Dodgers have three catchers after calling up Tim Federowicz

That seemed a strange move, but that’s where the last-place Dodgers find themselves these days. Making strange, desperate moves.

Tuesday they sent down infielder Justin Sellers and called up catcher Tim Federowicz. That gives them three catchers, which most teams eschew, the Dodgers included under normal conditions.

But their choice in creating a roster spot basically came down to unloading one of two lousy hitting players, Sellers (.191) or catcher Ramon Hernandez (.045). Such a choice.

And only Sellers could be optioned.

So now the Dodgers are carrying Hernandez, currently in an 0-for-17 hitting skid, basically so they can pinch-hit Federowicz and still have a backup catcher available.

Ugh. There has to be a better way.

With Hanley Ramirez on the disabled list, Sellers opened the season as the Dodgers’ starting shortstop. Now, even with Ramirez back on the DL with fellow infielders Mark Ellis and Jerry Hairston Jr., the Dodgers still sent down Sellers.

Guess that experiment officially did not work.

Federowicz started the season with the Dodgers but was moved to triple-A Albuquerque when the Dodgers sent Aaron Harang to Colorado for the veteran Hernandez.

At the time they had eight starting pitchers and Hernandez gave them a veteran backup for A.J. Ellis. It seemed reasonable enough.

But Hernandez has looked horrible at the plate, his bat glacier slow. He has one hit in 22 at-bats. Hard to understand keeping him.

Hey, they tried. It did not work, time to move on and call up Scott Van Slyke or someone with a bit of power off the bench.

“We feel he’s better than that,” Manager Don Mattingly said. “We would not have made any kind of move to get him if we thought that is what he was.”

It’s what he is now.

Federowicz was tearing it up at Albuquerque. He was batting .531, with a 1.082 slugging percentage. He had seven home runs and 20 runs batted in in only 49 at-bats.

“Fed has really swung the bat well,” Mattingly said. “He’s where he should be. Where he’s earned to be.”

The same way Hernandez has earned a thanks for trying and best of luck.