Spotlight on an Omaha Royal: JR House

Is JR House the answer at catcher for the Royals?

almost 3 years ago WanderingWanderer 11 comments 2 recs |

Comments

Silly

Yes, House is probably a better hitter than Buck or Olivo, but nobody thinks he’s strong enough defensively to consistently catch in the Majors. Pena is a better hitter too, and he at least has a chance. House is a non-issue at catcher, but he could earn a Royals roster spot as a pinch-hitter. He’s right there with Shealy and Ka’aihue as the strongest hitters in the Royals system that are not on the 25-man roster.

by kcdc1 on May 13, 2009 1:53 PM EDT reply actions

I agree

I was surprised to see that House seems to be catching regularly at Omaha (according to B-R’s minor league stuff), but, yeah, everything I’ve read says that he’s about as much of a catcher as Matt LeCroy was. Rally’s defensive projections have him at -18, which, if the case, would more than wipe out the positional boost he’d get from playing catcher.

Having said that, I think that (as I’ve said before) since Hillman seems comfortable using Bloomquist to back up Aviles at SS, there’s not real point to having TPJ or TPJ, jr. on the 25-man roster. House or Shealy could be useful as a platoon partner for Jacobs, and with interleague coming up, as a pinch-hitter.

I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.

by Matt Klaassen on May 13, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Platooning Jacobs depresses me

It’s necessary, but the idea of a full time DH (which Jacobs should be) needing platooning is just…ugh. Huge waste of a roster spot to carry a player like that IMO.

The Allard Baird of incisive internet discourse.

by kcbottom9th on May 13, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah

but it would probably mean 3-6 runs, or maybe about half a win, for the Royals over the season over using Jacobs or one of the catchers as a DH vs. LHP.

I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.

by Matt Klaassen on May 13, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions

by Matt Klaassen on May 13, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

oh

and if I recall correctly, House isn’t on the 40-man roster, either, so we’d have to make room for him there as well. Who’d you have him replace?

by DarthYoshi on May 13, 2009 2:43 PM EDT reply actions

We are at 38 on the 40 man

I think. We were last time I checked.

The Allard Baird of incisive internet discourse.

by kcbottom9th on May 13, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

yep, 38 and Buck and Olivo are the only catchers on the 40 man

I’d be more comfortable having 3 catchers on there anyway.

by WanderingWanderer on May 13, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions

A quote on the day the Royals signed House this winter

“We signed him to catch,” said Royals assistant general manager J.J. Picollo. “We thought J.R. was a good fit. He can also play first, he’s a right-handed hitter and with Kila [Ka’aihue] in Triple-A, we could have a right-left combination at first base as well.”

Picollo said House has had shoulder problems in the past.

“I know the knock on him has been his defense isn’t real strong, but it’s a serviceable job that he does and, hopefully, his shoulder will hold up and it’ll be fine,” Picollo said. “He’s an offensive-type guy and that’s an attraction with him.”

by WanderingWanderer on May 13, 2009 3:01 PM EDT reply actions