CLEVELAND -- If the Indians had a Most Valuable Player from their memorable 2007 season, it's arguable that it was Victor Martinez.
It was Martinez's prowess at the plate, after all, that carried the club and made Travis Hafner's subpar season in the middle of the order more admissible and less damaging.
And if the Indians had a Most Valuable Backup, it's arguable that it was Kelly Shoppach.
It was Shoppach's catching capacities, after all, that freed Martinez to get regular work at first base, keeping him fresh over the grind of a long season.
The Indians, then, are hardly hurting in the catching department. Their regular at the position is one of the elite catchers in the game, and their backup could probably win a job over several regulars in the big leagues.
Of course, a year ago, not all was as certain, because Martinez was enduring criticism and skepticism about his ability to throw out opposing baserunners.
"He took that challenge and made himself one of the better catchers last year," general manager Mark Shapiro said of Martinez. "He addressed the throwing issue."
Did he ever.
After tossing out just 13.8 percent (16 of 116) of runners in 2006, including an abysmal 7.5 percentage in the first half, Martinez threw out 30 percent (30 of 100) in '07 -- the third-best mark among regular American League catchers.
Those numbers validated what the Indians thought all along -- that Martinez's value to this club is greatest at the catching position.
In the past, the line on Martinez's offensive numbers was that they would be considered little more than average if he moved permanently to first base. But regardless of position, his numbers were far beyond average in '07.
Martinez batted over .300 for the third straight season while racking up 114 RBIs, which were the seventh-most RBIs in the AL. The RBI total was a career-high, as was his home run mark of 25. Martinez also pounded out 40 doubles and batted .356 with runners in scoring position.
Those are special numbers. But when Shapiro analyzes Martinez's value, he puts emphasis on qualities that lie beyond the statistics.
"His value to the team transcends his on-field performance," Shapiro said. "He's probably the most passionate teammate we have. He's a guy who appreciates, as much as any player on our team, what it means to be a Cleveland Indian. He takes great pride in being on this team, and his passion makes him a leader."
But even leaders need a rest now and again, which is where Shoppach comes in.
In 2007, the Indians found a way to give Shoppach, in his second full season, a clearly defined and stable role that is rare among backups. He was the personal catcher for Paul Byrd, which meant he knew his name would be penciled into manager Eric Wedge's lineup every fifth day.
Shoppach responded with another sparkling defensive season and a bit more consistency on the offensive end. He threw out 36.1 percent (13 of 36) of opposing runners, while batting .261 with seven homers and 30 RBIs in 161 at-bats, including a walk-off, pinch-hit homer in an 8-5 win over the A's on July 26.
Other teams noticed. Shoppach's name has come up in several trade rumors this offseason, as clubs looking to land a full-time catcher consider him worthy of the job.
But the Indians recognize the value Shoppach brings to their team, as well.
"Obviously, he's an asset to us in the role he's in and potentially to someone else as a starter," Shapiro said. "When you talk about building a championship team, you want your fourth starter to be a third starter and you want your backup to be someone capable of starting. [Shoppach is] an elite backup with a chance to be an everyday guy."
Beyond Martinez and Shoppach, the Indians' system isn't exactly loaded with catchers who could one day emerge as everyday guys. Wyatt Toregas was added to the 40-man roster this winter because of his defensive talents, but his bat is suspect and he's coming off a season in which lower back and elbow problems limited him to 86 games at Double-A Akron.
In order to add Kenny Lofton as a midseason spark at the trading deadline last year, the Indians had to deal away one of their more highly regarded prospects in catcher Max Ramirez, which further weakened the catching pool. But Matt McBride, a second-round pick in the 2006 amateur Draft, is a name to watch after a solid first full professional season at low-A Lake County.
Still, the catching situation at the Major League level couldn't be more clearly defined. Martinez is under contract through 2009 with a club option for 2010, which gives him plenty of time to build on the MVP-type numbers he put up in '07.
"The hitting is a given," Shapiro said. "He's hit everywhere he's ever been, and he's getting better and better. What makes him special is he's a true leader and a special human being."
