MLB Showdown 2014: Catchers
Catcher
has become a barren wasteland of big name players the last few years. With
teams protecting quality catchers by moving them to other positions like Joe
Mauer. Buster Posey is by far the most high profile catcher-only player in the
league name wise. His 22 homers, 2 triples and 28 doubles with a .311 BA back
that up. Devin Mesoraco had a break out year with 25 homers and 25 doubles
playing primarily in the Great American Small Park in Cincy. Brian McCann left
the Braves and their fans who have an unnatural love for all players born in
Georgia. He would hit 23 homers with the Yankees. Salvador Perez lead the
league by catching 146 games last year and 1,248.2 innings, meaning he is guaranteed
to never get a large contract thanks to his manager.
Power
hitters have good news and bad news with catchers. The good news is Devin
Mesoraco is an 9, 18-20 HR, 15-17 2B. The bad news is he is a speed B(14) with
C+5 for 410 points. Edwin Encarnacion and Lucas Duda are very similar players
at firstbase for 30 points less. Still this is a world of opportunity costs and
Mesoraco could bat 2 or 5 on a power hitting line. As a 2 hitter he is a bit
awkward points wise. I actually would prefer Buster Posey as a 9, 19-20 HR,
17-18 2B, speed B(15) with C+6 for 350 points as my 2 hitter. Yan Gomes as a 6,
17-20 HR, 16 3B, 13-15 2B, speed B(13) with C+6 for 220 points is alright. I
would rather have Evan Gattis as a 6, 15-20 HR, 13-14 2B, speed C(10) with C+3
for 200 points. It is a pseudo-punt as a 7 hitter and will scare 3 or lower
control pitchers. I also like Brian McCann as a 5, 16-20 HR, 15 2B with speed
C(11) and C+7 for 150 points. Good arm and a good chart for cheap isn’t awful
from a 7 hitter. The most interesting and risky pick is Matt Wietters as a 7,
18-20 HR, 15-17 2B for 140 points as a speed B(14). The catch? C+0. Of course
McCutchen and Trout are going to destroy this guy. Pairing him and McCann is an
interesting option with 1 being on the bench and the other starting.
Pingers
hate catchers. They just want the chart they don’t want the position inflation.
Chris Iannetta is the choice here. He is a 9, 20 HR, 17-19 2B, speed B(14) with
C+6. Respectable arm with the chart and speed they want. 50 points more than
they like, but they are still taking him. Money Ballers will be more likely to
go after Russell Martin as a 10, 20 HR, 19 2B with speed B(14) and C+8 for 390
points. There is going to be a lot of competition over that C+8 from a high OB
guy. Another pick is Kurt Suzuki as an 8, 17-20 2B with speed B(14) and C+4 for
170 points. He has a bit of a weak arm but this isn’t the fastest class ever.
The best deal as a starter is easily Chris Stewart as a 7, 20 2B with speed
C(9) and C+4 for 30 points. Not exactly Mike Redmond 2001 but close. Francisco
Cervelli, Josh Thole and AJ Ellis are all 7s under 100 points as well. Hurray
punting at catcher.
Speed
players have more options than usual in this set. Jonathon Lucroy is a 10, 20
HR, 16-19 2B with speed A(18) and C+5 for 450 points. With his 9-15 single he
can bat 4th behind a Trout/McCutchen and get some RBIs. My guess is
he may be a more natural 5 hitter. John Jaso as a 8, 20 HR, 19 3B, 17-18 2B
with speed A(18) and C+1 for 280 points is interesting. My guess is most people
who want to steal do not want to be stolen against that much. My guess is some
may try and sneak Yadier Molina in as an 8, 20 HR, 17-19 2B with speed C(12)
and C+9 for 240 points. Take out the best arm in the class and hide him at the
bottom. If you have him they don’t.
There
are 16 players under 100 points with 5 OB. Go for the 7s first.
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