Talking Backups for the Cardinals' Backstop

Jenifer Langosch, a reporter for MLB.com on the Cardinals, wrote a wonderful article on March 6, 2012 about the prospects being developed for Yadier Molina’s backup now that the Cardinals organization have solidified their backstop man for the next five years—an opportunity that we as a town have waited on for a long time.

Molina has been with the organization for some time now (he learned the position from our new manager, Mike Matheny before his departure to the Giants), and his presence behind the plate became noticed as base runners began to second guess the possibility of stealing second and when clutch batting became a habit for him after a soaring homerun over the left field wall at Shea Stadium against the Mets towards the final games of the 2006 National League Championship series.

Yadi turned the catcher’s position into a glamorous spectacle for fans of the sport aside from the traditional dirty, gritty and brutal position routines.  The Majors became interested in what catchers really do after the power hitting Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins.  Yadi took that to the next level; he became the conductor of the St. Louis Symphony Cardinals.

An almost puppet master in his own right, Yadi began to influence the game with his intensity, his line of sight, his calming demeanor for his pitching staff and clutch hitting performance behind the plate.  There’s not much really to be said about any of this as these athletic characteristics have now become synonymous with the name Molina-and we love it. Watch a Cardinals game on TV and watch Yadi’s eyes when the cameras get a close up of him before pitches are delivered; it’s mesmerizing.

For Koyie Hill, Bryan Anderson and Tony Cruz, they need to get comfortable for a little while longer.  These gentlemen are training to become Yadi’s backup this season-and for seasons to come.  An opportunity like this doesn’t come around a lot in baseball.  Langosch (March 6, 2012) reports that Molina, “…has started 82 percent of [the Cardinals’] games since 2009—the highest such percentage in the Majors…” and he’s still going strong.

The new five-year, $75 million contract puts the foundation firmly fixed behind home plate for a little while longer in St. Louis.  It was once said that to be a first baseman in the Cardinals’ farm system was a curse to a life longing for a chance at the Majors unless you were traded to another team as Pujols was set in his position; the spot in which Hill, Anderson and Cruz are playing for is the same situation.

A chance to orchestrate the Cardinals organization is one that will be earned not just by numbers, rather by how much they’re willing to learn from the best.  Pardon the puns, but it will be an uphill battle for the three vying for that spot, and there is no guarantee that anyone will cruise into that position (sorry Mr. Anderson, there’s not much of a pun for your name unless I pull out the cliché Matrix revelation that you’re the next Neo, or “the One” for the spot). They’re ready to learn, to work and to play a role for the organization.  Right now, they’re working with pitchers, learning each delivery, taking drills and getting chances to swing the bat.  They want this not just for their selves, but for the organization as a whole. Langosch quotes Matheny in her article in saying, “The backup catcher needs to come in here and show these guys that it’s not about him,” (March 6, 2012).

Regardless of the fact that one of these outstanding candidates for Yadi’s backup for the upcoming season can only make the team, it’s almost assured that the three-Musketeers if you mind-will gain the best learning opportunity of any player in the Cardinals’ farm system in seasons to come.  Each one of these players will have outstanding seasons regardless if they’re playing for the Memphis Redbirds or the St. Louis Cardinals.  It’s a nice problem for Manager Matheny to have for his coming tenure as our new skipper; a problem he understands well, can empathize with the players and help develop them through his process for the club.  He’s been there as the Minor Leaguer and as the backstop man.  He developed Yadi, and we see many of Yadi’s playing techniques mirror Matheny’s.  Hill quoted to Langosch on March 6, 2012 that he, “…thought this would be a great opportunity, not to just watch one of the best [Molina], but to be around and pick the brain of another [Matheny].  It would be a way to expand your catching horizons.”

Matthew Leach (MLB.com columnist) reported in his March 3, 2012 article that the contract offered to Molina is for much more than his performance as a position player and 2011 hitting performance; it’s for his presence in the clubhouse and how he teaches those players around him every day.

Hill, Anderson and Cruz understand that their role reaches father than just a roster spot for the 2012 season.  Developing their playing abilities and becoming an intricate part of the learning process at each stage can create a butterfly effect throughout the organization in many positive ways.  That’s what the organization wants from its players-to be team players, and the one position player that understands that more than any other position player is the catcher.  They are watching you!