Steve Dilbeck notes that Russell Martin’s bat was pretty good compared to the catchers replacing him. Click here to see the stats of the Dodgers players as catchers this season. Both Brad Ausmus and A.J. Ellis have slugging percentages close to the Mendoza line. The Red Sox went through the same thing trying to replace Victor Martinez and Jason Varitek.

Hitting is not that important for a catcher. The primary job requires good defensive skills, but they should hit like shortstops, not pitchers. It’s not like first base, where you can scrounge around the minors for someone who can hit. The catchers who can field and hit are already playing in the majors, or so valuable to a team’s future that they won’t easily be traded.