The Erosion of Gerald Laird
July 23rd, 2009 | by jelletlambie |It had become clear that Dane Sardinha was not the answer to the Tigers backup catching question. Through 12 games he had three hits in 31 at-bats, 16 K’s and the lowest batting average of any position player in the majors. While his teammates seemed to enjoy his jovial manner and his abilities behind the plate it wasn’t enough to save him from the inevitable demotion that came after hitting .097, albeit in limited opportunities. Starting catcher Gerald Laird was being seemingly forced into the lineup more often due to the lack of a quality backup option at the position. Short of asking Brandon Inge to take a turn or two behind the plate something had to be done, and it was. On June 18th the Tigers optioned Sardinha and called up Dusty Ryan – in hindsight I’m left to wonder why.
Ryan, all six foot, four inches of him, the 48th round pick by the Tigers in 2003, is the closest thing this team has to a major league ready catcher in their system. He’s 24 years old, healthy, and has played regularly each season during his climb from lowly Oneonta to the major leagues. In fact he played 427 games over six minor league seasons before making his ‘09 debut last month. He played 15 games during the 2008 season. In the nearly five weeks he’s been a part of the major league roster however, he’s appeared in just five games. He has 14 at bats. In five weeks. Meanwhile Gerald Laird has been busy catching 79 of the teams first 92 games.
Based on the numbers Ryan posted last year between AA Erie and AAA Toledo it appeared he had adjusted his offensive game. and was showing signs he could be the big hitting backstop of tomorrow. The logic in fact for keeping him in the minor leagues to start the ‘09 season was to give him the regular playing time he needed to continue his development. Enter Dane Sardinha. When that situation became untenable, and it became so rather quickly, the decision was made to bring Ryan north, to give him the opportunity to fill the backup catchers role and maybe, prove himself worthy of the starting job down the road. At minimum he would provide the regular rest a starting catcher in the major leagues is accustomed too.
As we wind down the month of July only one catcher in the AL has caught more games this season than Gerald Laird: Kurt Suzuki (86) of the A’s. A.J. Pierzynski of the White Sox is tied with Laird for second in the category, with the aforementioned 79 games caught. Victor Martinez of the Indians has played in 93 games, but caught barely half of that number.
Gerald Laird has caught every game since July 5th, a stretch of 12 contests sandwiched around the All-Star break. Ok, so he got a few days off in between, sounds reasonable. The same statement can’t be made for the stretch of 16 consecutive games he caught in 17 days between May 22nd and June 7th. He caught 10 consecutive games in 12 days just prior to that and has been behind the plate 29 times in the last 34 games.
Johnny Bench once said that a catcher and his body are like a cowboy and his horse, you gotta ride that nag ’til it drops. It seems Jim Leyland has the same philosophy. This theory is all fine and well if the catcher can handle it, and continue to perform. While Gerald has been outstanding in terms of throwing out base runners and handling the pitching staff, his offense is clearly faltering. On May 1st Laird was hitting .267, today that number is .236. His OBP on May 1st was .348, today it is .318.
And it’s not even August yet.
The toughest stretch of a catchers season is during the sweltering late summer months we are quickly approaching. Imagine going to work, outside, in the sun, when it’s 90+ degrees, while wearing a leather lined face mask, a chest protector and shin guards while squatting all day. Certainly sounds like the type of assignment that can wear a man down, especially when you consider the vast travel involved and the need to focus equally on defense and offense more so than any other position player. Unless something changes, and soon, this grinding ordeal may well render Gerald Laird less effective when the Tigers need him most.
Dusty Ryan is 24 years old. He’s strong. He’s healthy. He’s also very well rested. I’m left to wonder how much longer the Tigers will continue this lopsided platoon, and at what cost. I’m left to wonder what the point was in promoting Ryan only to have him wear a healthy divot on the bench. I’m left to wonder what the plan is for both players going forward.
If promoting Ryan was indeed to regularly spell Laird and in the same breath give Dusty the at-bats and experience he will need to someday take over the position, then what has happened to stall those plans? I’m not aware of any injury or performance issue that has sidelined the youngster. Yes, he is hitting .143. He has a grand total of two hits in 14 at-bats. You try swinging a bat against major league pitchers once a week and see how well you fare.
If Ryan is the answer, then he needs to see more playing time going forward. If he is not, then someone else still needs to help ease the burden on Gerald Laird. Catchers like Johnny Estrada, Paul LoDuca and Doug Mirabelli, all with years of MLB service time are free agents, and likely available to handle the same role Ryan currently fills, or more. The minor leagues are littered with backup catchers. You can barely skip a rock without hitting two or three reserve backstops who could provide a respite to Laird while allowing Ryan to hone his skills full time in Toledo. There is even I suppose the uber longshot of promoting hot hitting Alex Avila to catch a few games here and there, although it is a desperate option at this point.
Regardless of the solution, the problem has presented itself, quietly, with little fan fare. It is problems like this that can sink a winning team with little warning. If Gerald Laird has lost 30 points on his batting average and OBP now, how much more will he drop in another month? In two months? Could Laird be a superhuman exception to the rule who will continue getting the lions share of time while lifting his offensive numbers going forward? Perhaps, but I’m not betting on it.
I am willing to wager however that if the Tigers do not address this situation soon, it may cost them, dearly.
Have a question or a comment? Leave your thoughts below or drop me a line at jelletlambie@gmail.com
Tags: Dane Sardinha, Detroit Tigers, Dusty Ryan, Gerald Laird, Tigers backup catcher
By VegasTigers on Jul 23, 2009
You are 100 % correct. I just asked that question the other night about Dusty Ryan. You can’t use him to pinch hit. Might as well start him at catcher. Then you can use G money to pinch hit later on.
By John Parent on Jul 24, 2009
Little fanfare indeed. You would have thought with as much effort we all put into talking about how useless Sardinha was while he was here, some of us would have thought to mention that Ryan really hasn’t played.
I like the thought of getting a LoDuca or Estrada to take over the role if they’re not going to use Ryan. I just can’t guess why they won’t use him is all.
By jelletlambie on Jul 24, 2009
I’ve gotten a few emails and comments in other forums suggesting I was some sort of Dane Sardinha apologist based on this piece. The truth is so far from that statement that it would take an indian guide, a map and a compass to travel from one to the other. Sardinha was awful in the reserve role, and to date Ryan has been little better, but it doesn’t change the fact that Laird is being overworked, which was my point all along.
Thanks for the read guys, and your thoughts.
By John B on Jul 24, 2009
I think an upgraded shortstop would be a lot cheaper. Catcher’s aren’t easy to come by, and Laird ‘can’ hit… he just isn’t. Most catchers that are even ‘good’ hitters are all-stars; Yes this is a little easier to write after the first double header game.
I’m conflicted on Laird and Ryan; i like them both, i think Ryan will get more playing time based on the schedule. Ryan was the 4th option out of spring — one Detroit liked but didn’t want to go north with. I like Laird in the #8 spot, but the team seems to be filled with either DH’s or #8 / #9 hitters.
In respect to Avila… Detroit thinks they have a gem in him, and he won’t be rushed. Ryan’s future is as Avila’s backup. If he can hit, I wouldn’t be surprised if Ryan makes a run as a backup 1B as well (similar to victor martinez). He’s one big dude.
But yes, if Gregg Zaun was available for little in return, i’d jump on him.
By jelletlambie on Jul 24, 2009
John,
I like Laird behind the plate, and I think he’s done a fine job. I suppose I should have made that clearer in the piece. My concern is that the excessive workload, due to subpar backup options or otherwise, could jeapordize his ability to help this team down the stretch.
Thanks as always for the read