Landon Powell is confident in his abilities. He can’t be quite
as certain about his job security. Oakland A’s manager Bob Geren
declared open competition for the backup catcher position early in
spring training, leaving Powell
—who’s held the spot for most of the past two seasons—trying to
fend off challenges from prospects Josh Donaldson and Anthony
Recker.
PHOENIX
Landon Powell is confident in his abilities.
He can’t be quite as certain about his job security.
Oakland A’s manager Bob Geren declared open competition for the backup catcher position early in spring training, leaving Powell—who’s held the spot for most of the past two seasons—trying to fend off challenges from prospects Josh Donaldson and Anthony Recker.
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Geren says he won’t choose a winner until the end of camp. And while the battle to be Kurt Suzuki’s backup might not sound like the juiciest story, it has ramifications for the pitching staff.
“I don’t think I’m in any position to be comfortable,” Powell said before the A’s 6-5 win over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday. “But I feel like if I play up to my abilities every day and stay healthy, I’m a big league baseball player.”
Powell, who turns 29 on Saturday, has proved serviceable behind Suzuki the past two seasons, though he’s appeared in just 87 games. He’s a .222 career hitter, but his .297 mark (19 for 64) with runners in scoring position is noteworthy on a team that’s struggled in that area.
However, Powell committed six errors last season — tied for sixth-most among American League catchers — in just 38 games behind the plate.
The A’s might believe it’s time to give Donaldson, 25, a shot. He was highly thought of by scouts when the A’s obtained him from the Cubs in 2008 as part of the Rich Harden trade.
Donaldson spent two brief stints with Oakland last season and looked raw defensively, but Geren says he’s improved his defense.
Recker, 27, hasn’t cracked the major leagues since being drafted in 2005, but he’s shown glimpses of potential over the past few springs.
“You’re looking at the total package (in judging all three),” said A’s bench coach Joel Skinner, who doubles as the catching coach. “You look at what they’re doing, whether it be receiving, throwing, controlling the ball in the dirt, their work with the pitchers. All of that goes into it.”
Working in Powell’s favor: He brought out the best in starting pitcher Dallas Braden last season. Braden made 10 starts with Powell catching and posted a 2.75 ERA with four of his team-high five complete games, including a May 9 perfect game against Tampa Bay.
In his 20 other starts — Suzuki caught 16 of them — Braden’s ERA was 3.95.
Braden says he and Powell have a rapport going back to their minor league days. Geren was vague when asked how much the Braden factor could work in Powell’s favor.
“You just look at everything you can look at and make a decision,” Geren said.
Powell said he entered last season thinking he was entrenched as the backup. When final cuts came, the A’s kept Jake Fox — who was out of minor league options — and sent Powell to Triple-A Sacramento.
Fox was traded in June. Powell shuttled between the majors and Triple-A several times, but all told he was with Oakland for all but five weeks of the season.
Powell didn’t reach the majors until he was 27, and he wants badly to help this year’s team.
“I’m an older guy,” he said. “Winning now is important to me, and it would be even more special to (win) on the team I was drafted by and with players I came up with.”€(c)
— Story by Joe Stiglich, Contra Costa Times
