Alfaro and Cervelli could be Marlins’ Best Catching Combo in Years

Paul Lo Duca and Matt Treanor

In 2005, the Marlins catching combo featured Paul Lo Duca and Matt Treanor. The Marlins finished six games out of the Wild Card that season with a 83-79. It’s one of only three seasons over the last fifteen that the team finished above .500. And much of that could be credited to Lo Duca and the steady play of Treanor.

Lo Duca earned an All-Star nod that season, and slashed .283/.334/.380 with six homers and 57 RBI. Treanor played in 58 games and was an anchor behind the plate. He had timely hits that year and provided a steady glove.

Pudge Rodriguez and Mike Redmond

During the Marlins’ World Series 2003, the team featured veteran All-Star Ivan ‘Pudge’ Rodriguez behind the plate for 144 games. He was supplemented that year by arguably the best backup catcher in franchise history, Mike Redmond. In his lone year with the club, Rodriguez slashed .297/.369/.474 with 16 homers and 85 RBI. Redmond chipped in with 11 RBI that year, and slashed .240/.302/.312.

Rodriguez helped legitimize the 2003 lineup with his veteran presence and production. Both Rodriguez and Redmond were stalwart defenders and excellent at handling the pitching staff. Rodriguez’s leadership and Redmond’s reliable play makes the 2003 catching combo the best in franchise history.

Prior to the World Series season, the Marlins catching combos over 2002 and 2001 also provided offensive production and solid defensive play.

Charles Johnson was in his second run with the franchise and returned to his All-Star form in 2001. Over 128 games that year, he slashed .259/.321/.450 with 18 homers and 75 RBI. His backup was Redmond, who hit over .300 that year with four home runs and 14 RBI.

In 2002, Johnson’s season was cut short and Redmond played the most games behind the plate. Ramon Castro also played catcher that year. Redmond slashed .305/.372/.387 and knocked in 28 runs that year. Castro connected on six homers.

Charles Johnson and Gregg Zaun

Prior to the catching successes of the early 2000s, the Marlins best backstop pairing came in 1997, when Johnson and Gregg Zaun manned the plate for Miami. During that World Series winning season, Johnson earned an All-Star birth and slashed .250/.347/.454 with 19 home runs and 63 RBI. He was awarded the Gold Glove that year as well.

Zaun saw action in 58 games and hit .301/.415/.441 with two homers and 20 RBI.

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The Marlins’ inaugural season in 1993 also featured a solid catching combo in veteran All-Star Benito Santiago and Rob Natal. Santiago played in 139 games that year, slashing .230/.291/.380 with 13 home runs, including the first-ever homer in franchise history, and 50 RBI. Natal chipped over with 41 games, hitting .214/.273/.291 with one homer and six RBI.

Alfaro and Cervelli should pair to be one of the most offensively potent combos for the Marlins at catcher since 2005. Alfaro has entered Spring Training noticeably more fit, having dropped 15 lbs prior to camp opening. Working with Cervelli should improve Alfaro’s ability to call a game and his defense. If Cervelli can regain a measure of his 2018 form, the offensive drop-off when Alfaro is out of the lineup should be minimized.

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