Hargreaves is the thinking man's catcher

by Melissa Chodan
August 10, 2005 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Garden State Grays


Can-Am Grays' catcher Brad Hargreaves is part of a dying breed.

He may never again hit .250 by season's end or present much of a power threat at the plate.

His significance as a ballplayer is hidden in his immeasurable, intangible qualities. And to understand his true worth not only to his team, but to the game of baseball itself, one must consider the progress of the largely untenured staff he logs or the few extra wins he may be able to scrounge up by out-thinking the opposing batters.

"I understand the defensive aspects of the game and believe that it wins games more than hits," Hargreaves said. "I think a pitcher can work against a good offense, even if he can't throw 95 (mph) he can outsmart hitters. I guess that's what got me this far."

Hargreaves, 27, represents the essence of purist baseball - knowledge, skill and heart. In an age of baseball dominated by offense, the basic essentials are too often over looked.

"He's always trying to make improvements with the pitchers," said Grays' pitcher Lincoln Mincks, 24, of Hargreaves. "I like to call him a pitcher's catcher. He's always helping us out in bullpens - mechanically, pitching-wise, making sure we know why he's calling certain pitches."

Teammate and pitcher Tony Pierce, 29, added: "He's easy to work with and has an understanding of the hitters, especially. You don't have to work that hard as a pitcher. All you have to do is throw stuff where he calls it."

As the Gray's backstop, he has started every game this season and has rested for only a handful of innings, all this while never having a real home team advantage, living out of suitcases and dining on gas station delicacies.

For most, this regimen would be too taxing to bear the brunt of. But Hargreaves has been thriving on it.

"I'd be complaining if I wasn't in the lineup," Hargreaves said. "I'd probably be pouting in the dugout. This is my job, I love to do it. It's three hours out of every one of my days. It beats a 9-5 filling shelves and stuff like that. It's a little bit of mind over matter."

Hargreaves has also had to deal with a large amount of turnover within the staff as the rigors of being a road team wore down many of the pitchers who for one reason or another were traded or released.

Since the All-Star break, the team has released four pitchers including some starters and traded its up-and-coming closer, Randy Rapp.

"It's been tough," Hargreaves said. "We have a first year pitching coach, John Duffy. A lot of our pitchers when we started the season hadn't pitched in two years, hadn't pitched in three years. ...But they're young enough and they're eager to learn. (Turnover's) something that you'll see in a season. We've brought some older, better arms in and it's starting to work itself out."

The Grays have slowly started to make some progress in their last few series and the road team has surpassed others' expectations of them nevertheless their losses greatly out number their wins and they are last in their respective division.

After the seasons' end the team will be obsolete as the Can-Am League looks for a new member city to join the league in 2006 and this season's Grays will have a chance to further their baseball careers for other outlets.

Hargreaves, who has been playing professional baseball since 1997 when he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs organization, says he thinks he still has at least season or two left in him before he moves into the next stage of his life.

He is already anticipating the day when he is able to coach or manage even though his quick reactions, strong throwing arm and long stroke look to be intact for many seasons to come.

This transition from catcher to coach has historically been an easy one since a good catcher tends to have the best understanding of the game. They have the patience to deal with unstable pitchers and the experience of feeling lost in the batters box.

The scrappy veteran says he sees coaching as his opportunity to make it to the Major Leagues which currently has one-third of its teams managed by former catchers such as Joe Torre, Mike Scioscia and Jack McKeon.

"He'd be an excellent coach," Perez said. "I've been watching him down in the bullpen and Brad's a good catcher but he's also a good pitching coach. He knows a lot about the game."



Canadian American League Stories from August 10, 2005


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