27 thoughts on “Gustavo Molina has been around the block but isn’t even a rookie yet!”

1. Dr. Doom February 25, 2012 at 6:59 pm

   Perhaps no one is giving him much of a chance because he’s not rotund enough. When someone doesn’t fit the “Molina” type, maybe people are reluctant to give him a chance.

   p.s. I wrote this as a joke, but while I was typing, I found myself a little bit convinced by my own joke theory. Scary.

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   1. Andy Post authorFebruary 25, 2012 at 7:11 pm

      I think quite the opposite. Third-string catchers are a dime a dozen. They get dumped off teams all the time to make room for someone coming off the DL or whatever. The fact that he keeps getting picked up somewhere may intact be attributable to his name, which in the present era certainly sounds like a great name for a catcher even though he’s not related to Bengie, Jose, and Yadier.

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2. Doug February 25, 2012 at 7:29 pm

   Here are the leaders for a first season with fewer than 130 AB.

   4 teams
   Jose Bautista, 88 AB, 2004, PIT-TBD-KCR-BAL

   3 teams
   Bob Meyer, 21 AB, 1964, NYY-LAA-KCA
   Tom McCarthy, 41 AB, 1908, PIT-CIN-BSN
   Harry Wolter, 63 AB, 1907, STL-PIT-CIN
   Doc Marshall, 80 AB, 1904, PHI-NYG-BSN

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   1. Ed February 25, 2012 at 7:34 pm

      Bautista was also on the Mets roster that year but they traded him the same day they acquired him.

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   2. Mark February 25, 2012 at 7:41 pm

      Couldn’t help but notice, in those 88 AB for Bautista: 0 HR (nor in 28 AB in 2005, all with PIT)!

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3. Ed February 25, 2012 at 7:31 pm

   Andy: Did you set the criteria at 130 at bats or 100? The reason I ask is I was looking at Marlan Coughtry’s page and he was traded straight up for Gordie Windhorn. Windhorn played for 4 teams (Yankees, Dodgers, A’s, Angels) and has 108 at bats (122 PAs).

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   1. Doug February 25, 2012 at 8:12 pm

      Also missed Derrick White, 116 AB for four teams (MON-DET-COL-CHC).

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      1. Luis Gomez February 26, 2012 at 2:19 am

         He became a Mexican League star. Awesome power, but couldn’t handle big ol’ number two.

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         1. John Autin February 26, 2012 at 2:55 am

            That’s interesting, Luis. I trust your scouting report. But Derrick White’s SO totals don’t look like a guy who flails at the curveball.

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            1. Luis Gomez February 26, 2012 at 6:52 pm

               This are the only stas I could came up with: Derrick White’s 2008 Winter League stas (his last season with Mexicali), 237 AB, 15 HR, .278 AVG, .882 OPS, 54 SO. Maybe somewhere in between what I saw and what you read.

               BTW, I love reading about former Mexican League Winter League players 🙂
         2. Max February 26, 2012 at 12:57 pm

            Are you saying Jesus Christ can’t hit a curve ball?

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   2. Doug February 25, 2012 at 8:20 pm

      And Chad Mottola, 125 AB for four teams (CIN-TOR-FLA-BAL).

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      1. Andy Post authorFebruary 25, 2012 at 8:21 pm

         Mottola is another first round draftee.

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   3. Doug February 25, 2012 at 8:25 pm

      And Floyd Wicker, 113 AB for four teams (STL-MON-MIL-SFG).

      Seems that P-I can give you some unexpected results depending on how you exclude pitchers from the searches. Finally went with “Played At Most 0 Games At” and checked off only Pitcher.

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4. Doug February 25, 2012 at 7:44 pm

   More backup catchers.

   Matt Sinatro (4 teams) and Corky Miller (5 teams) both had 10 season careers, without ever having 130 AB in a season.

   Charlie Silvera (Yogi’s backup) also had a 10 season career, getting 130 AB just once, with exactly 130 in his second season.

   Tom Prince had a 17-season career with 5 teams, getting 130 AB just twice, with a high of 196 at age 36.

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   1. Richard Chester February 25, 2012 at 8:10 pm

      Ralph Houk (Charlie Silvera’s back-up) had 8 seasons with never more than 104 AB.

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5. Doug February 25, 2012 at 8:04 pm

   Most seasons under 130 AB for a non-catcher? 9 by Mick Kelleher.

   Kelleher reached 130 AB only twice, including a lone season as the regular shortstop for the 1976 Cubs. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to do much with his opportunity, posting just 48 OPS+ with -0.2 dWAR.

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6. John Autin February 25, 2012 at 8:41 pm

   Spoiler alert! 🙁 I’m pretty sure that Gustavo Molina has actually lost his rookie status.

   There’s a requirement beyond that of less than 130 ABs or less than 50 IP: no more than 45 days on the MLB roster during the time of the 25-man limit (i.e, before rosters are expanded on Sept. 1).

   I think Molina has more than 45 such days — in fact, I think he got 45 days in his very first MLB stint. In 2007, he made the White Sox’ opening day roster as a replacement for injured backup Toby Hall. Molina played 10 games spaced pretty evenly from April 2 to May 16, and Hall didn’t play his first game until May 18. If Molina was on the MLB roster April 2-May 16, that’s exactly 45 days right there. Then he was also active for a few days in April ’08, June-July ’10 and April ’11.

   Sorry!

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   1. Mike L February 25, 2012 at 9:10 pm

      John A, I was having a pretty good day until I read this. “Molinagate”
      I’d be inclined to ask for a Congressional investigation.

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      1. John Autin February 26, 2012 at 2:41 am

         Better he should ask for an arbitration panel.

         (Now let’s see how long until that crack gets me in trouble.)

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   2. John Nacca February 26, 2012 at 12:30 am

      Molina DEFINITELY is not considered a rookie, due to the 45 day rule

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7. Thomas February 26, 2012 at 2:54 am

   Is the rule that you are a rookie if you start a season with less than 130 at bats? Or just that you’ve never had a season with 130 at bats and you could be over 130 for your career?

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   1. John Autin February 26, 2012 at 3:00 am

      Thomas — It’s cumulative. If you begin the year with 130 career AB, 50 career IP or 45 days on an active roster (pre-Sept. 1), you’re no longer a rookie.

      http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/about_mlb/rules_regulations.jsp

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8. Mike A. February 28, 2012 at 2:01 pm

   Note Todd Worrell, who won Rookie of the Year in 1986, after pitching in the 1985 World Series (but not meeting any of the criteria removing him from the rookie rolls).

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9. John Williams March 3, 2012 at 1:57 pm

   A guy like Tom Prince brings into question the other extreme of service time; getting a Pension with the least games played. I found this article that was pretty interesting and how just a short time in majors can be worth it. I guess this is way “overage” minor leaguers stick around into there late 20’s and early 30’s. Getting a cup of coffee in the majors can have alot more that just bragging rites (MLB Players Earn A Pension After Just 43 Days In The Majors) http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-01-26/sports/29955208_1_nfl-players-lifetime-healthcare-major-leagues

   Read more: http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-01-26/sports/29955208_1_nfl-players-lifetime-healthcare-major-leagues#ixzz1o55rpPOV

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10. TheGoof March 7, 2012 at 11:08 pm

    Only three teams, but Dennis Lewallyn takes the cake for never really getting a chance despite getting lots of chances. Between 1 and 7 games each year from 1975 to 1982.

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    1. John Williams March 31, 2012 at 2:39 pm

       Thanks for the name. He is about the strangest “major” league career. Talk about never getting a break. Was his stuff just not good enough? His minors numbers look like a control guy with a slow fastball.

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