Before you jump to conclusions and the drive by eggings begin… keep reading.
Is it time for IronPig’s catcher Erik Kratz to go up to the Phillies?
Kratz has been receiving minimal playing time so far this season. He has played in only 5 of the 12 games this season with only 17 plate appearances. In those appearances he’s hitting .250.
With the expansion of the International League roster size this season, Manager Ryne Sandberg made the choice to carry three catchers on the roster this year adding Tuffy Gosewisch and John Suomi to the rotation.
Gosewisch in 6 games is hitting .211 with 5 RBI including that Grand Slam last week.
Suomi, has 4 games under his belt in 2012 and is hitting .250 also with a home run to his credit.
It’s a clear 3-way platoon for the Pig’s backstop and soon someone will be relegated to pinch hitting, late game replacement and double header start duties.
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Now to look at the Phillies.
Brian Schneider has appeared in 2 games with 6 at bats and no hits. At 35 years old, he’s getting closer and closer to that age when you start applying to be the manager of the Crosscutters. Forgive me Northampton fans.
Really.
He had a great career but the Phillies are heavy on catchers and I’m not fond of catcher platooning to begin with. The relationship between a catcher and pitcher can be a great benefit to a team yet also a terrible obstacle to overcome.
Gosewisch and Suomi can carry the load at Lehigh Valley. I believe it’s time that the perennial IL All Star catcher Erik Kratz is listed next to Carlos Ruiz on the Philadelphia roster.
Granted, Suomi was added to the Disabled List today with an Injured Valendia (See glossary link at the top of this page), releasing Schneider and pushing Kratz up makes the most sense to me.
Those are my thoughts… what are yours?
noisenation.mlblogs.com 
Last year Dane Sardinha started 9 of the first 15 games with Kratz starting the other 6. Equal playing time just seems like it’s the Sandberg way. Charlie Manuel is also set in his ways and when Vance Worley pitches Brian Schneider catches. So far it hasn’t been working like last year but I doubt you’ll see a change anytime soon. Last year in late April when the Phillies needed another catcher it was Sardinha who got promoted. Kratz has moved up to that #3 spot and I agree that he deserves a shot. But it’s going to take in injury in Philly for it to happen.