Any thoughts on JR Towles

by Shamus on Sep 28, 2007 1:52 AM EDT

I thought before the year that he would eventually make it to the bigs and it would be about a 50% chances that he could be an average catcher with significantly more athleticism. He started off like a snail and when Santangello failed a drug test it changed Towles life forever. Since then he has shot up from A+ to 1st string catcher for the month of September. He has played way over his head so far. And he only has about 9% of the at bats as most catchers. But the most interesting thing so far is that he has yet to strike out.

If you have seen him he is also about 9% the size of a normal catcher. Greg "The Rat" Zaun thinks Towles needs to hit the weights.

What do yall think of Towles?

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Wow

How many guys go through their first 29 ABs with no strikeouts?
Thats impressive.

In a more flukey way its also cool that he has more career MLB RBIs than hits

by nms on Sep 28, 2007 2:06 AM EDT reply actions

to be fair

it is 36ab

Make the world a better place. Punch Tim Purpura in the face.

by Shamus on Sep 28, 2007 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

A's drafted Towles 2 years in a row

bu obviously didnt sign. oh well, at least kurt suzuki is around

by rayver723 on Sep 28, 2007 3:40 AM EDT reply actions

A's drafted Towles 2 years in a row

bu obviously didnt sign. oh well, at least kurt suzuki is around

by rayver723 on Sep 28, 2007 3:40 AM EDT reply actions

Towles

Towles has made a career of taking advantage of opportunities.

I had noticed the strike out issue too. I watched JR in rookie ball and liked the way he approached the game.

I was surprised when he was picked for the futures game (where he K'd in his only at bat). However, he has gone from A+ to the MLB this season and has been impressive.

I understand keeping runners in check is the area he has the most to develop in still.

by Duman on Sep 28, 2007 9:12 AM EDT reply actions

Some info here...

http://www.minorleagueball.com/story/2007/9/21/103619/667

by cooper7d7 on Sep 28, 2007 9:13 AM EDT reply actions

Towles

As an Astros fan, I am inherently biased. And I know human beings look for "patterns" when they see them in the world, even when they don't actually "exist".

And I have not looked closely at his minor-league numbers (this is an off-the-cuff answer on a Friday night...I might as well be a guy named Sully in Boston after 6 beers...)

But, as an Astros fan, he (initially) reminds me of Bidge. He's too small and athletic to be a full-career C, and he's a guy who seems to rise to the occasion. He absolutely sucked (in a small sample) at Hi-A until Santangelo got caught juicing. But when the promotion came, he stepped up, and he's continued to do so as they've repeatedly (and VERY surprisingly) jumped him levels.

No, he's not a future HOF 2B, but he looks like our starter next year (TGINBA), until they find a long-term catcher and move him somewhere else...

Just a guess...

Joe

by joeficarra on Sep 28, 2007 10:05 PM EDT reply actions