Unlike a great defensive infielder or outfielder, whose impact is felt every time he makes a spectacular play, Yadier Molina's impact is often measured by what doesn't happen.A runner doesn't even try to steal second. A runner can't score from second on a single. A pitcher doesn't have to use a slide step, instead bringing his best stuff to the plate.
These are the ways that Molina quietly alters a game, interrupted occasionally by one of his eye-opening throws that nets his pitcher an extra out.
It is the stuff that earns Gold Gloves. Molina won his first last year, the start of what figures to be a long streak. More important to the Cardinals, it is the stuff that wins games.
"He has more of an impact than a lot of people know," Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter told FanHouse. "He controls a lot through the game that the average person doesn't realize."
The Cubs realize it. Ryan Theriot, Chicago's leadoff hitter and primary stolen base threat, said that Molina is so special that he fundamentally alters strategy.
"He's the best defensive catcher in the game, no question about it," Theriot said. "He's a game-changer. You don't see many game-changing catchers. The other team has to alter their game plan because of him."
"[Molina's] a game-changer. You don't see many game-changing catchers. The other team has to alter their gameplan because of him"
-- Cubs second baseman Ryan Theriot Pudge Rodriguez, the last catcher to earn such acclaim within the game, began this season with the Astros, where he watched the fellow Puerto Rican with admiration. He saw a little of himself.
"He's one of the best in the game," Rodriguez said. "They don't run much on him, because everyone knows he has a great arm."
Molina, 27, grew up in a family that would produce two other big-league catchers, older brothers Bengie (with the Giants) and Jose (with the Yankees). All three brothers have World Series rings, Bengie and Jose with the 2002 Angels and Yadier with the 2006 Cardinals.
The Cardinals are on the way to the postseason for the fourth time in Molina's six seasons (he was the backup in 2004), which is no coincidence. Over the course of a 162-game season, all of those barely visible ways that Molina helps his pitchers and his defense add up to what manager Tony La Russa called a "max" impact.
Start with the obvious: the stolen base. Opponents have stolen just 38 bases against the Cardinals all year, fewest in the majors. The next closest is Houston, which has allowed 57 steals. The average is 94.
Few even attempt to run against Molina because he's thrown out 42 percent of would-be base-stealers, highest percentage in the big leagues for catchers with at least 100 games. On Friday night in Colorado, the Rockies put speedy pinch-runner Eric Young Jr. at first in a tie game. Young got a good jump on Carpenter, whose slider was down and to Molina's backhand side. He gloved it, and fired a perfect strike to second, nailing Young.
That's only the beginning, though.
Because Molina is one of the few catchers who will throw so frequently and effectively behind baserunners after a pitch, runners have to be careful even when they aren't going anywhere.
"He'll throw anywhere, anytime, at anybody," Cubs third base coach Mike Quade said. "If you take a secondary lead and think you are going to relax, you'd better be hustling back. He forces you to make damn sure your baserunners are on top of it, or you'll run yourself out of innings."
Molina has picked off 33 runners since becoming the everyday catcher, more than double the next closest in the majors over that span. (His brother, Jose, has nailed 16.) This year Molina has seven pickoffs. Two other catchers are tied for second with three.
"You have to be careful [at second] with the second baseman or shortstop coming in behind you," Quade said. "Any third base coach on the planet will tell you that's no fun. You are looking for every step you can get."
Quade said when a runner is at third and the infield is in, managers often like to use a contact play, in which the runner gets an extra step and goes as soon as the ball is hit on the ground, trying to beat an infielder's throw home. But with Molina behind the plate, you can't do that as easily because if the hitter doesn't make contact, the third baseman is already near the bag to take a quick throw from Molina.
Theriot recalled a July 11 game when he did exactly what baserunners are taught, and Molina made him pay. He was at first, and the pitch was in the dirt.
"I got an extra step, deciding whether to go on the wild pitch, and the next thing I know Albert [Pujols] had the ball and he tagged me out," Theriot said. "I'm like, 'How the heck did he just make that play?'"
By keeping runners from stealing second, and from even getting good jumps off of first, Molina also helps his team get more double plays. The Cardinals not only lead the majors in ground-ball double plays (145), but in the percentage of double-play opportunities that they convert (13 percent).
Molina's powerful, accurate arm and quick release also takes some pressure off the pitchers to slow the running game. It allows them to concentrate on the hitter, not worrying so much about throws to first or slide steps.
"Several times this year I have gotten myself into trouble trying to be quick to the plate when I don't need to be," pitcher Adam Wainwright said. Pitching coach Dave Duncan "has told me 'Don't get carried away with trying to be quick with Yadi back there.' It helps a lot."
Wainwright also said that he and the other Cardinals pitchers are able to throw their best breaking balls, even with a runner on third, with no fear that the ball will get away. The Cardinals have only three passed balls, all by Molina, fewest in the majors. They also have only 37 wild pitches, fourth fewest in the big leagues.Besides all of those hidden benefits, Molina is adept at the catcher's most important job: calling the right pitches.
"He studies the game very well," Carpenter said. "He's very prepared coming into a game, knowing the hitters. There is no question that he has an enormous impact on a lot of good things that happen throughout the game."
