The Cubs are set to hire Craig Driver as their new first base and catching coach, ESPN.com’s Jesse Rogers reports (Twitter link). Driver will replace Will Venable as Chicago’s first base coach, though president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said earlier this month that Venable would be returning to the Cubs’ staff in 2020. The most obvious spot for Venable seems to be at third base, as former third base coach Brian Butterfield left the Cubs to join former manager Joe Maddon in Anaheim.
Driver has spent the last two seasons as the Phils’ receiving coach and bullpen catcher, following five years coaching at Yale, Central Washington University, and the University Of Puget Sound. As the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber outlined in a piece last August, J.T. Realmuto’s caught-stealing numbers greatly increased on Driver’s watch, as Realmuto’s 46.7% caught stealing percentage in 2019 dwarfed his previous career best of 38.2%. Realmuto’s framing and blocking also improved, as per Baseball Prospectus, turning a player who was already the sport’s best catcher into one of its best all-around performers at any position.
The Cubs would love to see Willson Contreras make such a leap, as Contreras has only been roughly average at throwing out baserunners during his career. Framing has also long been considered an issue for the two-time All-Star, though BP and StatCorner differed wildly in their evaluations of Contreras’ framing work in 2019. StatCorner ranked Contreras as the 17th-best pitch-framer in the game last season, while Baseball Prospectus ranked him 109th of 113 catchers in the Framing Runs category.
As Rogers noted in another tweet, Driver joins a coaching staff that is deep in catching knowledge. Newly-hired manager David Ross and quality assurance coach Mike Napoli have a combined 1344 games of big league experience behind the plate, while current catching, strategy, and associate pitching coach Mike Borzello still seems to be a member of the 2020 staff. It could be that Driver’s responsibilities will continue to focus largely on receiving and he’ll operate alongside Borzello in working with Contreras, Victor Caratini, and the organization’s other backstops. It’s worth noting that Driver was one of two catching coaches on Philadelphia’s staff, alongside Bob Stumpo.
Cubbie991
Sounds like a quality move for the Cubs.
tsolo85
Now they need to hire Kerry Wood and Eric Wedge
dynamite drop in monty
When you put pizza on a bagel you can have pizza anytime
jorge78
OK!
Priggs89
With all these new statistics that we have, I always find it funny that we still use CS% for catchers. That number is so easily influenced by pitchers that I don’t think it really tells you much of anything about a catcher’s skills.
jorge78
It’s interesting that StatCorner and Baseball Prospectus would have such a variance on the same stat. A minor scandal actually…..
jhanley108
So now the coaching roster is up to around 22-23. This is so exciting, I love reading about coaches and is it possible to get more background on a 1st base coach? I just can’t wait to plunk down $75 a ticket to go to Wrigley and watch the great coaching. Is this still the Golden Age of Cubs baseball I’ve heard tell about?
dynamite drop in monty
Jesus these comments are so boring.
richdanna
Because the offseason is complete and there has been such a flurry of signings and trades, right?
desertbull
So you wanted them to go without a first base coach.
You’re a genius.
SilvioDante
Seems to me this hire might put the Contreras trade rumors to rest. Maybe an extension for Willie is on the horizon as well? Why hire someone like Driver only to trade away your two-time All-Star catcher? I like Caratini, but as a backup only. Contreras is a stud at a premium position. Those guys are near impossible to replace. I understand the Cubs need to make changes in order to give themselves a chance to improve, but trading away Contreras and/or Bryant sure feels counterproductive to me.
ChiSoxCity
Great point. Looks like Contreras is staying, which also means the cubs aren’t making any significant changes to the roster… again.
oldtimer
I’m ok with keeping Contreras, but there still needs to be a shake up! I think it should be Bryant. I don’t see anyway he re-ups with the Cubs. Get the best deal you can get and move on!! If you wait too long he will lose value! Don’t wait on him like they did with Schwarber. His value dropped considerably.
ChiSoxCity
For sure. Bryant should be traded, but it’s probably unrealistic to expect Theo will pull the trigger. He (and the cubs) aren’t known for making bold moves like that. They’re going to look really silly if they let him walk for comp pick though.
pageian
Well, except for that time that Theo traded Nomar… to the Cubs. But go on with the narrative in your head.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
That was a complicated 4 team trade. And the red Sox won the world series that year with Orlando Cabrera.
wordonthestreet
Actually Theo is know for making bold moves but not surprised to see ChiSoxCity not know that
ChiSoxCity
If you call signing Jason Heyward to a $184MM contract bold, then I guess.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Extension for WC and Baez and they’ll wait for Rizzos extension next winter. The chases of Bryant unfortunately are maybe 10%.. Boras did say if they offer a fair deal they’d consider it. But he wont get more than 230mil on the open market. That’s as fair as it gets.
ChiSoxCity
A team used to overpaying, like the Phillies or Dodgers, might throw $250MM Bryant’s way.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Where would Beyant play in LA? Dont they have Justin Turner.
ChiSoxCity
Turner would played 1B. He’s already said he’d move if LA signed Rendon this offseason.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Rendon is likely going to California but if anything it will be Anaheim not LA
mistry gm
Willson Contreras started out as a third baseman. Let Caratini catch, trade Bryant for prospects to trade for Merrifield and move Contreras to third and use him as a back up catcher only.
twentyforty
Umm…no. Dumb…just dumb. All of it.
mistry gm
Oh, so you would keep Bryant, who isn’t interested in an extention, who led the Cubs in errors and who gets hurt a lot? …. Why?
ChiSoxCity
That’s not how this work, bud.
mistry gm
Thats how it could work if you wanted the Cubs to win instead of the sox.
ChiSoxCity
We’ve already seen him play LF and RF, and it wasn’t pretty. To assume he could play 3B competently is a stretch. He’s a catcher who could benefit from some coaching and film work to improve his framing technique, hence the coaching change.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
The Cubs dont need to trade for Merrifield that would be worse than Quintana for Jimenez and Cease.
Contreas is one of the best catchers in baseball yes he can play 3rd and 1st but trading Bryant for Merrifield is idiomatic. If you trade Bryant you dont get less than 4 players. And 2 in the other teams top 10 prospects
ChiSoxCity
*If Bryant has two years of control left.
mistry gm
I see, so we should let him go in two years and get nothing, great idea. I should have suggested that.
ChiSoxCity
Wow. I was commenting on Wrek’s post about trading Bryant for 4 players… Went right over your head or what?
wordonthestreet
To suggest Contreras can be an everyday major league third baseman is laughable
wordonthestreet
You think that because Contreras played some Third in the minors that makes him a major league third baseman?
The reason he was moved OFF third was because he could hit but was not a good third baseman
Ully
I didn’t know Borzello moved into an assistant piyching coach role from catching coach. What I did know was that he was the catching stunt double for the movie “For love of the game” for John C. Riley.
jd396
They hire Craig Coach to drive the bus to the airport
DarkSide830
sad to see him go as a Phillie fan. seems like he knows what he’s doing.
thinkblech
Hiring Driver was a layup. They didn’t putter around, the teed it up, and nailed this chip shot.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Contreras throws out more on the back throw to first than he does at 2nd. Which honestly is just as good its probably about 65% he throws out a runner at first and the league average is probably 35-40% Contreas is right at 40% maybe higher.
Not many catchers as good as Contreas overall. JT Realmuto is good but when it comes to defensive catcher. He doesnt even come close to Contreas
thinkblech
Contreras is one of the worst framers in all of baseball, and Realmuto is one of the best. Realmuto is the better defender, and it isn’t close.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Framing isnt a stat. Who cares. Realmuto is not the better defensive catcher by a long shot. Only 46% thrown out this year. Contreas isnt just as good at throwing runners out. 60% plus league average of 35-40% of would be stolen base runners. 52.5% Better defensive catcher. Realmuto wishes he was as good as Contreas..
Priggs89
I’m afraid to ask, but… Where are you pulling these numbers out of?
ChiSoxCity
It matters to your pitching staff, obviously. All MLB teams care about framing because it effects called strikes. From watching Contreras’ glove work behind the plate, he’s very sloppy.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
40% average and 65% on the back throw. 105% ÷ 2 is 52.5%
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
All strikes are determined by the umpire. a lot are extremely bias
wordonthestreet
Watch many Cubs games ChiSoxCity? I doubt it. You do not know much about Contreras from watching him. You just troll
ChiSoxCity
Nah, gonna side with professional coaches and catchers on this one. Grandal is pretty good at framing. Forget that Contreras is a cub for a minute. Watch video of him behind the plate, then compare it to a video on Contreras. Grandal is still, quiet feet and hands (very little movement). He receives pitches near his chest and slightly adjust towards the strikezone. Gives pitchers a great target, and makes it easier for umpires to give you a strike call on the edges. Then watch Contreras: tons of feet, leg and hand movement. Relies entirely on the pitcher to locate instead of providing a target. Receives the ball with a downward motion that guarantees few strike calls on the edges, which has been a problem for cubs pitching. Contreras is quite bad as far as catchers go, but he makes up for it with a cannon arm and aggressiveness to some degree.
ChiSoxCity
I watched every game for the last three years. Attended a couple away games too.
jleve618
You do realize that is exactly why the framing is important right?
desertbull
Pitch framing is a garbage stat.
Make the umps watch where the ball crosses the plate. If they refuse, fire them.
ChiSoxCity
It’s not a stat, it’s a skill.
rondon
It’s a stat. And the wide difference in how it’s measured confirms that.
Dogbone
We shouldn’t even be talking about pitch framing if we had robo umpires. Framing only shows how difficult it is, for a person to call balls and strikes. It should be done with technology.
BeeVeeTee
What happens if technology advances take over your job as well? People are complaining about shifting the defense against left hand batters is taking away from players getting hits.
ChiSoxCity
Rondon, do a google search on pitch framing and educate yourself. It’s how you receive a pitch behind the plate.
jleve618
From what I’ve heard robo umps will actually require an additional human on the crew to run it, thus creating more umpiring jobs.
wordonthestreet
Oh ChiSoxCity there you go again talking out of your rear end. No it is not a “skill” its a dumb “stat” no one even agrees on how its measured.
I know many Sox fans that actually know baseball. Try to study and learn
ChiSoxCity
So the new coach the cubs hired to help catchers with “FRAMING” is just there to teach a stat. Do you people realize how stupid you sound?
bigbadjohnny
interesting……this tells me one thing…….Contreras will be traded……..
Driver is to improve Caratini skills behind the plate………Driver is not for Contreras…….
Contreras has injury problems……he is a glass doll…….hot streaks….and long cold streaks……has more trade value and may never be this high again.
Look how Darvish improved with Caratini behind the plate …….Caratini worked well with Mills also……….
Contreras is the catcher that will be traded.
ChiSoxCity
This is nonsensical. Caratini is a better than Contreras framing pitches. If they were getting rid of Contreras, they wouldn’t need a specialist in the staff.
BeeVeeTee
Did the Cubs have Contreras playing right filed in 2016 when Ross and Montero splitting time as catcher?
wordonthestreet
No the Cubs called up Contreras midseason and he became the primary catcher by seasons end.
ChiSoxCity
word, you are officially an idiot.
BeeVeeTee
We should expect this from people with very little baseball knowledge or just Cubs’ fans!
ChiSoxCity
Yep, Contreras has played RF. He was terrible, too.
coinman
How about the fact of Jon Lester starting every five days who has the yips about throwing to first base. Makes it difficult for a catcher to throw a runner out when the runner has a 15 foot plus lead from the base.
jdan74
Underwhelmed.