For most of the year, although Joe Girardi won’t admit it, Chris Stewart was CC Sabathia’s personal catcher. For whatever the reason, Girardi felt more comfortable with Stewart calling the signals from behind the dish. Some pitchers throw better to certain catchers, and having been a former big league catcher, Girardi chose to go with Stewart in Sabathia’s starts.
Now tonight, Russell Martin will get behind the plate to catch the big left-hander. A big reason for this decision probably has to do with Martin’s hot bat of late. In the last week, Martin is hitting an even .300 with two home runs, six RBIs and seven walks. His high walk-rate is evidence that he is seeing the ball better, and may be starting to climb out of the cellar and off the interstate. Martin has raised his average from .182 to .190 in the past week. Also, over CC’s last few starts, he hasn’t been THE ace of the staff. In his last two starts combined, he’s given up nine runs on 14 hits.
Martin and Sabathia haven’t worked together a whole lot this season, just two games with a total of 12 innings pitched. In those two games, Sabathia has thrown to an ERA of almost seven (6.75) while giving up 16 hits – two of which are home runs. With Stewart behind the plate, Sabathia has an ERA of 3.24, with 109 hits given up in 114 innings. Opponents are hitting .247 against Sabathia with Stewart, .320 with Martin.
Last year however, Martin was CC’s primary catcher. The two logged 133.2 innings together, compiling a 3.03 ERA with a .258 batting average against. Tonight could make for a good recipe by combining Martin’s hot bat and Sabathia’s success against Seattle. For his career, Sabathia is 11-4 with a 2.42 ERA in 19 games started. He currently has a seven-game win streak against the Mariners, with his last start against them coming last July 26. In that start, Sabathia went seven innings while allowing one hit and striking out 14.
Since the two haven’t worked together all that much this season, it will be interesting to see them try to get hitters out tonight in the Bronx. Look early in the game if Sabathia has his good stuff. If his slider is moving and hitters are chasing, Sabathia should have a good night.
