"Will Smith deserves a ton of credit" - Justin Verlander's brother defends Dodgers catcher amid offensive struggles
LA Dodgers catcher Will Smith has had a rough run in the postseason. He has a batting average of .158 and many have called for him to be taken out of the lineup. However, Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander's brother Ben, an MLB analyst, believes Smith deserves credit.
In his podcast, "Flippin' Bats with Ben Verlander," the MLB analyst answered a query from a fan who felt Smith wasn't getting any praise for the Dodgers' four playoff shutouts. Verlander agreed with the fan and substantiated his claim. [33:29]
"I think everyone's kind of at fault here for not giving catchers their justice when pitching goes well," Verlander said. "Let's talk no-hitters. When a no-hitter happens, the pitcher gets all the credit. Do you know how much credit a catcher deserves for that?"
The MLB analyst said pitchers deserve the credit but pointed out the important role of the catcher in controlling the game. As such, he believes Smith deserves credit from the fans and baseball media. [34:06]
"I don't think the media is giving Will Smith enough credit," he said. "I don't think fans of baseball are giving Will Smith enough credit for the games he's calling behind the plate. I think the catcher deserves a ton of credit, more credit than anybody gives them.
"When pitching goes well, pitchers deserve credit. Obviously, they're the ones doing it, but Will Smith back there deserves a ton of credit, and I don't think he's getting enough."
Will Smith's current contract with the LA Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers retained Will Smith before the 2024 game opener with a 10-year, $140 million deal. Smith became the fourth highest-paid catcher in the MLB, behind Philadelphia Phillies' J.T. Realmuto, Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez and St. Louis Cardinals' Willson Contreras.
At the time, Dodgers fans considered the agreement a steal. Smith also kept his end of the bargain in the 2024 regular season, hitting 20 homers and driving in 75 RBIs, quite respectable for a catcher.
Smith's current contract locks him up till 2033. Despite his struggles on the plate, his exceptional performance behind the plate has been phenomenal. However, LA will need Smith to step up to potentially win the World Series, as a team is only as strong as its weakest link. Right now, Smith is the weak point in the hitting lineup.
One thing to note is that Smith has had moments of brilliance: Game 3 against the San Diego Padres in the NLDS and Game 4 against the New York Mets in the NLCS. As a player of his caliber, Smith will likely rise to the occasion in the World Series if the New York Yankees get past the Mets to clinch the National League title.