The Los Angeles Dodgers seemed to have a productive cornerstone in place when catching prospect Russell Martin made an impressive big league debut in 2006. He arrived in May and batted .282/.355/.436 with 10 home runs and 65 RBIs in 121 games.

At age 24 in 2007, Martin caught 145 games and hit .293-19-87 with 32 doubles and 21 stolen bases. He stole another 18 bags last season, when he was behind the plate for 149 games, but his production dropped off markedly after the All-Star break. Martin hit only three homers and slugged .336 during the second half for the Dodgers.

His 2007 performance looks like an aberration at this point. After catching nearly 150 games in each of the last two seasons -- and leading all National League backstops in plate appearances both years -- the right-handed batter is hitting .252/.368/.301 in 2009. In 75 games, he’s collected just 10 doubles and one home run. Thanks to his 45 walks, he has managed to score 33 runs, but a lot more is expected from Martin.

Although there’s probably more at work here, it wouldn’t hurt to give this guy more rest. He’s appeared behind the plate in 70 of the Dodgers’ 82 games, so he’s still on course to catch roughly 140 games.

Martin’s backup is 40-year-old Brad Ausmus, who played 81 games for Houston last season but is still looking to make his 20th appearance for the Dodgers in 2009. He happens to be hitting .283 with a .345 OBP in 60 plate appearances, so it isn’t as though the Dodgers can’t afford to give him a few more at-bats. Perhaps they can’t afford not to.