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Cubs To Hire Craig Driver As First Base/Catching Coach

By Mark Polishuk | December 1, 2019 at 9:15am CDT

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.

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View Comments (68)

Comments

  1. cubbie991@gmail.com

    2 years ago

    Sounds like a quality move for the Cubs.

    Reply
  2. tsolo85

    2 years ago

    Now they need to hire Kerry Wood and Eric Wedge

    Reply
  3. dynamite drop in monty

    2 years ago

    When you put pizza on a bagel you can have pizza anytime

    Reply
    • jorge78

      2 years ago

      OK!

      Reply
  4. Priggs89

    2 years ago

    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.

    Reply
    • jorge78

      2 years ago

      It’s interesting that StatCorner and Baseball Prospectus would have such a variance on the same stat. A minor scandal actually…..

      Reply
  5. jhanley108

    2 years ago

    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?

    Reply
    • dynamite drop in monty

      2 years ago

      Jesus these comments are so boring.

      Reply
    • Richdanna

      2 years ago

      Because the offseason is complete and there has been such a flurry of signings and trades, right?

      Reply
    • Desertbull

      2 years ago

      So you wanted them to go without a first base coach.

      You’re a genius.

      Reply
  6. SilvioDante

    2 years ago

    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.

    Reply
    • ChiSoxCity

      2 years ago

      Great point. Looks like Contreras is staying, which also means the cubs aren’t making any significant changes to the roster… again.

      Reply
      • oldtimer

        2 years ago

        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.

        Reply
        • ChiSoxCity

          2 years ago

          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

          2 years ago

          Well, except for that time that Theo traded Nomar… to the Cubs. But go on with the narrative in your head.

        • Wrek305

          2 years ago

          That was a complicated 4 team trade. And the red Sox won the world series that year with Orlando Cabrera.

        • wordonthestreet

          2 years ago

          Actually Theo is know for making bold moves but not surprised to see ChiSoxCity not know that

        • ChiSoxCity

          2 years ago

          If you call signing Jason Heyward to a $184MM contract bold, then I guess.

    • Wrek305

      2 years ago

      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.

      Reply
      • ChiSoxCity

        2 years ago

        A team used to overpaying, like the Phillies or Dodgers, might throw $250MM Bryant’s way.

        Reply
        • Wrek305

          2 years ago

          Where would Beyant play in LA? Dont they have Justin Turner.

        • ChiSoxCity

          2 years ago

          Turner would played 1B. He’s already said he’d move if LA signed Rendon this offseason.

        • Wrek305

          2 years ago

          Rendon is likely going to California but if anything it will be Anaheim not LA

  7. mistry gm

    2 years ago

    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.

    Reply
    • twentyforty

      2 years ago

      Umm…no. Dumb…just dumb. All of it.

      Reply
      • mistry gm

        2 years ago

        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?

        Reply
    • ChiSoxCity

      2 years ago

      That’s not how this work, bud.

      Reply
      • mistry gm

        2 years ago

        Thats how it could work if you wanted the Cubs to win instead of the sox.

        Reply
        • ChiSoxCity

          2 years ago

          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.

    • Wrek305

      2 years ago

      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

      Reply
      • ChiSoxCity

        2 years ago

        *If Bryant has two years of control left.

        Reply
      • mistry gm

        2 years ago

        I see, so we should let him go in two years and get nothing, great idea. I should have suggested that.

        Reply
        • ChiSoxCity

          2 years ago

          Wow. I was commenting on Wrek’s post about trading Bryant for 4 players… Went right over your head or what?

      • wordonthestreet

        2 years ago

        To suggest Contreras can be an everyday major league third baseman is laughable

        Reply
    • wordonthestreet

      2 years ago

      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

      Reply
  8. Ully

    2 years ago

    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.

    Reply
  9. JD396

    2 years ago

    They hire Craig Coach to drive the bus to the airport

    Reply
  10. DarkSide830

    2 years ago

    sad to see him go as a Phillie fan. seems like he knows what he’s doing.

    Reply
  11. thinkblech

    2 years ago

    Hiring Driver was a layup. They didn’t putter around, the teed it up, and nailed this chip shot.

    Reply
  12. Wrek305

    2 years ago

    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

    Reply
    • thinkblech

      2 years ago

      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.

      Reply
      • Wrek305

        2 years ago

        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..

        Reply
        • Priggs89

          2 years ago

          I’m afraid to ask, but… Where are you pulling these numbers out of?

        • ChiSoxCity

          2 years ago

          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.

        • Wrek305

          2 years ago

          40% average and 65% on the back throw. 105% ÷ 2 is 52.5%

        • Wrek305

          2 years ago

          All strikes are determined by the umpire. a lot are extremely bias

        • wordonthestreet

          2 years ago

          Watch many Cubs games ChiSoxCity? I doubt it. You do not know much about Contreras from watching him. You just troll

        • ChiSoxCity

          2 years ago

          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

          2 years ago

          I watched every game for the last three years. Attended a couple away games too.

        • jleve618

          2 years ago

          You do realize that is exactly why the framing is important right?

  13. Desertbull

    2 years ago

    Pitch framing is a garbage stat.
    Make the umps watch where the ball crosses the plate. If they refuse, fire them.

    Reply
    • ChiSoxCity

      2 years ago

      It’s not a stat, it’s a skill.

      Reply
      • Rondon

        2 years ago

        It’s a stat. And the wide difference in how it’s measured confirms that.

        Reply
        • Dogbone

          2 years ago

          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

          2 years ago

          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

          2 years ago

          Rondon, do a google search on pitch framing and educate yourself. It’s how you receive a pitch behind the plate.

        • jleve618

          2 years ago

          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

        2 years ago

        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

        Reply
        • ChiSoxCity

          2 years ago

          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?

  14. bigbadjohnny

    2 years ago

    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.

    Reply
    • ChiSoxCity

      2 years ago

      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.

      Reply
  15. BeeVeeTee

    2 years ago

    Did the Cubs have Contreras playing right filed in 2016 when Ross and Montero splitting time as catcher?

    Reply
    • wordonthestreet

      2 years ago

      No the Cubs called up Contreras midseason and he became the primary catcher by seasons end.

      Reply
      • ChiSoxCity

        2 years ago

        word, you are officially an idiot.

        Reply
        • BeeVeeTee

          2 years ago

          We should expect this from people with very little baseball knowledge or just Cubs’ fans!

    • ChiSoxCity

      2 years ago

      Yep, Contreras has played RF. He was terrible, too.

      Reply
  16. coinman

    2 years ago

    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.

    Reply
  17. jdan74

    2 years ago

    Underwhelmed.

    Reply

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