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Articles &
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| 2/11/2002
Catch-On,
by Nick
Conte
(senior staff writer for baseballdoctors.com) |
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Catch-On
A-Rod?
Randy? Ichiro? Barry? It is impossible to have a conversation
about who is the best or most complete player in fantasy baseball until
you consider position scarcity. After looking at the production from each
of the positions as a whole, we must ask the following question: is a top
tier outfielder of first baseman going to provide as much for my team as
either a top tier catcher or shortstop? The answer after you
look at the facts suggests that average statistics for the top 20
catchers in the majors last year total, .253-13-56-2 in 130 games behind
the plate, was by far the worst of any position. Considering only
two catchers who qualified for the batting title (502 plate appearances),
hit over .300 , Piazza and LoDuca, and only three, add Posada to the previous
duo, drove in as many as 90 runs,you can conclude that the position
is thin at best. Adding Pudge to this group and you have four quality catchers
and twelve owners drafting. Taking into account what kind of production
you could get from a late round first base pick like Fred McGriff, .306-31-102-1,
or an undrafted outfielder like Garrett Anderson, .289-28-123-13, you may
start to be more critical of when you are drafting your players.
My philosophy has always been to take a catcher in the top tier in the
first or second round, Piazza or Pudge or a Posada around round 5. If one
isn’t available I’m willing to take my chances from a rather abundant
bunch of underachievers with a later round pick. Settling on the sixth
or seventh best catcher in the fifth or sixth round of a draft (player
#’s 49-72 based on a 12 team league) could result in you getting .226-11-56-0
from Darrin Fletcher while your opponent was getting .331-27-108-5 from
Moises Alou. So make sure when draft day rolls around you don’t get
swept up in the moment and draft a poor quality catcher because you’re
opponents are on a run. Catch-on and you will be laughing all
the way to the top!
- Nick Conte
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