Craig Tatum, catcher
Could he be a regular catcher?
No. He’s a good defensive catcher, and he’s hitting .273 with a .344 OBP with the Orioles. But, (1) he’s 27, the most common age for fluke years; (2) he has a .300 slugging percentage; (3) it’s in 122 plate appearances; (4) he hit .162 with Cincinnati in 2009; and (5) he hasn’t much in the minor leagues.
Is he a good backup?
He’s fine as a low-cost backup for Matt Wieters, playing once a week. If Wieters went down for a month or two, Tatum wouldn’t be adequate. The Orioles AA catcher, Caleb Joseph, was a prospect but had a terrible year at Bowie. Of course, the Orioles have more important things to worry about than what to do if Matt Wieters gets hurt.
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