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  6. article_body => "<p>Cubs manager David Ross has enjoyed listening to the banter between pitcher Yu Darvish and catcher Victor Caratini this year. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese two guys have a real funny sense of humor towards each other,\u201d Ross said.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s no wonder that caught Ross\u2019s attention. On Saturday he joked that he might \u201cgive too much love\u201d to backup catchers, after spending his playing career as one. But that experience also uniquely prepared Ross to set up Caratini for success.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wysiwyg-center\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/smart.link\/5bb676790335f?site_id=Dig_RSN_Chi&amp;creative_id=nbcschi5720&amp;cp_4=www.nbcsports.com&amp;cp_1=washington&amp;cp_2=myteams-nbc-sports&amp;cp_3=nbcschi5720\">Click to download the MyTeams App for the latest Cubs news and analysis.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>This season, that\u2019s meant <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/cubs\/why-cubs-catcher-victor-caratini-will-be-paired-yu-darvish-season\">pairing him with Darvish<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have a great relationship,\u201d Caratini said through a translator Saturday. \u201c\u2026 It all started because we kept trying to motivate each other. We\u2019ve gained a friendship and trust as well.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Last year, Caratini first caught Darvish on May 20. After a rough start to the season, Darvish entered that game against the Phillies with a 5.14 ERA.<\/p>\n<p>From the beginning, Caratini said, \u201cI tried to look at the way that he likes to pitch, his pitch sequences, the way he likes to read the scouting report, approach his batters.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Darvish threw five scoreless innings against Philadelphia but gave up three runs in the sixth. That was the start of a successful pairing. Caratini caught all but three of Darvish\u2019s remaining starts. Darvish logged a 3.29 ERA with the backup catcher behind the dish.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know first-hand what that relationship feels like,\u201d Ross said, \u201cwhen you\u2019re on the same page with a guy, when you\u2019ve just got a good rapport and a connection that goes beyond just being back there and receiving the baseball.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Being Darvish\u2019s personal catcher also gives Caratini the advantage of consistency, which backup catchers often lack in their schedules.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou can really plan your week around the day you\u2019re going to play,\u201d Ross said, \u201chow you scout the guy you may be facing, when to get your workout in, when to take extra BP, maybe when to back off. There\u2019s just some nice components to the off days as well when you can stay prepared and fresh.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Between that, and the need to give starting catcher Willson Contreras some days off \u2013 the Cubs play 60 games in 66 days this season \u2013 Ross said it was an easy choice to pair Darvish and Caratini.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;\u201cBut the main thing,\u201d Ross said, \u201cis the connection they had and the results they had from last year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;Darvish claimed the No. 2 slot in the rotation this season and is scheduled to make his first regular season start next Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/194b557a-5b1a-41fa-9e3c-3a7b33a4c831\/embed?playlist_type=latest\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/podcast#CubssTalk\">SUBSCRIBE TO THE CUBS TALK PODCAST FOR FREE.<\/a><\/p>\n"
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Cubs

Cubs

Cubs manager David Ross has enjoyed listening to the banter between pitcher Yu Darvish and catcher Victor Caratini this year.  

“These two guys have a real funny sense of humor towards each other,” Ross said.

It’s no wonder that caught Ross’s attention. On Saturday he joked that he might “give too much love” to backup catchers, after spending his playing career as one. But that experience also uniquely prepared Ross to set up Caratini for success.

Click to download the MyTeams App for the latest Cubs news and analysis.

This season, that’s meant pairing him with Darvish.

“We have a great relationship,” Caratini said through a translator Saturday. “… It all started because we kept trying to motivate each other. We’ve gained a friendship and trust as well.”

Last year, Caratini first caught Darvish on May 20. After a rough start to the season, Darvish entered that game against the Phillies with a 5.14 ERA.

From the beginning, Caratini said, “I tried to look at the way that he likes to pitch, his pitch sequences, the way he likes to read the scouting report, approach his batters.”

Darvish threw five scoreless innings against Philadelphia but gave up three runs in the sixth. That was the start of a successful pairing. Caratini caught all but three of Darvish’s remaining starts. Darvish logged a 3.29 ERA with the backup catcher behind the dish.

“I know first-hand what that relationship feels like,” Ross said, “when you’re on the same page with a guy, when you’ve just got a good rapport and a connection that goes beyond just being back there and receiving the baseball.”

 

Being Darvish’s personal catcher also gives Caratini the advantage of consistency, which backup catchers often lack in their schedules.

“You can really plan your week around the day you’re going to play,” Ross said, “how you scout the guy you may be facing, when to get your workout in, when to take extra BP, maybe when to back off. There’s just some nice components to the off days as well when you can stay prepared and fresh.”

Between that, and the need to give starting catcher Willson Contreras some days off – the Cubs play 60 games in 66 days this season – Ross said it was an easy choice to pair Darvish and Caratini.

 “But the main thing,” Ross said, “is the connection they had and the results they had from last year.”

 Darvish claimed the No. 2 slot in the rotation this season and is scheduled to make his first regular season start next Saturday.

 

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