Chicago Cubs won’t get an offensive boost with this move
Fans need to understand something right off the bat. With an offense struggling, adding a guy like Chris Gimenez to the mix isn’t exactly a shot in the arm. A career backup catcher who carries a .200 average and a .270 OBP, Gimenez is quite literally a personal catcher – little more.
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But with Darvish failing to make it past the fifth for the fourth time this season, you know Theo and Jed are having this discussion. The right-hander looked out of rhythm and missed his spots more than you’d like on Wednesday despite striking out eight.
"“There are good days and bad days, and today turned out to be the latter,” Darvish said after the game. “Everything in general just went south today.”"
In his Texas Rangers days, Darvish threw to Gimenez and seemed right at home with him. That’s all fine and dandy, but keeping a guy on a roster just to catch one pitcher doesn’t sit well with me. Then again, neither does watching Darvish labor through four-plus innings every five days, so it’s a bit of a rock or a hard place type of scenario.
Swapping Caratini for Gimenez isn’t ideal. But after already tweaking his delivery and ridding Darvish of his double hesitation move and getting the same results, you have to seriously consider the move.