine the 2009 Giants by position. Let us start with a position that is of little concern for Giants brass and fans; catcher.
Big Money Molina has quietly worn the hat of clean up hitter, and it's fit, for the most part. Photo: sfgate.com
Catcher may be one of the few, if not only, positions that isn't surrounded by question marks for the Giants this off season. Bengie Molina has been one of the team’s brightest spots for the past two seasons, putting up all-star caliber numbers while playing exceptional defense and filling a significant role in crafting a young and talented pitching staff.
In 2008 Molina had one of the best seasons of his 11 year big league career.
Average: .292
RBI: 95*
HR: 16
2B: 33*
Games: 145*
AB: 530*
Hits: 155*
OPS: .767
Slugging: .445
* indicates career high.
What Molina does between the lines is impressive and of great value to the Giants, but it’s what he does in the clubhouse that draws respect from his teammates, coaches, and opponents. Unlike a past Giants’ back-stop who wouldn’t get off the massage table to discuss scouting reports, Molina is a cerebral addition to Bruce Bochy’s staff. Some evidence of this may be apparent in the new hardware that will soon be on display at 24 Willie Mays Plaza. While Tim Lincecum’s natural talent is phenomenal, Molina will deservedly get a slice of credit for harnessing the young right hander to a Cy Young award in his first full season.
Besides Lincecum, Matt Cain has also grown under Molina’s tutelage and Jonathan Sanchez made huge strides last season.
2009 will be an even more important year for Molina, as it's the final year of a three year deal he signed before the ’07 season. The Giants may be anxious to make way for 2008 NCAA’s Golden Spikes winner, Buster Posey, and Molina will want to make a big impact in order to up his value in next winter’s free agent market, or to enhance his trade value so he is attractive to a contender shall one come calling at next year’s mid-season.
Once again rely heavily on Molina to be a middle of the order run producer (not a role he’s best suited for), and to mind a still young and maturing staff. Molina’s duties next year will include: supplementing Lincecum and Cain’s talent with veteran guile and leadership; rehabilitating Noah Lowry, who missed the entire ’08 season; ensuring more progression from Sanchez and relievers Alex Hinshaw, Sergio Romo and Brian Wilson; as well as minimizing any further regression of Barry Zito.
But don’t worry, if there’s one gamer on the Giants' roster who can handle this type of workload, it’s Bengie.
How did Bengie Molina stack up against other catchers? Pretty well, actually
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
Tim Lincecum, Giants' manager Bruce Bochy, general manager Brian Sabean, pitching coach Dave Righetti and director of media relations Jim Moorehead …
WITH HIS DIMINUTIVE frame and unorthodox mechanics, Tim Lincecum has long been familiar with the role of the underdog. Again that was the role he …
- Claire Reclosado - SF Baseball
- Sam McPherson - Oakland Athletics
- Patrick Patterson - Raiders
- Samuel Lam - 49ers
- Mike Massa - Warriors
- Ryan Leong - Bay Area Sports Examiner
- James Bucci - SF Sports
- Ray Yocke - Oakland Sports
- Nikolas DeMordaunt - San Jose Sharks
- Rob Calonge - Cal Bears
- Dave Fowkes - Stanford Football
- Colin Seymour - SF Boxing
- Jake Curtis - Stanford Basketball
- Donald Lee - SF High School Sports
- Lee Hubbard - SF High School Boys Basketball
- Rob Fisher - San Jose Giants
- MLB Examiner Alex Brown
- MLB Examiner Tony DeMarco
- National Sports Examiner Paula Duffy
- Baseball America
- The Baseball Cube
- Baseball Musings
- Baseball Reflections
- Baseball Think Factory
- Fantasy Baseball Examiner
- Deadspin
- ESPN Page 2
- Fan Graphs Baseball Statistics
- KNBR 680
- The Press Democrat
- Roto World
- SABR.com
- Seamheads
- Sharapova's Thigh
- Sports Climax
- Soxaholix
