Russell Who?
That’s the easy question, right? But where is the fun there? There is no need to denigrate Russell Martin, who did a marvelous job in helping the Pirates make the playoffs in 2013 and 2014 and should always have a prominent spot in franchise lore. It’s much better to praise Francisco Cervelli and Chris Stewart as Martin’s replacements. They have been terrific this season, key parts of a team that has won 13 of its past 16 games and is 31-25 after beating the Atlanta Braves, 3-0, Sunday.
Everybody knew Cervelli had a chance to be good if he stayed healthy. But this good? He leads all major league catchers with a .335 batting average. He has been the hottest hitter in baseball since May 1 with a .376 average.
Everybody knew Stewart had a chance to be a solid backup for Cervelli after he hit .294 last season behind Martin. But this good? It’s not just his .293 average. The Pirates are 10-3 when he starts. The team’s ERA with him catching is 1.64, although much of that can be credited to him settling in as Gerrit Cole’s personal catcher. He has started the past six of Cole’s starts, including Sunday when Cole pitched seven innings and allowed just six hits and struck out seven, lowering his ERA to 1.73.
Again, not to denigrate, but …
Martin, who left as a free agent after last season to sign a five-year, $82 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, is batting .267 with eight home runs and 26 RBIs for a 28-30 team. He has more power than Cervelli and Stewart, who have combined for one home run and 22 RBIs. But the Pirates aren’t complaining. Would you? The team is getting so much more bang for its buck. Martin is making $7 million this season, Cervelli $987,500 and Stewart $1,225,000.
“As long as we keep doing what we’re doing, we’re going to go a long way,” Stewart said.
Pirates scouts loved Cervelli’s potential. He missed significant time with a variety of injuries — concussions, broken foot, broken hand, knee sprain, bad elbow, sore hamstring — and a 50-game suspension in 2013 because of his involvement in the Biogenesis of America clinic. He has been in the major leagues since late in the 2008 season, but played in more than 49 games in just one season — 93 games in 2010. But Cervelli played well when he was able to stay on the field. That’s why Pirates general manager Neal Huntington traded promising left-handed reliever Justin Wilson to the New York Yankees in November to get Cervelli. Wilson is 2-0 with a 4.05 ERA and 1.15 WHIP this season.
“We picked up a hell of a catcher,” Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett said earlier this season.
It wasn’t easy for Cervelli to step in for Martin. He worked hard learning the Pirates pitchers and quickly earned their trust with his game-calling and receiving skills. Burnett has called him a “great defensive catcher” and compared his intensity to Martin’s. “You look in and see those eyes. Russ has very similar eyes. They’re both competitors. They’re both locked in.”
Said Cervelli, “I came here hungry. I want to do well. I want to win.”
Don’t underestimate the fact that Burnett and Stewart played with Cervelli in New York. They eased his transition.
“I said in spring training that, as long as he stayed healthy, he’s going to be a huge asset to our team,” Stewart said. “He’s proven that. I’ll definitely take what he’s doing.”
The Pirates feel the same way about Stewart. He was a .214 lifetime hitter before coming here in a minor trade after the 2013 season. He credits Pirates manager Clint Hurdle and hitting coach Jeff Branson for changing his approach at the plate. He said he stays back on pitches longer and looks to use the whole field. He has batted .320 in his 13 starts.
“I kind of re-invented my career,” Stewart said. “The success has been there. It really wasn’t before.”
Stewart threw out another would-be base-stealer Sunday. He has caught 8 of 18 runners trying to steal. That is a superb percentage.
Can it continue for Cervelli and Stewart? Why not?
Cervelli has played in 43 games, almost as many as he played for the Yankees last season. Maybe this will be the year he catches 120 games. The Pirates hope one of the many foul balls he seems to take off his body doesn’t break something.
“I don’t know if he’s [ticking] off the baseball gods or what,” Stewart said. “I remember a game in Chicago. He took a year’s worth in one game. But he wears ’em, he brushes ’em off and he goes about taking care of his business behind the plate. You can’t ask for anything more than that.”
No, the Pirates can’t.
They can’t ask for anything more from either of their catchers.
Who knew?
There is life after Russell Martin.
Ron Cook: rcook@post-gazette.com. Ron Cook can be heard on the “Cook and Poni” show weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 93.7 The Fan.
First Published: June 8, 2015, 4:00 a.m.
