Can anyone explain to me what the knock on Napoli is? His entire career all i've ever heard is "he's not a complete catcher". Well what the f*** does that mean?

Here's what I've seen thus far when Napoli catches: He can hit well, he has a decent arm. Good awareness. He keeps balls in the dirt. He can frame pitches. He appears to call a decent game. What else do you need from a catcher? Even coming up w the angels they always complained that he wasnt a "complete" catcher. Is this a MaxRam situation where Napoli struggles learning other batters and thus isnt trusted to call a good game? Or does he just weard down easily and cant handle the everyday grind of a season?

Yall've seen my posts and you know how i feel about YT and his ability to call a game. Every game I watch napoli catch, the pitchers seem to be in more control, they handle the game better, throw crisper pitches, napoli can frame a pitch better. I mean when comparing to YT this could be a "in the land of the blind the man with one eye is king" deal.

I'm just wondering what the issue is, because the stigma appears to have even followed him to TX. How often does he catch? 20-25% if that? however it appears that we play better and win more games when he does.

I'm just wondering if theres something i dont know about, or i'm overlooking. What is this incomplete catcher stigma of Mike Napoli? i know its a small sample size.... but to me, he appears to have it all.

Would love to see Napoli become the starting catcher with YT getting to catch 2-3 days a week. I wouldn't mind trading YT at this point for bullpen/starting pitcher help and bringing up Teagarden.

Totally agree with Eddie again. Teagarden would be an excellent backup catcher. Why is it taking so long for the front office to figure this one out?

Whenever the front office seems to be making an obvious error, I usually attribute it to the existence of data unknown to me. JD is a smart guy, and he's come a long, long way since he started as GM. If he hasn't recommended to Wash that Napoli should be an everyday catcher, then there's probably a reason for that.

For example, what if Napoli's record is simply inflated because he catches the Ranger's better pitchers? or maybe his record is inflated because Torrealba is chosen to start the harder games, so Napoli preys on weak competition?

Why not ask an Angels fan about his catching abilities? There's a reason they platooned him with Jeff Mathis despite Mathis being a horrible hitter.

Angels fans hate Mathis and most hate that he was kept while Napoli was le go. Its also known that Napoli and the Angels manager did not get along very well...

The point is they couldn't take Napoli's defense full-time because it was atrocious so even though Mathis is a horrible hitter they had to play him a lot because he offered some semblance of defense.

Should have included this in my last post:

http://www.halosheaven.com/2009/11/22/1169166/mike-napoli-ranked-worst-defensive

How do his defensive numbers rank this year?.....

From what I've seen thus far from Napoli, there is no clear indication that he is an incomplete catcher. Sure he's not spectacular behind the dish, but I have not noticed any large defensive short-comings and amongst all other things, whenever Napoli is starting at catcher, the pitchers seem to respond well and seem more focused as compared to Torrealba's games. The question comes down to this: In game 1 of the ALDS, who would you rather have starting behind the plate? I'd take Mike Napoli without any hesitation.

Thank you Mike G. thats exactly what i'm saying. Unless we can bring in anybody better right now they need to GOING FORWARD, fully devote, and name napoli the starting catcher. The pitchers just respond to him better and like i said. i just dont understand how he got this stigma he looks great. granted its a small sample size. Kristen mentioned him and soscia didnt get along, soscia was a catcher... he's hard on his catchers. maybe napoli needed the change of scenery and this is a fresh start. to me.... before i insisted on making a trade for a catcher i'd like to see what he could do with about 80% plate time up til the deadline. send YT to the giants. and i'd suck it up with TT as the back up. there's gotta be someone in AAA we could bring up as well, who was teh guy that played like 3 games last year. he was a one series call up, but did decent.... i just think right now napoli has more to bring to the table than YT, and honestly i think the pitchers get a little more pumped with Naps behind the plate. we'll see

Maybe it's just because he's too sexy.....

its all about the davinci mullet

To be fair, the rangers have won a few games with YT behind the plate, since I posted earlier in the week that they were 27-30 with Torrealba catching. Without double checking the numbers I believe that the rangers are now 30-30 with Torrealba catching and 19-11 with Napoli.

For those of you sayIng Teagarden would be a good backup, just remember you may as well have your pitcher hitting at that point.

I would like to see Napoli in a full time job.
The only thing about him though.... when he goes baaaad he goes real baaaaad
If he could just be a little more consistent I think Wash will play him more

Napoli is a streak hitter... as about 95% of MLB Players.
The team can carry a defensive staple, as a catcher. He's
shown, that he calls a good game. Mobil behind plate, with
an adequate arm. When he's HOT w/bat, he platoons at 1B/DH.
100 games behind plate, is more than enough for ANY catcher.

I think Hubz is right - Napoli looks great when he's streaking, but he'll slump on you, too. Ideally, he's your 80% DH, 20% C. Since Mike's around, Napoli's not going to get that many DH at bats, so you gotta C him more, and some 1B to mix in. I like Napoli, though. He makes the lineup pretty fierce when he's on a streak.

Haven't heard much talk about it, but what about the resurgence of the Angels? Good thing we are winning now too, or we'd be about 5 games behind right now. It's troublesome...

Yea WWJDD, seems like a lot a Rangers' fans have underestimated the Angels for most of the year. They aren't going away and I think it's going to be a nail biter until the end . It will be really interesting to watch what we (and they) do at the trade deadline this year.

Treanor, and I don't mean Misty May.