It's a matter of familiarity. Working together, catchers get to know what pitchers like to throw in situations, like with two strikes. They know what a pitcher can do, and can't.

He hasn't done anything that suggests that he isn't ready to be here from a physical or emotional standpoint. He has the persona. He has a complete understanding that he has a lot of talent and that he's utilizing his talent. He has a delivery and an aura that represent a confident force.

We're really pleased. He's been very vocal to our staff, that he's here to serve them. He puts the lion's share of his focus on defensive play. He's a real pro. Pitchers sometimes shake to the wrong pitch. The sign of a real good catcher is that he runs out there and doesn't let the pitcher make that mistake. He's shown a propensity to do that. I'm really impressed.

He's a professional. He brings savvy. He brings a different element. There's a lot more that comes to the park with El Duque beyond his stuff.

There's so much more when you get to the big leagues than a young player can anticipate. And that's beyond the pressures of trying to pitch well from the start. So we will have a good long talk about some of the things that can end up being unexpected hurdles when guys get here.

He is kind of a combination of everything we have in the rotation. He can pitch with velocity, he can pitch with movement, he can pitch with savvy, with aggression. He is a real pro. He covets information, and he utilizes it.