But he’s not telling, apparently.
As for the backup catcher, Piniella definitely has some ideas regarding Paul Bako, Koyie Hill and Mark Johnson. Asked if it was a wide open race, he said: “It’s not as wide open as the mouth of the Amazon.” Muskat Ramblings.
My old guy folksy witicism detector isn’t as sharp as it could be, but I think that means Lou pretty much knows who the back-up is going to be.
Of course, if that’s the case, it’s hard to imagine it being anyone other than Paul Bako. It’s not as if Hill or Johnson has absolutely blown up in Spring Training in the short time they’ve had, and Bako – for better or WORSE – Bako is an established, Major League back-up catcher. Johnson sort of is, too, but has anyone ever really thought he was in the competition?