THE CATCHERS…Well here we are, finally rolling out the much-anticipated 2011 Positional Rankings starting with the Backstops. To no one’s surprise, Joe Mauer tops our composite rankings as the #1 Catcher for this upcoming season. Mauer could not repeat his 2009 success, but to call his 2010 a bust would be absurd. Mauer looks to rebound and keep his throne.
- Photo by Scott A. Schneider/Getty Images
Enjoy and comment as necessary!
| RANK |
PLAYER |
Brian |
Mike |
Killboy |
Jesse |
Eric |
COMP |
| 1 |
Joe Mauer – MIN |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1.0 |
| 2 |
Victor Martinez – DET |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2.4 |
| 3 |
Buster Posey – SF |
3 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3.0 |
| 4 |
Brian McCann – ATL |
4 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
3.6 |
| 5 |
Carlos Santana – CLE |
6 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
5.6 |
| 6 |
Geovany Soto – CHC |
5 |
9 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
6.2 |
| 7 |
Mike Napoli – TEX |
10 |
5 |
7 |
8 |
7 |
7.4 |
| 8 |
Kurt Suzuki – OAK |
7 |
8 |
13 |
7 |
8 |
8.6 |
| 9 |
Jorge Posada – NYY |
12 |
11 |
8 |
10 |
9 |
10.0 |
| 10 |
Miguel Montero – ARI |
8 |
10 |
9 |
13 |
11 |
10.2 |
| 11 |
Matt Wieters – BAL |
11 |
7 |
14 |
9 |
10 |
10.2 |
| 12 |
Carlos Ruiz – PHI |
9 |
12 |
18 |
11 |
14 |
12.8 |
| 13 |
Chris Iannetta – COL |
13 |
16 |
10 |
12 |
13 |
12.8 |
| 14 |
Russell Martin – NYY |
15 |
13 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
13.4 |
| 15 |
John Buck – FLA |
16 |
17 |
11 |
16 |
17 |
15.4 |
| 16 |
A.J. Pierzynski – CHW |
17 |
14 |
20 |
17 |
15 |
16.6 |
| 17 |
J.P. Arencibia – TOR |
– |
– |
16 |
14 |
16 |
17.6 |
| 18 |
Miguel Olivo – SEA |
– |
18 |
15 |
– |
18 |
18.6 |
| 19 |
Ryan Doumit – PIT |
19 |
19 |
17 |
19 |
20 |
18.8 |
| 20 |
Yadier Molina – STL |
14 |
– |
19 |
– |
19 |
18.8 |
MIKE NAPOLI
I am sticking to my words: “Napoli could wind up a Top 5 Catcher.” The guy is in one of the best parks and lineups in all of baseball. 30 bombs is NOT a stretch.
J.P. ARENCIBIA
Last year’s Pacific Coast League MVP is pretty much guaranteed to be the starting catcher in Toronto this year. He has almost no major league experience but his minor league home run total’s (32HR in 2010) make him worth a flier in the late rounds of the draft. Expect some growing pains, but Arencibia could be a cheap source for power.
CARLOS RUIZ
Chooch continues to be one of the most under rated players in MLB. He was the Phillies 2010 MVP for his clutch hitting and handling of their pitching staff. All projections are calling for him to regress this season – but looking at graphs of his last three seasons he is trending up in all the right categories. Ruiz could be a tremendous consolation prize if you like to draft your catcher(s) in the later rounds.
SLEEPER: JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA
Salty has + power for a catcher and looks to be the likely starter in Boston. In that lineup you can expect a lot of RBI and Run chances. Only downside potential is the number of AB’s Varitek may steal from him.
BUST: KURT SUZUKI
Weak 260-275 AVG with low double-digit HR totals. Suzuki’s move to the bottom 3rd of a poor Oakland lineup will kill his counting stats. If you wait to draft a catcher, at least draft one with power potential.
