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2008 The Practically Perfect Backup Catcher just grinds on. A decade after earning that moniker, Zaun continues to put up good OBPs, show some pop, and play so-so defense. A switch-hitter with that profile is valuable; indeed, 2008 will be the former journeyman's fifth season with the Jays. The biggest problem is his playing time; he's led the Jays in innings caught in three of the last four seasons, making it hard to justify the "B" in PPBC. 2007 Not since Danny Noonan has someone done more to prove that sometimes the caddy is better than the guy whose clubs he`s carrying. The Blue Jays caught a break when Rod Barajas` reneged on their contract offer, which allowed them to keep the more valuable player in Zaun. Expect some decline in the home run output, but Zaun can handle a pitching staff, and he treats his at-bats like he`s getting residuals from the Brotherhood of Backup Catchers for every pitch he sees. 2006 Zaun`s starting job became secure when Quiroz came down with every injury you`d expect from someone who fell out of an airplane. Finally getting his first shot at everyday play, he responded with a season almost identical to his 2004, just more of it. Despite poor power numbers, he again posted a respectable OBP, and did the little things--like getting knocked out cold breaking up a double play--that get players labeled as gamers. In what`s become a career somewhat like Alan Ashby`s, Zaun is the kind of catcher that good teams use to hold a position down until something better comes along. Assuming Quiroz is ready, Zaun will return to being the practically perfect backup catcher. 2005 It was a nice year for the Practically Perfect Backup Catcher, as he shook off an early-year release to post the most valuable season of his career. He did wear down under the heaviest workload he'd carried in a while, ending the season in a 9-for-49 tailspin. Nevertheless, he's back in Toronto in '05; his skills make him a good backup for Quiroz. 2003 The Practically Perfect Backup Catcher was anything but in 2002. Zaun hit poorly, threw out only 11% of would-be base thieves and had a lousy CERA, thanks to being Dave Mlicki’s personal catcher. It wasn’t until after the season that he revealed he had been playing with a torn flexor tendon in his right elbow. The Astros’ player rep, Zaun drew McLane’s ire when he made disparaging remarks about the questionable accounting practices of MLB owners. Hunsicker wants to unload the last year of his contract, which is too bad since Zaun would outproduce Ausmus at 20% the cost. 2002 It would be nice if a year from now we couldn't call him The Practically Perfect Backup Catcher, because he'd taken the Astros' starting job from Brad Ausmus. They could use another left-handed bat in the lineup anyway, and flipping the two players' roles would be worth 15, maybe 20 runs. That's a lot in a division likely to be decided very late in the season. 2001 It was a good year for the Practically Perfect Backup Catcher. Gregg Zaun was actually the closest thing to a first-stringer on the Royals, and you would think a .390 OBP would garner him more consideration as a possible starter for 2001. Instead, the Royals are looking to trade for Ben Davis or some other defensive whiz who’s a non-factor at the plate. Zaun threw out just 19% of base stealers, though in his defense he missed six weeks early in the season with a torn elbow ligament. A team as right-handed as the Royals are can’t afford to throw away a switch-hitter who can give them 300 quality at-bats while playing a key defensive position. 2000 Some of the world's least demanding jobs: Bruce Willis's hair stylist, O.J. Simpson Fan Club chairman, Scott Baio's casting agent, ESPN movie critic, backup catcher to Pudge Rodriguez. Gregg Zaun has exactly the right skill set for one of those. He’ll back up Brad Ausmus in Detroit, having traded jobs with Bill Haselman. 1999 Blew his opportunity and traded to Texas after the acquisition of Jorge Fabregas. He’ll never have a year like ‘97 again, but he’s someone Melvin and Oates know. Good enough to watch Charles Johnson, and good enough to watch Pudge. That, and wuss out on reviewing horror flicks. 1998 The Practically Perfect Backup Catcher: Part 2, and the sequel may be better than the original. Can you name a better second-stringer? He was never a great prospect in the minor leagues, which shows how knowing the strike zone can make up for a lot of limitations. He has no outstanding qualities but does everything well, including movie reviews for ESPNet Sportszone, and it’s almost a shame that he’s stuck behind a guy like Charles Johnson. 1997 The Practically Perfect Backup Catcher. Hits well from both sides of the plate, controls the running game pretty well and in the tradition of his uncle, Rick Dempsey, he’s a pretty funny guy. His talents are much more valuable to an NL team, where pinch-hitters are more important and a switch-hitter off the bench is gold. With Johnson and Zaun, the Marlins shouldn’t even think of carrying three catchers this season. Probably talented enough to make the transition to starter someday, much like Mike Stanley did.
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