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The St. Louis Cardinals should start the 2023 season with Andrew Knizner as the designated backup catcher. Wilson Contreras is new to the team and unfamiliar with the pitching staff, from their baseball skills and quirks to specific psychological drivers and considerations that can facilitate their success.
Much of this vital information cannot be gleaned from mere stats, charts, and films. Knizner’s ability to spontaneously provide Contreras and others with this is much more important to the team’s success, than his batting average. Knizner’s dismal performance this spring may be due to increased pressure to try to stay on the roster.
Catchers have a unique perspective of their pitchers that extends beyond what other players and coaches are aware off. Knizner’s first-hand knowledge and experience with the pitchers will accelerate Contreras’ assimilation, facilitating his contributions to the team’s success.
Contreras – or any new catcher to a team – cannot simply rely upon the pitchers, the coaches, and reports to provide them with the depth of knowledge and insight required to be effective. While other perspectives may be limited, Knizner’s knowledge was absorbed through personal experience with the pitchers. The team can provide Contreras with information on the staff, but some details will be passed on during games and throughout the season, often prompted by ongoing events and situations.
Contreras admired Molina and will likely want to know how Yadi handled the staff – collectively, individually, and in specific situations that will come up during the season. Knizner is the best source to provide all this and a lot more.
Molina is gone, but Knizner has the implicit knowledge that comes from personal experience. This is enhanced by Knizner’s good relationships with the pitchers, encouraging them to be relaxed and candid with him. If there are any professional or personal issues between individual pitchers and Contreras during the 2023 season, Knizner can help navigate them without creating ripples.
Additionally, having Knizner fill in occasionally as catcher provides the pitchers with a familiar batterymate, diminishing their anxiety of having to deal with two new catchers. In 2022, Wilson Contreras only started 72 games as a catcher, one more than Yadier Molina. Andrew Knizner started 78 games as catcher in 2022.
The presence of Knizner on the team will provide Contreras and the pitching staff with a professional and psychological cushion and safety net, greatly reducing stress and uncertainty during the transition for both Contreras and the pitchers. This is vital to the chemistry in the clubhouse and the success of the team.
A cohesive team makes for a strong weave that can better withstand setbacks, while maximizing their capacity and potential. Superior sports’ teams encourage team cohesiveness in which everyone participates and is appreciated for what they can contribute. This has been one of the strengths of Cardinal teams in the past, reinforced by having some of the most knowledgeable and supportive fans in MLB.
Contreras wanted to be part of Cardinal Nation. He arrives with excellent skills, including a strong throwing arm and a good bat. Contreras also has a terrific attitude and competitiveness that will prove contagious in the clubhouse and on the field.
The Cardinals should not start the season with two catchers who have had little or no experience with the pitching staff. Once Contreras settles in – which will take a few months to gain the required knowledge, relationships, and trust – the issue of backup catcher can be revisited.
However, the role of catcher is significant and the subtleties of how, when, and why knowledge is transferred during a season is ongoing, often spontaneously tweaked by a comment, issue, or game situation. When these occur for Contreras, it’s best to have Knizner, a knowledgeable resource close by.
If Knizner spends the 2023 season catching and sharing his knowledge and experience with Contreras as different situations arise, it will be time well spent. This will expedite and strengthen Contreras’ contributions and value to the Cardinals for years to come.
If Knizner’s problems at the plate persist, the Cardinals might consider an upgrade for 2024, especially if Contreras continues to catch less than 100 games per year. This has to be reviewed comprehensively, weighing the enhanced team chemistry and performance attributed to Knizner’s presence, versus the potential net offensive increase with other backup catching options.
Romine was insufferable and what made his ’22 tenure seem even worse was that his early July arrival was at the precise time of a phase of terrible baseball by the entire team. Then came the trade deadline. Romine departed and the W’s came. Now, I’m perfectly aware that a couple of additions were added to the 5 man at the deadline and I’m not a really superstitious guy, but kind of…At any rate, I’ll never take a trip to Vegas with Austin Romine.
Knizner made at least three sub-standard throws today on runners stealing. I know, I know, I’ve been spoiled by Yadi. But I still wish the Cardinals could trade for a backup catcher with a better throwing arm than Knizner. It’s a shame that Herrera couldn’t pull it together in 2021. If Herrera starts looking like the prospect that BW and Blake talk about in their Prospect Guide, and the Cardinals themselves can bring him out of whatever was holding him back in 2021, maybe he could be traded for a good backup catcher. After all, the catching position is set for the next five years, anyway. Also, if they keep Barrera on the 26-man roster, it would be easier to replace him with Herrera, or an acquired backup catcher, than it would Knizner. BTW, Leonardo Bernal appears to be comparable to Herrera in terms of talent, but he is only 18 years old. Brian and Blake give both Herrera and Bernal a 50/50 arm, so far.
#STLCards manager Oli Marmol on the backup catching competition between Andrew Knizner and Tres Barrera: “One guy is performing well and the other hasn’t up to this point … In this short period of time, Barrera has clearly outperformed Knizner." https://t.co/Sr99zrFEtz
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) March 21, 2023
It looks like Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch may have read my article that I posted on the Cardinal Nation forum yesterday.
Frederickson’s take on the Knizner situation appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch this morning (22 March 2023).
Here’s the title and the link of his article for those interested in getting another opinion about Knizner.
BenFred: Giving Cardinals catcher Andrew Knizner a little grace now could pay off later
In John Denton’s mlb.com article of 21 March 2023 – “Is Barrera now the favorite to back up Contreras?” – Cardinal manager Oli Marmol is quoted as saying, “One guy is performing well,” referring to Barrera. He also makes other flattering quotes about Tres Barrera’s performance in spring training.
However, neither this article, nor any others that I have seen on Tres Barrera, provide his spring training batting line. They may mention that he’s hit a home run or drove in a tying run while making an out, but they stay clear of telling readers what Barrera’s batting average is.
To date this spring, Tres Barrera has 17 plate appearances, producing 2 hits and 6 walks for a batting average of .182
This is hardly Johnny Bench production.
In 53 plate appearances with Washington in 2022, Barrera had 9 hits (8 singles and 1 double), 2 walks, 4 RBIs, and a .180 batting average. Barrera also struck out 16 times in 53 PAs, a rate of 30.2 percent, while only generating 1 extra base hit – a double – the entire season.
Andrew Knizner’s offensive performance is terrible this spring, but it’s been dropping steadily with the open and ongoing discussion of replacing him as backup catcher. He’s now down to a .105 batting average. Knizner’s stressed and pressing, more each day as a player with a sub .200 batting average is being lauded as his replacement.
The benefits of Knizner that I stated in my post yesterday merit consideration. Knizner should be the designated back-up catcher to start the spring, with the assurances of a longer leash to diminish the anxiety, encouraging him to get his confidence and production back up to the the .215 level he had last year, and hopefully beyond that.
As I previously noted, once Contreras has established himself with the pitching staff – professionally and personally – the issue of backup catcher can be revisited. Until that time, it makes sense to have a familiar, knowledgeable, and well-liked batterymate available for the benefit of the pitchers, Contreras, and the team’s success.
As was mentioned in a different thread it is quite possible that the Cards want and expect Knizner to win the backup job but feel it is necessary to turn the heat up on him a little bit to serve as motivation.
Knizner’s arm may be more of a concern than his bat with the new pickoff rules. We can live with an automatic out in the 9 hole a couple times a week, but can’t live with singles and walks turning into doubles too much.
Funny you should mention Romine, who must be the equivalent of the backup quarterback everyone thinks should start. The good news is that he is again available, released by the Reds the other day after having signed a minor league contract for 2023. This spring he batted .200, all singles, drew no walks and struck out at a rate of 46.7%. I can’t imagine why he didn’t stick…
The Reds released Austin? Well, he should expect a phone call, but not from Johnny. Romine’s the sort of player that Girsch is delegated the authority and responsibility of conducting intense contract negotiations. Mike will probably wait about a week and a half so that he can save a little scratch on travel expenses by flying Austin directly to Memphis to avoid the extra airfare and layover in Florida. Girsch doesn’t get a whole lot of print, but is undoubtedly a thrifty sort of GM…
Romine would be forgettable if he’d ever been worth remembering. Never been particularly good at anything at the MLB level. However, he’s made a darn good living for over a decade. That’s where I always need to remember context is important. He’s made a very good living because he’s been one of the 60 or so best catchers in the country/world. It’d be outstanding for most of us to be the world’s 60th best name-your-profession. But yeah, don’t let him anywhere near the Cardinal’s on deck circle again!
Good illustration, Euro. I wish I were Romine. Heck, I used to be a little jealous of Dave McKay. The guy’s 7 years older that I am and had a set of guns that look like the sailor man who smoked a pipe…Haha!
Contreras only started 72 games in 2022, one more game than Molina, and Molina was off the roster for an extended period. Contreras should be projected for catching less than half the games, with his starts further diminishing as he ages and plays more games as the DH.
When the Cardinals replace Knizner, they should go for quality – a solid bat, with good defensive skills including a strong and accurate arm and other traits – framing, pitch calling, et cetera – that make the pitching staff better and the team more successful.
The Cardinals should be looking for a higher quality candidate, who will likely be catching more games than Contreras. These type of players are not found among other teams’ rejects, who often fall short of the Mendoza Line (.200 batting average). The Cardinals will have to pony up players and / or cash to get the type of catcher they will need for the duration of Contreras’ time with the Cardinals.
Speaking of catchers, the Muts super prospect Alverez was optioned to AAA after hitting .105 this spring. He is currently the MLB.com 3rd ranked prospect, just ahead of Walker. Previously, he was ranked #1, but then he had to do something above AA and hit .238 in AAA. For context, Herrera hit .268 in AAA. Lots of guys look like world beaters in AA.
Its too bad Herrera is not in the mix for 2nd catcher. Between a couple starts a week and maybe a DH turn, he could get close to 300 PAs. He wouldn’t hit any worse than Knizner and would get better as he went along. There is little point having him in Memphis since he’s blocked for 4 years.
You illustrate a valid point about Contreras towards the end of his 5 year stint, Banter, but I’m going to guess that Contreras is in the starting line-up at the C position for 90 to 100 games in ’23.
I hope you’re right. Contreras started 72 games at catcher in 2022 – playing a complete game in 61 of them, and he played 39 games at DH. It looks like he pinch-hit in 2 more games. That’s 113 games total of the 162 schedule.
Contreras has played around 100 games a season at catcher before, including 92 complete games in 2021 and 113 complete games in 2018, when he was 26-years-old.
The Cards have talked about him DHing, which keeps his bat in the lineup, but it would make sense for him to catch more games, as you predicted – 90 to 100. This would expedite his familiarity with the pitchers, establishing a good foundation in his first year with the Cardinals.
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“One Tough Dominican” – Your handle made me think of Joaquín Andújar – one tough competitor, with a lot of fire.
Loved Whitey, but he goofed when he inserted Andujar into the volatile game 7 blowout in 1985 – especially with Don Denkinger behind the plate. Yikes! After blowing the call at first base in game 6, MLB should have put Dekinger on the outfield foul line, instead of behind the plate, but that’s musings for another thread.
Andujar won 21 games in 1985, but after the blowup in game 7, he was traded to Oakland in December 1985 for two marginal players who flopped as Cards and were soon gone. So was Andujar’s career a year later.
The score of that game was 11-0 when Andujar was summoned. I could be wrong, but I’m reasonably certain that Herzog knew what he was doing and sent Joaquin to the mound while Dekinger was situated behind HP for the same reasons that Vito Corleone would send Luca Brasi on an assignment to “talk” to an adversary…Haha! At any rate, I suffered through that game 7 telecast and yeah, you just knew what was going to happen and Joaquin didn’t dissappoint as he immediately went entirely psychotic…If he would have been armed, a homicide investigation would have ensued…Haha!
That was the worst game for a Cards fan ever. Especially for what happened just the day before. The ‘birds were still steaming and looked dysfunctional. Yeah, a very tough one to watch. I was expecting something other than what transpired.
I wouldn’t have a long leash on Knizner as the backup catcher. Every roster spot is important. I am not sure Contreras will catch more than 120 games. That leaves more importance on the backup spot. Knizner is clearly AAAA.
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