Fantasy catcher rankings and strategies

Strategy for fantasy catchers:
The catcher spot is pretty top loaded. If you do not get one of the top 5-6 catchers, wait. You can get approximately the same value in later rounds as you can get for the number 10-11 catchers. The middle of the pack is where you can get your catcher, and you won’t lose much.

This list vs. others:
Ronny Paulino will be a steal, as long as the Pirates don’t acquire another catcher before the season begins. ESPN has him at # 15, but he’s going to produce as the number 5 this year.
Kurt Suzuki is #17 on ESPN. He will produce as the #12, so try and pick him up as about the 15-16th catcher taken.
J.R. Towels is ranked 24. Expect #10 production out of him.
John Buck is thought to be the # 22. If you can get him as the 17-19th catcher, he will be a steal.
Stay away from Ivan Rodriguez. ESPN has him as #8, but his numbers are slipping.
Also stay away from Bengie Molina. He is somehow the #7 on ESPN, but he’s only going to produce as the #23.

1)Victor Martinez, Indians
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2005 147 547 73 20 80 0 1 0.305
2006 153 572 82 16 93 0 0 0.316
2007 147 562 78 25 114 0 0 0.301

Look for Martinez’s RBIs and Runs to go up this year. Sizemore and Hafner were down, so you can expect Martinez’s numbers to go up.
Prediction: 148 games, 567 ABs, 86 runs, 27 HRs, 123 RBIs, .312.

2)Russel Martin, Dodgers
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2006 121 415 65 10 45 10 5 0.282
2007 151 540 87 19 87 21 9 0.293

Russel Martin will still be one of the best fantasy catchers in the game in ’08, and I love his toughness/how hard he plays, but I think he played in way to many games last year. 25
Prediction: 135 games, 472 ABs, 80 runs, 17 HRs, 85 RBIs, 15 SBs, .285

3)Joe Mauer, Twins
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2005 131 489 61 9 55 13 1 0.294
2006 140 521 86 13 84 8 3 0.347
2007 109 406 62 7 60 7 1 0.293

If he can avoid the injuries that plagued him last year, expect his numbers to go up closer to his ’06 numbers.
Prediction: 135 games, 498 ABs, 83 runs, 14 HRs, 82 RBIs, 6 SBs, .299.

4)Brian McCaan, Braves
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2006 130 442 61 24 93 2 0 0.333
2007 139 540 51 18 92 0 1 0.270

McCaan’s RBIs will definitely go up this year hitting behind Teixeira for a full season. Other than that, there won’t be that much of a change in his number, except for possibly a little less ABs from dropping down in the order.
Prediction: 135 games, 470 ABs, 50 runs, 19 HRs, 101 RBIs, .280 AVG.

5)Ronny Paulino, Pirates
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2006 129 442 37 6 55 0 0 0.310
2007 133 457 56 11 55 2 2 0.263

Paulino’s power went up last year but his average dropped. If the 26 year old catcher can put it all together this year, he could produce great stats for you. It’s his third season in the league, and he’s entering his prime, so it’s likely.
Prediction: 130 games, 463 AB’s, 70 runs, 16 HRs, 69 RBI’s, .280 AVG.

6) Jorge Posada, Yankees
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2005 142 474 67 19 71 1 0 0.262
2006 143 465 65 23 93 3 0 0.277
2007 144 506 91 20 90 2 0 0.338

2007 was an aberration as far as Jorge Posada’s AVG and runs go. Don’t expect him to come close to those numbers again in ’08.
Prediction: 145 games, 480 ABs, 78 runs, 19 HRs, 87 RBIs, .285.

7)Kenji Johjima, Mariners
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2006 144 506 61 18 76 3 1 0.291
2007 135 485 52 14 61 0 2 0.287

Johjima has a strangle hold on the catchers job in Seattle. Expect #1 type production out of him in his third years in the majors.
Prediction: 137 games, 492 ABs, 56 runs, 16 HRs, 67 RBIs, .289

8) John Buck, Royals
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2005 118 401 40 12 47 2 2 0.242
2006 114 371 37 11 50 0 2 0.245
2007 113 347 41 18 48 0 1 0.222

Buck is entering his prime this season. Expect his HRs to climb, as well as his RBIs. One more year of experience for the rest of his team will give him a lot more RBI chances. He will give you a lot of pop for a catcher.
Prediction: 120 games, 352 ABs, 47 runs, 24 HRs, 56 RBIs, .241.

9)Jason Varitek, Red Sox
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2005 133 470 70 22 70 2 0 0.281
2006 103 365 46 12 55 1 2 0.238
2007 131 435 57 17 68 1 2 0.255

Varitek’s obviously the Red Sox starting catcher, and there’s no reason to expect him to play less than 125 games and his base numbers to drop, as long as he avoids injury
Prediction: 127 games, 403 ABs, 50 runs, 16 HRs, 65 RBIs, .260.

10)J.R. Towles, Astros
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2007 14 40 9 1 12 0 1 0.375

Towles is a sleeper pick from the catchers spot this year. I see Ausmus getting some time behind the dish, but Towles will get the majority of the ABs. His numbers were very good last year, but then again it’s too small of a sample to expect him to do that over a course of a season. It would be ridiculous to expect him to keep up that average.
Prediction: 108 games, 334 ABs, 54 runs, 7 HRs, 63 RBIs, .312 AVG.

11)Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Rangers
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2007 93 308 39 11 33 0 0 0.266

Saltalamacchia is easily the highest profile young catcher, mostly because of the trade for Teixeira, but the he is worth the hype. He is one of the best fantasy catchers in the game, especially for keeper leagues.
Prediction: 124 games, 415 ABs, 54 runs, 17 HRs, 51 RBIs, .263

12)Kurt Suzuki, A’s
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2007 68 213 27 7 39 0 0 0.249

Suzuki is coming into his first full season. He's going to get close to twice the number of ABs that he had last year. He had about 1 HR every 10 games, and he should be able to pick that up this by playing every day. The increase in HRs will also result in an increase in RBIs and runs. That would put him up there as about the best 12 fantasy catchers of '08.
Prediction: 121 games, 396 ABs, 52 runs, 16 HRs, 82 RBIs, .252

13)Geovany Soto, Cubs
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2006 11 25 1 0 2 0 0 0.200
2007 18 54 12 3 8 0 0 0.389

Sotto will most likely be the Cubs starting catcher….This could be a decent sleeper pick, but I see him splitting time with Henry Blanco. You could see some great RBI numbers though hitting behing Soriano, Lee, and the rest of the Cubs lineup
Prediction: 90 games 302 AB’s, 55 runs, 15 HR’s, 52 RBI’s, .302 AVG.


14)Ramon Hernandez, Orioles
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2005 99 369 36 12 58 1 0 0.290
2006 144 501 66 23 91 1 0 0.275
2007 106 364 40 9 62 1 3 0.258

If Hernandez can get back to his 2006 numbers, he could be a pretty good value if you can get him late in the draft. I’d expect him to be more around last years numbers, though, especially with the fact that the lineup is depleted.
Prediction: 115 games, 396 ABs, 43 runs, 15 HRs, 65 RBIs, .262

14)Chris Snyder, D'Backs
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2005 115 326 24 6 28 0 1 0.202
2006 61 184 19 6 32 0 0 0.277
2007 110 326 37 13 47 0 1 0.252

Snyder would be an average catcher for you, with a little bit of pop for you. You may see his numbers go up going into his 4th season and turning always beneficial 27 this week.
Prediction: 108 games, 322 ABs, 40 Runs, 15 HRs, 55 RBIs, .259 AVG.

15) A.J. Pierzynski, White Sox
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2005 128 460 61 18 56 0 2 0.257
2006 140 509 65 16 64 1 0 0.295
2007 136 472 54 14 50 1 1 0.263

Pierzynski’s not really going to help you anywhere, but he’s not going to hurt you either. Not a lot of upside at this point in his career.
Prediction: 132 games, 462 ABs, 53 runs, 12 HRs, 54 RBIs, .258

16)Dioner Navarro, Rays
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2005 50 176 21 3 14 0 0 0.273
2006 81 268 28 6 28 2 1 0.254
2007 119 388 46 9 44 3 1 0.227

Expect Navarro to be the Rays everyday catcher again this year. Look for his RBIs to go up as the Rays lineup gets even better.
Prediction: 121 games, 402 ABs, 48 runs, 12 HRs, 52 RBIs, .253.

17)Ivan Rodriguez, Tigers
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2005 129 504 71 14 50 7 3 0.276
2006 136 547 74 13 69 8 3 0.300
2007 129 502 50 11 63 2 2 0.281

Don’t expect Rodriguez to continue the level you’re used to him playing at-he’s getting a lot older. His runs and average will go down, but with the improvement in front of him in the Tigers lineup, expect his RBIs to stay about the same.
Prediction: 132 games, 511 ABs, 42 runs, 9 HRs, 60 RBIs, .249

18) Yadier Molina, Cardinals
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2005 114 385 36 8 49 2 3 0.252
2006 129 417 29 6 49 1 2 0.216
2007 111 353 30 6 40 1 1 0.275

Molina, whose got in my opinion the best arm for a catcher, is finally stepping is up at the plate. Molina will get more AB’s this year by moving up in the order, but I don’t think he can keep his average up.
Prediction: 125 games, 411 AB’s, 39 runs, 9HR, 55 RBI’s, .270.

19) Gregg Zaun, Blue Jays
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2005 133 434 61 11 61 2 3 0.251
2006 99 290 39 12 40 0 2 0.272
2006 110 331 43 10 52 0 0 0.242
Zaun is an average fantasy catcher. Nothing special here.
Prediction: 108 games, 325 ABs, 44 runs, 11 HRs, 50 RBIs, .248.

20) Josh Bard, Padres
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2005 34 83 6 1 9 0 0 0.193
2006 100 249 30 9 40 1 0 0.330
2007 118 389 42 5 51 0 1 0.285

Bard is a decent catcher for your team, but his ABs will be limited with a full year of Barret on the team. This would be a great tandem to platoon, but only if you have the available bench spots.
Prediction: 103 games, 255 ABs, 41 Runs, 6 HRs, 49 RBIs, .280 AVG.

21) Carlos Ruiz, Phillies
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2007 111 368 41 6 52 0 0 0.258
Ruiz, like most catchers, will be concentrating on handling the staff more than his stick to the Phillies potent lineup. He’ll give you passable stats, but don’t expect him to be a game changer for you.
Prediction: 108 games, 356 ABs, 42 runs, 7 HRs, 55 RBIs, .262 AVG.

22)Yorvit Torrealba, Rockies
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2005 42 108 14 2 8 0 0 0.241
2006 65 223 23 7 43 4 3 0.247
2007 113 396 47 8 47 2 1 0.255

Torrealba took over for Chris Iannetta during the season in ’07, but expect Iannetta to steal a decent amount of ABs from Torrealba this year.
Prediction: 105 games, 380 ABs, 43 Runs, 8 HRs, 45 RBIs, .259 AVG.

23)Bengie Molina, Giants
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2005 119 410 45 15 69 0 2 0.295
2006 117 433 44 19 57 1 1 0.284
2007 134 497 38 19 81 0 0 0.276

Last year Molina played about 15 games more than he had in either ’06 or ’07. The extra games from last, coupled with the fact that he turns 34 mid season and that most of the power from the Giants team of ’07 is gine, I expect his numbers to drop off significantly.
Prediction: 98 games, 373 ABs, 35 Runs, 13 HRs, 40 RBIs, .250 AVG.

24)David Ross, Reds
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2006 90 247 37 21 52 0 0 0.255
2007 112 311 32 17 39 0 0 0.203

Ross got close to 70 more AB’s last year than in ’06, yet all of his numbers significantly dropped. Don’t expect them to go up this year. He’ll give you some pop, but that’s about it.
Prediction: 103 games, 295 AB’s, 30 R, 15 HRs, 38 RBI’s, .210 AVG.

25)Jason Kendall, Brewers
G AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG
2005 150 601 70 0 53 8 3 0.271
2006 143 552 76 1 50 11 5 0.295
2007 137 466 45 3 41 3 4 0.242

Kendall’s SB went down significantly down last year, along with all his other stats (other than HR). He has said that his vision has improved greatly from last year due to eye surgery, so I’d actually expect him to get up closer to his ’06 numbers, but that’s still not anything to gawk at. He’s worth taking a flyer on in a deep league.
Prediction: 125 games 450 ABs, 38 runs, 1 HR, 40 RBI, 2 SB, .255 AVG.



Catchers to completely avoid:
Paul Lo Duca, Dodgers
I would Lo Duca at all costs unless you can pick him up very late or very cheap. He messed up his knees in the off-season, but should be ready to go by the start of the season. However, with the banging a catchers knees take to begin with, this does not look good. We also have no ideas if there will be any fall outs from the Mitchell Report. If that wasn’t enough, he’s also moving into a more spacious park. Avoid at all costs.

Mike Rabelo/Matt Treanor,Marlins
At this point in time there is a position battle going on in Florida, and even in the unlikely case that one of them wins the job and is not platooned, neither of them are good enough to be more than an emergency catcher unless you are in a very deep league.

Brian Sneider, Mets
Sneider was brought in to control the Mets staff, and nothing more. No reason to have him on your team.

Mike Napoli/Jeff Mathis, Angels
This is another position battle. Mathis might be worth taking a flier on, but I expect that they will end up splitting time.


If you would like a copy of these rankings in an easier to read excel document, or you would like a copy of NL and AL only rankings, feel free to email me at thepurpleiguana@yahoo.com.....

The Purple Iguana