TEXAS - Ivan Rodriguez 30 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 TEX 144 600 199 29 1 35 116 113 24 64 332 356 558 25 12 2000 TEX 91 363 126 27 4 27 66 83 19 48 347 375 667 5 5 2001 TEX 111 442 136 24 2 25 70 65 23 73 308 347 541 10 3       Rodriguez is turning 30, and his future is a question mark. He is certainly a great defensive player and a formidable hitter, but he has also logged a lot of innings in the Texas heat, and has suffered major injuries two years in a row. He is still the best catcher in the American League, but I have concerns about whether he will ever be as durable and consistent as he has been in the past.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: Another year, another injury.

NEW YORK YANKEES - Jorge Posada 31 S/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 NYY 112 379 93 19 2 12 50 57 53 91 245 341 401 1 0 2000 NYY 151 505 145 35 1 28 92 86 107 151 287 417 527 2 2 2001 NYY 138 484 134 28 1 22 59 95 62 132 277 363 475 2 6       Another outstanding Yankee catcher, who has just been rewarded for his good work with a big contract. He hits for average, hits for power, gets on base, is a switch-hitter - an irresistible player.       It is hard to believe that Posada, who has only come into his own the past two seasons, is a year older than Rodriguez, who has been a star for about twelve years now.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: Posada has had an outstanding first half, and is the All-Star Game starter. With another Rodriguez injury, Posada is clearly the top catcher in the AL.

BOSTON - Jason Varitek 30 S/R and Doug Mirabelli 31 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS VARITEK 1999 BOS 144 483 130 39 2 20 70 76 46 85 269 330 482 1 2 2000 BOS 139 448 111 31 1 10 55 65 60 84 248 342 388 1 1 2001 BOS 51 174 51 11 1 7 19 25 21 35 293 371 489 0 0 MIRABELLI 1999 AAA 86 320 100 24 1 14 63 51 48 56 313 398 525 8 2 2000 SF 82 230 53 10 2 6 23 28 36 57 230 337 370 2 3 2001 BOS 77 190 43 10 0 11 20 29 27 57 226 332 453 0 0       The Sox began the year with Varitek sharing time with Scott Hatteberg behind the plate. Varitek played very well, but got hurt. Hatteberg couldn't throw anybody out, so the Sox picked up Mirabelli, who probably got more playing time than he expected.       Hatteberg is gone, but Varitek and Mirabelli should be a solid duo. Varitek will get most of the playing time if he plays as well as he did last year. Mirabelli can hit home runs - lots of them - and is a capable backup.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: Varitek had a slow start to the season, has played better lately. Mirabelli has played a little bit, hit a few homers - doing exactly what he is supposed to do. The Red Sox also have a great pitching staff, a compliment to their catchers.

MINNESOTA - AJ Pierzynski 25 L/R and Matt LeCroy 26 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS PIERZYNSKI 1999 AAA 67 228 59 10 0 1 29 25 16 29 259 307 316 0 0 2000 AA-AAA 103 383 120 31 3 8 58 59 13 44 313 352 473 1 1 2000 MIN 33 88 27 5 1 2 12 11 5 14 307 354 455 1 0 2001 MIN 114 381 110 33 2 7 51 55 16 57 289 322 441 1 7 LECROY 1999 A 89 333 92 20 1 20 54 69 42 51 279 364 526 0 1 1999 AAA 29 119 36 4 1 10 23 30 5 22 303 331 605 0 1 2000 AA-AAA 70 260 75 17 1 15 48 53 33 45 288 381 535 0 0 2001 AAA 101 396 130 17 0 20 53 80 36 95 328 390 523 0 2 2000 MIN 56 167 29 10 0 5 18 17 17 38 174 254 323 0 0 2001 MIN 15 40 17 5 0 3 6 12 0 8 425 429 775 0 1       These two guys will share catching duties for the Twins, and they can both hit. Pierzynski is the lefty, and he has hit very well the past two seasons. He got lots of at bats last year, and was one of the keys to Minnesota's surprising season.       LeCroy is the righty, a big guy who hits home runs. After a miserable rookie season in 2000, LeCroy re-established himself with a monster year at Edmonton, then shot the lights out in September with the Twins.       Pierzynski will likely get most of the playing time, but with any luck, these guys will both be pretty good.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: Why are the Twins so good this year? All Pierzynski has done so far is hit .320 and play in the All-Star Game. He has shared playing time with Tom Prince, who has also played well. LeCroy has been a DH, and has also been terrific.

CLEVELAND - Einar Diaz 29 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 CLE 119 392 110 21 1 3 43 32 23 41 281 328 362 11 4 2000 CLE 75 250 68 14 2 4 29 25 11 29 272 323 392 4 2 2001 CLE 134 437 121 34 1 4 54 56 17 44 277 328 387 1 2       Diaz is a good, solid catcher who has been remarkably consistent at the plate the past three seasons. He isn't a star, but the Indians don't have to spend any time worrying about him.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: Diaz is hitting .213. I guess the Indians do have to worry about him.

TAMPA BAY - Toby Hall 26 R/R and John Flaherty 34 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS HALL 1999 A 56 212 63 13 1 4 24 36 17 9 297 350 425 0 2 1999 AA 46 173 44 7 0 9 20 34 4 10 254 269 451 1 1 2000 AA-AAA 115 455 149 29 0 16 58 85 20 43 327 352 497 3 2 2001 AAA 94 373 125 28 1 19 59 72 29 22 335 385 568 1 3 2001 TAM 49 188 56 16 0 4 28 30 4 16 298 321 447 2 2 FLAHERTY 1999 TAM 117 446 124 19 0 14 53 71 19 64 278 310 415 0 2 2000 TAM 109 394 103 15 0 10 36 39 20 57 261 296 376 0 0 2001 TAM 78 248 59 17 1 4 20 29 10 33 238 269 363 1 0       By June I had become convinced that the Devil Rays had no interest in Toby Hall, that they were going to trade him for Doug Glanville or somebody. For a team as bad as Tampa Bay, I can't think of any reason to keep Hall in the minors as long as they did, except maybe to boost attendance at Durham home games. But Toby finally got the call, and he played well the last two months of the season.       Hall should remain one of the better hitting catchers in the league for the next few years. As backup, John Flaherty is still around if Hal McRae feels a need to stick him in the lineup.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: Hall had a horrible start to season, was sent back to the minors, called back up, and is hitting .206. I pity Tampa fans, who have to watch another season of John Flaherty.

SEATTLE - Ben Davis 25 S/R and Dan Wilson 33 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS WILSON 1999 SEA 123 414 110 23 2 7 46 38 29 83 266 315 382 5 0 2000 SEA 90 268 63 12 0 5 31 27 22 51 235 291 336 1 2 2001 SEA 123 377 100 20 1 10 44 42 20 69 265 305 403 3 2 DAVIS 1999 SD 76 266 65 14 1 5 29 30 25 70 244 307 361 2 1 2000 SD 43 130 29 6 0 3 12 14 14 35 223 297 338 1 1 2001 SD 138 448 107 20 0 11 56 57 66 112 239 337 357 4 4       Wilson's bat snapped bat a bit last year, though he is still a weak hitter. The Mariners decided to get younger, and acquired Davis from the Padres. Davis had a good start to the 2001 season, but slumped in the second half. I think he can do better, but even if Davis hits .239 again he is still a better hitter than Wilson.

OAKLAND - Ramon Hernandez 26 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 OAK 40 136 38 7 0 3 13 21 18 11 279 363 397 1 0 2000 OAK 143 419 101 19 0 14 52 62 38 64 241 311 387 1 0 2001 OAK 136 453 115 25 0 15 55 60 37 68 254 316 408 1 1       Hernandez had almost the same season that he had in 2000. He's been Oakland's regular catcher for two years, playing almost every game, and has been OK. Still only 26, might improve with the bat a little.

ANAHEIM - Ben Molina 28 R/R and Jorge Fabregas 32 L/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS MOLINA 1999 ANA 31 101 26 5 0 1 8 10 6 6 257 312 337 0 1 2000 ANA 130 473 133 20 2 14 59 71 23 33 281 318 421 1 0 2001 ANA 96 325 85 11 0 6 31 40 16 51 262 309 351 0 1 FABREGAS 1999 FLO-ATL 88 231 46 10 2 3 20 21 26 27 199 280 299 0 0 2000 KC 43 142 40 4 0 3 13 17 8 11 282 320 373 1 0 2001 ANA 53 148 33 4 2 2 9 16 3 15 223 235 318 0 0       Molina missed two months with a hamstring injury, and couldn't build on his solid rookie season. In 2000 he looked like a contact hitter who could handle catching duties on a regular basis; last year he didn't do either, and will have to prove himself again in 2002.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX - Sandy Alomar 35 R/R and Mark Johnson 27 L/R and Josh Paul 27 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS ALOMAR 1999 CLE 37 137 42 13 0 6 19 25 4 23 307 322 533 0 1 2000 CLE 97 356 103 16 2 7 44 42 16 41 289 324 404 2 2 2001 CHW 70 220 54 8 1 4 17 21 12 17 245 288 345 1 2 JOHNSON 1999 CHW 73 207 47 11 0 4 27 16 36 58 227 344 338 3 1 2000 CHW 75 213 48 11 0 3 29 23 27 40 225 315 319 3 2 2001 CHW 61 173 43 6 1 5 21 18 23 31 249 338 382 2 1 PAUL 1999 AA 93 319 89 19 3 4 47 42 29 68 279 345 395 6 6 2000 AAA 51 168 40 5 1 4 28 19 13 38 238 299 351 6 2 2000 CHW 36 71 20 3 2 1 15 8 5 17 282 338 423 1 0 2001 CHW 57 139 37 11 0 3 20 18 13 25 266 327 410 6 2       How Alomar is able to catch after about nine knee surgeries is a mystery, but he appears to be near the end. The White Sox have two capable, younger catchers; Alomar didn't hit and isn't mobile, and I can't think of a reason why the Sox would not give more playing time to Johnson and Paul. Johnson doesn't hit for average, but does a decent job of getting on base; Paul had a nice little Joe Girardi season with the bat. They could be a solid platoon.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: Amazing. Alomar has caught 41 games and is batting .306.

KANSAS CITY - Brent Mayne 34 L/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 SF 117 322 97 32 0 2 39 39 43 65 301 389 419 2 2 2000 COL 117 335 101 21 0 6 36 64 47 48 301 381 418 1 3 2001 COL-KC 100 326 93 11 1 2 28 40 26 41 285 334 344 1 2       Royals' catchers were pretty miserable last season before Brent Mayne was brought in for the rescue. Mayne's a good player, but he's also 34 years old and can't play everyday. He could be backed up by possibly by Hector Ortiz or maybe AJ Hinch or maybe John Wathan.

DETROIT - Brandon Inge 25 S/R and Mitch Meluskey 29 S/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS INGE 1999 A 100 352 86 25 2 9 54 46 39 87 244 320 403 15 3 2000 AA-AAA 133 488 119 34 4 11 63 73 41 124 244 299 398 12 4 2001 DET 79 189 34 11 0 0 13 15 9 41 180 215 238 1 4 MELUSKEY 1999 HOU 10 33 7 1 0 1 4 3 5 6 220 319 341 1 0 2000 HOU 117 337 101 21 0 14 47 69 55 74 300 401 487 1 0       Inge can catch but can't hit. Meluskey can hit but can't catch. It's going to be another fun year in Detroit.

TORONTO - Darrin Fletcher 35 L/R and Tom Wilson 31 R/R or Josh Phelps 24 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS FLETCHER 1999 TOR 115 412 120 26 0 18 48 80 26 47 291 339 485 0 0 2000 TOR 122 416 133 19 1 20 43 58 20 45 320 355 514 1 0 2001 TOR 134 416 94 20 0 11 36 56 24 43 226 274 353 0 1 WILSON 1999 AA-AAA 97 319 90 21 0 23 53 67 67 93 282 409 564 0 2 2000 AAA 104 330 91 20 0 20 63 71 73 114 276 410 518 2 2 2001 AAA 77 259 73 15 1 8 43 48 49 62 282 394 440 0 1 2001 OAK 9 21 4 0 0 2 4 4 1 5 190 250 476 0 0 PHELPS 1999 A 110 406 133 27 4 20 72 86 28 104 328 379 562 6 3 2000 A 30 113 36 7 0 12 26 34 12 34 319 386 699 0 0 2000 AA 56 184 42 9 1 9 23 28 15 66 228 308 435 1 0 2001 AA 136 486 142 36 1 31 95 97 80 127 292 406 562 3 3       Dreadful. Disastrous. Deleterious. The Three D's. That's how bad the Jays' catchers were in 2001. Fletcher's batting average dropped 100 points, and that's all you need to know about his miserable season. He is slow, hits into more double plays than any other player in the league, and almost never walks. Defensively, Fletcher has hands of stone and doesn't throw well. As long as he hits .300 with power, he's OK - but last year he hit .225.       Fletcher will start 2002 as Toronto's catcher, but given his age, a big comeback seems unlikely. Backup Alberto Castillo is gone and forgotten, replaced by journeyman Tom Wilson. This combo should be a little better than what the Jays had last year, but I am far from ready to give it a glowing endorsement.       As bad as the Blue Jays' catchers were last year, there is some hope for the future. Young Josh Phelps had a monster season at Tennessee; he's ready to hit big league pitching, but will probably begin the year at Syracuse. Or, if there is a trade, he could become the DH; I'm not really sure how committed the Jays are to Phelps as a catcher.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: The Blue Jays currently have five catchers on their roster. Fletcher, Tom Wilson and also Ken Huckaby(?) have shared catching duties. Joe Lawrence caught the past two seasons in the minors, but this year is playing second base(?). Josh Phelps was catching this year at Syracuse, but was called up to the big club, and is going to DH the rest of the season(?).

BALTIMORE - Brook Fordyce 32 R/R and Fernando Lunar 25 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS FORDYCE 1999 CHW 105 333 99 25 1 9 36 49 21 48 297 343 459 2 0 2000 CHW-BAL 93 302 91 18 1 14 41 49 17 50 301 341 507 0 0 2001 BAL 95 292 61 18 0 5 30 19 21 56 209 268 322 1 2 LUNAR 1999 AA 105 343 77 15 1 3 33 35 12 64 224 275 300 0 1 2000 AA 53 182 40 10 1 0 18 12 14 23 220 286 286 0 0 2000 ATL-BAL 31 70 12 1 0 0 5 6 3 19 171 247 186 0 2 2001 BAL 64 167 41 7 0 0 8 16 7 32 246 287 287 0 0       As a Toronto fan, I was sure that the Blue Jays had the worst catching in baseball in 2001. But now I am inclined to think that the Orioles were take that dubious honour. Fordyce is a veteran who has hit well in the past, but last year was just awful. Lunar is younger, but he can't hit at all. The best thing you can say about 2002 is that they can't get any worse.       Fordyce, by the way, almost died during the winter when an artery burst near his stomach. Apparently, the problem remains undiagnosed... but Fordyce is back in training camp, ready for opening day. I wish him well.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: Fordyce has come back, is playing a little bit, batting .208. Geronimo Gil has handled the bulk of the catching duties, and has played well; this position has been a surprising plus for the Orioles in 2002.

CATCHERS - BOTH LEAGUES
1 Mike Piazza	11 Einar Diaz	21 Brent Mayne
2 Ivan Rodriguez	12 Toby Hall	22 Eli Marrero
3 Jason Kendall	13 Ben Davis	23 Todd Hundley
4 Jorge Posada	14 Ramon Hernandez	24 Brandon Inge
5 Charles Johnson	15 Ben Molina	25 Michael Barrett
6 Paul LoDuca	16 Wiki Gonzalez	26 Benito Santiago
7 Javy Lopez	17 Mike Lieberthal	27 Darrin Fletcher
8 Jason Varitek	18 Brad Ausmus	28 Raul Casanova
9 Damian Miller	19 Jason LaRue	29 Ben Petrick
10 AJ Pierzynski	20 Sandy Alomar	30 Fernando Lunar