Where's the Muscle?

by Lord Duggan on Jun 3, 2011 11:00 AM EDT in New York Yankees Analysis

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I must admit, I was never really sold on Russell Martin. Reasonably speaking, his torrid April was one of the biggest reasons that the Yankees currently sit in first place, but I have found myself continually waiting for the other shoe to drop with him. Here is his career wRC+ by month:

March/April - 120
May - 112
June - 99
July - 107
August - 94
Sept/Oct - 96

Now, as a catcher, and a catcher who spent a fair part of his career getting run into the ground by Joe Torre, it's not entirely surprising to see Martin's numbers tail off later in the season. While Francisco Cervelli was injured, I stood behind Joe Girardi's "never let Gustavo Molina see the field" strategy, but as of right now, Martin has caught 400 of the 493 innings thrown by Yankee pitching, and has already started playing through pain and injury.

After a .293/.376/.587 April, Martin hit .192/.330/.330 in May (although he was distinctly hindered by a .207 BABIP). Martin's May was by no means terrible, but I have to think that the best way to keep him healthy and productive is to not subject him to the season long grind of starting the vast majority of games behind the plate.

It's after June 1st and we need someone to catch two or three games a week and work their way into the lineup while getting used to working with the pitching staff. All roads lead to Jesus Montero.

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Wow

I knew he had caught a lot but no wonder this guy is not hitting. He can barely stand up before he’s back sqauting. Cervelli has looked awful thus year and Montero needs to be catching guys like CC and Colon veterans who are calm and have great control. Let martin catch AJ and Garcia who throw crazy breaking balls and AJ needs consistency behind the plate anyway. Get Jesus up he’s not a fine. Wine you done have to store him forever

by Kmillz2525 on Jun 3, 2011 11:09 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Great job Duggan, I agree 100%

While I appreciate Martin wanting to be an ironman, they need to keep him fresh. Even if it isnt Jesus right away, Cervelli is a good enough option to play a couple days a week.

Should you choose to test my resolve in this matter, you will be facing a finality beyond your comprehension, and you will not be counting days, or months, or years, but milleniums in a place with no doors.

by YankeesJets on Jun 3, 2011 11:09 AM EDT reply actions

+1

What about Zoidberg?

by Meatface on Jun 3, 2011 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions

Cervelli has been pretty dreadful, and I really wouldn't want to see him catching ~3 days a week.

It's like being a huge fan of winning, which we do, relentlessly.

by WhatwouldJeterdo on Jun 3, 2011 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions

It's June, bring up Montero

by Briceratops on Jun 3, 2011 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Preach, brother.

It's like being a huge fan of winning, which we do, relentlessly.

by WhatwouldJeterdo on Jun 3, 2011 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Do I still owe Martin an apology?

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by Jedi Master A-Rod on Jun 3, 2011 11:17 AM EDT reply actions

My current thought is that they are either

a) waiting for Montero to heat up
b) Waiting till after Jeter hits 3,000 because they want Jesus to take Posada’s place

What about Zoidberg?

by Meatface on Jun 3, 2011 11:29 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

What does Jeter's 3000 hits have to do with Sado/Montero?

I don’t get it.

"Our problem right now is we have too many pitchers on the 15-day Pavano. That's what it's officially called now. Did you know that? The Pavano. His body just shuts down from actually pitching for 6 weeks. It's like when you get an organ transplant and your body rejects it. His body rejected pitching. It's not used to it." - Moose

by luckiBelle on Jun 3, 2011 12:40 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

This

by Briceratops on Jun 3, 2011 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Or let Posada catch once a week.

Patience, Jesus is coming. You will be raptured.

by designatedquitter on Jun 3, 2011 12:23 PM EDT reply actions

He's not going to catch, for the bazillionth time.

It’s not happening.

It's like being a huge fan of winning, which we do, relentlessly.

by WhatwouldJeterdo on Jun 3, 2011 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t know how this didn’t make the news rounds, but Posada failed neurological tests in the offseason and the organization decided it would be too much of a risk to his future health for him to continue catching. He’s not going to catch another game while he’s a Yankee.

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by Lord Duggan on Jun 3, 2011 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions

If he failed neurological tests

he shouldn’t catch another game period.

It doesn’t matter if it’s for the Yankees, or anyone else.

"When my time on Earth is gone, and my activities here are past, I want they bury me upside down so all my critics can kiss my a**"- Bob Knight

"Talent is God-given, be grateful. Fame is man-given, be humble. Conceit is self-given, be careful."- John Wooden

"Never take anything for granted. Don't forget, great prices have been paid and will be paid again if you become too smug, too egotistical and self-assured."- Johnny Cash

by JumpinJackFlash on Jun 3, 2011 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I doubt there are any other teams that want to sign Jorge and make him a catcher, but even if there were, he really shouldn’t, and has said that he owed it to his family to look after himself.

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by Lord Duggan on Jun 3, 2011 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I doubt there are as well.

Unfortunately, I’m rarely surprised anymore though. Surely, every team would decide against the risk of him catching because it’s just not worth it. Of course, New Mexico signed a player for college basketball with a pacemaker implanted in his chest.

There has to be a line somewhere, and if he’s failing neurological tests that line is already in the rear view mirror. It’s not worth it to his future health or to his family.

"When my time on Earth is gone, and my activities here are past, I want they bury me upside down so all my critics can kiss my a**"- Bob Knight

"Talent is God-given, be grateful. Fame is man-given, be humble. Conceit is self-given, be careful."- John Wooden

"Never take anything for granted. Don't forget, great prices have been paid and will be paid again if you become too smug, too egotistical and self-assured."- Johnny Cash

by JumpinJackFlash on Jun 3, 2011 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions