Fick Hoping to Return

After a stint in the unfriendly confines of the worst ballpark in America over the last two seasons (RFK Stadium), Robert Fick is back in camp with the Friars. Looking to earn a spot off the bench, Fick has been regularly catching this offseason. Over the course of his career, the 33 year old (34 on the Ides of March) has played 313 games at 1B, 178 in RF, 158 behind the plate, 71 at that evil, union-induced position for the American League, 31 in LF and 1 at 3B (those that recall/guessed Bruce Bochy was behind this are of course correct).

A little catching depth never hurts, but it is unlikely that Bud Black values carrying three catchers to the extent that Bochy did. Fick is often credited with exceptional patience at the plate, but his career mark of 3.91 pitches/plate appearance (P/PA) is just above the MLB average. Chase Headley is also supposed to excel at plate patience and his brief stay with the Padres in 2006 led to 4.14 P/PA. Nonetheless, Fick is a versatile veteran who is predicted by the Bill James Handbook 2008 to post a .677 OPS. We certainly have more confidence in him than Terrmel Sledge.

Fick was a budding actor in '80's, with parts in Cheers, Who's the Boss, Webster and a Gatorade commercial. FF would like to see this experience parlayed into one of two options for the upcoming season: "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" should be the diddy played when he comes to bat or, even better, the club should encourage everyone to shout "Fick" when he enters the game, hearkening back to Norm's arrival in Cheers.