2012 Russell Martin Performance Thread

[LIYanks]

It's incredible that Yankees are in the first place getting so little production from their starting catcher.

[apalradio]

I saw Matt Nokes played at Old Timers Day. I'd rather bring him back next year then Martin.

Heck, even Jake Gibbs put up better numbers than this guy.

[VirginiaYank]

Heck, even Jake Gibbs put up better numbers than this guy.

You can add other stalwarts like Jerry Narron, Bob Geren and Joel Skinner....

[nnysiny]

Piece of ****.

stay classy

[fredgmuggs]

You can add other stalwarts like Jerry Narron, Bob Geren and Joel Skinner....

where's Ron Hassey when you need him?

[b-ball-lunachick]

last night was tough to watch..you have to wonder if his back is worse than he's letting on.

from lohud:

• Girardi said Austin Romine caught a bullpen recently and could be in games within a week or two.

if Martin is hurting by then, maybe some relief is on the way...

[ieddyi]

Heck, even Jake Gibbs put up better numbers than this guy.

HE might end up being sorry he didn't take the Yanks offer to extend him

[philleotardo]

HE might end up being sorry he didn't take the Yanks offer to extend him

3 years/21 M? Yeah, he's sorry.

[LIYanks]

Russel Martin used to decent at the plate until Yankees gave him that extension.

[Jax Teller]

They didn't give him an extension.

[surge511]

I guess one silver lining to this is the Yanks won't have to give him a long-term deal after the season...

Maybe he would accept a 1-year deal for 2013 while Romine breaks in at the major league level. Going with Romine and ditching Martin in 2014 could help the cap situation, and Romine cannot be that much worse of an offensive option at this point.

[ieddyi]

He's not even been that good defensively - supposedly his strong suit

And when CC uses Stewart as his personal catcher......

I think we're stuck for this year though- can't see Cashman making a move to upgrade as there's little out there that makes sense

[snapple]

Martin is excellent behind the plate. I'd say sign him now when he's cheap.

[ieddyi]

Martin is excellent behind the plate. I'd say sign him now when he's cheap.

"Offense is obviously not the team’s strong point behind the plate, but defense supposedly is. Stewart has allowed the fifth most passed balls in the league (five) despite being a backup, and he’s only thrown out four of 14 attempted basestealers. That’s a league average 28.5%, hardly what you expect from someone touted as a defensive standout. Stewart seems like a classic Nichols Law of Catcher Defense guy, frankly. Martin has allowed four passed balls of his own and has only thrown out 12 of 51 attempted basestealers (below average 23.5%). The Rays showed him no respect by stealing seven bases (in seven attempts) over the last two games. Anecdotally, I consider the two to be about average or maybe even slightly above averageon defense, underwhelming compared to expectations and reputations."

http://riveraveblues.com/

[ArodEra]

Anyone doubt that Posada would have had a better year at the plate and been at least as good (or not that much worse) behind it?

[effdamets]

Anyone doubt that Posada would have had a better year at the plate and been at least as good behind it?

I way, way, way, doubt that Posada was ever good behind the plate.

[ArodEra]

I way, way, way, doubt that Posada was ever good behind the plate.

He'll never be mistaken for Yadier Molina, but based on this year's passed balls and CS% by Yankee catchers, how much worse would Posada (career 28%) have been? And it's a good bet that his bat would have been more potent.

[snapple]

He could be having a down year. Or, the numbers don't reflect botched catches.

[Yankee Tripper]

He'll never be mistaken for Yadier Molina, but based on this year's passed balls and CS% by Yankee catchers, how much worse would Posada (career 28%) have been? And it's a good bet that his bat would have been more potent.

Posada could have been much, much worse at this point behind the plate. I'm not sure he could be worse at the plate though.

[Yankee Tripper]

He could be having a down year. Or, the numbers don't reflect botched catches.

Or a downward 3 year trend.

Let's face it outside of April last year and the occasion power he shows he's been pretty useless with the bat.

[grizy]

He really needs time off. His legs just don't see to be under him anymore.

Problem is he's actually still outOPSing Stewart.

I'm hoping the all-star break does him some good and he'll be used more sparingly for second half of the season. He's apparently (to my eyes at least) not a 120+g catcher anymore.

[dabomb2045]

I havent fully crunched the numbers yet...but I think he's around a .215 hitter since April of last year. He's had one good month since then (August last year). Every other month, he's basically been the definition of useless.

I dont think he's that great defensively either. He's certainly not worth bringing back next year. If we cant find a catcher out there on the market that can hit over .200 and play decent defense on a 1 year deal for around 1M or less...then there is something wrong.

[grizy]

Martin's just about dead average (0R fiedlign on FG) this year with traditional C stats. But he's been consistently near the top with pitch framing.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/ar...rticleid=15093

That skill doesn't seem to have eroded (shouldn't be a surprise... this doesn't require his legs) so my guess is overall Martin is still well above average defensively as a catcher.

The 1 million or less thing is dumb since Jose Molina is getting 1.5 this year to do his decent defense+wiffle bat deal... at age 37. Catcher prices have been rising for a while with more and more emphasis on defense. Even at his current levels of production, Martin will not have a problem getting a 5/2 or 6/2 deal given his age and upside.

I rather pay him that and have Romine/Cervelli backup than pay Napoli or Miguel Montero big bucks.

[dabomb2045]

His approximate slash line since April of last year:

.207/.299/.357

[Sixty one]

I was just wondering if the Yanks would be thinking of putting him on the
DL and bringing back Cervelli. Anyone know how he is doing in the minors?