My best memory -- well, my only memory -- of Rod Barajas came in October 2001. I was watching Game 5 of the World Series when a backup catcher I had never heard of stepped to the plate in the fifth inning for the Arizona Diamondbacks and cracked a solo home run off Mike Mussina.Nice to meet you, Rod.
Well, five years later, the Phillies are on the verge of signing Barajas. I spoke for a few minutes tonight with assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. and he confirmed the Phils have been talking to Barajas and are "hoping to get something done in the short-term." My guess is it will be a two-year contract worth a total of about $5 million, and Barajas will at least split time with 27-year-old rookie Carlos Ruiz.
Personally, I think Barajas is a good addition. He's only 31, and just two seasons removed from hitting a career-high 21 homers and driving in 60 runs in 120 games for the Texas Rangers. I can't see him playing that many games for the Phillies next season, unless Ruiz is a dud. And don't expect major offensive numbers -- he has never batted higher than .256 in a season. But he would be the veteran catcher the Phils lack now that Mike Lieberthal has joined the Dodgers.By the way, Barajas wasn't originally in Arizona's lineup for Game 5. But Damian Miller was scratched with a strained right calf. Barajas finished 2-for-5 and threw out Alfonso Soriano at second base. The Yankees still won the game, 3-2, when Scott Brosius hit a game-tying two-run homer in the ninth inning off Byung-Hyun Kim. It was the second straight game in which Kim had given up the lead in the ninth, prompting me to believe, even if Curt Schilling doesn't, that Yankee Stadium is filled with aura and mystique.
Of course, Arizona won that stirring Series in seven games -- with Barajas back on the bench for Games 6 and 7 in Arizona.
2 comments:
So now what happens to Coste? The guy busts his tail and produces in Clearwater last year only to miss the team cut at the last minute and see the power-bat Sal Fasano sign. He then tears the cover off the ball when he finally does get the call only to see them sign another aging vet this year.
I like the idea of carrying three catchers, and Coste could be used as a bench/utility player, but it really throws the book in the face of loyalty to a player who has proven his worth. He should be given the chance to do so again.
Do you think Scott, that they're thinking of packaging him with a starter later on?
I agree Coste busts his tail and get this slap in the face. Not right.
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