NEW YORK METS - Mike Piazza 34 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 NYM 141 534 162 25 0 40 100 124 51 70 303 361 575 2 2 2000 NYM 136 482 156 26 0 38 90 113 58 69 324 398 614 4 2 2001 NYM 141 503 151 29 0 36 81 94 67 87 300 384 573 0 2       Not only is Piazza the greatest hitting catcher ever (except for maybe Josh Gibson), he must also be one of the toughest son-of-a-guns to play the position. His 136 games in 2000 was a career-low (not counting the strike-shortened seasons). With Pudge Rodriguez suffering major injuries two years in a row, Piazza has now clearly established himself as the best catcher in baseball.       The big question is whether he should still catch. He will be 34 years old this year, and he has been beaten up pretty good over the years. His productivity might be extended if he moved to first base... but Piazza loves to catch, and the Mets have acquired Mo Vaughn, so I guess there is nothing more to discuss.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: Piazza's having another good year with the bat, but his catching career appears to be almost over. He hasn't thrown out any runners all year, a weakness that has become a focal point in the Mets' disappointing season.

PITTSBURGH - Jason Kendall 28 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 PIT 78 280 93 20 3 8 61 41 38 32 332 428 511 22 3 2000 PIT 152 579 185 33 6 14 112 58 79 79 320 412 470 22 12 2001 PIT 157 606 161 22 2 10 84 53 44 48 266 335 358 13 14       Kendall was hit on the thumb in April, but waited until after the season to have ligament damage repaired. He played almost every day during the season, but obviously the injury hurt his performance at the plate. When healthy, he is one of the best players in baseball, but he's had two serious injuries in three years.

FLORIDA - Charles Johnson 31 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 BAL 135 426 107 19 1 16 58 54 55 107 251 340 413 0 0 2000 BAL-CHW 128 421 128 24 0 31 76 91 52 106 304 379 582 2 0 2001 FLO 128 451 117 32 0 18 51 75 38 133 259 321 450 0 0       Johnson is an outstanding defensive catcher who makes some contributions with the bat. Last year, he had his typical season. I would expect more of the same this year; for him to have another big year like he had in 2000 would be a surprise.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: He is having a miserable year, batting .221 with three homers. Given his age, it is likely the start of a permanent decline.

LOS ANGELES - Paul LoDuca 30 R/R and Chad Kreuter 38 S/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS KREUTER 1999 KC 107 324 73 15 0 5 31 35 34 65 225 309 318 0 0 2000 LA 80 212 56 13 0 6 32 28 54 48 264 416 410 1 0 2001 LA 73 191 41 11 1 6 21 17 41 52 215 355 377 0 0 LODUCA 2000 AAA 78 279 98 27 3 4 47 54 33 14 351 421 513 8 5 1999 LA 36 95 22 1 0 3 11 11 10 9 232 312 337 1 2 2000 LA 34 65 16 2 0 2 6 8 6 8 246 301 369 0 2 2001 LA 125 460 147 28 0 25 71 90 39 30 320 374 543 2 4       To recap: LoDuca spent eight years in the Dodgers' minor league system, smashing the heck out of the ball, but never getting a shot with the big club. The Dodgers finally decided to give him a few at bats last year, and he was one of the biggest reasons that they were in playoff contention.       He will be 30 this year, so stardom probably isn't in his future, but I would expect him to continue hitting. He also played 33 games at first base, and might be moved there permanently if Karros can't rebound.       You might think that Kreuter's career is nearing it's end, given that       1) He hit .215 last year,       2) He will be 38 years old, and       3) The Dodgers have found a catcher who can hit       But Kreuter's career has had amazing resiliency, so I won't declare it over. Yet.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: LoDuca is hitting .326, one of the bright spots in an otherwise underwhelming Dodgers' offense. Kreuter is still hanging in, and is playing well.

ATLANTA - Javier Lopez 31 R/R and Henry Blanco 31 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS LOPEZ 1999 ATL 65 246 78 18 1 11 34 45 20 41 317 375 533 0 3 2000 ATL 134 481 138 21 1 24 60 89 35 80 287 337 484 0 0 2001 ATL 128 438 117 16 1 17 45 66 28 82 267 322 425 1 0 BLANCO 1999 COL 88 263 61 12 3 6 30 28 34 38 232 320 369 1 1 2000 MIL 93 284 67 24 0 7 29 31 36 60 236 318 394 0 3 2001 MIL 104 314 66 18 3 6 33 31 34 72 210 290 344 3 1       Lopez has been wearing a Braves uniform for quite a few years now, and continues to get the job done. Last season wasn't one of his best, but he is still a heck of lot more reliable than most of the other catchers in the league. Javy is getting near the age where you have to worry about a sudden drop in his batting numbers...        Blanco is a catch-and-throw guy, can't hit at all, will likely be Maddux' personal catcher because that's what they usually do.

ARIZONA - Damian Miller 32 R/R and Rod Barajas 27 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS MILLER 1999 ARI 86 296 80 19 0 11 35 47 19 78 270 316 446 0 0 2000 ARI 100 324 89 24 0 10 43 44 36 74 275 347 441 2 2 2001 ARI 123 380 103 19 0 13 45 47 35 80 271 337 424 0 1 BARAJAS 1999 AA 127 510 162 41 2 14 77 95 24 73 318 354 488 2 0 2000 AAA 110 416 94 25 0 13 43 75 14 65 226 253 380 4 3 2001 ARI 51 106 17 3 0 3 9 9 4 26 160 191 274 0 0       The Diamondbacks had some solid catching to help them reach the World Series. Miller must be one of the most incredibly consistent hitters in baseball history; for the past four seasons, he has put up almost identical numbers. He's not a star, but he is durable and reliable, and has had no problems with increased playing time.       Barajas is a big guy who hits the occasional home run.

SAN DIEGO - Wiki Gonzalez 28 R/R and Tom Lampkin 38 L/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS GONZALEZ 1999 AA-AAA 86 320 101 22 2 16 51 61 34 38 316 381 547 0 0 1999 SD 30 83 21 2 1 3 7 12 1 8 253 271 410 0 0 2000 SD 95 284 66 15 1 5 25 30 30 31 232 311 345 1 2 2001 SD 64 160 44 6 0 8 16 27 11 28 275 335 462 2 0 LAMPKIN 1999 SEA 76 206 60 11 2 9 29 34 13 32 291 345 495 1 3 2000 SEA 36 103 26 6 1 7 15 23 9 17 252 325 534 0 0 2001 SEA 79 204 46 10 0 5 28 22 18 41 225 309 348 1 0       Gonzalez, after a disappointing rookie season in 2000, hit the way he is capable of last year. The Padres have traded Ben Davis, so Wiki is now their man behind the plate. He can hit; he just has to prove that he can do it with more at bats.       In case he can't, the Padres also acquired ancient Tom Lampkin to back him up.

PHILADELPHIA - Mike Lieberthal 30 R/R and Todd Pratt 35 R/R or Johnny Estrada 26 S/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS ESTRADA 1999 A 98 346 96 15 0 9 35 52 14 26 277 303 399 1 0 2000 AA 95 356 105 18 0 12 42 42 10 20 295 322 447 1 0 2001 AAA 32 131 38 13 0 0 13 16 5 6 290 319 389 0 0 2001 PHI 89 298 68 15 0 8 26 37 16 32 228 273 359 0 0 PRATT 1999 NYM 71 140 41 4 0 3 18 21 15 32 293 369 386 2 0 2000 NYM 80 160 44 6 0 8 33 25 22 31 275 378 463 0 0 2001 NYM-PHI 80 173 32 8 0 4 18 11 34 61 185 327 301 1 0 LIEBERTHAL 1999 PHI 145 510 153 33 1 31 84 96 44 86 300 363 551 0 0 2000 PHI 108 389 108 30 0 15 55 71 40 53 278 352 470 2 0 2001 PHI 34 121 28 8 0 2 21 11 12 21 231 316 347 0 0       Phillies' catchers weren't so good in 2001. Mike Lieberthal tore up his knee early in the season; Johnny Estrada took over the bulk of the catching duties, and Todd Pratt was added later in the season, but they were not adeqaute replacements.       Lieberthal will be back this year, and that's good news for Philly phans. Lieberthal is a good hitter, and is in his prime; for the moment, durability and mobility are his biggest question marks.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: Lieberthal has handled the bulk of the catching duties, and has played well. Unfortunately, his comeback hasn't helped his team.

HOUSTON - Brad Ausmus 33 R/R and Gregg Zaun 31 S/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS AUSMUS 1999 DET 127 458 126 25 6 9 62 54 51 71 275 365 415 12 9 2000 DET 150 523 139 25 3 7 75 51 69 79 266 357 365 11 5 2001 HOU 128 422 98 23 4 5 45 34 30 64 232 284 341 4 1 ZAUN 1999 TEX 43 93 23 2 1 1 12 12 10 7 247 314 323 1 0 2000 KC 83 234 64 11 0 7 36 33 43 34 274 390 410 7 3 2001 KC 39 125 40 9 0 6 15 18 12 16 329 377 536 1 2       Ausmus' return to Houston was a big disappointment. He had his worst season... Ausmus is a durable catcher and a good athlete, and he might be better in 2002, but lots of catchers stop hitting in their early thirties and never get it back.       Zaun's career bottomed out a few years ago, but since then he has developed into one hell of a second-string catcher.

CINCINNATI - Jason LaRue 28 R/R and Kelly Stinnett 32 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS LARUE 1999 CIN 36 90 19 7 0 3 12 10 11 32 211 311 389 4 1 2000 CIN 31 98 23 3 0 5 12 12 5 19 235 299 418 0 0 2001 CIN 121 364 86 21 2 12 39 43 27 106 236 303 404 3 3 STINNETT 1999 ARI 88 284 66 13 0 14 36 38 24 83 232 302 426 2 1 2000 ARI 76 240 52 7 0 8 22 33 19 56 217 291 346 0 1 2001 CIN 63 187 48 11 0 9 27 25 17 61 257 333 460 2 2       Hmmm. Cincy's catchers hit 21 homers and struck out 167 times last season. I've always wondered how a catcher with a "Rob Deer" mentality at the plate manages to call a good game...       MID-SEASON UPDATE: LaRue is still striking out, but has hit just two home runs. He is making alarmingly infrequent contact with the ball.

ST LOUIS - Eri Marrero 28 R/R and Mike Matheny 32 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS MARRERO 1999 STL 114 317 61 13 1 6 32 34 18 56 192 236 297 11 2 2000 STL 53 102 23 3 1 5 21 17 9 16 225 302 422 5 0 2001 STL 86 203 54 11 3 6 37 23 15 36 266 312 438 6 3 MATHENY 1999 TOR 57 163 35 6 0 3 16 17 12 37 215 271 307 0 0 2000 STL 128 417 109 22 1 6 43 47 32 96 261 317 362 0 0 2001 STL 121 381 83 12 0 7 40 42 28 76 218 276 304 0 1       Now that's the Mike Matheny I remember from his Toronto days. Don't know who that imposter was in 2000. The Cardinals have been let down more than once by Eli Marrero, but they are going to have to bite the bullet and give him more playing time. Matheny is an OK backup, but he is a really bad hitter.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: Marrero has had a bizarre season, has played 29 games behind the plate, but has also played 23 in centre field. Catching has been a problem this year for the Cardinals.

CHICAGO CUBS - Joe Girardi 37 R/R and Todd Hundley 33 S/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS GIRARDI 1999 NYY 65 209 50 16 1 2 23 27 10 26 239 271 354 3 1 2000 CHC 106 363 101 15 1 6 47 40 32 61 278 339 375 1 0 2001 CHC 78 229 58 10 1 3 22 25 21 50 253 315 345 0 1 HUNDLEY 1999 LA 114 376 78 14 0 24 49 55 44 113 207 295 436 3 0 2000 LA 90 299 85 16 0 24 49 70 45 69 284 375 579 0 1 2001 CHC 79 246 46 10 0 12 23 31 25 89 187 268 374 0 0       I'm glad that I don't have any stocks invested in Todd Hundley's batting average, because it has been on a wild ride the past three seasons. The Cubs are expecting him to improve, but at age 33, I have to think that Hundley is running out of comebacks.       Girardi is a servicable backup, but is getting really old.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: Hundley is having a disastrous season. His career appears to be almost over.

MONTREAL - Michael Barrett 25 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 MON 126 433 127 32 3 8 53 52 32 39 293 345 436 0 2 2000 MON 89 271 58 15 1 1 28 22 23 35 214 277 288 0 1 2001 MON 132 472 118 33 2 6 42 38 25 54 250 289 367 2 1       Barrett came back halfway from a miserable sophomore season, but he is still a long way from his great rookie year of 1999. The Expos have given up the third base experiment, and have decided to make him their regular catcher; he is only 25, and if he stays healthy, I expect his bat will snap back and he will have some more good years.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: Barrett had a very hot start to the season; he has cooled off in the past month, but his average is still over .280, and he has power. He is obviously a key to the Expos' future, however long that might last.

SAN FRANCISCO - Benito Santiago 37 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 CHC 109 350 87 18 3 7 28 36 32 71 249 313 377 1 1 2000 CIN 89 252 66 11 1 8 22 45 19 45 262 310 409 2 2 2001 SF 133 477 125 25 4 6 39 45 23 78 262 295 369 5 4       At age 37, Santiago has assumed regular catching duties again, and appears to be pretty much the same player that he was ten years ago.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: Oddly enough, Santiago was selected as an All-Star this year - ten years after his last selection.

MILWAUKEE - Paul Bako 30 L/R and Raul Casanova 30 S/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS BAKO 1999 HOU 73 215 55 14 1 2 16 17 26 57 256 332 358 1 1 2000 3TEAMS 81 221 50 10 1 2 18 20 27 64 226 312 308 0 0 2001 ATL 61 137 29 10 1 2 19 15 20 34 212 312 343 1 0 CASANOVA 2000 MIL 86 231 57 13 3 6 20 36 26 48 247 331 407 1 2 2001 MIL 71 192 50 10 0 11 21 33 12 29 260 303 484 0 0       Bako and Casanova both began their careers with Detroit, and now finally get a chance to prove themselves in a Brewers uniform. Casanova might be able to hit enough to make this a surprisingly good combination; defense and durability are both question marks.

COLORADO - Ben Petrick 25 R/R and Gary Bennett 30 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS PETRICK 1999 AAA 84 282 88 16 5 19 56 64 44 58 312 403 606 9 6 2000 AAA 63 248 78 22 3 9 38 47 32 40 315 390 536 7 2 2000 COL 52 146 47 10 1 3 32 20 20 33 322 401 466 1 2 2001 COL 85 244 58 15 3 11 41 39 31 67 238 327 459 3 3 BENNETT 1999 PHI 36 88 24 4 0 1 7 21 4 11 273 298 352 0 0 2000 PHI 31 74 18 5 0 2 8 5 13 15 243 371 392 0 0 2001 3TEAMS 46 131 32 6 1 2 15 10 12 24 244 308 351 0 0       Petrick was highly touted before last season, which was inevitable because he spent the previous two years at either Colorado or Colorado Springs. He didn't hit, which is a problem because he's not paid for his defence. He can't throw and made eight errors; he will hit better this year because it's almost impossible to hit less than .280 in Colorado, but I'm skeptical about whether he can hit enough to be a quality regular.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: If you can hit and catch, the Rockies desperately want to speak to you.

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