SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — On the primary day of spring coaching, Buster Posey made it some extent to speak with Patrick Bailey — one Gold Glove catcher to a different. The Giants received three World Collection titles in 5 years due largely to Posey’s skill to guide a pitching employees. Posey needed to let Bailey know that his major duty was to do the identical.
“It’s one of those things that’s really hard to specifically hard to put your finger on because it can change from day to day,” Posey stated. “As much as anything, it’s understanding all of your pitchers’ personalities, being able to read the room, knowing when it’s time to push a little bit, knowing when it’s time to back off. It doesn’t really ever stop.”
The power to information a crew’s starters and relievers will doubtless perpetually stay within the area of the unquantifiable. That stated, Bailey received the primary Gold Glove of his profession this previous offseason by placing collectively a formidable statistical résumé.
Bailey not solely led all catchers in defensive runs saved (20) and catcher framing runs (16), however he led all defenders in fielding run worth (22). His tied J.T. Realmuto and Korey Lee for the most effective pop time in baseball (1.85 seconds) and completed second in caught stealing above common (9).
“These guys all have a ton of faith in him,” stated supervisor Bob Melvin. “There’s some guys that just rely on what he’s calling — and some veteran guys too. As a younger catcher, it’s kind of rare. There’s a lot of information now for guys to be up to speed, but he’s always up to speed. He takes it very seriously. You come into another year where you’re the starting catcher, you win a Gold Glove and something to kind of puff your chest out and take it to the next level.”
For all his defensive excellence, Bailey’s season was equally outlined by one other two-and-a-half months of second-half struggles.
Previous to the All-Star Break, Bailey had a .283 batting common and .784 OPS with seven house runs, being snubbed from the Midsummer Basic regardless of main all catchers in WAR (3.8). Within the second half, against this, Bailey had a .170 batting common and .434 OPS with one lone house run. Throughout August, particularly, Bailey had a slash line of .063/.090/.078.
Bailey’s rookie season adopted an identical arc. By way of two seasons, Bailey has performed precisely 109 video games in each the primary half and second half, posting a .797 OPS within the former and .476 OPS within the latter.
Whereas Bailey attributed his second-half struggles in 2023 to fatigue, he believes that final yr’s woes in August and September have been due solely to his swing.
“I would definitely result (the second half) being more of a swing thing and kind of going down a rabbit hole I shouldn’t have gone down,” Bailey stated. “I was able to finish up strong in September. … Physically, I felt good. I think it’s just one of those things where you struggle a little bit at the plate and you start searching instead of trusting the swing.”
The catcher’s offseason routine remained principally the identical, a notable change being that he started utilizing the meal service Elevated Meals to make sure he ate higher high quality meals, a change that he believes has made a “big difference.” The catcher’s weight is just like final season however assessed that he has “better weight,” including that he feels extra cell and versatile in comparison with final season.
Relating to the swing, Bailey, a change hitter, made a couple of tweaks as a right-handed hitter, noting that he’s making an attempt to “use the ground better.”
Bailey assessed that final yr, his right-handed swing was “super drifty” — his entrance foot would go down and his hips would sway in the direction of the pitcher, resulting in his higher half collapsing. The 25-year-old hopes the modifications will permit him to be extra secure and swing extra effectively. So far as the left facet, Bailey stated he’s making an attempt to wash up his bat path.
“We’re going to rely on him a little bit more and he expects more out of himself,” Melvin stated. “But first and foremost, it’s running a pitching staff and he understands it’s the most important part of his game.”
Murphy coping with again spasms
Catcher Tom Murphy has been coping with again spasms, based on Melvin, and obtained an MRI on Sunday. His timetable is unclear.
Murphy, who solely performed 13 video games final season resulting from a left knee sprain, enters camp because the main candidate for the backup catcher place.
Other than Bailey and Murphy, the one different catcher on the 40-man roster is Sam Huff, who the Giants claimed off waivers from the Texas Rangers in January. Max Stassi, who hasn’t performed within the majors since 2022, is in camp in addition to a non-roster invitee.
