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2007 Cota had just one double to show for 110 plate appearances last year. It was a fluke, of course; Cota hit 20 the year before. Cota`s production is all too typical for Pirate catchers; Don Slaught would probably make a list of the team`s top-five all-time offensive catchers. For a franchise with a history going back to the nineteenth century, that`s amazing. Given the same number of at-bats next year--about all he can expect--if nothing else, Cota should double his doubles several times over. 2006 Has all of his fingers and toes, but miscast as a starting catcher in the wake of the Benito Santiago meltdown. He`s the quintessential catch-and-throw backup unencumbered by anything resembling sustainable offensive skills. Steve Lake, your life is calling. 2005 Cota is ready to step into a more regular role. Unfortunately, he'll initially be stuck behind Benito Santiago, with no reasonable expectation that this represents an improvement. So instead, Cota will have to outshine J.R. House to stick and be in a position to stake a claim to the starter's job by July; with Paulino and Doumit both on the way up, it won't pay to lose that fight. Cota's problem is that his future is now, so his shot at being a regular depends on getting that break in 2005. 2003 In two years at Triple-A Nashville, Cota has displayed line-drive power and a lack of plate discipline, the broken record of the Pirates’ organization. The question is whether he can play defense well enough to be a backup in the majors. He does not throw particularly well, but is mobile and has good hands. With Keith Osik now out of the picture, Cota should earn some big-league meal money in 2003, but he has a pretty low ceiling. 2002 Cota returned from an injury-marred 2000 season to post his best numbers yet, boosted by health and the Pacific Coast League. He showed good pop at the plate and, most importantly, his best glove work as a pro, including some quality plate-blocking to go with his strong throwing arm. That said, he doesn’t walk much, so he could use another half-season in Triple-A before becoming Jason Kendall’s backup. 2001 The Pirates profess to be pleased with Humberto Cota’s progress, even if it looks like regression to these eyes. Cota’s walk rate and strikeout-to-walk ratios collapsed, and he hit for no power. He was young for Double-A, so we can cut him some slack, but the fundamental skills of offense aren’t here. On defense, Cota has quickened his release to second base, in part to compensate for what isn't a great arm. The Bucs are spending a lot of time working with him; he seems to need it. 2000 Cota is an outstanding defensive catcher who has a lot of work to do with the bat. He more than doubled his walk rate after the trade, which could manifest itself in improved offensive production this year. For now, the Pirates view him as their best long-term catching prospect, although that seems optimistic and ignores the presence of Rico Washington and perhaps Craig Wilson. 1999 Cota is a long way from the majors, but any catcher who ranks among the league leaders in offense deserves mention as a prospect. The young Mexican was second in the league in homers and RBI, third in extra base hits and slugging average, and fifth in total bases. Not a bad catcher, either.
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