The Braves have started three different veteran catchers in a span of three games – Brian McCann on Sunday, Francisco Cervelli on Monday and Tyler Flowers on Tuesday.
That’s a reflection of the depth the Braves have at the position after the recent signing of Cervelli and the reinstatement of McCann from the injured list.
“It’s kind of a rarity and an oddity that you have three potential everyday guys at some point on your club,” manager Brian Snitker said of the catching depth.
As for how the Braves will apportion starts among the catchers in the coming weeks: “I don’t think we’re going to get away from the two guys that we’ve had all year (McCann and Flowers),” Snitker said, but he also wants Cervelli to play enough to stay sharp “because if something happens to one of those guys he’s going to have to continue to play.”
Whoever starts, the depth should be beneficial strategically during games.
“You feel really good about the fact you’ve got an extra guy to pinch-hit, or if you have to pinch-run for one of them you’ve got an established guy that you can put back there,” Snitker said.
The Braves’ pitchers are fans of the team’s catching depth.
“I was telling somebody this morning on the phone, ‘If you could just pick one of those guys and put him on a team, any other team, you would be so pumped to have that catcher on your team,” veteran relief pitcher Mark Melancon said Tuesday.
“It’s such a dynamic role that (catchers) play. It’s a personality role. It’s a physical role. It’s everything. To have any one of our guys is a huge plus on any team, and we have three.”
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