Is this an acceptable statistical season for a Mariner catcher?

[wazzu31]

1996 Top 100 MLB Prospects:

#23 Jose Cruz Jr
#51 Jason Varitek
#89 Desi Relaford

I love prospect lists.

I was in 9th grade when this one went down, I just remember being upset they dealt a prospect who's upside was at least "a 2" for a reliever. Not a second in my mind thought about a catcher because they had Dan Wilson. But I was young and thought a bunch of those guys would MLB studs. Looking back on how bad the Mariners pen must have been that traded so many highly rated prospects for three crappy relievers in Slocumb, Tomlin and Spojerkic or however you spell it.

 

[SeattleCoug]

I almost went with Jeff Clement at #2...

Bavasi agrees

 

[AceKeptic]

Acceptable by the fans' terms? Yes.

Acceptable by Servais' terms? Hell no; it sets too high a standard.

 

[seahawksfan234]

Bumping this thread. Zunino is actually putting together a good season. I find that quite strange to say.

He's hitting .267/.346/.578 for a .924 OPS and 23 HRs with 56 RBIs in 87 games since being called up from the minors. Over his last 157 games going back to last year, he has 32 HRs with 81 RBIs. Not bad.

Is this convincing enough for ya'll to go forward with Zunino? Has he seriously made adjustments, or is this just an extended hot streak? He's a difficult situation because he has been so bad for so long it's weird to see him finally put together the talent we all knew he had.

 

[seahawksfan234]

I think the 23 HRs that Zunino has right now may be a record for a Mariners catcher in a season?

I don't believe that Kenji, Wilson, Valle, or Olivo ever hit 20+ HRs for us.

 

[unlvmariners]

Bumping this thread. Zunino is actually putting together a good season. I find that quite strange to say.

He's hitting .267/.346/.578 for a .924 OPS and 23 HRs with 56 RBIs in 87 games since being called up from the minors. Over his last 157 games going back to last year, he has 32 HRs with 81 RBIs. Not bad.

Is this convincing enough for ya'll to go forward with Zunino? Has he seriously made adjustments, or is this just an extended hot streak? He's a difficult situation because he has been so bad for so long it's weird to see him finally put together the talent we all knew he had.

Probably a little of both to be honest. He is having a nice season though, very good to see.

 

[Tapey]

I think the 23 HRs that Zunino has right now may be a record for a Mariners catcher in a season?

I don't believe that Kenji, Wilson, Valle, or Olivo ever hit 20+ HRs for us.

With 23 he actually broke his own record from a few years back

 

[ehwq]

Pretty crazy Zunino's got the 6th best WAR for a catcher so far with a 2.8 while Sanchez and Posey lead the way with a 3.8.

He just might pan out after all.

 

[SeattleCoug]

 

[wazzu31]

If Zunino can go for a full season and hit .225-.235 he could just stumble into 25 HR's. Just glad he has looked like he turned a corner where he isn't an easy out. It's rare you can get a non performance enhanced catcher who is good at offense and defense or overly rated because he plays in Boston or surrounded by the Big Red Machine.

 

[seahawksfan234]

If Zunino can go for a full season and hit .225-.235 he could just stumble into 25 HR's. Just glad he has looked like he turned a corner where he isn't an easy out. It's rare you can get a non performance enhanced catcher who is good at offense and defense or overly rated because he plays in Boston or surrounded by the Big Red Machine.

The nice thing about Zunino is even when he struggles he's still good behind the plate. I'm hoping he can build on this performance going into next year.