From: drw3l@delmarva.evsc.Virginia.EDU (David Robert Walker) Subject: Re: Young Catchers Organization: University of Virginia Lines: 70 Most of this discussion has been between Mark Singer and David Tate, with Valentine weighing in on the same side as Dave at various times. My opinion, FWIW, to all: Mark, age doesn't matter; ability does. I would rather have the untried rookie with great minor league numbers than the veteran who has proven himself to be average at best. I don't care if he is 15; if he plays better than what I have, I want him out there. Sandy Alomar had decent minor league numbers, grossly inflated by the PCL in general and Las Vegas in particular; he should have been projected as an average major league hitter (which is good for a catcher, I'll admit). Santiago's numbers would probably come out the same as Sandy's, but I don't have the league data from the mid-80s to check it out. That being said, I agree with sending Lopez to Richmond, at least to start the season. As the box below shows, he has *one* minor league season in which he hit well. He has two in which he hit very, very poorly. I want to see that the 92 Lopez is real. Olson and Berryhill are not complete mediocrities; for catchers, especially NL catchers, they are essentially average hitters, with equivalent averages around .220. If he had hit well at prior levels, I would say he belongs on the Braves; but there is a reasonable chance that Lopez last year was just as much a fluke as Alomar in 90 or Santiago in 87. One year at any level, at any age, doesn't satisfy MY standards of evidence. JAVIER LOPEZ 1971 1990 BUR 428 101 10 1 9 5 0 1 .179 33 .236 .245 .327 1991 DUR 389 84 8 1 9 14 7 2 .175 29 .216 .243 .311 1992 GRN 445 135 22 2 14 22 7 2 .271 71 .303 .336 .456 1992 ATL 16 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 .306 3 .375 .375 .500 MAJ 16 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 .306 3 .375 .375 .500 MIN 1262 320 40 4 32 41 14 5 .213 133 .254 .277 .368 TOT 1278 326 42 4 32 41 14 5 .214 136 .255 .278 .369 MAJ 650 244 81 0 0 0 0 0 MIN 630 160 20 2 16 20 7 2 TOT 630 161 21 2 16 20 7 2 On a similar note, I don't understand why more people are not supportive of Neon Deion. Granted, I thought his behavior with McCarver last year was completely bush. Last year was the first time he ever got 300 AB in one place, so his lines are hard to read. But he has a combined 720 OPS in minor league play; with his speed is more valuable than the OPS alone indicates; and at a still young age (24), had a monster year with an 868 OPS. He has a total, major and minor, EQA of .249; above major league average, and above average for CF (which was about .240 in the NL last year). He has shown at least the potential of going into the .290s, which would make him one of the 15 best hitters in the league. He has two full seasons before reaching his "prime" season of 27. He should be considered as a legitimate prospect, and not as a simple side-show attraction. DEION SANDERS 1968 1988 FLA 21 8 2 0 0 1 1 0 .325 4 .381 .409 .476 1988 INT 20 3 1 0 0 1 1 1 .086 0 .150 .190 .200 1989 EAS 123 35 1 2 2 9 15 4 .257 19 .285 .333 .374 1989 NYY 47 11 1 0 2 3 1 0 .222 6 .234 .280 .383 1989 INT 263 70 11 4 6 18 15 6 .246 37 .266 .313 .407 1990 NYY 133 21 2 2 3 13 8 2 .161 9 .158 .233 .271 1990 INT 85 26 7 1 1 14 8 1 .312 18 .306 .404 .447 1991 ATL 110 20 2 1 4 12 10 3 .201 12 .182 .262 .327 1991 RIC 129 30 5 2 4 7 11 3 .230 17 .233 .272 .395 1992 ATL 306 92 10 12 11 22 24 9 .295 60 .301 .348 .520 MAJ 596 144 15 15 20 50 43 14 .245 87 .242 .300 .418 MIN 641 172 27 9 13 50 51 15 .252 96 .268 .321 .399 TOT 1237 316 42 24 33 100 94 29 .249 182 .255 .311 .408 MAJ 600 145 15 15 20 50 43 14 MIN 603 162 25 8 12 47 48 14 TOT 601 154 20 12 16 49 46 14 Clay D.