By Greg Fox
Rotowhine.com Assistant Editor
January 10, 2008
Each week leading up to the 2008 major league baseball regular season, Rotowhine.com will dissect the top players in both the American and National League at each key fantasy position.
Top 15 Catchers - National League
I hate catchers… with a passion. They are impossible to predict and even if I fancied myself the Nostradamus of the catching position, I’d be satisfied with a season of 18 homers and 70 RBI out of my starters. Think for a moment of the everyday field players who for the most part went uninjured last season and produced in the neighborhood of 18 homers and 70 RBI - Austin Kearns, Pedro Feliz, Bill Hall, Geoff Jenkins, Bengie Molina, Conor Jackson, Stephen Drew - to name a few, and each of these guys would have caused bleeding ulcers for their owners. Those numbers amount to a home run every 11 days and two-and-a-half RBI per week. But if they were catchers that would place them among the NL elite. Last season I paid three bucks for Rod Barajas, who the Phillies signed to be their regular catcher in that shoebox of a ballpark in Pretzelville. Within the season’s first 10 days, he was playing twice a week. By the beginning of May, Carlos Ruiz had completely supplanted him and Barajas went on to finish the year with 4 homers and 10 RBI. By all accounts, Russell Martin and Brian McCann look to be head and shoulders above the remainder of this depressing contingent. After those two, it gets so murky that you may actually want to consider some backups so as not to hurt your team batting average. If a guy like Paul LoDuca is available for a couple of bucks, then by all means jump all over him. But you know that he’ll be overpriced in auction leagues and will go way too high in drafts. Same goes for Jason Kendall, Yorvit Torrealba and Brian Schneider. Bengie Molina produced 19 HR and 81 RBI in 2007, but he is 33 years old with the mileage of a 43-year old and plays half his games in one of the toughest parks in which to hit. By contrast, younger brother Yadier was hit hard by injuries last season, which makes him a decent bet to be one of the steals at the position in ‘08. If you’re looking for a cheap source of decent stats, keep your eye on the Cubs’ Geovany Soto.
1. Russell Martin, LA
2007 5×5 Stats: .293 BA, 87 R, 19 HR, 87 RBI, 21 SBAge: 25 (2/15/83)Reminiscent of a young Pudge Rodriguez, Martin is a tremendous all-around backstop with the ability to lead. Already one of the best clutch hitters the NL has to offer, he could bat in the heart of one of the league’s toughest lineups. His heavy workload took a bit of a toll on him last year, but he is young (25) and hungry. Expect his power numbers to rise, but also prepare for a slight drop in steal attempts.
2008 Projections: .303 BA, 92 R, 23 HR, 87 RBI, 16 SB
2. Brian McCann, ATL
2007 5×5 Stats: .270 BA, 51 R, 18 HR, 92 RBI, 0 SBAge: 24 (2/20/84)A balky left ankle put the kibosh on what was expected to be a monster 2007 for McCann. Despite the nagging injury, he came on strong in the final two months to finish with respectable power totals. A tough out who will hit in the middle of a solid batting order, expect his numbers to rise across the board.
2008 Projections: .282 BA, 77 R, 26 HR, 94 RBI, 0 SB
3. Bengie Molina, SF
2007 5×5 Stats: .276 BA, 38 R, 19 HR, 81 RBI, 0 SBAge: 33 (7/20/74)There is a big dropoff from McCann to Molina. He is painfully slow and obviously must think there is a land mine waiting if he crosses the plate. However, the elder Molina knows how to hit and is particularly adept with runners on base. His age will likely have him miss additional days this season, but that could serve to keep him fresh into September.
2008 Projections: .272 BA, 45 R, 16 HR, 65 RBI, 0 SB
4. Geovany Soto, CHI
2007 5×5 Stats: .389 BA, 12 R, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SBAge: 25 (1/20/83)The Cubbies chose to not re-sign Jason Kendall so that Soto could get handed the reins on a full-time basis. He tore the cover off the ball between triple A and 54 at-bats with the big club in ‘07. Now 25, Soto has been waiting in the wings for his promotion and he should make the most of it.
2008 Projections: .281 BA, 59 R, 18 HR, 64 RBI, 0 SB
5. Paul Lo Duca, WAS
2007 5×5 Stats: .272 BA, 46 R, 9 HR, 54 RBI, 2 SBAge: 35 (4/12/72)Lo Duca had a frustrating ‘07, but still posted respectable numbers for a catcher. Now in Washington, the soon-to-be 36-year old is expected to bat second in the Nationals’ order. The most professional of hitters, he should up his batting average, while offering leadership to a young pitching staff.
2008 Projections: .285 BA, 61 R, 9 HR, 60 RBI, 1 SB
6. Jason Kendall, MIL
2007 5×5 Stats: .242, 45 R, 3 HR, 41 RBI, 3 SBAge: 33 (6/26/74)Back in the NL where he is more comfortable, Kendall should bounce back nicely following a miserable 2007 season. Finds himself in a cozy hitters park in Milwaukee and he is one of a handful NL catchers capable of producing a high batting average. Enthusiasm should be somewhat tempered on Kendall, but he could prove to be a solid $4 buy.
2008 Projections: .279 BA, 60 R, 5 HR, 52 RBI, 6 SB
7. Ronny Paulino, PIT
2007 5×5 Stats: .263 BA, 56 R, 11 HR, 55 RBI, 2 SBAge: 26 (4/21/81)While the Pirates have considered others for the position, Paulino heads into 2008 as the clear starter. He is built like a fireplug, but is a more than capable hitter with pretty good pop in his bat. He may never again hit over .300 as he did as a rookie in ‘06, but he is capable of hitting in the .270-.280 range with decent power numbers.
2008 Projections: .271 BA, 59 R, 14 HR, 62 RBI, 1 SB
8. Yorvit Torrealba, COL
2007 5×5 Stats: .255 BA, 47 R, 8 HR, 47 RBI, 2 SBAge: 29 (7/19/78)Torrealba could eventually find himself in a time share situation with Chris Iannetta, but he proved in the playoffs that he deserves significant playing time. Though he’ll bat primarily in the eight hole, he plays half his games at Coors Field and his confidence and clutch bat should lead to a decent spike in his numbers for ‘08.
2008 Projections: .263 BA, 50 R, 12 HR, 55 RBI, 2 SB
9. Yadier Molina, STL
2007 5×5 Stats: .275 BA, 30 R, 6 HR, 40 RBI, 1 SBAge: 25 (7/13/82)Knee and wrist injuries stalled Molina’s growth last season, but he could be a pretty good sleeper pick in ‘08. Arguably the league’s top defensive catcher, last season he posted the highest batting average of his career and he should begin to hit for more power.
2008 Projections: .267 BA, 53 R, 11 HR, 59 RBI, 0 SB
10. Carlos Ruiz, PHI
2007 5×5 Stats: .259 BA, 42 R, 6 HR, 54 RBI, 6 SBAge: 29 (1/22/79)Following a strong April, Ruiz won the starting job for the Phillies. Not exactly entrenched, Ruiz will have to pick up his game if he expects to be the teams long term solution. Doesn’t possess much pop in his bat, but has the ability to steal a few bases, certainly a commodity at the position.
2008 Projections: .254 BA, 45 R, 8 HR, 55 RBI, 5 SB
11. Johnny Estrada, FA
2007 5×5 Stats: .278 BA, 40 R, 8 HR, 52 RBI, 0 SBAge: 31 (6/27/76)As of this writing, Estrada had been non-tendered by the Mets and remains unsigned. Regardless of who signs him, this is a solid offensive player who should be in no worse than a time share situation. He has batted over .300 in two of his last four seasons and notched double-digit home runs in each of the past two. We won’t speak of his defense.
2008 Projections: .280 BA, 43 R, 9 HR, 48 RBI, 0 SB
12. Chris Snyder, ARZ
2007 5×5 Stats: .252 BA, 37 R, 13 HR, 47 RBI, 0 SBAge: 27 (2/12/81)Snyder will continue to split time with Miguel Montero, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. The Diamondbacks will work pitching matchups between the two and Snyder is coming into his own. Expect further progress from this improving power hitter.
2008 Projections: .255 BA, 46 R, 14 HR, 49 RBI, 0 SB
13. Josh Bard, SD
2007 5×5 Stats: .285 BA, 42 R, 5 HR, 51 RBI, 0 SBAge: 30 (3/30/78)Bard is a solid hitter, but like with everyone else, Petco Park limits his power potential. Having Michael Barrett behind him on the depth chart shouldn’t have too much of an effect, but we wouldn’t recommend spending more than $4 on this borderline starter.
2008 Projections: .279 BA, 41 R, 7 HR, 50 RBI, 0 SB
14. Brian Schneider, NYM
2007 5×5 Stats: .235 BA, 33 R, 6 HR, 54 RBI, 0 SBAge: 31 (11/26/76)As they say in French, the pickins are starting to get slim. Schneider is as steady as they come behind the plate, but for fantasy purposes, he’s mediocre at best. The trade to the Mets should boost his numbers to the levels they were at in 2004 and 2005, but don’t expect any miracles.
2008 Projections: .252 BA, 45 R, 10 HR, 51 RBI, 0 SB
15. J.R. Towles, HOU
2007 5×5 Stats: .375 BA, 9 R, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 0 SBAge: 24 (2/11/84)He’ll have to serve as Brad Ausmus’ caddy for one more season, but if you need to know which one to draft it is no contest. Ausmus will be putrid, while Towles in about 250 at-bats could give you eight or nine homers and steals combined. If Ausmus gets injured, look out.
2008 Projections: .273 BA, 23 R, 5 HR, 23 RBI, 3 SB
Coming Monday (Jan. 14): Jeff Andriesse breaks down the Top 15 American League first basemen.
