I haven’t been the biggest andrew knapp fan. This much is apparent. I wrote a piece back in january detailing the need for the team to upgrade their backup catcher position and to a point, that position still stands.Define cognitive learning theory staring blankly at a slash line of .167/.352/.286 would lead one to think that the player with those numbers isn’t exactly major league caliber.Define cognitive learning theory it makes you question the judgement of an organization that continues to keep him around, giving him regular plate appearances to keep the starter, J.T.Define cognitive learning theory realmuto, fresh.

Then you realize that there must be other things that someone like knapp brings to the table. It can’t be all about numbers - there have to be outside forces like clubhouse presences, intangibles, things that are not quantifiable that the team sees that makes them continue to cut that paycheck.Define cognitive learning theory that has to count for something, right? By all accounts, knapp is a pretty cool dude. His teammates seem to like him and the pitching staff seems to have a degree of respect for him.Define cognitive learning theory however, we like to be able to put numbers on things. There are two things knapp does that are starting make me appreciate what he brings to the table a little more.Define cognitive learning theory he can get on base

We all know the job of a backup catcher. Make sure the starter is prepared, handle the pitching staff, and try not to be a complete blackhole when in the batter’s box.Define cognitive learning theory while knapp’s batting average tells us one story, his on base percentage tells another. Through tuesday, there were 63 catchers with at least 40 plate appearances.Define cognitive learning theory of those 63, knapp’s .352 OBP ranks tied for 12th among all those catchers. It isn’t much, but when knapp gets to the plate, we know he has a pretty good chance of reaching base, and really, can you ask for anything more from the backup catcher?Define cognitive learning theory sure, it would be nice if he were to have some pop to go along with that on base percentage (his .286 SLG puts him 47th among those same catchers), at least he isn’t so horrendous he is an embarrassment with the bat.Define cognitive learning theory it helps that when he gets up to hit, he has a pretty good idea of what the strike zone is on that particular day, which he is obviously putting to good use.Define cognitive learning theory so while some might prefer a backup catcher who is more of a power threat when they do get those 4-10 plate appearances a week, at least knapp is doing something productive with his appearances.Define cognitive learning theory zach eflin must really like him

Judging by those two seasons, we can pretty easily determine that if eflin is on the mound, knapp should be behind the plate.Define cognitive learning theory if you’re as enamored by the defensive stats for catching as I am, you wouldn’t find much to be happy with when it comes to knapp’s game. He’s still below average in everything - framing, throwing and blocking.Define cognitive learning theory yet the fact that eflin noticeably improves while knapp is behind the plate means there are other factors here that are not able to be quantified that give knapp value to this ballclub.Define cognitive learning theory

I’m not going to sit here and tell you that you should like knapp. Why, in our group chats here at TGP, the phrase “fire into the sun” comes up frequently when we discuss knapp.Define cognitive learning theory even these two meager reasons aren’t exactly the things that excite many people. When we look for reasons why knapp is still on the roster, outside of the inability to find better options, we can point to those two and nod accordingly.Define cognitive learning theory we also can sense based on last year’s trade for wilson ramos that the team will look to improve if it has to. That probably won’t happen with realmuto around, but we know that they would easily pull the trigger if they had to.Define cognitive learning theory for now, though, let’s lean into this angle of trying to give some love to andrew knapp. He isn’t the flashiest thing, but doggone it - he does give the team some positive value.Define cognitive learning theory we can appreciate that!