EHSPN Around the League: Catcher
2006 was Brian McCann's first year in Tokyo, but it certainly will not be his last. He led all catchers with 24 HR and 93 RBI, and was second with a .333 average. If the 23 year old can manage to put up those numbers again, he just might have found a permenant home with the Omyoujis.
By Skip Clifton, San Diego Chronicle
Catcher is quite an ironic fantasy baseball position, especially in the EHCC. The statistical difference between the top 15-20 guys is quite similar (save for 2 or 3 exceptions), making it a very expendable position come 20-Man Roster time. However, 6 of the 10 Non-Expansion teams have already found themselves long term solutions, and 2 more (Quebec City and Peoria) will wait until after 2007 to decide if they have as well.
So why are so many teams using a keeper spot on an noneseential position? The answer is simple: adulation. There's something about seeing one of your guys go out there every day, put on all that equipment, and manage your entire pitching staff without complaint. He's a true team player, and these GM's reward that faithfulness with long-term contracts.
Except Las Vegas, who refuses to hold on to any of its players.
Eastern Division
6. None, LV
The Doggs recently traded away Kenji Johjima in a 5-player, 3-pick deal. Though the trade left them without a catcher, GM Howe Dogg is very pleased with what he got. With plenty of guys available, and almost every-other team already owning a catcher, don't expect them to pick one until at least the 5th round.
5. Michael Barrett, PEO
Barrett was quite the journeyman last year, managing to find time on almost every EHCC roster. His numbers were inconsistent, which motivated teams to only hold onto him for 2-3 weeks at a time. With a roster full of young, developing talent, the Cardinals will most-likely cut the 30 year old before the draft. If not, and they manage to keep him for the entire year, a line of .250 Average/10 HR/75 RBI/65 R could be a bit of help to the already-weak Peoria offense.
4. Jason Varitek, ARL
GM Matt Skinner wasted no time placing a C on the jersey of Varitek after selecting him in this year's expansion draft. Although 'Tek has struggles with his average, he does not lack power, especially with men on base. With the guys hitting in front of him, and if he can stay healthy, he will manage a solid .255/23/88/52 for the Warriors.
3. Jorge Posada, BRW
Posada has been surrounded by one of the best offenses in the league since the EHCC's inception in 2001, and even a good hitter (especially a catcher) can tend to be forgotten. Weasel's GM Nastra Diggus has noticed, of course, making sure there is always a spot on the team's 20-man roster for the 35 year old Puerto Rican. What he lacks in average he makes up for with runners on base, so Posada should reward Bridgewater's dedication with yet another solid season of .250/20/105/75.
2. Victor Martinez, WEY
Aside from that guy in Rakeville, no catcher has created as much hype as Martinez. And, like Mauer, he has lived up to the expectations, being a solid presence in a lineup that set 3 offensive records last season. If the 28 year old can manage a 4th straight 140-game season, a line of .315/25/100/90 will make the island of Weymouth very happy.
1. Joe Mauer, RAK
Jack Reed knew what he was doing when he grabbed Mauer in the first round of the 2004 draft. Last year was finally his coming-out party, posting all-star numbers in his 3rd season in the league. Except for a brief stint on the DL in his rookie year, he's been one of the best contact hitters in the game. Rakeville can count on a .340/18/75/95 from the 23 year old, and if he ever goes down with an injury, Hitting Coach Toby Hall can strap on the pads and fill in.
Western Division
6. Chris Iannetta, SD
The white devils had plenty of offense, but were lacking youth, so they went out and got 3 solid young hitters, including Chris Iannetta. The 23 year old is an exellent long-term solution behind the plate, but they will have to be patient with him. Playing time could be hard to come by in 2007, as Iannetta will have to compete for his job against Yorvit Torealba and Javy Lopez. If he manages to get 100 games, a line of .260/8/45/30 from the youngester.
5. AJ Pierzynski, GLD
Pierzynski hit 140 games and 500 at bats for the first time in his career in 2007, but his production did not increase by all that much. The 30 year old is a safe bet for any team: nothing spectacular, but won't disappoint you either. He will neither help nor hinder Golden's hitting, so expect the team not to waste a 20-man roster spot on a catcher. If they do, they'll get .270/10/60/42 to boost their already-stacked offense.
4. Ivan Rodriguez, WS
Pudge is one of the many Winston-Salem players chosen in the '04 expansion draft. At 35 years old, he's still putting up quality numbers, and has been a top 10 offensive catcher for a long time. Look for Rodriguez to bounce back after a sub-par post season. Expect the usual .288/12/72/67 out of the Puerto Rican native.
3. Russell Martin, QC
The loss of Brian McCann should have hurt the Piglets at catcher, but in fact it helped them. They recieved two solid prospects in the deal, and found a solid replacement in the 24 year old. Martin had a rough May in his first month of action, but made up for it in June/July with a .318 average, 30RBI, and 23R in 46 games. Don't expect any sophmore slump out of him in 2007; a .305/15/75/65 line will help Quebec win its 3rd division title in four years.
2. Kenji Johjima, TIJ
In 2007, Tijuana's "catcher by committee" went better than expected. Paul Lo Doca, Michael Barrett, Bengie Molina, AJ Pierzynski, Jason Kendall, Damian Miller, and Johnny Estrada all spent time with the Hispanics. Newly-acquired Kenji Johjima could be their catcher for many years to come, and should boast a .310/20/80/65 stat line in his second year in the league, and first in Mexico.
1. Brian McCann, TKO
The Omyoujis recieved the youngster last offseason for the steep price of SP Jeff Niemann and a 1st round minor league pick (which ended up being SS Troy Tulowitzki). However, McCann had a breakout performance in his second year in the league, leading all catchers in HR, and finishing 2nd in average and RBI. This Tokyo offense is finally growing into its own, and should help the team to its first Non-Last Place finish in franchise history. He won't repeat 2007's amazing numbers, but a line of .310/28/75/65 will keep the Omyoujis quite happy.
Players available for 2007 Major League Draft:
Mike Piazza - Still a threat at 38 years old, and finally being able to DH will give a slight boost to his already-solid production.
Johnny Estrada - Doesn't walk, but doesn't strike out either. A .282 average over his first 3 full seasons should entice someone in the later rounds.
Paul Lo Duca - Even at 34 years old, expect Lo Duca to be as solid as ever with the lineup he has around him.
Ramon Hernandez - Set career highs in HR (23) and RBI (91) in 2006, and can be counted on to do the same in '07.
Jason Kendall - Doesn't steal bases, but his Average (.301 spanning a 10 year career) still makes him a quality leadoff hitter.
Skip Clifton writes for the San Diego Chronicle. His collection of EHCC bobblehead dolls is larger than his collection of Health & Fitness magazines.
By Skip Clifton, San Diego Chronicle
Catcher is quite an ironic fantasy baseball position, especially in the EHCC. The statistical difference between the top 15-20 guys is quite similar (save for 2 or 3 exceptions), making it a very expendable position come 20-Man Roster time. However, 6 of the 10 Non-Expansion teams have already found themselves long term solutions, and 2 more (Quebec City and Peoria) will wait until after 2007 to decide if they have as well.
So why are so many teams using a keeper spot on an noneseential position? The answer is simple: adulation. There's something about seeing one of your guys go out there every day, put on all that equipment, and manage your entire pitching staff without complaint. He's a true team player, and these GM's reward that faithfulness with long-term contracts.
Except Las Vegas, who refuses to hold on to any of its players.
Eastern Division
6. None, LV
The Doggs recently traded away Kenji Johjima in a 5-player, 3-pick deal. Though the trade left them without a catcher, GM Howe Dogg is very pleased with what he got. With plenty of guys available, and almost every-other team already owning a catcher, don't expect them to pick one until at least the 5th round.
5. Michael Barrett, PEO
Barrett was quite the journeyman last year, managing to find time on almost every EHCC roster. His numbers were inconsistent, which motivated teams to only hold onto him for 2-3 weeks at a time. With a roster full of young, developing talent, the Cardinals will most-likely cut the 30 year old before the draft. If not, and they manage to keep him for the entire year, a line of .250 Average/10 HR/75 RBI/65 R could be a bit of help to the already-weak Peoria offense.
4. Jason Varitek, ARL
GM Matt Skinner wasted no time placing a C on the jersey of Varitek after selecting him in this year's expansion draft. Although 'Tek has struggles with his average, he does not lack power, especially with men on base. With the guys hitting in front of him, and if he can stay healthy, he will manage a solid .255/23/88/52 for the Warriors.
3. Jorge Posada, BRW
Posada has been surrounded by one of the best offenses in the league since the EHCC's inception in 2001, and even a good hitter (especially a catcher) can tend to be forgotten. Weasel's GM Nastra Diggus has noticed, of course, making sure there is always a spot on the team's 20-man roster for the 35 year old Puerto Rican. What he lacks in average he makes up for with runners on base, so Posada should reward Bridgewater's dedication with yet another solid season of .250/20/105/75.
2. Victor Martinez, WEY
Aside from that guy in Rakeville, no catcher has created as much hype as Martinez. And, like Mauer, he has lived up to the expectations, being a solid presence in a lineup that set 3 offensive records last season. If the 28 year old can manage a 4th straight 140-game season, a line of .315/25/100/90 will make the island of Weymouth very happy.
1. Joe Mauer, RAK
Jack Reed knew what he was doing when he grabbed Mauer in the first round of the 2004 draft. Last year was finally his coming-out party, posting all-star numbers in his 3rd season in the league. Except for a brief stint on the DL in his rookie year, he's been one of the best contact hitters in the game. Rakeville can count on a .340/18/75/95 from the 23 year old, and if he ever goes down with an injury, Hitting Coach Toby Hall can strap on the pads and fill in.
Western Division
6. Chris Iannetta, SD
The white devils had plenty of offense, but were lacking youth, so they went out and got 3 solid young hitters, including Chris Iannetta. The 23 year old is an exellent long-term solution behind the plate, but they will have to be patient with him. Playing time could be hard to come by in 2007, as Iannetta will have to compete for his job against Yorvit Torealba and Javy Lopez. If he manages to get 100 games, a line of .260/8/45/30 from the youngester.
5. AJ Pierzynski, GLD
Pierzynski hit 140 games and 500 at bats for the first time in his career in 2007, but his production did not increase by all that much. The 30 year old is a safe bet for any team: nothing spectacular, but won't disappoint you either. He will neither help nor hinder Golden's hitting, so expect the team not to waste a 20-man roster spot on a catcher. If they do, they'll get .270/10/60/42 to boost their already-stacked offense.
4. Ivan Rodriguez, WS
Pudge is one of the many Winston-Salem players chosen in the '04 expansion draft. At 35 years old, he's still putting up quality numbers, and has been a top 10 offensive catcher for a long time. Look for Rodriguez to bounce back after a sub-par post season. Expect the usual .288/12/72/67 out of the Puerto Rican native.
3. Russell Martin, QC
The loss of Brian McCann should have hurt the Piglets at catcher, but in fact it helped them. They recieved two solid prospects in the deal, and found a solid replacement in the 24 year old. Martin had a rough May in his first month of action, but made up for it in June/July with a .318 average, 30RBI, and 23R in 46 games. Don't expect any sophmore slump out of him in 2007; a .305/15/75/65 line will help Quebec win its 3rd division title in four years.
2. Kenji Johjima, TIJ
In 2007, Tijuana's "catcher by committee" went better than expected. Paul Lo Doca, Michael Barrett, Bengie Molina, AJ Pierzynski, Jason Kendall, Damian Miller, and Johnny Estrada all spent time with the Hispanics. Newly-acquired Kenji Johjima could be their catcher for many years to come, and should boast a .310/20/80/65 stat line in his second year in the league, and first in Mexico.
1. Brian McCann, TKO
The Omyoujis recieved the youngster last offseason for the steep price of SP Jeff Niemann and a 1st round minor league pick (which ended up being SS Troy Tulowitzki). However, McCann had a breakout performance in his second year in the league, leading all catchers in HR, and finishing 2nd in average and RBI. This Tokyo offense is finally growing into its own, and should help the team to its first Non-Last Place finish in franchise history. He won't repeat 2007's amazing numbers, but a line of .310/28/75/65 will keep the Omyoujis quite happy.
Players available for 2007 Major League Draft:
Mike Piazza - Still a threat at 38 years old, and finally being able to DH will give a slight boost to his already-solid production.
Johnny Estrada - Doesn't walk, but doesn't strike out either. A .282 average over his first 3 full seasons should entice someone in the later rounds.
Paul Lo Duca - Even at 34 years old, expect Lo Duca to be as solid as ever with the lineup he has around him.
Ramon Hernandez - Set career highs in HR (23) and RBI (91) in 2006, and can be counted on to do the same in '07.
Jason Kendall - Doesn't steal bases, but his Average (.301 spanning a 10 year career) still makes him a quality leadoff hitter.
Skip Clifton writes for the San Diego Chronicle. His collection of EHCC bobblehead dolls is larger than his collection of Health & Fitness magazines.
Labels: Clifton, EHSPN, San Diego Chronicle
posted by Jose at 1:00 AM
7 Comments:
Renaud should have held onto McCann. The guy is awesome! He practically gave him away!
Alexander vonSchrimpvski
Ottawa, CA
I don't know Alexander; at the time McCann was still relatively unproven, and just barely survived the 20 man roster cuts, according to reports. For Renaud to get what he got for him was impressive. I don't think anyone, short of Ishtar, saw McCann's breakout coming.
Meanwhile, as Skip Clifton pointed out, it was actually a big win for us--Russ Martin is highly regarded and looks primed for a McCann-type breakout this year, plus we have depth at pitching with Niemann in the minors. Tulo was able to get us Furcal too--I think it was a good move. He definitely didn't give him away.
Bob Florida
Nova Scotia, CA
Russ Martin is a terrible replacement and will never be a top cather. Renaud has his head up his ass if he thinks he will amount to anything more than a throwaway player at the end of the season.
It cracks me up how people try to justify moving a franchise player for one or two above average guys. The piglets screwed up when they traded McCann. Accept it and move on.
Racheal Hayes
Detroit, MI
There needs to be more talk about Chris Ianetta. It will be him, not Martin, who will solidify his spot on an EHCC roster this season. Lets face it, like Clifton said there are very few catchers worth keeping.
Ted Kano
Seattle, WA
Clifton is a shill for Las Vegas.
"GM Howe Dogg is very pleased with what he got."
Could we get a quote, or are we going to trust Clifton's late night sauna visits to Mark Prior's house as a reliable source.
Red Bloomfield
Atlanta, GA
I must say that the Peoria Cardinals as a whole are very disappointed in the journalism provided by Skip Clifton in this article. First, the claim of "journeymen" and saying that he bounced around the league is completely erroneous and absolutely unresearched. Michael Barrett was a preseason draft pick of ours, and remained a starter for Peoria throughout the entire 2006 campaign. Also, to label him as a .250, 10 HR candidate is absurd. In three years with the Cubs, Barrett has never hit under .275 and has never failed to produce 16 HR. In only 375 at bats last year he hammered out 16, with a .307 avg. If it wasn't for his haymaker to Pierzynski's jaw, it is more then conceivable that Barrett would have went past the 20 HR plateu. Expecting him to get even more at bats this year, and in an even stronger line up it is completely ridiculous to develop the conclusion that he will just drop off the face of the earth. As an organization we ask that the San Diego Chronicle, and Mr. Clifton, provide us with either justification for their prediction, or at the least, provide a little more liability to their next article about a Peoria Cardinal.
Jeez...the Peoria front office comments on this blog? That explains a lot. Maybe their GM should spend a little more time improving their team and a little less time arguing with beat writers for local publications.
Las Vegas Front Office
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