April 22nd, 2016 at 12:25 pm 
by Ron Cervenka I’ll be the first to admit that when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told the media that catcher Yasmani Grandal was going to begin the 2016 season on the disabled list, I said to myself “Here we go again.” I mean let’s face it, Grandal has given the impression of being somewhat injury prone since being acquired by the Dodgers in the trade that sent slugger Matt Kemp (and a boatload of money) to the Padres prior to the 2015 season.
During the 2015 season, Grandal showed flashes of power when he was healthy. But his nagging left shoulder issues led to him appearing in only 115 games and finishing the season with a slash-line of .234 / .353 / .403 for an OPS of .756; definitely not the numbers the Dodgers were looking for when they gave up Matt Kemp. But entering spring training, Grandal insisted that his off-season “clean-up” surgery to his left shoulder had been a complete success and that he was now 100 percent healthy and ready to go, and perhaps he was – at least until he suffered what was called a strained right forearm that seemed to come out of nowhere.
Grandal remained in Arizona when the Dodgers broke camp to finish up their spring in the annual Freeway Series against the Angels. He was then sent out to Triple-A Oklahoma City for a rehab assignment where he appeared in four games going 3 for 9 (.333) with a home run. He then rejoined the Dodgers when they returned home from their seven-game season-opening road trip. But in his first two games with the Dodgers, Grandal went 0 for 4 with a walk and one RBI and by all appearances, he was still ailing – until the Giants rolled into town, that is.
It was Grandal ‘s fifth-inning double that broke up Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto’s perfect game on April 16. He would hit a second double in the bottom of the ninth inning off of Giants closer Santiago Casilla. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
Since those first two games at Dodger Stadium against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the 27-year-old La Habana, Cuba native has been the Dodgers’ hottest hitter. In addition to his outstanding defense behind the plate, Grandal has gone 7 for 12 (.583) with four doubles, six walks and has driven in four runs – none bigger than his game-winning RBI on a 10th-inning double in Thursday’s contest against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. And though Grandal has yet to hit his first home run of the season, he had hit several balls very hard that made it to the warning track. In other words, he’s getting mighty close to hitting that first jack.
Although Grandal’s current slash-line of .483 / .609 / .688 / 1.297 is based on a very small sample size of only 16 at-bats and 23 plate appearances, it is significantly better than fellow catcher A.J. Ellis’ .154 / .267 / .192 / .459 slash-line in 26 at-bats and 31 plate appearances. As such, Roberts would be foolish to give Ellis more starts behind the plate than Grandal – except for when Kershaw pitches, that is. It’s no secret that in addition to being best friends, Kershaw wants Ellis to catch him when he pitches. But now that Japanese superstar Kenta Maeda fully understands Grandal’s excellent framing skills, there is little doubt that he now wants Grandal behind the plate when he is pitching.
It’s impossible to argue that Ellis isn’t one of the clubhouse leaders – perhaps even the biggest clubhouse leader – but being a great clubhouse guy doesn’t put runs on the board. As such, and if he can stay healthy, look for Yasmani Grandal to get the bulk of the starts from here on out.
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No doubt Grandal, when healthy, is a very fine offensive catcher but so far this season I have seen him several times reaching for balls rather than moving his body, failing to get down on balls in the dirt, and getting crossed-up with pitches (often going to the mound for a chat with the pitcher). Pitchers shaking-off his signals may, or may not, be a pitch calling issue, but doesn’t seem to happen with AJ. This may be related to his limited time catching in ST, time will tell. I also think he gets too much credit for the subjective stat of pitch framing considering how each umpires strike zone is seemingly different, sometimes pitch-to-pitch.
Love his offense now as he is healthy. He is a gamer and I think will work to correct whatever he might be weaker in because of his delayed start to the season.
No question in my mind that pitch framing is a figment of the imagination as the naked eye can see catchers yanking pitches in or up. As you say, SCB, umpires have their own strike zones.
I initially thought that framing was somewhat overrated until I heard Maeda say that he was fooled by Grandal’s framing. I think there’s more to it than “a figment of the imagination.”
I don’t care for stats that are subjective and the subjectivity is based on different individuals assessment of pitches that in their opinion would have otherwise been called a strike in that particular umpires judgment.
Not in my opinion. It, along with WAR, are subjective and are not reliable stats. They have to stop yanking the glove to have the pitched framed.
I don’t understand WAR either. You know Bill Russell put up more WAR than Steve Garvey in his career? The Dodgers Russell, not the Celtics? The reason: defensive metrics. How many throws from SS did Garvey dig out of the dirt in his career?
Something is going on with framing although as you say it’s almost impossible to quantify because the zone varies from umpire to umpire. It’s presentation, the same reason some restaurants can charge twice as much for the same food they serve at Denny’s. If Joe Torre wanted to do something worthwhile he could insist that umpires call strikes based on where the ball crosses the plate, not where the catcher catches it.
I think Grandal is a better all around catcher than A.J. – on both sides of the ball. It’s time for A.J. to begin his coach/managing career which I believe he will be great at (à la Mike Scioscia).
OK, I respect your opinion even when it is wrong ?
You’re right… what the hell do I know anyway:
Ellis: 9 G / 1 CS / 1 PB / 3 WP – .154 BA
Grandal: 6 G / 2 CS / 1 PB / 3 WP – .438 BA
Hmmm. Seem to have hit a nerve. First, I was only referring to defense having written that Grandal was a very fine offensive player, when healthy. Believe it or not stats do not tell the whole story. Simply watch how Grandal has played defensively since joining the Dodgers. As I wrote, it may be simply related to not getting enough ST innings but he is reaching for balls instead of moving his body and does not block balls in the dirt as well as AJ,or Austin Barnes. By the way, I agree that AJ should soon start his coaching career and prepare himself to one day be the manager of the Dodgers.
Grandal was better than I expected when he arrived, considering he led the league in passed balls in 2014, and was really mashing the ball before he got hurt. I think AJ may call a better game and excel in some other areas but he is off to another slow start offensively. He always seems to save it up for September and October, though. If Kershaw doesn’t mind him hitting .200, who am I to argue?
Last year, when the Dodgers traded for Grandal, I predicted he would hit 25 HR and was met with such irrational ridicule that it was silly. Then when he got hurt, everyone piled on – “See he can’t stay healthy.”
When a catcher goes to a new pitching staff, he is going to have more passed balls (i.e., Russ Martin at Toronto last year) because of unfamiliarity with the staff. Zack Greinke says that Yasmani is the best catcher he has ever thrown to, and he had his best year EVER! Even Clayton likes him although AJ is his best friend!
SoCalBum hasn’t hit a nerve – he’s just writing fiction! Yasmani is a great offensive player and an excellent catcher with a good arm who happens to be a fabulous pitch framer, even if he doesn’t believe in “subjective” stats.
Would like to know your source for Greinke’s quote that “Yasmani is the best catcher he has ever thrown to…” — after searching for the quote it appears that the quote is fiction. Try reading my original comment “…so far this season..” — If you pay attention to his catching early this season he is not an excellent catcher BUT as I wrote, it may be because of not enough ST innings with the pitching staff. Many like the pitch framing stats, you are not alone, but I prefer objective stats over subjective as do many others. In the industry in which I worked, our quality assurance folks would have been fired if they tried to use subjective data to make decisions. Your comment reminds me why you gave up your own blog, an inability to enter into objective and reasoned exchange of opinions.
Zack Greinke on Yasmani Grandal: ‘I couldn’t draw up a better catcher’
It was actually very easy to find on Google, although I didn’t really need to since I was at Greinke’s postgame interview when he said it.
As Mark said, no nerve struck … at least not on this end.
That quote I found; “I couldn’t draw up a better catcher at the moment.” But, that is different than quoting Greinke “that Grandal is the best catcher I have EVER thrown to.” Someone accuses me of writing “fiction” does strike a nerve.
The “silly” ridicule you refer to turned out to be accurate.
Yasmani is in his prime years now. He has played in less than half the games so far and projects by all who do such things to do what he has always done. I don’t buy the adjustment to new staff as the reason for his defensive shortcomings. He’s decent, will have a positive OPS+, but unless he can figure out a way to stay on the field for 136 games, he will again do what he has done. I don’t wish him any ill will, I just think it would be a good idea that the FAZ Depth Department go to work finding somebody other than Ellis to back up Yasmani.
I think it’s obvious to people who are not oblivious why I quit!
Hang in there,Ron!
Yes, it is obvious! I don’t know how you did it for as long as you did. You must have “The patience of Job” to have lasted as long as you did!!!!!
You disagree with the take on Yasmani? Do you also believe he will hit .280 with 25 home runs and 80 rbi’s?
I’m just trying to keep it real. If Yasmani can play 110 games I’d take it and be grateful.
I like Yasmani Grandal and will continue to remain hopeful that he has a great year. Because if he does, that will mean great things for the ball club.
I remember a prediction I made that his injury was much worse than it was being reported, but it appears that was not the case… and he is improving… like it or not, the numbers are there.
The numbers are not there. I would actually love it if they were, but until they actually are, he remains a lifetime .240 hitter. And frankly I find him to be an average to slightly above average defender. Like I said, he is now in his prime. The Dodgers have played 18 games. He’s played in half of them. Every forecasting site out there remains cautious about projecting any numbers for him. I’m hopeful, but I too am wary.