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by jonnylons

Catching the Future: Rob Brantly or Kyle Skipworth?

February 18, 2013 in Spring Training

1qQwYZ.St.56Remember in 2008 when Kyle Skipworth was drafted #6 overall and was being touted as the Marlins backstop of the future? Well, that day is here and still, Skipworth is trying to prove himself to be a serviceable catcher for the team that drafted him and signed him with a $2.3M bonus.

Meanwhile, Rob Brantly has been firing his way through the Tigers farm system, and upon his arrival in a trade last summer, has claimed the club’s spot as its starting catcher.

Sometimes predictions have a funny way of working out. Baseball America rated Skipworth as the Marlins’ #7 prospect overall (Giancarlo Stanton was ranked #2, right behind Cameron Maybin). Skipworth’s bat was expected to get him into the big leagues by about this time, but it is his hitting that has dropped him down the charts. In fact, it almost seems that his glove behind the plate is the only thing that will get him some time with the big club if things go as planned this spring.

Brantly was drafted in the 3rd round, 100 overall, by the Detroit Tigers back in 2010 and it is his bat, not his glove, that has garnered attention and landed him in Miami as the starting catcher. With his ability to spray the ball, and generate a little pop, Brantly has a serviceable bat to get into the lineup each day. His glove and defensive skills are solid and look to improve under Redmond’s tutelage. His game calling has been much praised as has been his ability to handle his pitching staff with confidence.

It is a strong bet that Brantly will resume starting duties and it is even something he has grown into. But for the Marlins to have a productive 2008 draft, they would need for Skipworth to stick with the team at some point this year. Maybe he breaks with the team after Spring Training, or maybe he spends some time down at AAA and gets called up. One thing is for sure, Brantly has leaped ahead of him and so has possibly J.T. Realmuto, a catching prospect who was converted to catching. Getting time with Mike Redmond will surely make all of the catchers better but it will boil down to the ability to control things behind the plate, getting calls for their young staff, and maintaining the game plan on the field in calling pitches. Rob Brantly has that ability right now, but can Kyle Skipworth ever get to that point? Watch Spring Training closely and keep an eye on Skipworth to see what kind of value he brings to the team because it is decision time for Skipworth and his future with the Marlins is at stake.

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by jonnylons

Mike Redmond Finds His Voice In Rob Brantly

January 5, 2013 in Offseason

hi-res-151826528_display_imageOne of the important things for a new manager is to find guys who will vocalize their support for their program on the field. In practice, you need players who will respond and set the tone, who will study and follow through and execute. In short, you need players who believe in the system that is being implemented.

When Mike Redmond was a player, he came up as a scrappy backstop with a hard-nosed style of play. He wasn’t projected to do too much offensively, but would call a solid game behind the plate. As it turned out, he was a valuable leader and a fixture as a backup catcher for the Marlins up until 2005. We all know about the naked BP session that eased tension and proved pivotal for the 2003 run. Redmond also was clutch, owning Tom Glavine, going 21-48 against the Braves’ lefty. It was his intelligence behind the plate that not only made him a serviceable player, but an excellent candidate to be a future manager in this league. In fact, it was probably his most noticeable skill set.

Rob Brantly has a bit more upside. His lefty bat is projected to provide a solid average – he hit .290 last season in his debut with the Marlins. He has a short, compact swing that can hit to all fields, but don’t expect much power. He is a smart play-caller behind the plate and has a good grasp for how to handle his staff of pitchers. With Redmond’s tutelage, Brantly should succeed.

Redmond was known as a guy who got the most out of his talent – or lack thereof if you listen to his joking friends in the league. “He’s got the worst obliques you’ve ever seen in the shower,” Kevin Millar once joked. But he was a hard worker and those two traits – hard work and overachieving – are the two things you should come to expect from this Marlins team heading forward. The obliques part, well, hopefully that will come in time.

Brantly has a chance to not only become an everyday catcher in the big leagues, but he has a chance to really take root as an anchor on this team and with this pitching staff. With Redmond in the dugout, you can bet he is going to find ways to maximize his young catcher’s talents and for the two men, and their team, it should be an ideal pairing.

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