With the announced demotion of Tony Sanchez to Triple-A today, a new issue is created with how to get reps for both Diaz and Sanchez behind the plate.
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle announced to the media today that the plan it to play each two games, and then switch to the other behind the plate.
“He needs to go down there and be a guy,” Hurdle said on Sanchez. “They’re going to figure out playing time. Neal [Huntington] and I talked about setting up a model for him to follow because we want to continue to cultivate Diaz. We want Tony to play and get reps, so that will work out.”
Hurdle said that the reason for the two on and two off program is that it is difficult to build a rhythm splitting each day. As far as the situation, the Indianapolis staff is fully prepared as well.
”We are going to try to split it up,” Indianapolis manager Dean Treanor said. “The days that they are not in there, we are going to try to get as many DH days as we can when we are playing an American League team. That is pretty much the plan right now, and then adjust from there.”
Indianapolis is wrapping up with Louisville tonight, and then play two more games against the Reds affiliate in April. Outside of that, it is all American League affiliates in May on the schedule until the end of the month, which should provide plenty of at bats and reps behind the plate for each.
As far as time at first base, Treanor said that the option has not been discussed with him and the Pirates brass. However, he doubts that as an option.
“I think that right now, catching is the priority,” Treanor said. “We have two good ones here, so unfortunately for them, we have to split the time, but we will make that up with the DH at bats.”
Treanor is also encouraged by the progress that Sanchez has made behind the plate and knows that it is from the hard work that was put in during the off-season.
“[The improvement] is encouraging to see,” Treanor said. “He spent some time with Brian Esposito, who was here with me a couple years ago. He worked with Tony and they spent some time together. He does a great job with him. I saw Tony down in the Dominican and we talked every time that we played each other. He was really happy with being there to work on some things and get better.”
Hurdle said that he wants Sanchez to always stay fresh, in the case his number is called in Pittsburgh.
“We could go to him at the snap of a finger if there was an injury here at the catching position and I do believe that the depth that we’ve been able to create here is going to pay dividends throughout the season to have those three guys,” Hurdle said.
