Ken Lup hoping his bat catches up to his glove

He just wins, baby.

That's what astounded American Defenders of New Hampshire general manager Chris Hall the most about catcher Ken Lup, who's competing for a starting job with one of last year's backups, Argenis Tavares and rookie Danny Etkin.

"The years he's played independent baseball he's got two championship rings," Hall said. "He has a winning record as a starting catcher."

Lup was on two title teams the first two years of his pro career in Fort Worth, Texas in the American Association in 2005 and 2006. The only year he hasn't been on a postseason team was 2007 as a player in the Frontier League with the River City Rascals of O'Fallon, Mo.

"It's a great feeling," he said. "I was fortunate enough to be on a very great team, put forth my efforts and help the team out. I got two championships on it. Great feeling . . . It's always great to win. That's what you play for."

He was a backup in 2005, then split duty the first half of '06 before taking over the job.

On the teams that have won at Holman, a take-charge, strong catcher has always been a key ingredient. Louis Rodriguez was a big factor on the 2007 Can-Am League title team, but he struggled a year ago and was dealt away. Now Lup could get that shot to handle this staff.

"As far as a catcher, they want somebody to come in, take charge, play their role, and do what they can to help the team," he said.

"Every report we've got on Ken Lup is that he's called a very good game and veteran pitchers have always liked throwing to him," Hall said, "which means the young pitchers are going to like throwing to him."

The 26-year-old New Jersey native, who now makes his home in Fort Worth, has never been in affiliated ball, but has used the last three years or so to prepare for that opportunity if it comes.

"Coming off my first year, it was a big adjustment, after managing a college staff," he said. "You've got (in the pros) guys who know - most of them have been around, especially the older guys - what they're doing. You've kind of got to let them do their thing but then when they let down you've got to get on their case a little bit."

Lup says he likes to find out how the pitchers are on and off the field, "and form a relationship, and take charge from there, and do what you can to help 'em."

And in that way, perhaps he can help himself. He is starving for a shot with a Major League Baseball organization.

"I'm hungrier than ever," he said. "I've worked my whole life for this. Yeah, I'm in pro ball, but I'm not satisfied. I'd like to move on and get a shot in affiliated ball. I've gone up against some guys who have played affiliated ball and beaten them out. I'd like to get a shot. I'd look forward to it, if I can get the opportunity."

What will it take? Perhaps improve his hitting. He's got a career .256 average, and last year hit .260 with a career high 43 RBIs in 77 games. Respectable, but not eye-opening.

"Defensively, I've done a good job," he said. "I work hard, that's all I can do . . . That (his hitting) is exactly what I think is holding me back. I've never been a real power guy (only two career home runs), more of a line drive guy, gap to gap. I definitely think I need to get in there, take some hacks, not worry about striking out that much. Just get in there and let it loose."

"He's going to put the bat on the ball (only 86 strikeouts in 832 career at-bats)," Hall said. "You can hit and run with him, sacrifice with him."

The game has evolved, though, where any offense a catcher provides is a bonus. But Lup isn't buying that.

"They may only expect you to hit .250," he said. "But you don't make that your goal. You like to be over .300 every year. It's tough as a starting catcher only because the second half of the year, catching every day, you lose a lot of power in your lower half. It gets up to stay in the gym, work out, without getting real sore. But you've got to do what you can, work through the pain, and go from there.

"But you can save (as a catcher) just as many runs defensively as you can score runs."

"He's that quiet leader behind the dish," Hall said. "He's solid behind the dish, and that's what we're looking for."

He sees some of those winning ingredients in these Defenders.

"I love it here so far," Lup said. "Everybody on the team gets along, we have that chemistry right from the start - just like in Fort Worth when we won the championship."

That sounds like a good sign.