Ausmus' value is behind plate

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Ausmus' value is behind plate

Veteran catcher has role as Astros' unofficial manager

Timeline: Review Astros in '06 KISSIMMEE, FLA. - At times, Phil Garner jokingly refers to Brad Ausmus as the Astros' manager. And the Dartmouth graduate may well become a skipper in the major leagues one day.

For now, the three-time Gold Glove winner will settle for guiding what could be two young pitchers at the back end of the Astros' rotation.

The young pitchers and backup catchers will lean heavily on Ausmus, who will turn 38 in April of his 14th and perhaps last major league season.

"Brad is hard to replace," said ace Roy Oswalt, who ascended to prominence after Ausmus guided him through his rookie season in 2001. "What he does with the pitching staff, especially the young guys, it's hard to replace.

"Especially the way Brad goes and studies the hitters, he keeps the young guys informed. As a young guy, you don't know the hitters in the league, but he knows all the hitters."

Ausmus doesn't keep a book on the hitters in the National League. Instead, he has a scouting computer program, updating it frequently to maintain reports on hitters throughout the league.

He had the program developed specifically to keep track of every hitter in the majors. He has a file on each team, printing out scouting reports for hitters before every series. If changes or updates need to be made between series, he'll update the program.

With two spots up for grabs at the back end of the rotation, the Astros will need Ausmus to help those pitchers settle into the majors.

"The more experience a pitcher gains at the major league level, the more he realizes what he has to do to be successful," Ausmus said. "Ultimately, when I'm catching, I'm trying to help us win. That's the goal.

"So (with) a younger pitcher, I still allow him to pitch in a way consistent to the manner they rose through the minor leagues. My main job is to make them aware of situations or decisions. I try to help them avoid young player mistakes."

Ausmus was just as valuable to veteran stars such as Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte when they switched over to the NL after spending their careers in the American League.

"Certainly, (with) a guy like Roger who has had decades of success, I do my best to stay out of the way and adapt to his routine and learn his style of pitches," said Ausmus. "I'd be an idiot to try to change him."

Ausmus may be many things, but idiot is not one of them. He's witty, a voracious reader and a charismatic leader.

He's likely the most respected person in the clubhouse, riding both sides of the divide that usually separates position players from the pitchers.

"He does a great job behind the plate," said Garner. "He's another one of the veteran guys that adds stability on the field for us. But he really runs the pitching staff real well. Pitchers have confidence in him. They trust him.

"And they do that because he's had a track record of doing the right thing behind the plate. He goes over the scouting reports just like the coaches do. You get late in the game, and you don't have to go out and remind him of the pinch hitter that's going to be coming to the plate. He's already on top of that. He does a very, very good job — a thorough job."

Some fans are critical of Ausmus' production at the plate. A career .253 hitter, he hit .230 with 16 doubles, one triple, two home runs and 39 RBIs last season.

If the middle of the Astros' offense had been more productive, Ausmus' batting average would hardly have been an issue. The catcher's position isn't generally an offensive one.

Nonetheless, Ausmus takes pride in his hitting. He's prone to let off steam throughout the year after a poor at-bat. His value to the team, however, was recognized when opposing coaches and managers voted him the 2006 National League Rawlings Gold Glove.

"I'm not really sure what my role is, per se," he said. "I know that a catcher has the most dramatic effect on the team on the defensive side of the ball as opposed to the offensive side of the ball."

The Astros know that, too. It's why they appreciate Ausmus so much.