Catching Hell

[DOUGHBOYS]

I wrote a piece about a draft last week in which I picked Victor Martinez and Brian McCann in the first five rounds.



It got me thinking about catchers in general and their viability in a fantasy sense. To me, it makes no sense for us to start two catchers. It is a rule started by forefathers and nobody has had the nads to say, no, this doesn't make sense.

But, it is what it is.



Last year Jose Bautista had 54 home runs. That is, of course more home runs than any catcher. In fact, it is more than any TWO catchers.

Matter of fact, Bautista had more home runs, than any catcher had extra base hits.



This got me pondering. In these 50 round drafts, is it better to have a catcher or a guy that can turn to lightning in a bottle?

In one draft I took Chris Snyder in the 26th round, solely to meet the catcher requirement. In that same draft, Edwin Encarnacion, Felix Pie, Jorge Cantu, and Brandon Belt went in the same round.

Snyder has no chance of having a season that the others are capable of, but, I filled a position.

If Bautista can mash 50 homers, in a perfect world, Encarnacion has the ability to hit 40 and Pie the ability to steal 30 bases.



Last year, I saw a league won without the aide of a healthy catcher during the last month. Can we load up stats with other positions and bottom feed catchers even in a 50 round draft?

Could my team be better off with a Encarnacion or Pie in the 26th and draft a guy like David Ross in the 36th?

Last year, Snyder went 15/48/34/.207. Ross, 2/28/15/.289. The batting average does not make up for the power, sure, but by taking a possible breakout player in the 26th round, it'll probably make up for the lesser at bats and power that Ross would receive compared to Snyder. By the way, Snyder driving in Snyder 15 times, while others drove him in 19 times, has to draw a chuckle.



The non-faab would be a plus. Afterall, only 11 of 30 teams even had a catcher who played in 3/4 of 162 games played last year. Only four catchers had even 70 rbi, none had even 80, worse, only one (Mauer) scored more than 70 runs.

The drop from top catcher to middle class is severe. After that, the middle class is close to mediocre, and the mediocre are close to atrocious.

Injuries help keep numbers down for catchers, and its more than likely no matter who we select that that our catcher is going to have nagging injuries.



Matt Wieters was the wiseguy pick last year at catcher. He was beaten in three of five fantasy categories by, are you ready?... Jason Kendall.



Kendall is bottom of the barrel. Juan Pierre has a better chance of hitting a home run. Yet, Mr. bottom of the barrel trumps Mr. Sleeper.



As said, I've done a draft with top tier catchers. Later, I'll do a draft taking catchers in rounds starting with a three or four.

At the least, it'll make things interesting.

At most, it'll be more fun. Catchers are the least glamorous position to pick, and along with closers, feels more like a requirement than assistance.



Anytime, picking these masked clad Champions of mediocrity, it is hellish. Catching hell first on my roster, then from myself, for putting them there.



50 games from a couple of guys like David Ross in way later rounds will at least take the sting out of taking a 'requirement'. And maybe increase the numbers at another position. And certainly a position with less injury. It's worth a try.



[ January 03, 2011, 09:31 PM: Message edited by: DOUGHBOYS ]

[DOUGHBOYS]

Just some 'stuff' addendums for the lower tier catchers.



Kelly Shoppach is hapless vs. righties. A .114 avg and 38 k's in 70 ab's.



Bryan Pena, however, is good for a weekend series vs. righties. Over his career, he has hit close to .270 vs righties.



In '06, David Ross had a home run every 11 at bats.

He could get a lot of at bats and make it payoff were McCann were to be disabled for 2-3 weeks



Ronny Paulino hit.358 vs lefties last season



Francisco Cervelli hit .271 last year and is well liked by the organization and teammates.

Crowded by the signing of Russ Martin, incumbant, Posada, and two prospects, Cervelli could still see significant time.

Any catcher that hits for avg in this lineup is a plus guy.



Nick Hundley has some potential to be better than past stats. He has the starting gig and doesn't have a platoon partner.

Hundley's splits almost make him look like a guy that likes hitting at Petco.

Home- 137 ab/ .292 avg/ 7 hr/ 30 rbi

Away- 136 ab/ .206 avg/ 1 hr/ 13 rbi

Improving his away splits would promote him from mediocre to middle class.