Night Owl Cards

So, you're a major league catcher. You've been one for 17 years. You're 40 years old and strictly a backup these days. You start maybe once a week. And that's enough. Because you're 40. You've seen a lot since you came up with the Padres in 1993. But you're not all that well-known. Mostly, people know you for being smart. You're so smart that you're constantly mentioned as a future manager. But you've never been known for the numbers you put up. Except for one pretty impressive factoid: you've never been on the disabled list. That's right. In 17 years, you've never hit the DL. That's pretty damn good for the modern player. And really damn good for a catcher. I mean it's a minefield back there. That's an achievement. That's something to tell your grandchildren. So, 2010 comes along, the DL streak is intact, and retirement is always an option this late in your career. But you come back for a second season wi...

The Dodgers found their backup catcher Wednesday, reaching a one-year deal with Brad Ausmus. Truthfully, I don't have a lot to say about a backup catcher. I mean, come on, Ausmus is almost 40 and he hit .218 last season. He's going to do what Gary Bennett did in 2008 and Mike Lieberthal did in 2007, only, hopefully, do it a little better. Obviously, the Dodgers aren't concerned about Russell Martin's durability since Ausmus will be too much of a drain on the offense to start more than 30 games a year. He's a backstop stopgap, plain and simple. A "defensive specialist," as the "baseball lifers" say. So, with that out of the way, here are a few fun facts about Ausmus: 1. He graduated from Dartmouth (I think that's a reflex whenever anyone mentions Brad Ausmus. Try it. Say, "Brad Ausmus" with someone else in the room. They'll respond by saying, "Did you know he graduated from Dartmouth?") 2. He ranks fifth all-time amo...