Seattle Mariners should give Cal Raleigh a break
Chris Phillips
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Through a quarter of the 2023 season, Cal Raleigh is on pace to have the third most at bats for a Seattle Mariners catcher this century. It’s time to back him off a bit.
The Seattle Mariners are at the quarter pole of their 2023 season. As the calendar progresses to the hot summer months, it’s time to give catcher Cal Raleigh more rest.
Catcher is the most physically demanding position in baseball. M’s Manager Scott Servais should give “The Big Dumper” 1-2 games off from catching each week, depending on the schedule.
His day off doesn’t even have to mean sitting on the bench all game. A switch hitter with good pop, Seattle needs his bat in the lineup. He could slot in as the designated hitter on his off days, a spot where the Seattle Mariners have struggled this year.
Recent History
Raleigh currently has the ninth most at bats for a catcher this year. He has played in 35 of 41 games with 123 ABs. With a quarter season already in the books, Raleigh is on pace for 492.
Since 2014, Major League catchers have surpassed that mark 22 times. And only four men did it more than once.
Salvador Perez – 6
J.T. Realmuto – 4
Buster Posey – 4
Yadier Molina – 2
Will Smith – 1
Sean Murphy – 1
Yasmani Grandal – 1
Derek Norris – 1
Jonathan Lucroy – 1
Brian McCann – 1
By Year
2022 – 3: Realmuto, Smith, Murphy
2021 – 1: Perez
2019 – 2: Realmuto, Grandal
2018 – 1: Perez
2017 – 4: Realmuto, Molina, Posey, Perez
2016 – 4: Posey, Molina, Perez, Realmuto
2015 – 3: Posey, Perez, Norris
2014 – 4: Lucroy, Perez, Posey, McCann
Note: The 2020 was only 60 games due to Covid-19.
As for the Seattle Mariners, once in this century did one of their catchers break 492 at bats. Kenji Johjima came to the plate 506 times in 2006.
The Murph Factor
Saying Tom Murphy has shown some signs of life with the bat recently is an understatement. Since April 27, the veteran backstop is hitting .429 with a 1.240 OPS.
An outstanding defensive catcher, Murphy was the everyday backstop in 2022 until he dislocated his left shoulder and required season-ending surgery. At the time of his injury, Murphy had a slash line of .303/.439/.455/.894.
It was then the apprentice became the master as Raleigh took over the job full time. From May 16 through the end of the regular season, he hit .224 with 26 home runs and 62 RBI.
Keeping Raleigh away from catching for a game or two each week isn’t a radical idea. Servais gave Murphy two starts this week, but in one of them, Raleigh spent a few innings behind the dish after pinch-hitting.
Hopefully, a little rest now will help keep Raleigh fresher and healthier for the long season ahead and limit the wear and tear on his body in the long run.
Do you think the Seattle Mariners need to give Cal Raleigh more time off from catching?