Cardinals Fans Face continued Disproof as Pedro Pages Demonstrates Skillful Game Management
Pedro Pages, the St. Louis Cardinals' catcher, has been making a significant impact on the team, particularly in the pitching department. His strong defensive skills and game-calling ability have earned him praise from the pitchers, coaching staff, and front office.
In games where Pages is behind the plate, the Cardinals pitching staff boasts an impressive ERA of 3.63 in 60 games, a marked improvement compared to the 5.35 ERA seen in games with Ivan Herrera. This trend was evident in Sonny Gray's remarkable performance on Friday night, where he threw a complete game shutout with 11 strikeouts and allowed only one hit. Gray himself acknowledged that the one time he shook off Pages' pitch call resulted in the only hit of the game.
Offensively, Pages' stats may not stand out, with a batting average of .233, 3 home runs, 18 RBIs, and 14 runs scored. However, his value to the team transcends his batting, as he has earned the trust to start many games at catcher, edging out other catchers like Willson Contreras and Ivan Herrera.
Pages' game calling is considered his true strength as a defensive catcher. He ranks above average in controlling the running game and has better framing metrics. Despite his modest offensive performance, Pages carries a 61 wRC+ in high-leverage situations and is below average with runners in scoring position (93 wRC+).
The 2024 season saw Pages post a better ERA (3.80) than both Herrera (4.20) and Contreras (4.15), despite the games caught being very similar. This consistency and reliability have secured his position as a primary catcher for the Cardinals.
While there is still potential for Herrera to lay claim to the catching job, and prospects like Jimmy Crooks, Leonardo Bernal, and Rainiel Rodriguez may push Pages, his ongoing presence as a primary catcher indicates his positive influence on the pitchers and game outcomes for the Cardinals.
Even in games where Pages is rotated out of the lineup, his impact is felt. Yohel Pozo's presence behind the plate sees the ERA rise to 4.13 in 21 games. This shift in performance underscores the importance of Pages to the Cardinals' pitching staff.
In a post-game interview, Gray expressed his respect for Pages, pulling him aside for a chat, a gesture that speaks volumes about Pages' contributions to the team. Dalton Feely of Jomboy Media shared that Gray's performance on Friday night is unique in baseball history, further emphasising the value of Pages' role in such a game.
In conclusion, while Pedro Pages' offensive performance has been a point of criticism, data suggests he is a real asset to the St. Louis Cardinals. His defensive prowess, game-calling abilities, and occasional offensive contributions provide valuable support to the team's success.
In light of his influence on the pitching staff, Sonny Gray's historic complete game shutout performance could be attributed to Pedro Pages' game-calling, as evidenced by Gray himself acknowledging that one shake-off in Pages' pitch call led to the only hit of the game. Despite the impressive improvements in the Cardinals' ERA when Pages is behind the plate, prospects like Jimmy Crooks, Leonardo Bernal, and Rainiel Rodriguez may challenge his position, but his consistent performance and positive impact on the team have secured his role as the primary catcher, even in games where he is rotated out.
