Well somebody has to care enough about defensive indifference to at least write down that it happened, even if the catchers don’t care enough to stop a runner from taking a base. So, here are the catchers who chalked up the most defensive indifference plays in 2009:
Russell Martin (LAN) – 20
Yadier Molina (SLN) – 15
Jorge Posada (NYA) – 14
Jason Varitek (BOS) – 13
Brian McCann (ATL) – 11
A.J. Pierzynski (CHA) – 10
Jeff Mathis (ANA) – 9
Koyie Hill (CHN) – 9*
Paul Bako (PHI) – 7
Rod Barajas (TOR) – 7
Jason Kendall (MIL) – 7
Mike Napoli (ANA) – 7
Carlos Ruiz (PHI) – 7
Jarrod Saltalamacchia (TEX) – 7
*- one of Koyie Hill’s 9 defensive indifference plays had two baserunners moving – making him the only catcher in 2009 to watch two runners he didn’t care move to a new base.
Martin’s 20 instances of defensive indifference are the most in a single season in the last 5 years. Jason Kendall had 17 defensive indifferences in 2005. Also, if I’m going to talk about defensive indifference any more it needs to have a shorter nickname – like “shrugs”. As in, Kendall had 17 shrugs at catcher in 2005.
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