Los Angeles Dodgers shouldn’t have a traditional starting catcher

One of the most promising things about the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 7-6 win to open Spring Training was the performance of Russell Martin and Austin Barnes.

The Los Angeles Dodgers‘ bats got off to a quick start after months of rest in the team’s first Spring Training game as the team scored six runs in the first two frames.

We all know these games mean nothing but it was a promising sign for the Dodgers, especially in the catcher department. Both Austin Barnes and Russell Martin were in the lineup, Martin as the designated hitter and Barnes behind the plate, and both had solid days.

Martin went 1-3 in the contest with his lone hit being a two-run RBI double with the bases loaded in the first inning. Barnes, on the other hand, went 2-3 with a double of his own and an RBI.

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The two are seemingly competing for the starting catcher gig with Yasmani Grandal out of the picture. Michael Wittman over at Dodgers Way, our FanSided sister site, did a good job of breaking down this potential positional battle and how it got out to a quick start after just one game.

The only thing I would disagree with is that there is a position battle at all. And to be honest, Michael is probably right, the Dodgers are trying to decide who the “starting catcher” really is.

However, once the season gets in full swing, it will become clear that the team does not really have a traditional starter behind the plate. This will not be like Yasmani Grandal, where he got tasked with most of the starts.

Martin and Barnes should be splitting time fairly evenly with other factors determining who gets the start. It won’t be based on the handiness of the pitcher for once, instead, it will be a case of who is hot at the plate and who is on the mound for the Dodgers.

Quite frankly, Martin should be Clayton Kershaw‘s personal catcher in the 2019 season. Martin is familiar with Kershaw and provides that same veteran experience behind the dish calling games that A.J. Ellis gave Kershaw.

It is often overlooked but how the catcher calls the game, along with pitch framing (which Martin is elite at), has a big impact on a starting pitcher. Martin has caught 61 of Kershaw’s starts after all, much more than the 16 starts that Barnes has under his belt.

Kershaw actually has a better ERA with Barnes behind the plate but that is because Martin caught him before he became the Cy Young-winning version of Kershaw that actually had a slider.

So, I guess Martin might be the “starting catcher” since he will start Opening Day with Kershaw, if he is healthy, of course.

From there is all really depends on who is hot at the plate. Barnes might get tasked with catching Rich Hill and Hyun-Jin Ryu as Martin has never caught them in a game and Martin might be tasked with catching Walker Buehler because of his veteran insight.

The fifth start of the five pitchers might just depend on a matchup against an opposing pitcher, who needs a day off or like we said, who is performing better at the plate.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will have a labeled starting catcher, every depth chart needs to have a starter.

However, even for a team that is trying to use platoons less in 2019, the Los Angeles Dodgers are better off splitting time fairly evenly between Austin Barnes and Russell Martin.