A Healthy Stephen Vogt Solves Athletics’ Catcher Dilemma

Jun 11, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics catcher Stephen Vogt (21) hits a home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the sixth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

As 2014 wore down, and the injuries piled up, Derek Norris saw himself behind the dish more often than not, totaling 870 1/3 innings at catcher, an increase of 207 1/3 innings over 2013. This workload, coupled with injuries of his own, and other catchers, slowed Norris in the pivotal AL Wild Card game, where Kansas City ran all over him, and stole the victory.

In 2015, Stephen Vogt will have one mission: stay healthy. Well, stay healthy, and be productive. In his limited time behind the plate, Vogt allowed no stolen bases, while throwing out three potential base stealers. While this is a limited sample size, it does show the potential for a healthy caught stealing percentage over the course of a season.

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As for Norris, before 2014, his caught stealing percentage was actually pretty high as well, tossing out a 26% of base stealers in 2012 and 2013 (league average of 25% in 2012, 26% in 2013). In 2014, that number dropped to 17%, while the league average grew to 27%.

This leads me to believe that when healthy, Derek Norris can be a quality defensive backstop. Norris’ increase in playing time also lead to an increase in production at the plate, setting career highs in nearly every offensive category.

In the second half however, Norris fell short of his first half marks in nearly every offensive category, while only having nine fewer at-bats post All-Star game. While this may be a cause for concern down the road, it could also be due to the increase in playing time. At the break, Norris had collected 197 at-bats in 95 team games.

In the second half, Norris had 188 at-bats in just 67 team games. Catching wears down every catcher at some point every season. At a point, their legs just aren’t as fresh, and this could be the reason, along with nagging injuries, that his production took a dip in the second half.

So why in an article that has Stephen Vogt in the title have we talked non-stop about Derek Norris? If Vogt stays healthy, and is producing at levels around his .279 batting average, 9 homers and 35 rbi of 2014, that bodes well for the production of Derek Norris not tailing off down the stretch as well.

Last week I wrote that the A’s need to address their catcher situation. In one piece, I speculated that John Jaso, with his concussion history, may be used at first. In another, I brought up the possibility of the A’s signing Russell Martin, a solid offensive and defensive catcher, who comes with a strong, positive clubhouse presence.

While Martin may still be the best option for the A’s to consider, Stephen Vogt can also fill that void, and save the team some money that they can spend to lure other free agents for 2015.

With a healthy Stephen Vogt, and a healthy Derek Norris, I am comfortable enough with the catcher position that Oakland would not require outside help. Banking on healthy can be a tricky proposition, but with the Oakland Athletics, nothing ever seems to be plain and simple.