Kirk Gibson knows a little something about the game of baseball. So when the 17 year big league veteran and current manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks speaks, you're apt to lend credence to what he says. According to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post, Gibson had some very kind words for the Washington Nationals' catching tandem of Wilson Ramos and Pudge Rodriguez:
"Their catchers are probably the best we’ve seen," Gibson said. "Probably the best in the major leagues."
The defensive statistics back up Gibson's claim. Together, Ramos and Rodrguez have thrown out 42 percent of would-be basestealers. Wilson actual is the best in the bigs, throwing out 9 of 21 runners, a 42.9 percent success rate. (Pudge checks in at 6 for 15). If high praise from an opposing manager wasn't enough, Nats official Bob Boone, a man who caught over 2,200 big league games, had this to say about Ramos:
Boone had not watched Ramos much before this season, but said he’s been "very impressed" with his defense. The thing that allows Ramos to have such success, Boone said, is his foot work. He raved about Ramos’s "efficiency" in staying calm when a runner takes off, then smoothly getting into position to throw.
OK, so we seem to have the defensive part of this game down, eh Wilson? Maybe you can break out of that four for 35 slump now?