Why Russell Martin is the Most Important Catcher

The Pirates have the best pitching in baseball right now. They are first in ERA with an amazing team 3.06 ERA, first in BAA with .229, and 3rd in WHIP with 1.20. That team ERA isn’t even close to anyone else. The Braves are second with a 3.25 ERA, and the Dodgers are third with a 3.40 ERA. And remember: it’s pitching that is keeping the Pirates as one of the best teams in baseball, not their hitting. Their hitting has some really good players, like Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte, but they are also known for their defense too. Their overall hitting is mediocre. 

Their starting pitching consists of Jeff Locke, A.J. Burnett, Francisco Liriano, Wandy Rodriguez, and Gerrit Cole. Burnett, Liriano, and Rodriguez seemed like wash-ups. Burnett is 36, and Rodriguez is 34. So why are they doing so well? 

There are many factors. One factor goes to manager Clint Hurdle, who is doing an amazing job with the team. Other factors include their pitching coach Ray Searage, or just the defense that is behind pitchers. I think there’s another factor that nobody’s realized: the defense in front of the pitcher: the catcher.

The catcher does much more than just catch the ball that the pitcher throws. A catcher calls the pitch for the pitcher to agree on, finds a good spot to place the ball, knows where hitters are weak and where they are strong, and watch baserunners as if their life depended on it. You look at Buster Posey, who has won two world series in his three-year career. Then in the past theirs Mike Piazza, Jorge Posada, and, oh hell, Yogi Berra, who have all either gotten to the World Series, or have won countless titles. That brings us to the Pirates catcher, 30-year old Russell Martin. 

Russell Martin has been in the league for eight years, has been a three-time all-star, and has won one gold glove and one silver slugger award. He played five years with the Dodgers, two with the Yankees, and this is his first year with the Pirates. In each year he’s played, let’s look at his team’s ERA by the end of the season.

·         2006: 4.23 ERA (Dodgers, 8^th in MLB)

·         2007: 4.20 ERA (Dodgers, 10^th in MLB)

·         2008: 3.68 ERA (Dodgers, 2^nd in MLB)

·         2009: 3.41 ERA (Dodgers, 1^st in MLB)

·         2010: 4.01 ERA (Dodgers, 13^th in MLB)- note that he was injured this year

·         2011: 3.73 ERA (Yankees, 11^th in MLB)

·         2012: 3.85 ERA (Yankees, 12^th in MLB)

·         2013: 3.06 ERA (Pirates, 1^st in MLB)

In his prime, he caught the 2^nd best and best ERA teams in the MLB, and averages 7^th place per year. Not bad at all. He’s racked up a 10.3 defensive WAR over his career, which is actually really good for defense. Having a defensive WAR of over one is very good, and over two is gold glove worthy. He is tied for the 3^rd best WAR for catchers in the MLB with 3.9, behind Joe Mauer and Buster Posey, two MVP winners. He also has a DRS, or Total Defensive Runs Saved above average, of 10 this year, according to FanGraphs.

Offensively, he’s a mediocre hitter. I can name three catchers right off the top of my head that are better hitters. This year he bats .252/.356/.407 with 10 homers and 41 RBI’s, and he’s a career .248/.351/.400 hitter. His hitting has gotten better since a small slump in his earlier career, and still posts a 2.7 offensive WAR this year. Hitting isn’t everything, though. Martin has a good arm that can strike down even guys like Kenny Lofton or Juan Pierre in their prime (maybe not Rickey Henderson, but hey, who can strike him down?). 

He also plays a lot of games for a catcher. On average you’ll see catchers go 120-130 games in a season. Martin can go 140-150, as he’s done before. In 2008, he missed only seven games. Not a lot of catchers can say that because it’s hard to catch.

Not for Martin, I guess. In fact, he originally never wanted to play catcher. In the Dodgers organization in 2002, they tried him at shortstop and third base, but he wasn’t good enough. Finally they tried him out as catcher, and the first pitcher was easy enough and he was doing really well. For the second pitcher, he got a mixed signal for a slider that he would misjudge. Of course, it would end up hitting him where no man wants to be hit. He thought he’d never catch again, or even play again, but now he’s an eight year veteran. 

I think the Pirates are glad that he kept catching. They now have a 69-44 record, tied for the best in the National League. Martin knows how to work with his players, especially with his pitchers. That’s my reason for such a good baseball team.

Email me at statsbuddy42@gmail.com for any questions/comments/concerns.

-Evan Boyd