Behind the plate, Isotopes remain ahead of the game
Team blessed with depth at catcher
Three of a kind is not always a winning hand for a baseball manager, especially if you’re holding a trio of catchers.
After all, just one at a time can play.
Glenallen Hill isn’t about to complain about his cards, however. The Albuquerque Isotopes skipper has three quality catchers to open the season, and he has no interest in throwing any of them back.
Dustin Garneau, Tom Mur- phy and Ryan Casteel make catcher a position of strength for the Isotopes and, potentially, for the parent Colorado Rockies. Garneau and Murphy are members of the Rockies’ 40-man roster and Casteel was having a strong 2015 before a nagging quad injury derailed it.
All three players have hit effectively at Triple-A. Garneau posted a .274 average with 15 home runs and 61 RBIs in 81 games before being called up last season. Murphy hit .271 with seven homers and 19 homers in 33 games before a September call-up. Casteel had a .292 average with 20 RBIs in 34 games.
Such production gives Hill options as he can employ a catcher at designated hitter when the Isotopes face an American League affiliate. Casteel has also taken grounders at first base and could see action there.
But offense wasn’t foremost on Hill’s mind when asked about his team’s catching trio.
“We’ll have a lot more games where the pitcher and catcher are on the same page,” Hill said. “All three (catchers) have experience on this level and know the ins and outs. They bring a calm presence behind the plate to work with some talented arms.”
For a Rockies organization seemingly always in need of pitching, developing young arms is job one. Albuquerque’s roster features several pitching prospects, including youngsters John Hoffman, Carlos Estevez and Sam Moll.
“This is not a typical TripleA staff,” Murphy said. “It’s more of a Double-A staff with a lot of young, talented guys who need experience. As a
catcher, it’s exciting.”
The excitement goes both ways.
“Having three guys who’ve been here is huge in terms of development,” Hoffman said.
Isotopes pitching coach Darryl Scott hopes the catching trio will allow him to make fewer trips to the mound this season.
“I’ve worked with all three of our catchers,” Scott said, “and people don’t realize how crucial that is with a young staff. They understand what I’m looking for and can give me a better read on the pitchers than I can get from the dugout. It’s always good when the fans see less of me.”
Of course, Garneau, Murphy and Casteel have per- sonal stakes in the Isotopes’ catching job-share. Colorado opened the season with veteran Nick Hundley and untested rookie Tony Wolters as its two big-league catchers, meaning there is a reasonable chance of a call-up or two at some point this season.
Nor are any of Albuquerque’s catchers prototypical veteran Triple-A catchers. Garneau is the elder statesman at 28, while Murphy is 25 and Casteel 24. All three players are in the prime of their careers and hoping to clear that final hurdle to a full-time major league roster spot.
It figures to create a goodnews, bad-news scenario for Hill, who will face a daily choice between three talented and competitive catchers, at least one of whom will end up as odd-man out on the bench.
Still, Murphy said the relationship between the Albuquerque’s three catchers is as positive as it is competitive.
“We get along really well,” Murphy said. “We root for each other and have a healthy working relationship. I feel like we’ll be in good shape no matter who’s back there.”