Positional Rankings, catcher rankings

Catchers, Fantasy Baseball Preview 2009.

The Catcher position is a mess this year, and you really have to decide what you need from your Catcher this year.  There are more than a couple options there; You can grab 20 Steals, 20 HR, a Great Average, and Solid RBI and Runs, just not in the same player.

I hate ranking catchers, as I generally screw it up — not because I mis-predict their output, I’m just incapable of putting the guy with 70RBI, over the guy with 55 RBI.

Anyways, go ahead and read the write-ups to find out where I stand.

1. Joe Mauer

Name	AB	HR	SB	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB/K	OPS
Joe Mauer	536	9	1	98	85	0.328	0.413	0.451	1.68	0.864

Joe Mauer or Russell Martin, the choice is yours.  Mauer comes with about the risk you’d expect from a starting catcher, with regards to injury. Martin probably has a slightly better than average chance of staying healthy.

Mauer’s probably going to give you what you expect, and it’s best to start with his batting average.  A lot of the time, if you draft a bad starting catcher it’s actually more harmful to your roster than helpful. While they’ll pile up 40 or 50 RBI and R, they’ll kill your average in the process.

With Mauer healthy, you can at least guarantee a .300+ average and high-eighties Runs and RBI.  Homers, as always, will be around 10.  Personally, I think this is a bit more valuable than Martin’s SB.

2. Russell Martin

Name	AB	HR	SB	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB/K	OPS
Russell Martin	553	13	18	87	69	0.28	0.385	0.396	1.08	0.781

Martin is clearly 1b than 2.  The only thing that separates Martin from Mauer is about 40 pts batting average, and his position in the line-up.

Martin could easily put up as many R and RBI this year, as Mauer did last.  If he does so, he leap frogs Mauer with ease.  Even if Martin can get to 90R and 80RBI, his 5 more HR and 15 more SB, is more than worth the decrease in BA. Just a couple years ago, Martin put up 87 of each Runs and RBI — so its definitely possible in that Dodgers offense.

I dont think you can count on the SB, however. Twenty or so seems likely a reachable number, but all it takes is a minor injury for Martin to stop running.

3. Brian McCann

Name	AB	HR	SB	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB/K	OPS
Brian McCann	509	23	5	68	87	0.301	0.373	0.523	0.89	0.896

McCann is solid across the board. It wouldn’t be surprising to see McCann put 100RBI this year, to go with 70 R, 20 HR, and a .300 average.

McCann may slip below Soto due to the ROY-hype, but McCann has a very solid claim for the  number 1 spot.

McCann will probably bring the best value out of the top 4 or 5 catchers, draft him.

4. Geovany Soto

Name	AB	HR	SB	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB/K	OPS
Geovany Soto	494	23	0	66	86	0.285	0.364	0.504	0.51	0.868

Soto was on everyone’s sleeper lists last year, and even on the cover of the Bill James Handbook, or Baseball Prospectus, or one of those diddies.

He clearly didn’t disappoint, and he should continue to mature and put up solid numbers.  I’d imagine a slight increase across the board, as expected with an increase in AB.

24 Homers, 70 R, 85 RBI, .280 Average, and a steal — yes, after years of never putting up a steal in the Minors, I’m figuring Soto is going to steal second base, sometime in mid-june.

5. Ryan Doumit

Name	AB	HR	SB	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB/K	OPS
Ryan Doumit	431	15	2	71	69	0.318	0.357	0.501	0.42	0.858

Nice Power, and now a full-time gig. He’s just gotta stay healthy. Doumit used to be one of the guys that split AB, but was still more useful than most of the catchers because he carried a nice BA.

This year, he’ll continue his tear and possibly jump a spot or two in these rankings — he’s that good.  Doumit will eventually move out of the Catcher position, but as long as he has eligibility, he’s a great pick.

6. Chris Iannetta

Name	AB	HR	SB	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB/K	OPS
Chris Iannetta	333	18	0	50	65	0.264	0.39	0.505	0.61	0.895

Why not? Iannetta has been a solid prospect for  some time now, and it’s about bloody time he steps up to the plate.  Last year’s numbers were pretty nice, and rosterable — but he was splitting AB with Yorvit Torrealba.

This year, I’d imagine he’d get to at least 450 AB, which should bring with it some solid numbers.  The OPS of .895 shows a lot of ‘dat ‘dere potential.

22 HR, 75R, 75RBI, .260AVG, and maybe a stolen base or two.

7. Mike Napoli

Name	AB	HR	SB	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB/K	OPS
Mike Napoli	227	20	7	39	49	0.273	0.374	0.586	0.5	0.96

Did Napoli really hit 20 HR in 227 AB? Any Catcher that has a .960 OPS is a damn good bet for a break-out season.

Jeff Mathis was supposed to be super-prospect, and then the powder keg that is Mike Napoli just started tearing stuff up.

Napoli will continue to split time with Mathis, I’d imagine. But he should have at least 350AB this year, or possibly more.  Adjust accordingly.

8. Victor Martinez

Name	AB	HR	SB	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB/K	OPS
Victor Martinez	266	2	0	30	35	0.278	0.337	0.365	0.75	0.701

Holy Crap, I bet Martinez owners are cheesed at him.  I guess we can chalk last year up to Injuries, as great hitters don’t become awful hitters, overnight.

There are reasons why people use 3-year averages to determine a players value, good reasons.

Even if Martinez goes out and puts up 20 HR, 80 RBI, 70 R, and hits .280 — He’s going to be incredibly useful.  There is a hell of a lot of potential for another 30HR, 100RBI season though.

It just comes down to injuries, not just his but, the other Indians as well.  Shoppach is going to get AB, at which point Martinez is going to be moved to first or DH, which are currently occupied by Garko and Hafner, respectively.

9. Bengie Molina

Name	AB	HR	SB	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB/K	OPS
Bengie Molina	530	16	0	47	95	0.292	0.322	0.445	0.5	0.767

Quantity over Quality.

I dislike Molina quite a bit, and he wont come close to 95RBI again.  Well, I guess he could if he continues to bat clean-up.

Ugh, stupid Molinas. Yes, he’ll perform. To what extend, depends on where he ends up batting.

10. Kelly Shoppach

Name	AB	HR	SB	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB/K	OPS
Kelly Shoppach	352	21	0	67	55	0.261	0.348	0.517	0.27	0.865

Shoppach filled in amazingly for an injured Victor Martinez last year.  The Cleveland Indians really need to find at-bats for Shoppach this coming year.

Shoppach will hit home runs, but he’ll also strike-out a whole hell of a lot.

Go ahead and move Shoppach down if you look at the Indians depth chart and can’t find At-Bats for him.

11. Chris Synder

Name	AB	HR	SB	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB/K	OPS
Chris Snyder	334	16	0	47	64	0.237	0.348	0.452	0.55	0.8

I like Snyder, he’s a solid player.  If he gets 450-500 AB, he’ll produce like a top 10 Catcher. However, Miguel Montero is also a great young catching prospect who’ll end up stealing at-bats from Snyder.

Even at 450 AB, Snyder should be able to get to around 20HR, and 60 R, with 70 RBI and a .250+ average

12. Pablo Sandoval

Name	AB	HR	SB	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB/K	OPS
Pablo Sandoval	145	3	0	24	24	0.345	0.357	0.49	0.29	0.847

Everyone’s favorite sleeper, Pablo Sandoval.  He’d be a bit higher, if he’d played more than 11 Games.

Make sure to check your league settings for position eligibility, as 11 games oftentimes just wont get it done.  With Sandoval pretty much entrenched at third, it’ll take a while for him to regain catcher eligibility — if he regains it at all.

13. Dioner Navarro

Name	AB	HR	SB	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB/K	OPS
Dioner Navarro	427	7	0	43	54	0.295	0.349	0.407	0.69	0.757

Navarro is solid, and still has some growing to do.  I choose life: 60 RBI, 60 R, 13HR, and a 300 average.

14. Matt Wieters

Stupid Greg Zaun, like seriously. I hated Greg Zaun in Toronto, and if he starts stealing Wieters’ AB in Baltimore, the fantasy community will lynch him

Draft Wieters and everyone will think you’re smart.  Draft Wieters without a back-up plan, and you’ll regret it.

With that said, Wieters is about as Major League ready as you can get.

15. Jeff Clement

Name	AB	HR	SB	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB/K	OPS
Jeff Clement	203	5	0	17	23	0.227	0.295	0.36	0.24	0.654

Clement proved all he had to prove in the Minors, and the only thing holding him back was ownerships love of AZNs.

Who’s ownership you ask? Well, it’s Nintendo.  Maybe that’s why Johjima is starting all the time, and cashing that 7 million dollar per year contract.

Clement should do well this year, assuming he  gets starter AB. Lets just hope that Clement can get himself at least 400AB this year, and if he does — he’ll produce.

16. Ramon Hernandez

Name	AB	HR	SB	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB/K	OPS
Ramon Hernandez	463	15	0	49	65	0.257	0.308	0.406	0.52	0.714

Everyone’s favorite Latin Lover. I’m not sure how the Reds are going to play out in 2009, but Hernandez is pretty much set as the Reds’ starting catcher.

Hernandez might be a great pick-up a few months into the season or a late round pick, that you can take the wait-and-see approach.

18 Homers, is a solid, realistic expectation, which is nice.

17. A.J. Pierzynski

Name	AB	HR	SB	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB/K	OPS
A.J. Pierzynski	534	13	1	66	60	0.281	0.312	0.416	0.27	0.728

Noted Douche-Bag, A.J. Pierzynski.  He’ll produce, but there’s absolutely nothing sexy about it.  Expect quite possibly the exact same numbers, right down to at-bats and plate-appearances.

18. Jarrod Saltalamacchia

Name	AB	HR	SB	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB/K	OPS
Jarrod Saltalamacchia	198	3	0	27	26	0.253	0.352	0.364	0.42	0.716

Texas has a herd of quality young catching prospects, and it looks like Saltalamacchia has a head-start on the starting gig.

Taylor Teagarden looks like he’ll be the number two, and he has all the talent to leap-frog Salty, if given a shot. I’m very interesteted to watch how this plays out, as Salty is getting down to his last shot before he loses his “sure-fire” prospect label.

Some experts have already tossed him onto the scrap heap, but I still tend to think he’s going to be an above average Major League catcher.

Max Ramirez, the third in Texas’ list of  “cant-miss” catching prospects will more than likely end up playing the majority of the year in the Minors, but he’s worth a massive, major, maximum look in Keeper Leagues.

19. Someone’s going to get moved here, just not sure who.

20. Jorge Posada

Name	AB	HR	SB	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB/K	OPS
Jorge Posada	168	3	0	18	22	0.268	0.364	0.411	0.63	0.775

I refer to both Posada and Cantu, as George.  It’s funnier that way, eventhough saying Whore-Hey is great.

IR-regardless, If Posada plays he’ll put up solid R and RBI numbers with a 270 average.  All the good stuff is gone, but playing in that Yankees line-up makes everyone relevant.

Even Jose Molina, maybe.

21. Miguel Olivo

Name	AB	HR	SB	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB/K	OPS
Miguel Olivo	306	12	7	29	41	0.255	0.278	0.444	0.09	0.722

Olivo is solid, and if he can put up 15 HR with 10 SB he’ll be relevant in the fantasy community. I really like the looks of this super-young Royals team, and they’ll go on some runs where they beat the big boys.

Of course, playing in the Central they’re going to get smashed on most days, but so-it-goes.

John Buck was just resigned, so Olivo wont get full-time at-bats but he’ll definitely up it from the 306 of last year.

22. J.R Towles

Name	AB	HR	SB	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB/K	OPS
J.R. Towles	146	4	0	10	16	0.137	0.25	0.253	0.4	0.503

Post-Hype Sleeper. Towles was bad, really bad, last year. However, you don’t hit .300 at every minor league level, only to become a .140 hitter in the big leagues.

Towles will get better, much better.  12-15 Homers will go with a starting gig, and the kid can steal more than a couple bases.  While 10 SB may be out of reach, he’ll definitely add a hand full.

Even at an atrocious LD% of 11, his BABIP of .157 just screams bad luck.  If you decide to wait on a catcher, Towles might be a beautiful sleeper.

23. John Baker

Name	AB	HR	SB	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB/K	OPS
John Baker	197	5	0	32	32	0.299	0.392	0.447	0.63	0.839

John Baker, my favourite catcher, in 2009. Generally when you float around in triple-a for three years, you’re not going to have a bust-out year.

Anyways, his OPS of .840 may only be in 200 AB, but he should produce. Whenever you see an average of .299 that gets bumped up 100 points when you calculate OBP, you’re onto something.

Sleeper? Yes, Please.  He’s got the gig in Florida.

24. Brandon Inge

Name	AB	HR	SB	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB/K	OPS
Brandon Inge	347	11	4	41	51	0.205	0.303	0.369	0.46	0.672

Looks like he’ll be playing every day at third base, while Carlos Guillen moves to left field.  I’m not sure why it’s not the other way, but Inge played 60 Games at Catcher last year and might be someone to keep an eye on.

25. Jesus Flores

Name	AB	HR	SB	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB/K	OPS
Jesus Flores	301	8	0	23	59	0.256	0.296	0.402	0.19	0.698

Proved to be useful for at least a few stints last year.  He’s got the Gig, and his BA wont kill you dead.  He’s still young enough to improve (24), so definitely keep an eye out.

26. Kurt Suzuki

Name	AB	HR	SB	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	BB/K	OPS
Kurt Suzuki	530	7	2	54	42	0.279	0.346	0.37	0.64	0.716

Lots of AB, not much production.  Decent enough average to keep your catcher position from killing you.  There are a lot of boom/bust type guys that i’d choose over Suzuki.

If you want someone consistant, just go ahead and slot Suzuki at about 15th overall.

The Best of The Rest

27. Gerald Laird – I’m moving him up once spring training rolls around. He has the power to knock out 15-20, it just depends on playing time — which it looks like he has as of January, 2009.

28. Jason Varitek – The Captain.

29. Jason Kendall – Really, not all that useful. At all.

30. Rod Barajas – End with a Blue Jay.

[ Mauer Photo by keith allison / flickr ]

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