Wolters' catching prowess is well-received

DENVER -- Catcher Tony Wolters joined the Rockies as a waiver claim last February, but by the end of his rookie season in the Majors, he had become a folk hero in the science of pitch-framing.

According to Baseball Prospectus, Wolters finished fifth in the Majors in called strikes above average at .017. That means out of every 100 pitches, his ability to handle borderline pitches amounted to just under two extra strikes. But Wolters, who was claimed from the Indians at the start of Spring Training last year, sees pitch-framing as a flesh-and-blood act, not just a soulless calculation.

"I think it's kind of in that awkward stage, like, 'Is this really going to be something, pitch-framing?' But…