Nope.
Ken Rosenthal has more on the hold-up, as today marks 18 days since the initial agreement without an official announcement. The problem is believed to be with one of Napoli’s hips. Rosenthal asks the big questions and, only here at Getting Blanked, Napoli answers.
Not even the good kind of hysteria, should such a thing exist. Already reeling from the news that deposed folk hero and twitchy weirdo Kevin Youkilis agreed the join the hated New York Yankees, Red Sox fans must now talk themselves off the ledge with news of delays in making the Mike Napoli signing official.
Worse yet, there isn’t actual “news” suggesting a reason for the delay. Instead it is just an information vacuum, greedily consuming all the hopes, fears, and insecurities of a fanbase still grappling with their status as last-place, also-ran ball club.
The Red Sox are now, officially, lousy with catchers. The Red Sox made news last month when they signed the acknowledged best backup catcher in the game, David Ross, away from the Braves and now add Mike Napoli to the roster of backstops. They already have vowel enthusiast Jarrod Saltalamacchia in their mix as well as highly rated prospect (but quickly ageing himself out of prospect status) Ryan Lavarnway ready to take reps behind the plate.
Too much catching is not a bad problem to have…ordinarily. But what is there to make of this collection of Red Sox receivers?
Although they added a catcher in David Ross over the weekend, the Boston Red Sox still remain interested in Mike Napoli. Rob Bradford of WEEI suggested in a Monday blog post that Napoli remains on the Red Sox radar, especially given the club’s need for a first baseman. The Red Sox still hold control over catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who has been linked to various trade rumours, and 25-year old Ryan Lavarnway as well. Ross inked a two-year $6.2 million deal over the weekend, but is by no means in line to catch on a full-time basis in 2013.
Bradford leans on Napoli’s limited experience at first base as major attraction for the Red Sox, although dreams of a return to his .320/.414/.631 triple-slash line of two seasons ago makes for quite the Green Monster porn. Napoli made 28 appearances at first base in 2012, as well as number of starts as the Rangers DH, but is reportedly interested in a team that will use him primarily behind the plate. Ross has appeared in 54, 59, 52 and 62 games in his four seasons with the Atlanta Braves, but provides strong defensive prowess and an adequate bat from the catcher position.
When Mike Napoli was traded by the Los Angeles Angels to the Toronto Blue Jays (who curiously moved him to the Texas Rangers) ahead of the 2011 season, he was a part-time catcher whose salary had risen too high, too quickly through arbitration for his team’s taste. Not helping matters was the general lack of support he received from Mike Scioscia and the rest of the Angels coaching staff who seemed more concern with his defensive inefficiencies than his offensive abilities.
After two seasons in Texas, and ahead of his first foray into free agency, he’s emerged as one of those rare catcher/first baseman/designated hitter utility players that’s not only useful to his team, but deserving of being mentioned in the same breath as Joe Mauer.
You could probably have worst things shaved and styled into your head than Mike Napoli’s likeness. For instance, I remember a New Year’s Eve party from my youth in which someone passed out and awoke to find his hair coiffured as a Mohawk, with the addition of a faux beard created with a Magnum marker.
Thanks to Matt Clapp from The Score’s Buzz section, we can see the actual photo this was taken from:
Not a moment of Mike Napoli’s post-season goes by without somebody rushing to use his success as a reason to kick Mike Scioscia. Which, in and of itself, isn’t really a bad thing. Mike Scoiscia has become an avatar for knowledge and baseball The Right Way in spite of, let’s say, ample evidence to the contrary.
Many in the media love to point out the success of Scoiscia’s Angels, teams which run and gun and steal bases and put pressure on the defense. Often forgotten is the impressive draft record and oodles of money spent to re-load talent all around the diamond. Not to mention lording over a four team division for years on end.
Much of the Scioscia-criticism comes back to one man – Jeff Mathis. Mathis is one of the worst offensive players in baseball history yet continually receives playing time. Lots of playing time. Often at the expense of Napoli with the nebulous definition of catcher’s defense the explanation.
Away from Scioscia’s keen oversight, Mike Napoli thrived in Texas. How could this be? Scioscia is the catching guru?! With loads of criticism and snark headed his way, Scioscia took to the ESPN airwaves to channel his cousin Karl and declare himself sick of this. Not unlike Mr. Welzein, Scioscia misses a few key points.
