Nick Cafardo takes a look at V-Mart in a column that broaches a few interesting thoughts: His defense is better than perceived (Chris Coste can sympathize), he may knock Jason Varitek out of Boston as soon as next year, and it may be he, not Joe Mauer, who will be the long-term successor to Tek.
As I hinted yesterday when talking about Brad Penny's stupid comment, perhaps it's not so much that Martinez's defense has been underrated but that Varitek's game-calling genius has been overrated.
I love the Captain and the intangibles he has brought to two championship clubs, but those qualities have not been able to offset Varitek's diminished offense in recent years.
I think this quote from Mike Lowell is telling. He probably meant only to inflate Martinez, but it's hard to read it without thinking it's an honest criticism of Varitek:
I've always thought [calling a game] was a little bit overrated. (Martinez is) an All-Star catcher. I believe there's value in guys who call a good game, but I think now that Victor has caught a few guys a few times he's calling good games. Sometimes that's made a little bit more of than it should be, again, not because it's not important, but I believe an All-Star-type catcher can learn his staff. He caught the Indians and they had a pretty damn good pitching staff. It's not like he's doing something for the first time.
If Varitek is still on the team in 2010, it will be merely, and clearly, as the backup.
The Phillies starting catcher, meanwhile, received plaudits for his mediocre offensive campaign. Mediocre by anyone's standards, but stellar for the Choochster. According to FanGraphs, Ruiz is on pace for his most valuable season. And, if he can maintain or even improve upon his .768 OPS, then he could see some positive offensive value for the first time in his career. Right now, he's at 0.0; his career is -23.5.
He's pleased with his season:
The big thing is, you can have the ability to hit, but if you don't relax, it's tough. If you're a player, man, you want to do good. When you don't, it's tough. Now, I'm hitting the ball gap-to-gap, and it has been good again.
Charlie Manuel still isn't satisfied:
He's got 35 RBIs. I think he could do better than that.
Today: Enjoy the grill. Be grateful if you have a job, and remember those who don't.
The Phillies turn to their stopper, J.A. Happ, to avert the sweep in Houston while a pair of struggling aces, Josh Beckett and Mark Buehrle, square off in Chicago.
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