CINCINNATI — The debate over the San Francisco Giants’ catchers — who plays, who sits, and how often — appears to be moving into Phase 2.
Patrick Bailey, the starter and a two-time Gold Glove winner, is known for his defense rather than his bat, but even for a player who doesn’t hit much, he has struggled in the extreme, with a .128 average after Thursday’s win over the Reds. His backup, Daniel Susac, is a Rule 5 pick who’s hitting so well that his lack of experience handling a big-league staff is ever less of a factor.
The biggest consideration of all? The Giants as a team have put up pitiful offensive numbers to start the season, with the fewest runs and homers in the majors. Susac’s 9-for-16 start stands out among the shambles that is much of the lineup.
Fans have clamored for more Susac, small sample size or not, and on Thursday morning manager Tony Vitello indicated that the rookie’s playing time won’t just increase — he might start splitting time with the game’s best defensive catcher.
Asked about the catching spot going forward, Vitello said of Susac, “I think involving him, as much as possible, see if we get into an every other day situation, or whatever it might be.”
Bailey is realistic about the situation. “I’ve got to play better,” he said after Thursday’s win over the Reds. “I’ve got to be better at the plate.”
With a day game after a night game, Bailey was behind the plate Thursday, working with starter Landen Roupp. Vitello said that Susac was available to pinch-hit later in the game, something he has shown a willingness to do in the ninth inning twice in the past week.
Bailey remains tops in the majors in pitch framing, even with the advent of baseball’s new ABS-enabled challenge system, getting strike calls on nearly 50% of pitches in the “shadow zone” around the strike zone, giving him an MLB-best plus-2 in pitch framing. He also has the best pop time on throws in the majors, but has caught only two of 13 would-be base stealers so far; Susac has thrown out one of the two attempts against him.