To many folks the return of Humberto Quintero as an Astro catcher is hardly big news. True, Q is not going to be making any all star teams soon, but his re-signing was a needed move by the club. Quintero is one of those players whose numbers don't impress much--especially as a hitter. Yet, he is also the type of player every club needs. When Quintero is behind the plate the Astros are a stronger defensive team. If a club isn't going to score many runs as the Astros had troubles doing in 2010 it behooves the defense and pitching to allow as few as possible. Q helps that happen.
His throwing arm is among the best of all major league catchers. He is not afraid to use it. His pickoff of Philadelphia's Jayson Werth at second base after the fourth ball of an intentional walk was voted by fans as the Astros top play of the whole season. No one could every remember that situation ever before.
Astro first basemen always have to be alert. Humberto loves to fire the ball to nail runners who fail to return to the bag. Even though he has the rep and most runners are alert he still gets one or two each season. That is a tremendous feat and especially so when one remembers he does not play everyday.
Quintero played more in 2010 than ever before after starting the season knowing he would make the team, but only as a backup. The starter was going to be either J.R. Towles or rookie Jason Castro. Quintero would back up whichever won the job and the other would go to the minors.
Towles won the job, but for the second time quickly lost it. He did not hit well, but didn't lose the job due to that. (If he HAD hit he would have been given more rope.) He lost it as a result of not communicating or working well with his pitchers. So, Quintero took over as the lead catcher for a time until Castro was deemed ready.
Ultimately Castro got the call. He was scheduled to catch at least five times per week. That didn't last as he failed to hit major league pitching. While his throwing arm was big league, he needed work blocking balls in the dirt and learning his pitchers and opposing hitters. Good old Humberto Quintero was available to catch a bit more. And he did. He will be starting spring training #2 behind Jason Castro again. There is no reason to think Castro won't improve his hitting in 2011. If he does Q may spend more time on the bench. He is used to that. But he is also ready to go into the lineup at any time and provide perhaps the strongest "back up" catcher in baseball.
A good offseason move by Ed Wade and the Astros.
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Good points(:
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