When the Toronto Blue Jays signed Russell Martin to the largest free-agent deal in franchise history they made a massive investment in defence. Martin’s a fine hitter with excellent discipline and solid pop, but he needs to be an elite defensive catcher to justify his $82 million contract.
This puts Martin in an unusual position. He earns a hefty salary to create subtle value that’s often borderline impossible to quantify. The value of his game calling or clubhouse leadership will never be exactly clear.
However, there is one area of his defence that’s very easy to both observe and quantify. The 32-year-old is already living up to his reputation when it comes to throwing out runners.
Last season Martin lead MLB in runners caught stealing with 37, and this year he is tied for the league lead with nine, most recently nabbing Red Sox rookie Mookie Betts on Monday night.
In order to get Betts — a speedster who accumulated 40 steals across three levels last season — Martin put the ball in the perfect location, low and to the first base side of the bag. It was the kind of throw Blue Jays fans have seldom seen in recent seasons.
Before the team signed Martin catching base stealers had been a major problem. The chart below shows how the Blue Jays fared against runners over the last two years compared to this season.
| Year | SB Allowed | MLB Rank | Caught Stealing | MLB Rank | CS Percentage | MLB Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 87 | 13th | 29 | T-24th | 25.0% | 22nd |
| 2014 | 94 | 16th | 24 | 28th | 20.3% | 28th |
| 2015 | 10 | T-10th | 9 | T-1st | 47.4% | 3rd |
The 2015 sample is admittedly small, but Martin possesses a strong track record of success when it comes to controlling the running game. Throughout the season he has consistently flashed the rare skillset that makes trying to steal against him such a daunting proposition.
One place Martin really excels is the transition from the catch to the throw. This ability was on display early in the season when he threw out Jacoby Ellsbury, one of the game’s best runners.
Martin moves his right foot backwards as he receives the ball here. By doing this he creates room to step into the throw and generates the power to beat Ellsbury to the bag.
Similarly, Martin got Alejandro De Aza at third with another picture-perfect transition during the Blue Jays’ recent sweep of the Orioles.
Martin rises to his feet ready to throw as this ball arrives. Combined with an accurate delivery, even a fast runner like De Aza stood no chance on the play.
Although Martin’s ability to explode out his crouch into a throw is impressive, he can’t always tap in to that ability. Sometimes pitches don’t arrive on time or to the right location and it’s tough to get into position to make a strong toss. In these situations a little improvisation is necessary.
Following a Daniel Norris strikeout the Blue Jays’ backstop showed some creativity.
Put simply, there is a lot going on in this play. Norris throws a low changeup, a pitch that is both slow and takes his catcher out of throwing position. Also, Alberto Callaspo swings awkwardly and winds up right in front of the plate, blocking Martin.
Regardless of these obstacles — and with the help of a stellar tag by Devon Travis — Martin guns out Cameron Maybin. Even if the play was a botched hit-and-run, Callaspo’s obstruction and Maybin’s speed made it plenty difficult.
When Rays pinch-runner Mikie Mahtook attempted to steal third, even a pitch in the dirt wasn’t enough to save the speedster as Martin showed fluid throwing mechanics after picking the ball off a hop.
So far this season Martin has shown himself to be a menacing deterrent to opposing base runners. Whether it’s via textbook catch-and-throws or plays with a higher degree of difficulty, he has controlled the running game with aplomb.
While many aspects of Martin’s game are difficult to see or measure, when it comes to his arm it’s already clear that he’s come exactly as advertised.
