NL Catcher Rankings
"You start with a Catcher, or you'll have a lot of passed balls."
By: The FB101 Writing Staff
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1. Russell Martin (LA)
A. Meet the cornerstone of the “new look” Dodgers. They are younger and hungrier than 2007, and with veterans like
Nomar, Derek Lowe, and Jeff Kent helping lead on and off the field, many experts think there is no ceiling for this perennial
NL West contender. As cornerstone of the Dodgers, Russell Martin has arguably the best combination of speed, power, raw
talent, and upside of any backstop in the game. Although he isn’t a credible threat to win a batting title in 2008, at the age
of 25, there will be lofty expectations of Martin this season. We expect fewer steals, steady 20 home run power, and
improving batting average.
2. Brian McCann (ATL)
A. With 62 more at bats than he had in 2006 but 6 fewer home runs, fans and fantasy ballers alike were disappointed with
2007’s follow-up effort by Brian McCann. Although inarguably gifted with a bat, McCann saw more would-be home runs fall
in as doubles in 2007. In spite of his modest showing in ’07, the Braves dealt catching phenom and current owner of the
longest-name-in-baseball-award, Jarrod Saltalamacchia (along with Elvis Andrus), to Texas to sure up first base for the
foreseeable future with Mark Teixeira. It is McCann’s show now, and we do expect more power and a better average in
2008.
3. Bengie Molina (SF)
A. The most offensively endowed of the Molina brothers, Bengie proved that a move to the National League would not slow
his bat. Reaching 19 homers for the second straight season, Molina saw his average dip while posting higher RBI totals
having played in more games than any prior year of his career. What can we expect of the now 33 year old Bengie Molina
entering 2008?
4. Ronnie Paulino (PIT)
A. Paulino traded contact for long-balls in 2007. Following an impressive rookie effort that featured a .310 batting average
in 2006, Ronnie Paulino too a step backward, notching a meager .263 mark in 2007 with 11 dingers. With eerily consistent
BB:K ratios and totals over the last two seasons, Paulino is going to post passable offensive numbers. But at age 27,
Ronnie Paulino is unlikely to surprise either. Expect similar numbers while noting that the inequity of his splits against righty
and lefty pitchers will always endanger his starting job and may land him as the righty bat in a platoon behind the plate in
Pittsburgh.
5. Chris Snyder (AZ)
A. We have to begin by commending Chris Snyder. Considered by detractors to be auditioning to back up Miguel Montero,
Snyder played through rough patches to post a respectable statistical 2007. At age 27, Snyder has shown the power, plate
patience, and defensive ability to threaten Montero’s once-sure hold on the title “Arizona-backstop-of-the-future.” If given
400-450 at bats and in a starting role, there is no reason to think Chris Snyder is not capable of posting 20 homers. 70 RBI,
and batting .270. That said, it isn’t likely to happen. The reason is that Snyder batted .215 against righties and over a
hundred points higher against southpaws. If this trend continues entering 2008, Snyder could find himself platooning with
Miguel Montero.
6. Yorvit Torrealba (COL)
A. In a sea of non-entity National League backstops, Torrealba doesn’t stand out much. He has already reached his ceiling,
and the rarefied air of Colorado has not pushed his long-ball totals into the double digits and shows little promise of doing
so. Like Snyder, Torrealba is holding down first chair catcher until (or if ever) Chris Iannetta’s bat reawakens. Expect similar
numbers to 2007 in 2008.
7. Justin Towles (HOU)
A. After playing for the Futures Team in 2007 and debuting for the Astros that same season, JT is no longer just the public’
s favored abbreviation for Justin Timberlake – they are the initials of Houston’s backstop-of-choice entering 2008. Towles
has notched 12 homers in half a season in the minors, twice, and batted over .300 three times in four seasons. That said,
he is not the next Mike Piazza. Towles features plus power, average, and surprising speed for a catcher. With veteran Brad
Ausmus a perpetual hole in the lineup card, JT will have to prove he can handle a Major League pitching staff and continue
the hot hitting he flashed during 40 at bats during his ’07 cup ‘o coffee.
8. Geovany Soto (CHI)
A. At 24 years of age and having shown little power in the minor leagues until 2007, Soto was all but written off until last
season. Last season in triple A, Soto exploded. In only 385 at bats, Geo posted 26 homers, 109 RBI, and batted .353. That
performance was good enough to earn Soto a spot on the Futures Team as well as a promotion to Chicago. Having dealt
Michael Barrett to San Diego, the path was cleared for Geovany Soto to start for the parent club. Not skipping a beat after
the call to Chiago, Soto hit .389 with 3 homers, 6 doubles, and 8 RBI in 54 at bats. While we do not think Soto is a credible
30 home run threat in the Bigs quite yet, we do think he is an interesting selection based on upside alone. At 24 years old
and playing in the bandbox that is Wrigley Field, Soto may end up in the top five NL catchers entering 2009. With Henry
Blanco as his chief competition for the starting job behind the plate, we think that Geovany Soto may turn some heads in
2008 and we advise watching him closely during spring training to see if he appears to be as “locked in” entering ’08 as he
was during ’07.
9. Carlos Ruiz (PHI)
A. Raise your hand if you thought that Carlos Ruiz would out-duel Rod Barajas for the starting job in Philadelphia in 2007. A
late bloomer at age 28, Ruiz put up respectable numbers in ’07 and the starting job will be his to lose entering ’08. He has
15 home run power, and hit a combined 19 long-balls in 2006. While we don’t expect 15 home runs from Carlos Ruiz this
season, it isn’t a stretch to imagine him improving on his 2007 offensive totals.
10. Dave Ross (CIN)
A. For the past two seasons, David Ross has basically been the starting catcher in Cincinnati. During that time, he has
posted anemic batting averages coupled with solid long-ball totals. In fact, in 2007 Dave Ross batted just .203 to go with 17
homers and 39 RBI. Primarily because of his splits against righties (.175) and lefties (.248) Ross will be a constant threat to
lose at bats in a platoon with Javier Valentin, who handles righties with aplomb.
11. Josh Bard (SD)
A. Acquired with Cla Meredith for Doug Mirabelli in 2006, Josh Bard has blossomed since moving to sunny San Diego. What
you see is what you get with this 29 year old backstop. Although his offensive output is passable, Bard is probably best
suited as a secondary catcher, both in actual and fantasy ball. As a switch hitter, Bard’s upside may be in his ability to hit
righties. If Michael Barrett cannot prove his muster against righties, Bard may end up the beneficiary of additional at bats
against righty opponents. If the Michael Barrett of old shows up in 2008, Josh Bard may just end up relegated to temp work.
12. Brian Schneider
A. Along with Ryan Church, Schneider was shipped to the Big Apple for prospect/outcast Lastings Milledge. Numerically
speaking, Brian Schneider has been on a three year slide since 2005. What happened in 2005? The Montreal Expos
became the Washington Nationals, and Brian Schneider traded homes, from Olympic Stadium to RFK Stadium. Although we
do not expect Schneider to explode for 12 homers for New York in 2008 at age 31, we do expect an improvement on his
performance in each of the past two seasons. Brian Schneider is a lifetime .239 hitter at Shea, so we would caution
optimists holding out for a 270 average. But, there is cause to buy low on Schneider entering 2008.
13. Paul LoDuca
B. The Mets cut ties with Paul LoDuca to end 2007 in what now appears a prescient move following LoDuca’s naming in the
Mitchell Report. Always considered a great teammate and solid backstop, LoDuca is entering a period in his career that we
typically expect sharp decline from a catcher. Calling his RFK his home stadium at age 35 after left knee surgery makes
LoDuca a player to avoid entering 2008. Although LoDuca is expected to be ready by opening day, the rigors of a career
spent behind the plate at Paul LoDuca’s age, when coupled with his change of squads, is enough cause to look elsewhere
for help at catcher. From a fantasy perspective, good sense might dictate snatching up the Nationals backup backstop and
hoping that the left knee barks throughout the year.
14. Jason Kendall
A. Kendall was never a threat to hit the long-ball, but he was always a lock for a solid batting average and a few steals from
the catcher spot. At age 33, and with his 4th team in his last 5 seasons, Kendall has become a bottom-of-the-barrel option
at catcher. Unless your league rewards OBP, there are better options than Jason Kendall behind the plate.
The position of catcher has arguably not been weaker or more black and white than entering 2008. Of National League
catchers, only three or possibly four would most team owners be comfortable calling their number one catcher. Apart from
Martin and McCann, there are no offensive stars among them. There are some exciting rookies who should see plenty of
time behind the plate in 2008, including J.R. Towles, Geovany Soto, and Chris Iannetta.
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