Christian Bethancourt's present defensive profile

[Braves1976]

http://chronicle.augusta.com/content...ensive-profile

This article by David Lee highlights a lot of the concerns I've had with Bethancourt.

[yeezus]

I do not get the love people have for this guy. He isn't elite defensively and can't hit.

[Tapate50]

I do not get the love people have for this guy. He isn't elite defensively and can't hit.

The article does not flatter him. It talks about sloppy footwork and poor framing for the most part.

He doesn't get any love around here so I'm not real sure what love you are referring to unless you mean prospect lists from 3-4 years ago. He is also far from a finished product as a backstop.

[NYCBrave]

The article does not flatter him. It talks about sloppy footwork and poor framing for the most part.

He doesn't get any love around here so I'm not real sure what love you are referring to unless you mean prospect lists from 3-4 years ago. He is also far from a finished product as a backstop.

Well his calling card was supposed to be elite defense, at least that's what we were lead to believe, since he had no bat.

[Tapate50]

Well his calling card was supposed to be elite defense, at least that's what we were lead to believe, since he had no bat.

I guess throughout the process his elite arm, and the term " elite defense" have been combined into one.

[Deester11]

I don't want to say I'm a CB expert, but I've watched him extensively since he was in Rookie Ball. Again, everyone told him he was the second coming of Benito Santiago. I watched him literally tell a pitcher (in my broken Spanglish dialect interpretation) don't worry about the runner on first base, he's got him. The guy took off and CB did throw him out by a mile....So he was lazy and relied on the "ARM" more than anything. He's learning though. I don't think he's as lost as people proclaim, nor do I think he's going to be Yadier Molina, but he'll be serviceable. Pitchers began to like to throw to him after some rough introduction.

Keep in mind this: Gattis is no catcher other than he's done it. Anyone remember the game where he and Teheran were essentially at odds and Teheran can be demonstrative so it shook him. Gattis tries hard. I give him that, but if nothing else, Bethancourt has very little to prove other than he's a backup or starter at the MLB level at this point. Framing pitches and calling games has always been a development point. As bad as you think he may be, he looks like Molina compared to Gattis.

[nsacpi]

Gattis' bat can carry his glove. I don't think Bethancourt's defense will make up for his bat. I don't mind his being given a shot given his age but I'm not optimistic.

[Deester11]

Gattis' bat can carry his glove. I don't think Bethancourt's defense will make up for his bat. I don't mind his being given a shot given his age but I'm not optimistic.

That's fair. Again, I'm just stating what I saw from CB. He's not the slug most proclaim, but it is what it is. Piazza made a living not being a good catcher......

[emk418]

I agree there are plenty of concerns with CB but I think it's that he has the tools to be an elite defensive catcher. His arm is special behind the plate and everything else can be worked on and improved.

[nsacpi]

If CB doesn't work as a catcher we can use him to further bolster our minor league pitching depth.

[Julio3000]

Did he get a TJ surgery that I didn't hear about?

Although, if we're really serious about stockpiling pitching, the kid playing short has a decent arm.

[nsacpi]

If Heyward had only agreed to give pitching a try...btw Freeman was highly reagarded as a pitcher in high school.

[bravebonebook]

That's fair. Again, I'm just stating what I saw from CB. He's not the slug most proclaim, but it is what it is. Piazza made a living not being a good catcher......

Piazza made a career out of mashing the ball and then not embarrassing himself behind the plate. This team can't have another hitter in the low 200's WITH little-to-no power UNLESS he is a whiz defnsively at his position (see Simmons, A.). If CB is mediocre with the bat (as predicted) AND mediocre as a catcher, then the Braves will also soon be shopping for a full-time starting catcher!

[nsacpi]

We do have Pierzynski.

[JohnAdcox]

If Heyward had only agreed to give pitching a try...btw Freeman was highly reagarded as a pitcher in high school.

He offered, from what I understand, but the Braves weren't interested because he wasn't coming off Tommy John.

[Braves1976]

If Heyward had only agreed to give pitching a try...btw Freeman was highly reagarded as a pitcher in high school.

Let's not forget we drafted Simmons as a pitcher but thankfully he talked us into giving him a shot at short first. Maybe he can close games on his off days at short. :)

[Braves1976]

We do have Pierzynski.

Didn't we sign him to make Bethancourt look great defensively? :)

[nsacpi]

I'm expecting a ton of grit maturity clutcness and veteran leadership from Pierzynski.

[Russ2dollas]

This! I'd like to see some braves comments on CB.

I didn't see an elite defender when I saw him last year. If he's not elite, why not use Gattis at Catcher. He's never going to be great, but our pitchers did ok with him back there. Gattis doesn't have a ton of catching experience so he could improve.

great arm, sloppy defender, that can't hit.........that's a once a week back up catcher. Not a guy you move Gattis to set up.

[NYCBrave]

Gattis' bat can carry his glove. I don't think Bethancourt's defense will make up for his bat. I don't mind his being given a shot given his age but I'm not optimistic.

In my opinion, the most important thing you can get out of a catcher is calling a good game and handling the pitching staff well.