Fantasy Baseball Sleepers, Deepers, and Duds for Catcher...

Over the course of spring training, I'll cover every position on the field with my fantasy sleeper, deepers and duds and studs. "Sleepers" and "duds" and "studs" should be self-explanatory, but the term "deepers" would refer to players who will need some luck to break out this season, beyond your typical sleeper. I won't cover them as much, but when needs to get some attention, I'll make note of him.

First off, I'll cover catchers. In my opinion, it's the thinnest position, and you've got two rationales with how you attack this position in your draft. You either aim high and take the sure thing (of which there are very few), or sit back and grab a bum in the late rounds. I don't see much point if drafting a middle-of-the-pack catcher, of which many drafters seem to do.

Studs:
1. Victor Martinez - Cleveland Indians : Highs: Obviously, Martinez exploded last year, though he was hyped coming up through the farm system. He has a few things going for him: he's still young - his body hasn't caught nearly as many innings as most other catchers; he plays in a hot, young line-up that should tear the cover off the ball in 2005; and he should only get better. He's the only catcher that I feel confident in driving in over 100 RBI this season. Lows: typical fear of sophmore slump which happens more than people would assume. Martinez is too good a talent to suffer too badly from that, and playing for a former catcher as his manager (Eric Wedge) should help ease him through any typical sophmore struggles. Also, playing with so many other young players on Cleveland should also help pull him through any hiccups he might encounter.

2. Joe Mauer - Minnesota Twins : Highs: Almost qualifies as a sleeper. All the talent in the world, but also all the bad luck to go along with it. It's not a good thing when people know you almost as much for your constant injuries as they do for your talent. He's becoming the Grant Hill of MLB. He has all the potential to put up a season as good or better than what Martinez did last year for Cleveland --- but his constant struggle with injuries (his knee mostly - a horrible thing for a catcher) should lower his numbers. If you want to draft him, always make sure you draft a quality "bum" at the end of your draft in case he pulls another 3 month DL stint. He can hit 30+ homers and drive in 100+ with a solid enough lineup in Minnesota, but we need to see him maintain his health before we see those kind of numbers. Lows: Just read half of what I wrote in the Highs section. He's a massive injury risk. He's a classic "high risk/high reward" type player. They can burn you if you put too much stock in them. The question you have to ask in your draft is whether you want to risk it. As Dirty Harry said, "Do you feel lucky, Punk? Well, do you?" If you do, go for it. But don't be shocked if he's out for long stretches during the season. A tough knee injury is tough to shake for a catcher.

Sleepers:
1.: Jason Varitek - Boston Red Sox : Highs: Despite his pretty well known name and reputation, he's undervalued by most fantasy players. He plays in the best line-up in baseball, plays in a solid park for his switch-hitting talents - and not counting for his broken elbow season in 2001 - his batting average has increased every year since 2000. Some point to his age (33) as to reason to worry for his decline, as happens with many catchers. Yet, many forget that he was a back-up to Scott Hatteberg the first couple seasons he played in Boston, and that he missed the majority of 2001 with a broken elbow (from diving for a baseball...not a repitition injury), which means his body has caught a great many fewer innings than many catchers his age. Considering that, he should offer up a solid average of around .275 to .295, 18-23 HRs and 75-85RBI, without worry of injury -- which is massively important when referring to catchers. He'll also swipe about 8 to 10 bases, which from a catcher is just icing on the cake. Lows: He can be streaky. He can go on huge tears, and then slump for a couple weeks. If you don't get Varitek in your draft, you might want to wait until he hits a slump and propose a trade to his unhappy owner in your league when his value will be lower. He always bounces out of his slumps with huge, white-hot streaks, and you'll reap the benefits. His age is mildly high for a catcher, but as noted in the Highs section, his body has taken on fewer innings than average, so you shouldn't worry too much.

2. Ramon Hernandez - San Diego Padres : Highs: The guy plays under the radar in almost every fantasy league. He's only 28 (turns 29 in May), and put up .276/18HR/63RBI in only 384 ABs. (Starting catchers can have as many as 100 to 150 more ABs --- and if they do a little DH-ing, they can have 200 more ABs. Look at Javy lopez to see someone who has 200 more ABs than Hernandez.) The Padres have a blossoming lineup that should improve somewhat over last year - if Nevin and Klesko and Giles can remain healthy. In 2003 with Oakland, he had 21 HRs and 28 RBI with a .273 avg with more ABs. He's a solid enough later round draft pick for a catcher. Lows: Plays in a horrible park for hitters, one of the worst in MLB. Petco Park alone will take away a couple HRs and a dozen RBI from him. If you're in a custom league that uses doubles as a category, Petco can help you there with Hernandez. And he does have a team that's been filled with injury-plagued players. That puts more of a burden on Hernandez to perform at times, which can hurt his overall numbers. If you believe the Padres can at least maintain some semblance of health in their lineup, go with Ramon. If not, you might want to look elsewhere.

Duds:
1. Jorge Posada - New York Yankees : Highs: Still a solid enough hitter, with potential to easily get to the 20 HR mark, and 75 RBI. His average is going to start to drop a bit, probably below .270 this season when all is said and done. He plays in a solid lineup --- though it's getting older and worn down --- and plays in a friendly ballpark for his switch-hitting styles. Lows: I used to be huge on Posada, but his time is starting to pass. Few catchers can keep it up over a long period of time. Many "experts" and fantasy players alike think of Posada as the guy who hit 30HRs and had over 100 RBI in 2003. History shows that catchers are apt to have that one or two "up-tick year" in their career, and that was Posada's. If you're a "Moneyball" believer, you believe catchers reach a quick plateau and quickly fall off in the following years. In 2004, his HRs dropped off by 9 from 2003, and his RBI total dropped by 20. It should drop again, though to a lesser extent, this season.

2. Javy Lopez - Baltimore Orioles : Highs: He still has a great power swing, still hits in one of the best park for power numbers, and he still has some power hitters in the lineup with him. It offers some protection and definitely helps. For a catcher, he'll still offer you some solid numbers - but...Lows: for where you'll most likely have to draft him, he's not worth it. Overvalued is an udnerstatement. Braves fans will remember Javy hitting 11 HRs twice in a season and 17 in another just as much as they remember the 34 and 43 HR seasons. He's turning 35 at the end of this season, and now that he's got a year under his new money-laden contract, he might sit back and revert to the days of 15 HRs and .285 average. Again, for the round you'd have to draft him, he's not worth it.

3. Jason Kendall - Oakland A's : Highs: He's always good for a solid average. Only twice in his 9 seasons has he averaged less than a .300 average. (.294 in 1997 and .266 in 2001.) I'm not sure if there's a guy who's still getting by on his past and his name more than he is. Lows: You can't underestimate base stealing from a catcher --- just look at Varitek stealing 10 bases last year. But Kendall's days of swiping 20 bases a year are over. He's playing for a "Moneyball" team, which stresses not giving up outs. He's never had a power stroke, never had much power, and plays in a fairly weak lineup in Oakland. All you can hope from Kendall is a solid average from your catcher spot. Everything - from runs, to HRs, to RBI, to even now SBs, won't happen much unless Kendall has a 1 in 1000 year. Avoid him and draft someone else at bargain rates.

Other options available to draft in later rounds:

A.J. Pierzynski: Solid enough numbers for a guy you can draft in anywhere from the 18th to 21st round. Good for anywhere from a .275 to .310 average and 10 HRs and 70 RBI. Plays in relatively weak lineup, but should get some chanes at RBI.

Mike Lieberthal: Will never reach the numbers he offered up in 1999, but with a solid Phillies lineup, and productive park, he's good for a .280 avg/15 HRs/and anywhere from 60 to 80 RBI, depending on health and how well the rest of the lineup does. Injury risk hurts his value drastically, but been healthy for 3 seasons now.

Paul Lo Duca: Qaulifies in the OF now, though you should never resort to using him there. Still gets by on his one break out season awhile back, but plays in an imroved Marlins lineup, and can offer you stats at catcher that won't stress you out. Draft him and relax if you get him. But some will draft him much to high for his value. Don't take him before the 14th or 15th round.

Deepers:

Just one...

Miguel Olivo - Seattle Mariners : They're called "Deepers" for a reason. He's got great potential, but hasn't put it all together yet. Strikes out too much, allows too many passed balls, which forces him out of games for a steady glove. Has some speed (always look for some SBs from a catcher if you can) and a little pop. If he can ever put it all together, he could approach .290/18/85 with 15 SBs. You shouldn't draft him, but keep an eye out for him, and see he can start approaching what potential he has. He can be a top 10 catcher someday.