Kolek planning to go pro
kudos to Molina but like George Anderson said after sweeping the Yankees in the 76 series: "Don't embarrass another ballplayer by trying to compare him to Johnny bench".
There is not one thing that Molina does better than Bench.
I can think of one: Yadi has been more durable and therefore able to play catcher even as an old man.I really like Yadi as a ballplayer, but only people who never saw Johnny Bench play would mention Yadi in the same breath.
Yadier Molina and Johnny Bench have played the same number of seasons, 17.
JB really wore down during his later years. It might sound stupid talking about the greatest catcher who ever lived but I wonder what numbers he would have put up if he had played another position. Wonder the same thing about Posey.
Happens to a lot of catchers. Munson was playing in the outfield and infield near the end of his career (and life). Joe Mauer couldn't catch any more and became a bad, incredibly overpaid first baseman. Etc. It's amazing that guys like Fisk, Boone and Molina could still play catcher so late in their careers.
Mauer actually had a decent year in 2016 and then a really nice year in 2017 on his way out, but he was paid like an MVP candidate for 7-8 years after he stopped being one. Those seasons in 2014 and 2015 were brutal, especially given how good he was from 2008-2013
As a 30-year-old, Bench caught only 107 games. At 31, he caught 126. At 32, he caught 105. And then, at age 33, he became an infielder, appearing as a catcher in only 13 more games for the rest of his career.At 33, Molina caught 147 games and received MVP votes. At 34, Molina caught 136 games and was an All-Star. At 35, Molina caught 123 games and won the NL Gold Glove.At 36, Molina caught 113 regular-season games and 9 more in the postseason. At 36, Bench was retired.I stand by my point.
Yadier Molina couldn’t hold Bench’s jock
How would Jonathan Lucroy have fared if he were moved to the infield earlier? I think quite well. Now I believe he is out of baseball, less than five years after being hot trade property.
Brewers reportedly dealing Arcia to the Braves. Haven't seen exactly what the terms are but there's one reporter tweeting that they got two pitchers in return. Interesting move, wouldn't have figured stockpiling arms on a team that can't hit would be the play, but <shrug> what do I know.
I don’t believe he’d want to as that sounds unpleasant. Let’s see, Brewers or Cubs? I will guess Brewers.
Molina has a career WAR of 40, Bench has 75. Molina is 24th all-time. He’s had a truly great career and one of the Cardinals greats. No one, and I mean no one whose opinion matters would ever take or even remotely consider taking Molina over Johnny Bench