Bill Freehan Catcher of the Year Award, Week #1, 3/31-4/3/11

Welcome to the first ever balloting for the Bill Freehan Catcher of the Week Award.

In earlier posts I announced that I would be honoring by hero, former Detroit Tigers catcher Bill Freehan, by awarding, in his honor, a catcher of the week, of the month, and then of the year, from both the American and National Leagues.

This weeks nominees are listed below, if, however, you believe another catcher should be nominated, please fell free to write in a comment and your voice will be heard.

The first nominees in the American League are...

Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians     

In 3 games the Indians backstop hit a robust .462, with 6 hits, a home run, 3 RBIs, and 9 total bases.

Russell Martin, Mew York Yankees

Martin is the every day catcher now for the Yankees as Jorge Posada winds down his career as a DH. Martin was 5 for 11 against the Tigers last weekend, a nice .455 average, with 3 RBIs and 9 total bases.

J.P. Arencibia, Toronto Blue Jays


Arencibia hit .429 vs. the Twins, smacking 2 HRs, driving in 5 runs, with 11 total bases, tops for all A.L. catchers the first week of the season. J. P also caught 2 complete games for Toronto this past weekend.

Matt Wieters, Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles catcher lead a terrific Orioles pitching staff to a 3 game sweep over the Tampa Bay Rays, hitting .300, including a 2-4 on Sunday, and defensively he threw out 2 of the 3 Rays base runners that attempted to steal, catching 27 innings for the Birds.

A.J. Pierzynski, Chicago White Sox

The long time backstop of the ChiSox was 5 for 13,  with 2 RBI's, guiding Chicago's pitchers to a Sox sweep of the Indians in Cleveland. 

The National League nominees are...

Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves

McCann and the Braves are off to a good start. McCann hit .462, with  6 hits, 5 RBIs as the Braves won 2 of 3 from the Nationals.

Ryan Hanigan, Ramon Hernandez, Cincinnati Reds

 Yes, we are joining the 2 Reds catcher together, and you'll see why.

The Reds swept the Milwaukee Brewers, and both Ramon Hernandez and Ryan Hanigan were right in the thick of the action.

Hernandez was the Reds catcher on Opening Day, going  4 for 5, with a game winning walk off HR to beat the Brewers.

Hannigan was the Reds catcher hitting .714, 5 for 7 at the plate, with 2 homers and 4 RBIs.in 2 games against Milwaukee.

The two Reds catcher combined for 18 total bases against the Brewers.

John Buck, Florida Marlins

Buck caught all 3 games of the opening series against the New York Mets, collecting 4 hits in 13 at bats, a .308 average, with a HR and 4 RBIs, and 9 total bases..

Nick Hundley, San Diego Padres


Hundley went 2-4 in both games he played in over the weekend, a .455 average, and driving in 2 suns for the Padres. Defensively Hundley threw out both attempted base stealer's, in 28 innings caught.


Miguel Montero, Arizona Diamondbacks

Montero was 5 for 8 batting, including a 3 for 5 on Friday, with a HR and 2 RBIs in 2 games against the Colorado Rockies. The teams game on Sunday was postponed.



So, we have our very 1st ever nominees, so please vote in the comment section for your choice.

If you don't like the choices above, feel free to write in your choice in the comment section below.

I will tally all the votes on Wednesday, with a 12 PM Eastern time deadline.

The votes of you, by you,  the followers of this blog, will be counted, and along with my vote, we will name a winner of the 1st Annual Bill Freehan Catcher of the Week Award.

Thanks for participating, and please pass along our award on your blog, with either a mention, or a link to the page.

Thanks again to all the readers of my blog, it is much appreciated.

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