share
email
font size
options
 
Monday, May 18, 2009
Phils sign catcher Bako

This press release came my way just as I was boarding an airplane to Cincy.  Not a move likely to impact the major league team, but this is why they call me the media (or medium, I guess):

Catcher Paul Bako agreed to a minor league contract with the Phillies, Assistant General Manager Scott Proefrock announced today.

Bako, 36, will report to extended spring training in Clearwater today until a schedule is set.  He will then advance through the minor system when he is physically able to play.  He began the 2009 season with the Chicago Cubs spring training camp before being released on March 30.  

“Paul has a tremendous amount of major league experience and he gives us the opportunity to add greater catching depth to our system,” Proefrock said.

For his career, Bako has hit .231 with 21 home runs and 186 runs batted in over 745 major league games between the Tigers (1998), Astros (1999-2000), Marlins (2000), Braves (2000-01), Brewers (2002), Cubs (2003-04), Dodgers (2005), Royals (2006), Orioles (2007) and Reds (2008).  He has thrown out 28% of potential base stealers for his career (155 out of 549).

Posted by Andy Martino @ 4:55 PM  Permalink | 40 comments
40
Comments   
Posted 05:36 PM, 05/18/2009
JusWonderin
You're no Arbuckle, Proefrock. Way to land the big one! Maybe I'll add Bako to my fantasy team.
Posted 05:37 PM, 05/18/2009
Jeffrey
What is the secret story behind why Ruben Amaro Jr. loves to sign crummy catchers to meaningless contracts? America demands an answer!
Posted 05:55 PM, 05/18/2009
scars73
What, why? Amaro is brutal.
Posted 05:56 PM, 05/18/2009
judas_priest
Because the Phils minor league system is short on catchers. And considering your post, America would be better off demanding common sense - which, unfortunately, isn't very common, especially on the internet.
Posted 06:00 PM, 05/18/2009
MooseBreathMints
Thanks for the information.
Posted 06:13 PM, 05/18/2009
RAS
I don't think Amaro is doing his homework well enough. If he's really looking for organizational depth at catcher, check out this post from MLBRumors.com Tim Dierkes on May 6th: "Who wants a 27 year-old switch-hitting catcher who hit .303/.376/.462 at Triple A last year? No one, apparently. According to MLB.com's Dick Kaegel, Royals catcher Brayan Pena cleared waivers and was assigned to Triple A Omaha. This marks Pena's fifth trip to Triple A. In their 2007 Handbook, Baseball America suggested Pena's defense was at least decent. In a world of $2MM backup catchers, it's surprising Pena wasn't picked up."
Posted 06:24 PM, 05/18/2009
psuwelsh
Yawn.....I'm sleepy.
Posted 06:25 PM, 05/18/2009
RAS
Reading furhter into this, I guess we can assume that the Lou Marson/Chris Coste combination will be the right handed bat off the bench now that Cairo is history? A slight upgrade but not earth shattering. I'd still like to see Mayberry get a few rips up here.
Posted 07:15 PM, 05/18/2009
EL Zorro
We had plenty catching depth in the minor league system until Amaro shipped Jaramillo for Paulino and then Paulino for that lefty who most likely will be either release or send to the minor leagues. Bako?, you got to be kidding me. Maybe he can replace Ramon Henderson as our bullpen catcher.
Posted 07:28 PM, 05/18/2009
mick314
Hoover is good backup for 'pigs. His specialty is the "sweep" tag.
Posted 07:32 PM, 05/18/2009
Todd Pratt
A little over reaction guys. Marson is the future so what is the issue??? Stop with Jaramillo love.
Posted 07:39 PM, 05/18/2009
Downie27
I smell BS.
Posted 07:52 PM, 05/18/2009
Philly Jinx
Crash Davis to the rescue!
Posted 08:50 PM, 05/18/2009
nicolosi54
This was a great move. They should have done this years ago.
Posted 08:50 PM, 05/18/2009
StevenT
A 36yo catcher? They must be hard up. This is newsworthy?
About Andy Martino
Andy Martino is in his first season on the Phillies beat. A former New York City public school teacher and graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, he previously wrote for the New York Daily News, where he covered baseball and worked with the award-winning investigative sports "I-team."
Follow on Twitter

Advertise Here
PHILLIES SCOREBOARD
BASEBALL NEWS FROM PHILLY.COM
High Cheese: First look at Phils' spring training roster
Foot surgery could limit Cliff Lee
Pressure's on the Phils
Phillies deny signing Japanese relievers
Phillies: No deals reached with 2 Japanese pitchers
Phils sign Villarreal to minor league deal