From the Tribune (as Lonnie posted on MC):
http://blog.thenewstribune.com/mariners/2010/02/22/bradley-arrives-and-g...
Veteran catcher Josh Bard is impressed enough with rookie Adam Moore’s swing to bring this up: “They used to ask Stan Musial why he always smiled, and he’d say ‘You’d smile too, if you knew you were going to hit .300.’ That’s Adam this year. He’s going to hit .300.”
That's some high praise from the journeyman. When we drafted Moore I was curious, because we had Clement - but looking closer it was another example of why I was annoyed on draft day that we took a catcher with the #3 pick in the draft. I'm glad we seem to be getting some use out of one of our big, strapping "offensive" catcher selections - just don't call Moore that to his face.
Bard sure seems to think he's competing for the right to back up Adam Moore though, and I like the sound of that.
As for a different catcher, also from the Trib:
...on Saturday, (Steve Baron) caught Felix in the bullpen.
"He asked to catch him. The kid can catch," said manager Don Wakamatsu, a former catcher. " To think that he’s a year out of high school, it’s amazing.
"You watch the guy catch and you see a belief system. Sometimes it gets broken as they go along, but he’s a pretty confident kid. He’s a strong kid, much stronger than I envisioned, especially right out of high school. He’s got great leg strength. But he’s got real soft hands and a presence about him. He’s not intimidated by any means."
I really, really hope Baron can learn how to hit. Everyone seems to be stunned at how good he is behind the plate as a teenager, but it won't matter if he can't put wood on a ball.
Still, he's got time. We have other catchers that should be taking care of business for the near future.
~G