Hope springs eternal for fans in cities besieged by snow and cold weather.
Memories of failed playoff runs (both for “real” teams and those operated by fantasy owners) will be left in the past as the next marathon begins.
I begin the long journey toward opening day with my first positional rankings piece. This time out, I’m celebrating the backstops. Much like with running backs in fantasy football, owners need to consider the possibility of a second catcher horning in on at-bats and injuries and wear and tear. It’s also important to note that this is a position to be monitored because of the frequent days off given to catchers to have them ready for the stretch run.
To put things in perspective, only nine catchers logged enough plate appearances to qualify for batting titles.
With that as the backdrop, let’s kick it off.
30. Chris Snyder, Pittsburgh
Snyder is second on the depth chart behind Ryan Doumit. He offers decent power potential and not much else. Snyder hit 15 home runs between Arizona and Pittsburgh last season with 48 RBI in 319 at-bats. He hit 13 and 16 home runs in his two seasons as the primary catcher for Arizona in 2007 and 2008, respectively. However, Snyder’s .229 career batting average hardly moves the needle.
29. Jason Castro, Houston
The 2008 first-round pick out of Stanford opens the season atop the depth chart in Houston (Humberto Quintero is in the second chair of the workload split). Castro batted an anemic .205 in 195 at-bats last season (41 strikeouts) with 11 extra-base hits (two home runs) and eight RBI in 67 games last season.
There is reason to be optimistic, as the 23 year old catcher batted .265 with four home runs and 26 RBI in the Pacific Coast League prior to his call-up. Castro walked nearly as often as he struck out in his 57 minor league games.
28. Yorvit Torrealba, Texas
Torrealba performed nicely in his single season in San Diego, batting .271 with 21 extra-base hits (including seven home runs) with 37 RBI. He curiously stole seven bases in 12 attempts as the Padres tried to jumpstart the offense (he’d stolen nine bases in the previous four seasons combined).
He’ll try to solidify what has been an unstable position for the Rangers and tutor the pitching staff. Torrealba’s main value to this squad is his defensive prowess. He’s never appeared in more than 113 games (his 2007 season in Colorado) and offers little in the power categories. Torrealba’s career-high numbers came in that 2007 season (eight home runs, 22 doubles and 47 RBI).
27. Ivan Rodriguez, Washington
The power numbers haven’t been there for years. Rodriguez hasn’t hit double-digit home runs nor has he driven in more than 49 runs (his 2010 total) since 2007. Still, he’s the everyday catcher until 23-year-old prospect Wilson Ramos is ready (.278 with eight extra-base hits in 82 plate appearances last season).
26. Rod Barajas, Los Angeles Dodgers
Barajas takes the reins for the departed Russell Martin and will cede at-bats to Dioner Navarro, who returns to Los Angeles following 4 1/2 seasons in Tampa. Barajas batted .297 with five home runs and 13 RBI in 25 games after joining the Dodgers last season.
His batting average leaves you wanting (.239 career mark), but Barajas does offer power potential with regular at-bats, having posted totals of 19 and 17 home runs in the past two years.
Barajas has never appeared in more than 125 games (2009), so he serves as an off-day or injury substitute for fantasy owners.
25. Hank Conger, Los Angeles Angels
Jeff Mathis takes the starting job in Los Angeles following the trade that sent Mike Napoli to Toronto. Mathis has struggled in his six partial major league seasons. He owns a pathetic .199 career batting average with 40 extra-base hits in 1,034 plate appearances.
The better fantasy prospect and the Angels’ backup to start the year is Conger. He batted .300 with 11 home runs, 26 doubles, 49 RBI and a nearly even walk-to-strikeout rate in 108 Triple-A games last season. Conger may get a chance to win the position in the spring.
24. Jesus Montero, New York Yankees
Super prospect Montero likely starts the season in the minor leagues following the team’s addition of Martin. Martin, at least for the start of the year, will be spelled by Jorge Posada, thereby allowing Montero to log regular at-bats in the minor leagues. His bat is ready (.289 with 21 home runs and 75 RBI), but the glove still needs work.
23. Ramon Hernandez, Cincinnati
Hernandez is a perfect No. 2 catcher option. He offers strong power numbers when he receives regular at-bats, having hit at least 14 home runs in six different seasons while bouncing between teams.
Hernandez logged 26 extra-base hits (seven home runs) with a strong .297 batting average in 313 at-bats last season. He’s batted .305 at Great American Ball Park since joining the Reds.
22. John Jaso, Tampa Bay
Jaso is the top option of a workload split with former Indians catcher Kelly Shoppach. He demonstrated good power potential in his first significant MLB action. Jaso batted .263 with 26 extra-base hits (18 doubles) and 44 RBI in 339 at-bats. Most impressively, Jaso demonstrated a tremendous plate discipline. He finished the season with 20 more walks than strikeouts.
One area of concern with Jaso is his work behind the plate. Jaso performed well in the batter’s box, but allowed seven passed balls. He’ll need to improve defensively, lest he lose more at-bats to Shoppach.
21. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Boston
Saltalamacchia assumes the top spot in Boston, though veteran Jason Varitek is onboard as a tutor and substitute. He was slated as the next fantasy superstar at the position in Texas, but a big swing and deficiencies behind the plate limited his output. Saltalamacchia struck out in 34.3 percent of his at-bats during the 2009 season. He spent most of 2010 in the minor leagues and injured his thumb (he batted .244 with 11 home runs for Oklahoma City of the Pacific Coast League).
The power potential is certainly there, as Saltalamacchia posted 21 extra-base hits (nine home runs) in the 2009 season. The offensive upgrades in Boston should set the table nicely for Saltalamacchia in the bottom of the order. “Salty” is now a nice low-risk, high-reward option.
20. A.J. Pierzynski, Chicago White Sox
Pierzynski re-upped with the White Sox for another run following a solid 2010 season. He batted .270 with 29 doubles, nine home runs and 56 RBI. Pierzynski’s batting average dropped 30 points from his 2009 mark. His contact rate actually improved, so a moderate rebound in the batting average category should be anticipated (.284 lifetime mark).
19. J.P. Arencibia, Toronto
With former Angels catcher Mike Napoli having been dealt to Texas, Arencibia is back on the radar as this year’s breakthrough performer. He picks up the mantle from the celebrated Matt Wieters (and Buster Posey).
Arencibia is a powerhouse prospect who dominated the Pacific Coast League last season. He batted .301 with 32 home runs, 36 doubles and 85 RBI. I understand that his strikeout rate is moderately concerning (at 2.24 strikeouts per walk), but stardom awaits Arencibia in Rogers Centre. Jose Molina isn’t going to stand in his way.
18. Russell Martin, New York Yankees
The former fantasy star seeks to reclaim his past glory by shifting leagues and donning the pinstripes. He’ll be the regular catcher, as Jorge Posada shifts to the DH role.
Martin enters New York with a number of questions. He noted that his workout and preparation habits changed (for the worse) in his final two years in Los Angeles, and he was beset by myriad injuries, including a fractured hip and knee injury. He was limited to 97 games in 2010 and batted a career-worst .248 with five home runs and 26 RBI.
He will have ample protection in the lineup to boost his RBI total (he averaged 73.7 RBI during the first three years of his LA run) and should see enough pitches to hit more in line with his .272 career mark.
17. Jonathan Lucroy, Milwaukee
Following a brief stop at AAA, Lucroy rose to the top spot in Milwaukee and performed well. He batted .253 with four home runs, nine doubles and 26 RBI. Lucroy also swiped four bases.
The 24-year-old backstop has power potential. Lucroy slammed 50 extra-base hits in the lower minor leagues during the 2008 season. He then rapped out 32 doubles with two triples and nine home runs at Double-A Huntsville in 2009.
16. Ryan Doumit, Pittsburgh
Doumit is slated to split time with Chris Snyder, who joined the team in the second half of the 2010 season.
He has averaged 37 extra-base hits and 50.7 RBI in the past three years (38 home runs total). Doumit’s batting average won’t likely match his breakthrough 2008 season (he batted .318), but you’ll get adequate power numbers. In the past two seasons, Doumit has batted a composite .251.
15. John Buck, Florida
Buck changes teams for the second straight season. He posted career-best numbers in four of the five standard categories as a member of the Blue Jays last season (.281, 20 home runs, 66 RBI and 53 runs scored).
We can reasonably expect a downturn in his home run production, as Rogers Centre routinely ranks among the best home run yards in Major League Baseball. However, the drop-off from Kansas City to Florida isn’t as marked, so a home run total in the teens with an RBI total in the high-40s or low-50s is plausible. As Buck owns a career .243 batting average, you’re certainly not getting much help there.
14. Miguel Olivo, Seattle
Olivo returns to Seattle following stops in San Diego, Florida, Kansas City and Colorado. He’s long been a solid power broker when playing on an everyday basis. Olivo doesn’t offer anything in the batting average department (.246 lifetime), but he’s going to hit balls into the gap while adding a couple of stolen bases along the way.
In the past five years, Olivo has averaged 16.2 home runs and 56.4 RBI.
13. Yadier Molina, St. Louis
Molina experience a sizable drop in his batting average (down 31 points), but his power numbers remained virtually unchanged. He produced eight more RBI than 2009 and four fewer doubles. Molina stole one fewer base (eight).
Molina has averaged 6.5 home runs, 35.2 runs scored and 51.7 RBI in his past six seasons as the Cardinals’ catcher and possesses a .268 career batting average.
12. Carlos Ruiz, Philadelphia
Ruiz played in a career-high 121 games last season for the Phillies. He nearly matched his career marks with 28 doubles and 53 RBI and beat his previous career-best batting average by 43 points. Ruiz walks as often as he strikes out and, interestingly, actually still has upside in his home splits. Ruiz batted 53 points higher on the road than he did at Citizens Bank Ballpark.
He’ll cede at-bats to Brian Schneider, but his .400 OBP puts him in line to score runs and get pitches to hit in this potent lineup.
11. Kurt Suzuki, Oakland
Suzuki was affected by an abdominal strain in late April that took him out of action for several weeks. He returned from the injury and hit well initially. However, his ability to drive the ball into the gap was sapped (he hit 19 fewer doubles in 2010 than he did in 2009) as the season wore on and his batting average suffered (.242, down 32 points from 2009). Suzuki batted a dismal .185 in August.
In the past two seasons, Suzuki has driven in 159 runs and actually performed much better in his spacious home confines than he did on the road (eight of his 13 home runs and 46 of his 71 RBI came at The Coliseum).
10. Michael Napoli, Texas
Napoli probably won’t bother to unpack his bags following a dizzying week. He settles in Arlington as part of one of the game's most potent lineups and in a place suited for his power production.
He's a premier power broker at the position who has hit 20 or more home runs in three consecutive seasons (including 26 home runs with 68 RBI in 2010). In fact, Napoli was one of few power options in a struggling 2010 Los Angeles lineup.
A boatload of strikeouts accompanies Napoli’s big power production. He struck out in nearly one-third of his 2010 at-bats (with four strikeouts per walk). Napoli will cede some at-bats to Yorvit Torrealba as the Rangers seek to keep him fresh down the stretch. He struggled markedly down the stretch when an injury befell tag-team partner Jeff Mathis.
9. Jorge Posada, New York Yankees
With Martin onboard for 2011, Posada will take to the DH role. That should keep the stress off his knees and back and allow him to log a higher number of at-bats. Posada has hit 18 or more home runs in 10 of the past 11 seasons, a run that includes eight seasons of at least 81 RBI. The New York lineup is, wait for it, loaded once again. Take the power numbers and a batting average perhaps back in line with his .275 career mark (he batted .248 in 2010).
8. Miguel Montero, Arizona
Montero missed much of the first half of the 2010 season following surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. He appeared in only 85 games, his strikeout rate rose and his batting average dropped by 28 points.
Chris Snyder, with whom he split time early in 2010, was dealt to Pittsburgh at the deadline to make Montero the everyday catcher. He didn’t find the mark in the summer following the deal, as Montero registered a miserable .227 composite average in August and September.
He has strong pop (46 extra-base hits in 2009) in a fantastic ballpark. I anticipate a bounce-back campaign from Montero with his knee issues in the rearview mirror.
7. Matt Wieters, Baltimore
Wieters was one of the most-coveted prizes on draft day in 2010. He produced a solid season for fantasy owners with 34 extra-base hits (11 home runs) and 55 RBI. Wieters improved his walk rate and his contact rate, although a quick review of the back of his trading card reveals a 39-point drop in his batting average. Look for a rebound in that category and bigger power numbers.
The Orioles upgraded the lineup by bringing in J.J. Hardy, Derrek Lee and Mark Reynolds. Lest we forget, Brian Roberts appeared in only four games prior to the All-Star break.
6. Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs
Soto rebounded nicely from his 2009 struggles last season. His power numbers didn’t change markedly (he hit six more home runs and replicated his total of 19 doubles), but Soto’s batting average improved by 62 points. His contact rate didn’t change immensely, but he more balls fell in for hits. Soto is reportedly full recovered from his September shoulder surgery and recently agreed to a one-year contract to avoid arbitration.
5. Carlos Santana, Cleveland
Santana was cleared to resume baseball activities in mid-January following knee surgery. He’s expected to be ready for the start of spring training.
Santana whetted the appetites of fantasy owners and gave Cleveland fans a glimmer of hope in his 46 games last season. He ripped 19 extra-base hits (six home runs) in 150 at-bats with 22 RBI. Santana also walked more than he struck out while posting a .260 batting average. He also swiped three bases, although I’m not anticipating a ton of running following his surgery. Jump onboard the bandwagon now. With a healthy Grady Sizemore back in the lineup, Santana has tremendous upside.
4. Brian McCann, Atlanta
McCann enters his sixth season of fantasy stardom as one of the veteran components of a re-tooled lineup. He’s averaged 21.4 home runs, 34.8 doubles and 88.6 RBI in his five full seasons with the Braves while posting a composite .298 batting average. If you exclude his brilliant 2006 breakthrough season, McCann’s four-year batting average is .280.
3. Buster Posey, San Francisco
The “Posey Watch” was on last spring as eager fantasy owners awaited his call-up. He made his first appearance for the Giants during Memorial Day weekend, and fantasy owners were celebrating his arrival thereafter. Posey produced 43 extra-base hits (18 home runs) in his 406 at-bats with a strong .305 batting average. He walked 30 times while striking out once in every eight at-bats.
2. Victor Martinez, Detroit
Martinez has played two full seasons since his injury-shortened 2008 season, so fears about his health have been allayed. When you look at the breadth of his work, Martinez has been remarkably consistent.
In six full seasons, Martinez has averaged 21.2 home runs, 35.5 doubles and 97 RBI. The 32-year-old backstop also owns a nice, even .300 career batting average. He and Miguel Cabrera form a dynamic duo in the heart of Detroit’s lineup.
1. Joe Mauer, Minnesota
Mauer experienced a huge drop-off in his home run production from his 2009 efforts as the Twins ushered in a new era at Target Field. He hit 16 home runs in the final year at the Metrodome. Mauer hit one home run in his new park. Mauer’s 28 home runs were an anomaly, more than double his previous career mark. His total of nine in 2010 was more in line with expectations.
Still, Mauer batted .327 with a career-high 43 doubles and 75 RBI despite the prolonged absence of tag-team partner Justin Morneau. In the past three years, Mauer has averaged 82 RBI, 93.3 runs scored and a robust .340 batting average.
