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April 13, 2006

Personal and/or Preferred Catchers

It's interesting that Randy Johnson is pitching for the Yankees today - at least to me - because just this morning I read an essay in Baseball Between the Numbers (by the Baseball Prospectus Team of Experts) regarding the impact of defensive minded catchers on pitchers performance. (And, as Yankees fans have learned, the Big Unit has a preference to throw to catchers whose first priority is their craftsmanship behind the dish.)

You know those defensive-oriented catchers, don't you? These are the players known for showing leadership and communication skills, being able to call a great game, block pitches, frame pitches to get strikes, etc. It's the Joe Girardi type of catcher. The focus of the essay in Baseball Between the Numbers was on whether or not these types of backstops favorably impact pitching performance.

The final findings in the book state that there is no consistent, objective, and dependency free data to support the notion that the Girardi types are able help a pitcher perform better - over the catcher not known chiefly for his work with the catcher's mask and mitt.

This makes sense, right? While people do like to debate that happy hens lay better eggs, the fact of the matter is that hens, happy or not, still lay eggs. And, therefore, a pitcher, if he's great, is going to be great, regardless of whether or not his catcher is defensive-oriented, because that's what a great pitcher does - he's great. On the flip side, the smartest catcher in the world is not going to make someone like Willie Banks a better pitcher - because once you're a human batting-tee, and you've been one for years, the odds are very strong that you're always going to be a human batting-tee.

Now, some might say that throwing to a catcher-type that you prefer probably motivates the pitcher to an extent. I would contest this as pleasure and pain motivate people - not having a catcher who they prefer. It works like this: I'm going to do this because it brings me pleasure - or I'm going to do this to avoid pain. Conversely, I'm not going to do this because it brings me pleasure to avoid it - or I'm not going to do this because it will bring me pain to do it.

Randy Johnson uses his talent to pitch well because it either pleases him to do well - or because he can't stand the pain of not doing well. Randy Johnson does not use his talent to pitch well because he likes his catcher.

So, the question comes up - why allow a situation where your pitcher can demand a certain type of catcher? Well, there's an answer here. Remember, people are motivated by pleasure and pain. This means they will be happy or sad - but still motivated to do something, if you (as a manager) angle it properly (pushing the right buttons for them to take action).

However, as a manager, would you prefer to manage a person (or group) who were motivated out of pleasure or pain? Trust me, it's easier to manage happy people. Yes, if someone is doing something just to avoid pain then they're still going to get the job done. But, the residual wake of them having ill feelings could eventually touch another area somewhere that will cause you, the manager, some extra and unwanted work.

Therefore, if there's no advantage or disadvantage to having a pitcher throw to a certain type of catcher (in terms of performance results) - but, it makes the pitcher happy, why not (as a manager) do it? Personally, I would rather hear my staff whistle while they work than grouse and grunt - just for my own peace of mind.

Perhaps that is the benefit of a Joe Girardi type of catcher? If there's no harm, keep 'em happy. Sure, it's Wilma Flintstone Rockenspiel jingle "keep your pappy happy" logic, but, where's the harm in that?

Posted by Steve Lombardi at April 13, 2006 11:04 AM

Comments

The way I figure it, is that it's a good way to give your primary catcher a day off. Nothing wrong with that.

Posted by: Raf [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 13, 2006 01:49 PM