Braves' catchers feel pressure of Lopez's return

[HMFFL]

The Braves signed catcher Javy Lopez on Dec. 20, which probably didn't brighten Christmas for young catchers Clint Sammons and Brayan Pena. Their chances at the backup catcher job took a blow.

To their credit, both have shown a positive attitude this spring.

"I don't think it's discouraging," said Sammons, the former University of Georgia standout from Decatur. "You've just got to bide your time and hope you get a fair shot. I'm coming to camp and building on what I did last year."

Sammons, 24, earned his first major-league call-up after hitting .249 with nine homers between stops at Class A Myrtle Beach and Class AA Mississippi. He's a "catch-and-throw" guy, a standout defensive catcher who hits just enough.

That's the typical job description for a backup catcher. But Lopez, a former Braves All-Star slugger, presents a compelling alternative for team officials.

At 37, Lopez isn't the hitter he was years ago. But he might be a better defensive catcher after he focused on that in winter workouts with Braves bench coach Chino Cadahia.

Lopez could also give the Braves a legitimate power threat as a pinch-hitter, unlike the other candidates. As first-base coach Glenn Hubbard said while watching him take batting practice Friday, "That's a three-run homer waiting to happen."

The Braves usually employed backup catchers from the catch-and-throw mold in the past, and didn't use them much as pinch-hitters. But if they go with Lopez as their backup, they could use him to pinch-hit when he's not behind the plate, with outfielder Matt Diaz available as an emergency catcher if starter Brian McCann got hurt. Diaz caught in Kansas City's instructional league three years ago.

The Braves will wait to decide on the backup job after seeing Lopez in spring games. Going deep against coaches in batting practice is one thing. Doing it against major-league pitchers is another.

"It's basically going to come down to what they want to do," Sammons said. "If it's a defensive position, I think I've got a good shot. That's what I do."

Link