Catchers deserve some credit for pitchers’ success, too
Throughout the years, the Diamondbacks have had some issues with communication. And they were a lot more troubling than a batter occasionally missing a sign from his third base coach or a baserunner barreling through a stop at third when the same coach has his arms clearly raised high over his head, signaling to halt.
No, the breakdown in communication being referenced here used to be the dysfunction between battery mates. There were days around Chase Field where far too many times, pitchers didn’t listen to their catchers and catchers wouldn’t bend for their pitchers.
Miguel Montero often spoke about the difficulties he had trying to convince certain starters and relievers to throw a certain pitch in a certain situation. Johnny Estrada used to say it didn’t matter what he told a pitcher because “half of them don’t listen to me anyway.”
And when superstars like Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling were dealing, well, a good catcher usually just kept his mouth shut and didn’t say much at all.
Which brings us to the 2017 Diamondbacks and their starting rotation, which, entering Friday night’s 10-game homestand that began against the Dodgers, ranked second in the National League in ERA (3.18) and innings pitched (99) and
third in strikeouts (92) and wins (seven).
“They’ve been a tremendous value for what we’re trying to establish here,” manager Torey Lovullo said of his starting five. “The teams I’ve been a part of that that have had success for the entire season, the starting pitching has set the tone, has been able to work deeper into games and hand it off to the bullpen.
“There’s a lot of value in that because it also allows a bullpen to not get overworked, and I think in August and September when you need to be playing your best baseball, you need a team that’s refreshed and strong, and that’s what we’re looking for our starters to do – is to help out that whole equation.”
Yeah, but the rotation wouldn’t be nearly as steady as it has been thus far without their rocks behind the plate in the catcher threesome of Jeff Mathis, Chris Iannetta and Chris Herrmann. The Diamondbacks made a concerted effort to change their philosophies in terms of how their backstops handle a pitching staff, and so how much credit should the receivers receive?
“A lot. A lot,” Lovullo said. “I know we have some really, really impressive minds behind the plate that are reading swings, that are framing pitches, that are studying in between their starts, and they deserve some of this credit as well.
“So I’m glad you were able to ask that question because I need to give them some credit where credit is due. It’s a very capable bunch that cares about their starting pitcher and beyond in each game, and I think that’s translated. They complement one another. It’s a partnership, and I see that partnership growing and getting stronger every day.”
So do the catchers, who say they couldn’t be more proud of their starting pitchers – Zack Greinke, Patrick Corbin, Taijuan Walker, Robbie Ray and Shelby Miller.
“They’ve been throwing the ball well,” Mathis said. “I think you hit it on the head. Pitching is the most important thing in this game, and the way those guys have thrown the ball so far, it’s definitely been impressive. They’ve definitely kept us in ballgames, and I’ve really been impressed by that.”
It hasn’t just been their efforts on the mound during games, according to Mathis and Iannetta. It’s been each of the pitchers' dutifulness during advance meetings and when narrowing the homework on swing recognitions of certain hitters in key situations. It’s been about how they work out and take care of their business between starts.
And yes, it’s been about air-tight and crystal-clear communication between thrower and catcher.
“I think the results are showing you how well they’re doing,” Iannetta said. “It’s been a lot of information, but they’ve done a great job. They’ve been extremely prepared. They’ve done their own homework. They’ve been using the information that’s been given to them and they’ve been pitching great.
“The proof is in the execution and in the numbers.”
That the rotation has been carrying the torch early on hasn’t been lost on Diamondbacks hitters.
“They’ve been great, from Zack all the way through the fifth spot,” first baseman Paul Goldschmidt said. “They’ve done a great job. They’ve been putting up a bunch of zeroes, giving us a chance to score some runs, taking some heat off the bullpen, going deep into games. Especially the last few game, so that’s been huge.”
Mathis says it’s because the pitchers are focused, competitive and teachable. That’s another nice way of saying they listen, which some Arizona pitchers over the years weren’t also so good at.
“These guys, everybody is all ears,” Mathis said. “They’re always bouncing stuff off of each other and off of us catchers.”
There is a little matter of having some talent, too, of course.
“The information doesn’t mean anything if you don’t execute,” he said. “You need it in order to be prepared. It gives you a leg up if you’re able to use it and process it. But it’s when you take all of that and execute it the way they have when you get these results.”