The Dodgers do not plan to bring in a catcher after losing Russell Martin for four to six weeks with a pulled groin, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Instead, they will rely on A.J. Ellis to fill the void, with Brad Ausmus serving as the understudy. Ken Gurnick of MLB.com writes that Torre has faith in the rookie.
The post notes that Paul Bako is likely the top remaining free agent catcher. The 37-year-old hit .224/.308/.336 in 130 plate appearances for the Phillies last season. Another notable catcher without a job is Michael Barrett, though he missed the majority of 2009 due to injury.
Los Angeles dealt one of the game's top catching prospects, Carlos Santana, in the Casey Blake deal in 2008. The 23-year-old Santana will likely make his major league debut this season.
Hey zack,
By debut, do you mean midseason call up or actually make the opening day roster?
Because it wouldn’t make much sense for him to be on the opening day team if he has yet to play a game at AAA.
He meant sometime this season. He isnt going to come up right away, IMO.
Trading for a catcher wouldn’t be smart. The timetable for the injury is just 4-6 weeks, aka spring training and the 1st week or 2. When you are trying to see what a prospect has anyways in Ellis(although I have never been impressed with him, he has only done well offensively in the MiLB version of Coors, pre-humidor), no need to add more competition. Also, we have Lucas May who could be a backup in the majors if we need him.
Lucas May should wake up and realize this is his chance to shine. He could always hit the ball far, and this is his chance to impress Joe Torre.
I doubt May makes a big impact. He isnt a defense minded catcher and with the exception of Mike Piazza, how many all offense catchers are there?
True, May is known more for his bat, Ellis more for his glove. I just think it shouldn’t be assumed that AJ Ellis will take over for 2 weeks. With an outstanding performance in ST, they would be forced to look at May.
agree, I just feel that if we will have someone starting for a couple weeks, they will choose defense over offense
Jorge Posada and Victor Martinez comes to my mind..
Napoli, posada, martininez, salty, you could argue on some others as well
Napoli still splits time(he played 114 games last year) and even so, he hit just 272 with 20 Hrs.
Posada and Vmart, along with Pierzynski are majors exceptions. So 3 of 30 starting MLB catchers… not a great percentage.
Salty? He hasnt started more than 93 games in a season. He is not a full time catcher, at least not yet(and his career average is 253… is that a offensive threat?)
How would the Dodgers like a 2009 Topps All-Star Rookie Catcher who hit an inside the park grand slam today?
Omir Santos? HAAHAHA, no. 9 MiLB seasons, and a 258 average?
All-Star Rookie Catcher who hit an inside the park grand slam today?
Insane! Were they playing against little leaguers?
Close, the nationals.
A ball rolled under the bottom of the padding down the left field line, and Willie Taveras in left thought it should be a ground-rule double. The Mets announcers said that Taveras should have put his arms up immediately and not reached for the ball, but I thought it more likely that the ground rule was that the ball had to be stuck or out of reach, which it was not, for the rule to take effect. I think this happened up in a regular-season game last season.
Fielder turned it into a triple against the Astros if I remember correctly.
Dear Zach,
Thanks for sticking the last part in the heart of our Dodger faithful.
no it happend i saw it………and he will be traded by april 1!
pack santoses bags!
I just read the story on MLB.COM and Coletti is not a happy camper with Martin, it sounds like martin came into camp 25 pounds heavier I withdraw my previous comment, and it does not sound like martin did much at all in the off season. To gain twenty five pounds of muscle in a few months would take an extreme workout regeiment and who knows what else. You never know what goes on behind the scene and it was rumored last year that Martin liked to burn the midnight oil.
dude, it is nearly all muscle. He went through a huge workout routine to get stronger so he didnt have another 09.
I guess a professional athlete with a good trainer and an excellent diet could put on 25 lbs. in the off season. It was not to long ago in the major leagues when the thinking was not to put on muscle mass because it kept you from being limber. The only body builder type I remember was a guy named Brian Downing who was buffed out. He played for the angels and white sox. Then of course all that changed with the Steroid era. I know coletti had strong words in the press for martin with a message of read between the lines. There are many things behind the scene that we are not privy to but it sounds like Martin is in the dog house. I am sure if he plays at a high level all will be forgiven, but if he has a tough year he will be blamed.
Tony Eusebio.
This could be really interesting as it relates to the pitching staff. Ellis has caught Haeger in AAA and they might be a great combo in LA. This turn of events might bode well for the knuckleballer.
With Paul Bako out there, how can you possibly resist?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Whatever happened to Johnny Estrada?
Can we trade back for Carlos Santana? Is that a possibility?
if Carlos Santana wins ROY this year or next year for whatever reason.
im going to stone cold stunner myself.