Atlanta Braves Catching Conundrum

Aug 30, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves manager

(33) takes the ball from starting pitcher

(49) as he removes him from the game against the New York Yankees during the fifth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

AJ and Julio down by the pitcher mound

Julio’s ERA is two runs worse with AJ catching than when Bethancourt is behind the plate and four runs worse than when Lavarnway is catching. AJ’s improved work at the plate is not sufficient to make up the difference so why does Fredi Gonzalez continue to run him out there when this is supposed to be about preparing for next season? Surely Lavarnway should have started instead.

This also isn’t an anti AJ post.  Mike Foltynewicz is significantly better when AJ is his catcher as is Shelby Miller while it made little difference to Alex Wood before he left or Williams Perez.

There can be any number of reasons for this of course, Bethancourt and Teheran came up through the organization together and have cultural ties that may be a factor. Miller was with AJ in St. Louis while Folty’s power arm seem more comfortable throwing to the old man.

That’s A Wrap

Please don’t misunderstand this. I’m not saying it would have made a huge difference who caught today just, that it appears Julio might have had more success. Further it looks like another example of lazy managing by Gonzalez.

When I was in Atlanta I discussed how the difference in performance with  someone who watches them closely. He said that Gonzalez had been asked about the choice of catcher and the difference in catcher ERA. The answer was that they were aware of it. Apparently they are also ignoring it.

I commented on Twitter and in reply to comments on this site about the lack of leadership from Gonzalez. I don’t blame him for not winning with a roster built like this one, I’ve said that consistently over his tenure. However, at this in the season a teams as bad as the Braves are now need to be kept on point. Gonzalez has failed to do that  and it isn’t the first time, he failed in 2012 and after the All Star break last year.

If the next month is to be a painful one for fans we should at least be looking towards the future and AJ is not the future. At 38 years old AJ’s season is an outlier that he cannot be expected to reproduce.  Lavarnway seems at least as good defensively although unlikely to be an offensive force. A lot depends on whether the Braves are convinced Betti has turned a corner.

Watching Betti since he returned he seems to be more focused and committing fewer lazy errors; missed communications caused the problems during Wisler’s start not bad catching.  If Betti stays Lavarnway would be a solid backup. If Betti goes they will probably try to bring in someone with experience since they can’t afford time wise to start all over again.

They could go for a guy like out of favor defensive backstop Mike Zunino or even try again to deal for Jonathan Lucroy though frankly I think his price will be way too high. Whatever we do next year we need to give pitchers the best chance to perform at their best the remainder of this one. That means AJ takes the back seat he was supposed to hold when the season started while Bethancourt and Lavarnway carry the bulk of the catching workload.

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