Tracking the Pro Career of Paul Bako

[Snuffy]

I hope they give Bako a fair shot at playing regularly. The guy comes from solid stock and if allowed to play everyday would become a much better hitter than he is now. He has come a long way from sitting with his Dad at Lafayette Driller games

[NewsCopy]

It's hard to imagine a professional baseball player actually feeling fortunate when a knee injury forces him to miss the remainder of the season prior to the All-Star break.

No, former Lafayette High and UL Ragin' Cajun catcher Paul Bako isn't having much fun these days.

He's just beginning the pain of physical therapy after a season-ending surgery on his left knee June 24.

Even worse, he can only watch as his Los Angeles Dodgers continue to struggle through an epidemic of injuries that has landed them in third place in the National League West entering the second half, despite a 40-48 start.

Time off the hard way, though, has allowed Bako to review the big picture. Add up his eight seasons in the Major Leagues, 4 1/2 in the minor leagues, three in college and four in high school and the opportunities for injury as a catcher have been almost too many to count.

And yet this is only Bako's second-ever trip to the disabled list. The first came in 2000 with the Florida Marlins.

The rest of the story

Kevin Foote
kfoote@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

Staying in Los Angeles for another try wouldn't have been the worst thing in the world for former Lafayette High and UL Ragin' Cajun catcher Paul Bako. But when old manager Buddy Bell showed interest in him, it made his decision a lot easier. So it'll be now eight different teams in nine Major League seasons for Bako when the Kansas City Royals make it official today that he's signed a one-year contract with their organization. "I'm excited to be able to play for my first manager in the big leagues (in Detroit in 1998),'' Bako said. "In Los Angeles, it just didn't work out. My agent and the Dodgers talked and they were decent about it, but just didn't go quite as far as we had hoped. The rest of the story Kevin Foote kfoote@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

Surprise, Ariz. — Paul Bako is happy just to be playing again. Bako homered twice and had four RBIs on Thursday in the Kansas City Royals’ 12-4 victory over a Texas Rangers split squad. The career .239 hitter, best known as the longtime personal catcher for Greg Maddux, missed all but 13 games with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season because of a knee injury. “It was just one of those days for the home runs,” Bako said. “The best part was feeling like a player again instead of a rehab patient.” Bako’s three-run homer in the second inning, his first of spring training, helped the Royals open a 4-0 lead. Kevin Mench made it 4-1 in the bottom half with his third home run of the spring. Bako added a solo shot as the Royals scored five runs in the fourth. Doug Mientkiewicz, who went 3-for-3, added a two-run single in the inning. Phil Nevin hit his fourth homer of spring training for Texas, a three-run drive. The source of the story

[Turner]

Good to see Bako hitting.

[NewsCopy]

Paul Bako, who has a partially torn right oblique muscle, on the 15-day disabled list. source

[NewsCopy]

Paul Bako has done pretty well for a guy who didn't have a job until Feb. 1. Bako came to the Reds as a non-roster free agent. He made the club partially because David Ross started the year on the disabled list. He since has moved into the role of No. 1 catcher and Friday made his eighth start in the Reds' 11 games. "It's a lot of fun," Bako said. "Like I said before, being predominantly a backup, you don't play a lot. To get a chance is a lot of fun." Bako has responded. The Reds' ERA with him in the game was 2.63 going into Friday. Reds manager Dusty Baker has given Bako lots of credit for the early success of rookie pitchers Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez. "Even coming from the minor leagues, I always took pride in how well the pitcher does or doesn't do," Bako said. "I take pride in it. But, at the same time, these guys are the ones throwing the ball. They're doing the job." Bako has held his own at the plate. He had one hit Friday and is batting .346 with a hit in each of his last six games (9-for-19). The job Bako's done has made Ross' return less urgent. Ross was transferred from Sarasota to Triple-A Louisville to continue his rehab assignment. He was going to DH Friday and catch today. The rest of the story BY JOHN FAY JFAY@ENQUIRER.COM

[NewsCopy]

Former Cajun standout Paul Bako is thriving for the Cincinnati Reds. Bako, who signed with the Reds as a non-roster free agent on Feb. 1, recently became the team's starting catcher as David Ross continues a minor-league rehab assignment. Bako's presence has led to success this season. As of Friday, the Reds had logged a 2.63 ERA with him in the game. After getting one hit on Friday, he was hitting .346 with a hit in each of his last six games, going 9-for-19 over that stretch. The rest of the story Joshua Parrott jparrott@theadvertiser.com

[Pirogue]

Against the Marlins, Ken Griffey hit homerun #600...

yeah well so...

Paul Bako went yard twice and had 5 RBIs

http://mlb.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=cin

[Zeebart21]

Against the Marlins, Ken Griffey hit homerun #600...

yeah well so...

Paul Bako went yard twice and had 5 RBIs

http://mlb.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=cin

Dudes got the "double whammy"... Lafayette High and UL....can't miss.

Z

[Boomer]

Hey Z--LHS and My Jesuit Blue Jays have played a number of times in fb through the years---How many points have the Lions scored???

[Zeebart21]

Hey Z--LHS and My Jesuit Blue Jays have played a number of times in fb through the years---How many points have the Lions scored???

Don't know, how many?

Z