Fantasy
Baseball Player Rankings & Projections
2010 Catcher Preseason Preview
Joe Mauer
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The best hitter in the American
League had one of the greatest years for a fantasy catcher
ever and owners will be licking the chops to draft him high,
likely a bit too high, in 2010. |
1. Joe Mauer - Twins - 2010 Preview:
A truly great hitter who catches is a dangerous and rare combination
in fantasy baseball. Now Mauer has added power to that combination.
His 2009 performance is worthy of a top-five pick in the draft,
but should he drafted that high? Can he do it again? It is unlikely
that he can put together another season like 2009, especially when
you consider that catchers always have a larger risk for injury,
so the simple answer is no. With that said, Mauer is just 27 and
is coming into his prime, so there is no reason to believe that
he is not the real deal, he is. Just have somewhat lower expect
ions of his overall rankings which probably makes him a low first-round
to high second-round pick.
2009 Statistics:
.365 - 28 HR's - 96 RBI's - 94 Runs
2010 Projection: .339
- 22 HR's - 90 RBI's - 88 Runs
2. Víctor Martínez - Red Sox - 2010
Preview:
What ever happened to Martinez in 2008 was corrected in 2009 and
improved when he was traded to the Boston Red Sox. He is back to
his old .300, 20 home-run-hitting self which is music to fantasy
owners ears. Martinez should do about as good as Joe Mauer, unless
Mauer has another mammoth year, but at a much cheaper draft price.
In addition, you have to like the Red Sox Lineup more than the Twins
lineup and that should result in more runs and RBI's for Martinez.
If that wasn't enough to skip Mauer and go for Martinez lower in
the draft consider that Martinez will see a lot of action at first
base (Jason Varitek will be the back up catcher) which should keep
him healthier as the season goes along.
2009 Statistics:
.303 - 23 HR's - 108 RBI's - 88 Runs
2010 Projection: .300
- 24 HR's - 109 RBI's - 86 Runs
3. Brian McCann - Braves - 2010 Preview:
He has proven himself as a legitimate Fantasy-All-Star catcher with
another great season. When you consider that his 2007 season of
hitting .270 with 18 home runs was his worst performance yet, you
see that McCann has become a consistent, sure-thing pick at catcher.
His combination of average, home runs and RBI's makes him strong
in any league format. In fact, he has averaged just over 21 home
runs, a .295 batting average and 91 RBI's every season as a starter.
That would be good at any position, but at the catcher position,
that is a stud. He also represents the last of the studs, so keep
that in mind if you see him slipping in your fantasy baseball draft.
2009 Statistics:
.281 - 21 HR's - 94 RBI's - 63 Runs
2010 Projection: .294
- 22 HR's - 92 RBI's - 64 Runs
4. Matt Wieters - Orioles - 2010 Preview:
Many fantasy owners invested a draft pick in the minor league prospect
Matt Wieters and were disappointed for most of the season. He did
finally get the call and once he arrived in Baltimore he played
very well for a fantasy catcher, excellent for a rookie catcher.
The Orioles have been completely overhauled and there offense is
looking pretty strong. From 2009 rookies Matt Wieters and Nolan
Reimold to youngsters Adam Jones and Nick Markakis to veterans Brain
Roberts and Garrett Atkins, the Orioles have few holes in the lineup
and that will give a young hitter like Wieters the confidence, the
pitches and the opportunities to become a great fantasy catcher.
He batted .343 and hit 32 home runs with 578 at bats in his short
minor league career and their is no doubt that he has the ability
to be a .300, 25 home-run-hitting catcher in the big leagues, which
is extremely rare, but it may take a couple years of development
before he reaches those lofty goals. Until then he will still be
a top-five fantasy catcher and is the last sure-thing catcher on
the list with potential to be a stud.
2009 Statistics:
.288 - 9 HR's - 43 RBI's - 35 Runs
2010 Projection: .294
- 18 HR's - 79 RBI's - 70 Runs
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5. Geovany Soto - Cubs - 2010 Preview:
After winning the National League Rookie of the Year in 2008, it
seemed as if the sky was the limit for the young Soto, but much
to the dismay of fantasy owners he floundered big-time in 2009,
seemingly a victim of the "sophomore slump". The fact
is Soto is a major gamble after his disastrous '09, but a quick-look
at his record says that Soto's '09 is an exception, not the norm.
His incredible 2007 season in AAA Iowa is some evidence. He batted
.353, with 26 home runs and 109 RBI's before his call-up to the
Cubs where he continued his incredible season by batting .389 with
3 more home runs with 54 at bats. As a rookie in 2008 Soto smashed
23 more home runs while batting .285, so though while there is risk
in drafting Soto, there can also be great reward.
2009 Statistics:
.218 - 11 HR's - 47 RBI's - 27 Runs
2010 Projection: .273
- 20 HR's - 75 RBI's - 61 Runs
5. Jorge Posada - Yankees - 2010 Preview:
He returned from a devastating 2008 injury and was back to his usual
Fantasy-All-Star self by slamming 22 home runs with just 383 at
bats. The only bad news here was, he had just 383 at bats. The issue
fantasy owners will have with Posada is just that, his lack of playing
time. Posada is at the tail-end of a great career and while he can
still hit, the years of catching have taken its toll on his body
and he is unlikely to get more than 450 at bats in a season. The
Yankees have the the 24-year-old Francisco Cervelli in the wings
and are likely to give him plenty of time especially in the last
innings of blow outs. It would be great to see Posada at DH more
often and it could happen if injury strikes elsewhere in the Yankee
lineup, but for now Posada owners will have to be happy with great
play when he plays, and possibly use aggressive managing to replace
him when he is being rested.
2009 Statistics:
.285 - 22 HR's - 81 RBI's - 55 Runs
2010 Projection: .279
- 23 HR's - 78 RBI's - 59 Runs
