Look, I appreciate the desire to improve, and I appreciate the desire to switch between one catching prospect and another when you have two of them, and I appreciate the perceived virtue of carrying an old backup catcher to show one of the younger catchers the ropes (theoretically, and assuming he’s a good egg). But Inge has never been much of a hitting prospect, and he’s had more of an opportunity to not be the next Brad Ausmus than Rivera has gotten to show he’s not the next Lance Parrish. Rivera has been dumped after less than 100 plate appearances, and that’s not enough to tell anybody anything.
I generally like Chris Kahrl’s Transaction Analysis columns, and I agree with his point here about 100 ABs not being enough to judge a player. However, Rivera was just atrocious behind the plate, and as a result it seemed like the pitching staff had lost faith in him (notice that Walbeck has caught Weaver’s last 3 starts). Unfortunately this team has way too many DH’s to slip Rivera in the order that way. I totally support this move because it will allow both Inge and Rivera an opportunity to play every day to improve (Inge at the plate, and Rivera behind it).