Chris Iannetta

by gashousegang on Nov 15, 2007 10:24 AM EST

I keep reading that the Rocks are looking at several catchers if Yorvit does not return. Kendall and Barrett are the two i see mentioned the most. Granted Iannetta could pull thru and beat out the ever declining Kendall. What happened to all the love for this kid. I never heard any of the broadcasters during the playoffs mention that Yorvit entered as the #2 but when the rookie struggled he took the job....does Chris Ianetta become another JD Closser and disappears into obscurity or is their still a chance this kid could be a solid major leager

Poll

Chris Iannetta becomes

one of the top 5 catchers in the league appearring in several all star games

13 votes

a career backup

10 votes

the next JD Closser a spring training invitee who maybe gets a cup of coffee in the bigs

4 votes

a solid starter comparable to a Yorvit Torrealba or John Buck...basically nothing flashy but good enough to merit a starting job

61 votes

working in sales by 2012

6 votes

I could care less

4 votes

98 votes | Poll has closed

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Don't think he'll be top 5 but he should be better than Torre and his 75 OPS+ this season.

by JD Sussman on Nov 15, 2007 10:27 AM EST reply actions

I'd say

somewhere in-between the 1st and 4th options. He'll be in the 2nd tier of catchers. Probably one of the top 5 in the NL, but not in the major leagues as a whole.

by BaseballBrain on Nov 15, 2007 11:53 AM EST reply actions

uh, yeah.

You give three different options for him sucking, but none for "good but not great." Why?

and boom goes the dynamite.

by Mean Dean on Nov 15, 2007 12:00 PM EST reply actions

i think i did

doesn't the comp to buck and yorvit equate to good not great

Frank Tanana is my all time favorite player and he was a member of VTTigers beloved team....my tribute to VTTigers

by gashousegang on Nov 15, 2007 12:15 PM EST up reply actions

no.

They are average starters at best. There are players who are above-average starters, but not perennial All-Stars.

and boom goes the dynamite.

by Mean Dean on Nov 15, 2007 12:31 PM EST up reply actions

point taken

i will do better next time

Frank Tanana is my all time favorite player and he was a member of VTTigers beloved team....my tribute to VTTigers

by gashousegang on Nov 15, 2007 12:46 PM EST up reply actions

Michael Barrett Jr.

Iannetta, to me, is a younger version of Barrett. I remember the Expos trying Barrett at 3B for an extended period of time because they were not very happy with his D behind the plate.

I think what happened to Iannetta in 2007 was that he still needs to work on his D, and when his bat disappointed in the early part of the season Hurdle basically gave up on him. IMO, if they sign Barrett it's a HUGE mistake. I can understand a Torrealba-type catcher, so that the Rox have one that is offensive-focused and one that is defensive-focused.

Given my choices, I'll take option 4. But I really think he'll be a little better than that if he gets a legit shot. I can see him posting several seasons like Barrett has over his career, which makes him not quite an All-Star, but definitely more than just a serviceable guy.

by guru4u on Nov 15, 2007 12:10 PM EST reply actions

Frustrating....

It's annoying that the Rockies seem to have given up on the idea of Iannetta as the starter already...he looked much better at the plate late in the year (after a stint with AAA Colorado Springs), and if given regular playing time, I have no doubts that he could at least perform at the level of present day Kendall (OPS-wise at least) or Yorvit. Maybe he doesn't 'handle the pitchers' as well as these other guys being mentioned, but how is a 24 year old catcher that's only had sporadic playing time supposed to do this? If I were the Mets, I'd try to trade for Iannetta and then platoon him with Castro 50/50 until either he proves he's not a mlb hitter (which I think is unlikely) or his offense becomes consistent enough to make him the starter outright.

by southboundpachyderm on Nov 15, 2007 1:43 PM EST reply actions

Wrist Surgery

Something worth mentioning is that he had surgery on his right hand last week. From Rotoworld:

Chris Iannetta underwent surgery to remove a bone spur from his right hand and will need 6-8 weeks to recover.

Might help explain some of his offensive struggles this year. I, for one, am still very optimistic.

by Guyute on Nov 15, 2007 6:21 PM EST reply actions

agreed

I thought he was going to be a bonafide stud this year. Especially in Col. I don't think its fair though to give up him at all. He still has plenty of time to prove himself.

by wildthang on Nov 15, 2007 7:23 PM EST up reply actions