| Catcher Rankings |
| Rank |
Team |
Player |
Avg. |
Runs |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
| 16 |
 |
Yorvit Torrealba |
.255 |
47 |
8 |
47 |
2 |
|
Torrealba isn't much with the bat, but he gets a big boost from playing his home games in hitter-friendly Colorado. He should post respectable numbers again.
|
| 17 |
 |
Mike Napoli |
.247 |
40 |
10 |
34 |
5 |
|
Napoli has very good power. He has hit 26 homers over his first two years despite only playing about half a season each time. Napoli should get more playing time in 2008. But since he strikes out so often, he's unlikely to hit for a decent batting average. |
| 18 |
 |
Kurt Suzuki |
.249 |
27 |
7 |
39 |
0 |
Suzuki isn't the next Johnny Bench, but he's a decent young hitter who will hit for average and has enough pop to hit 10 homers in a full season.
|
| 19 |
 |
J.R. Towles |
.375 |
9 |
1 |
12 |
0 |
Towles will likely take the majority of playing time at catcher for Houston, overtaking veteran Brad Ausmus. He might have some growing pains as a rookie, but Towles has the potential to hit for a respectable average and 10 homers. He also has enough speed to steal 10 bases if he gets on base often enough.
|
| 20 |
 |
Paul Lo Duca |
.272 |
46 |
9 |
54 |
2 |
|
Lo Duca will likely be missing New York this season. The ex-Mets' power numbers have been dwindling lately. And he's unlikely to score as many runs or get as many RBI opportunities playing for the rebuilding Nats. |
| 21 |
 |
Dioner Navarro |
.227 |
46 |
9 |
44 |
3 |
|
An early season slump doomed Navarro in 2007. But he proved to be a capable hitter by batting .285 with eight homers and 31 RBIs after the All-Star break. This season, the 24-year-old should take another step forward.
|
| 22 |
 |
Chris Snyder |
.252 | 37 | 13 | 47 | 0 |
|
Snyder separated himself from Miguel Montero in the competition for Arizona's starting job last season. Snyder may never be an offensive force, but he has enough power to help out fantasy teams.
|
| 23 |
 |
Josh Bard |
.285 |
42 |
5 |
51 |
0 |
|
Bard was supposed to be relegated to back-up duties after San Diego acquired Michael Barrett last season. Instead Bard out-played Barrett, leading all Padres starters in batting average. Bard should retain his starting job this season, but he won't hit for big power numbers in San Diego's pitcher-friendly Petco Park. |
| 24 |
 |
Ramon Castro |
.285 |
24 |
11 |
31 |
0 |
|
Castro might not even get more playing time than fellow Mets catcher Brian Schneider. But Castro is by far the better offensive player of the two, and he figured to get more than the 144 at-bats he logged last season. Castro could get 15 homers and 50 RBIs as a part-time player.
|
| 25 |
|
Michael Barrett |
.244 |
29 |
9 |
41 |
2 |
|
Barrett was one of baseball's best offensive catchers during his three-plus seasons with the Cubs. But everything went downhill after a midseason trade to San Diego last season. Barrett his .226 with zero homers in 44 games as a Padre, and missed time with a concussion. He'll battle Josh Bard for the top job during spring training.
|
| 26 |
 |
Gregg Zaun |
.242 |
43 |
10 |
52 |
0 |
|
Zaun has shown good power over the past three seasons, hitting double-digit homers each year. But his name was mentioned in the Mitchell Report, accusing him of using performance-enhancing drugs. Zaun is also 36, an age when most catchers start wearing down.
|
| 27 |
 |
Jason Kendall |
.242 |
45 |
3 |
41 |
3 |
|
Kendall will try to revive his slumping bat with the Brewers, his third team since Opening Day 2006. Hi best years are likely behind him, but Kendall might be able to drive in more runs in a very good Brewers lineup.
|
| 28 |
 |
Yadier Molina |
.275 |
30 |
6 |
40 |
1 |
|
Molina has gone from awful to okay at the plate. He won't hit for a lot of power, but that .275 average is a lot better than the .216 average he had in 2006.
|
| 29 |
 |
Gerald Laird |
.224 |
48 |
9 |
47 |
6 |
|
Laird has decent power, and even showed the ability to steal some bases last season. But the Rangers have been looking to replace him because of that terrible batting average.
|
| 30 |
 |
David Ross |
.203 |
32 |
17 |
39 |
0 |
|
Ross is an all-or-nothing hitter. He strikes out a lot but when he does make contact, the ball usually goes a long way. But because of all those Ks, Ross' average will likely be ugly again.
|
