2010 Dodgers Preview: Catchers

By Raymond

While I was celebrating my birthday, swilling scotch and devouring large chunks of beef, Ben came up with an idea for the month of March for “Sermons from the Mound”: a position by position breakdown of Dodgers roster.  Amidst the divorce proceedings and accusations flying back and forth between the McCrourts, we shall take an in depth look at how the Dodgers are shaping up this year at each spot on the diamond.

Being behind on my blogging duties in general I shall hit lead off on this new topic and cover my respective position, Catchers.

Los Angeles Dodgers Catchers for the 2010 Season

The Starter

Name:                                                  Russell Martin

Uniform Number:                            #55

Former Dodger to

Wear That Number:                        Orel Hershiser “The Bulldog”

Bio/Fun Facts:                                   He is a Nordique; a French Canadian who was born outside of Toronto but was raised in Quebec and even spent a few years in Paris.  He attended the same high school as Eric Gagne, and when playing with Gagne formed the first French Canadian battery in the Bigs.  Drafted as a third baseman he switched to catcher in rookie ball.  He is a former user of smokeless tobacco, and his full name is: Russell Nathan Jeanson Coltrane Martin, Jr.  The Coltrane is from his dad in tribute to John Coltrane, as his father was a saxophonist.  Martin currently wears “J. Martin” on the back of his jersey in honor of his mother, whose maiden name was “Jeanson”.

Strengths:                                           Martin is a team leader and a great motivator for the organization.  Behind the plate his is a good defensive catcher.  He catches about 30% of the runner that try to steal on him, and each year in the majors he has allowed fewer and fewer passed balls.  He has offensive pop, and can be a threat to hit it deep.  He also has a little speed on the base paths and though he often gets caught he can surprise the opposition and swipe one when needed.

Achilles' Heel:                                    Martin tires and his performance suffers as the seasons winds down.  In the month of August last year he hit .239 and in September he hit .207.  And that is not to mention the fact that Martin’s offensive numbers in general have been down the last two seasons.  While Martin is tough and remains pretty injury free the wear and tear of catching seems to take a toll on him so that by the time playoffs come around he doesn’t have much left in the tank, hitting only .200 in the last two post seasons.

Best Player in MLB at C:                 While Yadier Molina is probably the defensive catcher in baseball I would say Joe Mauer average defense but amazing offense makes him the best catcher in both league.  While Martin has a better arm and allows fewer passed balls Mauer has the benefit of being able to rest in games and just DH thanks to being on the Twins so he can just put up wonderful offensive stats.  Probably the best hitting backstop since Piazza.

Beat Catcher ever:                          Yogi Berra, idiot savant of catchery.  Great offensive numbers throughout his career, hard to strikeout, and threw out almost half of the guys who tried to run on him.  Not to mention longevity and clutch hitting especially in the playoffs.

Wildcard:                                             Martin is currently dating/shacking up with Marikym Hervieux, a French-Canadian Model/Actress.  This quote comes from The Globe and Mail: “He's settled down with a steady girlfriend, and while babies aren't in the picture, ‘We are practicing a lot,’ he says, smiling.”  How will this off season “practice” translate to on the field performance?  Will he have a stronger back or perhaps his knees won’t even last until the All Star break?

The Backup

Name:                                                  Brad Ausmus

Uniform Number:                            #12

Former Dodger to

Wear That Number:                        Tommy Davis, more recently Jeff Kent.

Bio/Fun Facts:                                   A fact I did not know until researching him, Brad is a member of God’s chosen people (He’s Jewish)!  On the roster he has taken on the role of the mature veteran catcher.  Last year he helped teach Martin how to study pregame scouting reports and use that information to call a better game and use his pitchers more wisely.  He was re-signed for another one year contract to continue his work with Martin and help tutor the still very young pitching staff.

Strengths:                                           Well known in the MLB as one of the smartest catchers active in baseball; he I known for calling excellent games and his careful handling of pitching staffs.  I believe Ben would call him “Wicked Smaart”.  He got his bachelor’s form Dartmouth.  Last year he caught about 35 games, taking some of the strain off of Martin.  He also batted .333 with runners in scoring position last year making him a decent pinch hitter option.  And as you can see on the right he had to catch Mario Lopez' first pitch as we all know Mario throws a wicked "Douche-Ball".

Achilles‘ Heel:                                    Pork products, and 15673 inning behind the plate over his career.  As a regular player he was never much of a hitter.  He was once quoted as saying "I feel like when they say I'm one of the smarter ballplayers, it's just their way of saying I don't hit very much.”  He really doesn’t have a major weakness because not much is expected of him physically at this point in his career.  He is one of those girls you respect for their “mind”.  I see him playing out this year and then getting a managing job somewhere.

Wildcard:                                             Is a member of the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (Inducted in 2001).  That same year he sat he did not play on Yom Kippur saying he was “trying to atone for my poor first half.” In January of 99 he was traded by the Astros with C. J. Nitkowski to the Tigers for Paul Bako, Dean Crow, Brian Powell, and minor leaguers Carlos Villalobos and Mark Persails.  A Carlos Villalobos reference for the win!

The Third Stringer

Name:                                                  A. J. Ellis

Uniform Number:                            #49

Former Dodger to

Wear That Number:                        Tim Belcher

Bio/Fun Facts:                                   I look at A.J. and think if I was more physically gifted I would be him.  He was born in 1981, and graduated 1999.  We both have about the same height and build, and both ended up behind some great young upstart catcher.  We both hit and throw right handed.

Strengths:                                           A decent hitter, he has hit over .300 in his last two seasons, but not really with any power.  He was known for his hitting back in college too.

Achilles' Heel:                                    A young healthy Russell Martin.  Also last year was bad defensively for A.J.  He only caught 29% of those who ran on him, and he allowed 11 passed balls in 86 games.

Wildcard:                                             Only thing keeping him on the roster is the fact Ausmus is probably gone after this year, but I am sure his name has come up as a “Player to be named later” multiple times.

So that is your 2010 Dodgers catching staff.  Maybe not the strongest in the league, but you have a strong starter, a reliable backup and a decent guy waiting in the wings.  And if worse comes to worse we call up Lucas May.