Catch as Catch Can

Once you get past the names Machado and Harper, it seems like the player getting the most ink this Hot Stove season is J.T. Realmuto, who, as of today, is still the catcher for the Marlins.  An All-Star last season, Realmuto is thought by many to be the one of the best catchers in baseball.  For argument's sake, let's say he's the best.  It still doesn't make sense to me why he is more sought out than the Sankara stones.

Why?  Realmuto is a catcher.  Catchers, by dint of the position they play, are everyday* players with an asterisk.  Even the heartiest among them can't play in every game.  (Willson Contreras led the majors last season with only 123 starts behind the plate.). Compare that to Manny Machado, though much-maligned for his supposed lack of hustle, he still managed to play in 162 games for two different teams last season.  That enabled Machado to tally 632 at-bats, compared to only 477 AB's that Realmuto collected in 125 games (112 at catcher) last year.

The way teams are talking about Realmuto -- especially the Mets -- make you think he is a game-changer along the same lines as superstars that can play every day (injuries aside).  But a player who is only going to appear in 6 out of every 7 games just can't have the same impact.  That's why the notion of offering up Noah Syndergaard -- one of baseball's best starting pitchers -- makes me scratch my head.

No one is saying that Realmuto isn't a good player, or that adding him to the roster won't make a team better.  However, based on the position he plays, the return on investment needs to be taken into account before any trades are consummated.

It's Now or Never

In a surprising move, Urban Meyer announced that he will be stepping down as the coach of Ohio State after the Rose Bowl and will retire from coaching.  I won't even argue that Meyer isn't one of the greatest coaches in college football history, if only because he also served as one of its greatest villains.  But this column isn't really about Meyer.

If there is anyone happier than Michigan's Jim Harbaugh this morning, please let me know.  Sure, there's the old competitive "I wanna beat that guy" mantra.  But there's also the "This guy completely has my number" lament, too.

Immediately following Michigan's disastrous 62-39 loss to Meyer and his Buckeyes, the cottage industry called "What's next for Harbaugh"revved up again.  A season spent avenging losses to Wisconsin, Michigan State and Penn State was suddenly clouded by another defeat to the team in scarlet and grey.  

While I understood that criticism -- that was Harbaugh's fourth loss to Ohio State in as many tries -- it is hard to look at Michigan's season as anything other than a success when viewed from an objective lens: a 10-2 season, including a 10-game winning streak.  Decisive wins against conference foes.  The only two losses against top 10 teams, played on the road.  Another New Year's Six bowl game appearance.

With with Meyer's departure, though, I'm switching camps.  Michigan was the #3-ranked team in the country with the nation's best defense.  Their ticket to the College Football Playoff was written; all they needed to do was beat the Buckeyes.  They couldn't do it.  Harbaugh couldn't do it.  Without Meyer, Ohio State is still a good football team.  But Ryan Day is not Urban Meyer.  Next season, Jim Harbaugh needs to defeat Ohio State or he needs to move on.  That's a pretty big ultimatum, but where else is there to go?