A Backups Backup

When the Orioles realized Matt Weiters may be out for a while, or the season, they needed a veteran presence to support Caleb Joseph.  It cost the team reliever Troy Patton, but the experience Nick Hundley had behind the plate outweighed the loss.

Nick Hundley 2005 Bowman Draft & Prospects #BDP-90

Hundley is a better hitter than Joseph, but misses the mark behind the plate.  He has only cut down 14% of would be base stealers this season and is 27% for his career.  The catcher position is likely to platoon the entire year, going back and forth between Hundley, Joseph, Steve Clevenger and maybe some young Norfolk Tide. 

Is it bad that once players are called up mid season and I grab an autograph, I hope they fade away.  I am not looking to have to go after an Orioles Postcard of players that hang around for two months, make little impact, then disappear.  Make an impact and I will gladly hunt you down as an Oriole (not meant as a threat).

Back In The Swing Of Things

While I haven't been active blogging, I have been trying to organize the collection and my needs.  As roster changes and moves add names to the list, the effort is ever changing. 

I was able to discern many of my easier needs and decided to try and make some moves.  Looking at SCN I found rockinace had a few cards I could use.  That is usually the issue, I can use em, but nothing to go in return.  This was not the case. 

I was able to secure four new players and four upgrades.  All I had to send was:
Andre Dawson
Zack Britton
Kevin Correia
Mike Bordick
Dylan Bundy-
Alfredo Simon
Cesar Devarez

The card that first caught my eye was:

Caleb Joseph 2010 Bowman Prospects #BP-55

 Yep, a light hitting catcher charged with filling the shin guards of a perennial All-Star was the catalyst to a trade.  I just happened to be searching on the site for anything of Caleb and came across this one.  I do a lot of trading on SCN without looking at scans.  I don't know what I was expecting, but this was not the image I thought was showing up.

Caleb has been int he organization since being drafted in the 7th round in 2008.  Caleb made his debut on May 7, 2014 and then was thrust into starting duty four days later.  Matt Weiters' elbow injury has forced Caleb into a more prominent role than he was expecting.  He has performed admirably behind the plate throwing out 52% of base runners.  The batter's box is a different story.  Caleb has looked over matched at the plate at times, but has recently found some power. 

I'm not expecting Matt Weiters type production, but growth is necessary for Caleb yo stay in the big leagues.