NEW YORK YANKEES - Jorge Posada 32 S/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 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 2002 NYY 143 511 137 40 1 20 79 99 81 143 268 370 468 1 0       There is a real shortage of power-hitting catchers who can get on base and play 140 games a year, so Posada gets top spot despite the negatives. He cut his passed balls down to seven from 18 the year before, though he also made 12 errors. At the plate, he grounded into 23 double plays, and suffered through a miserable June in which he hit only .189, but otherwise played magnificent baseball.       It is worth noting that Posada has reached the "danger age" when a great majority of catchers suddenly stop hitting. I wouldn't expect a sudden dropoff this season — his batting average might drop below .250, but otherwise he will still be good at least a couple more years.

MINNESOTA - AJ Pierzynski 26 L/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 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 2002 MIN 130 440 132 31 6 6 54 49 13 61 300 334 439 1 2       Pierzynski has emerged as a key member of the Twins' lineup. He hits .300 and has doubles power; his negatives are that he doesn't hit home runs and doesn't draw walks. But there aren't a lot of young catchers around who can hit, so he has to rank near the top.

SEATTLE - Ben Davis 26 S/R and Dan Wilson 34 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS WILSON 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 2002 SEA 115 359 106 16 1 6 35 44 18 81 295 326 396 1 0 DAVIS 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 2002 SEA 80 228 59 10 1 7 24 43 18 58 259 313 404 1 1       Davis' first season with the Mariners was also the best of his career. He batted .294 with a .484 slugging percentage on the road — but, like all Mariners, didn't hit worth a lick at home. He's still only 26 years old; the Mariners have to feel confident about him handling their catching duties for the next few years. For the moment, he's sharing playing time with Wilson, who has been in Seattle for a long time and isn't ready to go anywhere. Wilson had a wonderful season for the Mariners last year.

BOSTON - Jason Varitek 31 S/R and Doug Mirabelli 32 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS VARITEK 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 2002 BOS 132 467 124 27 1 10 58 61 41 95 266 332 392 4 3 MIRABELLI 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 2002 BOS 57 151 34 7 0 7 17 25 17 33 225 312 411 0 0       A good platoon that features two catchers who can put some runs on the board. Varitek is now four years removed from his 1999 season when he had 61 extra-base hits, and it is extremely unlikely that he will ever repeat that performance. These two guys are good, but are both over 30; the Red Sox should be looking to bring in some new blood soon.

TAMPA BAY - Toby Hall 27 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 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 2002 TAM 85 330 85 19 1 6 37 42 17 27 258 293 376 0 1       Hall is a good hitter whom the Devil Rays were hoping could provide some pop in their lineup. But he hit .200 in April and .169 in May, and the Rays threw up their hands and sent him back to the minors. Fortunately for Hall, the Rays don't have an abundance of quality catchers, so he was back up with the big club in a couple of weeks. He hit .309 after the break; Hall can hit better than the average catcher, and we hope he's turned the corner and can avoid treacherous slumps in the future.

CLEVELAND - Josh Bard 25 S/R and Victor Martinez 24 S/R and A.J. Hinch 29 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS BARD 2000 A 93 309 88 17 0 2 40 25 32 33 285 352 359 3 1 2001 AA 51 194 54 11 0 4 26 25 16 27 278 338 397 0 0 2002 AAA 94 344 102 26 2 6 36 53 20 45 297 332 436 0 0 MARTINEZ 2001 A 114 420 138 33 2 10 59 57 39 60 329 394 488 3 3 2002 AA 121 443 149 40 0 22 84 85 58 62 336 417 576 3 3 HINCH 2000 AAA 109 417 111 23 2 6 65 47 45 67 266 344 374 5 5 2001 AAA 45 168 54 14 0 10 28 33 11 33 321 365 583 1 0 2001 KC 45 121 19 3 0 6 10 15 8 26 157 226 331 1 1 2002 KC 72 197 49 7 1 7 25 27 18 35 249 321 401 3 3       The Indians have an interesting trio of catchers on their roster. Victor Martinez is one of the biggest building blocks in the Indians' rebuilding program; at age 24, he should be ready to make the jump to the big leagues and get some regular playing time.       Josh Bard is not going to be a star, but he is another young catcher who can hit a little and who should complement Martinez nicely. These kids should give the Indians much better production from behind the plate than they had last year.       Just so they don't have to rely too heavily on the kids, the Indians have also brought in A.J. Hinch. It was just a few years ago that Hinch was a hot prospect himself, but that never worked out; he was a pretty good backup last year, the first time you could argue that he really helped a team.

ANAHEIM - Ben Molina 29 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 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 2002 ANA 122 428 105 18 0 5 34 47 15 34 245 274 322 0 0       Molina currently holds hero status after helping Anaheim win the World Series and winning a Gold Glove Award. But his bat has eroded badly since his fine 2000 season, and he now ranks among the weaker hitters in the league. His brother Jose is his backup, but Jose might also be a better hitter. If the Angels want to repeat as champions, they are going to have to be realistic about Molina's small contribution to their success.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX - Sandy Alomar 35 R/R and Josh Paul and Miguel Olivo 25 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS ALOMAR 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 2002 CHW-COL 89 283 79 14 1 7 29 37 9 33 279 302 410 0 0 PAUL 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 2002 CHW 33 104 25 4 0 0 11 11 9 22 240 302 279 2 0 OLIVO 2000 A 58 227 64 11 5 5 40 35 16 53 282 332 441 5 2 2001 AA 93 316 82 23 1 14 45 55 37 62 259 347 472 6 3 2002 AA 106 359 110 24 10 6 51 49 40 66 306 381 479 29 13       Last year's primary backstop, Mark Johnson, has been dealt, to the White Sox will place their catching duties in the hands of three players at different stages of their careers. Sandy Alomar Jr. has been in the league for 15 years and has had nine knee operations, but still carries a potent stick. Miguel Olivo is a young catcher who has some power, and who might be ready get some playing time this season. Josh Paul is in his prime and has been with the Sox for a few years, but his career is headed in the wrong direction; he spent more time at Charlotte last year than he did in Chicago.       Obviously, Alomar isn't going to play every day, which puts some pressure on young Olivo to produce. Olivo has spent the past two years in the Southern League; it makes one wonder why, if he wasn't ready to play at Triple-AAA last year, the Sox think he can be their catcher in 2003... Olivo will hit a little bit, but he also has a reputation for committing huge numbers of errors and passed balls.

OAKLAND - Ramon Hernandez 27 R/R and Mark Johnson 28 L/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS HERNANDEZ 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 2002 OAK 136 403 94 20 0 7 51 42 43 64 233 313 335 0 0 JOHNSON 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 2002 CHW 86 263 55 8 1 4 31 18 30 52 209 297 293 0 0       Two catchers who have decent sticks but who had disappointing seasons. Hernandez has more upside at the plate and should continue to get most of the playing time; Johnson inherits Greg Myers' role, getting 150 at bats a year. He is ten years younger than Myers but probably won't hit as much.

BALTIMORE - Geronimo Gil 28 R/R and Brook Fordyce 33 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS GIL 2000 AA-AAA 115 402 119 24 1 13 51 80 38 73 296 360 458 3 2 2000 AAA 105 363 105 21 1 11 47 54 16 79 289 320 444 0 1 2001 BAL 17 58 17 2 0 0 3 6 5 7 293 369 328 0 0 2002 BAL 125 422 98 19 0 12 33 45 21 88 232 270 363 2 2 FORDYCE 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 2002 BAL 56 130 30 8 0 1 7 8 9 19 231 301 315 1 0       Gil unexpectedly took over regular catching duties in Baltimore and got the bulk of the playing time behind the plate. He got off to a good start and helped the O's exceed expectations the first half of the season. After the All-Star break he hit just .198, and was invisible when the team went into its horrible tailspin late in the season. He is an undiscipline hitter with a bit of power, shouldn't play as much as he did last season.       Fordyce came back last year after surviving a burst artery in his stomach. He hit .208 the first half of the season but played better afterwards; he's an OK backup.

TORONTO - Ken Huckaby 32 R/R and Greg Myers 36 L/R and Kevin Cash 25 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS HUCKABY 2000 AAA 76 243 67 11 1 4 31 33 10 30 276 306 379 2 2 2001 AA-AAA 108 366 112 19 1 4 45 48 10 76 306 329 396 1 3 2002 TOR 88 273 67 6 1 3 29 22 9 44 245 270 308 0 0 MYERS 2000 BAL 43 125 28 6 0 3 9 12 8 29 224 271 344 0 0 2001 BAL-OAK 58 161 36 3 0 24 11 31 21 38 224 313 447 0 0 2002 OAK 65 144 32 5 0 6 15 21 26 36 222 341 382 0 0 CASH 2000 A 59 196 48 10 1 10 28 27 22 54 245 323 459 5 3 2001 A 105 371 105 27 0 12 55 66 43 80 283 369 453 4 3 2002 AAA 67 236 52 18 0 10 27 26 25 72 220 299 424 0 1       Blue Jays catching has been a disaster the past two seasons, ever since Darrin Fletcher's bat died. Last year, Fletcher retired in July, and minor league veteran Ken Huckaby got the bulk of the playing time. Huckaby can catch, and he surprised everyone by hitting over .240, but he's still an awful hitter, and he puts almost no runs on the board. But for now it appears that Huckaby will be back this year. The Jays have also picked up Greg Myers, a former Blue Jay who is at the end of a long, solid career. There is a very good chance that neither of these guys will hit over .220 this season.       Strangely enough, the Jays might have much better catching than we expect. They have a young player named Kevin Cash who might make the team; he can't hit got average, either, but he has some power and is young enough that he might surprise. Cash is a better hitter than Huckaby, and he's a lot younger; but team's are always more comfortable with a veteran who hits .220 than a rookie who does the same.       And then there is Josh Phelps, who is ticketed to be the DH but was a catcher in the minors. Phelps could hit 30 home runs this season; from what I understand, Phelps is a solid defensive catcher, and he likes to catch. And since the Jays desperately need a catcher, you would think that he would get the job. But they are afraid that catching might hurt his development as a hitter, and I concur that there is some cause for concern; Phelps is a big, lanky dude and doesn't look anything like a catcher (who are usually short, squat guys in the Pudge Rodriguez, Yogi Berra model). But then, times are changing; Phelps is big, but he isn't any bigger than, say, Mike Piazza. He may yet have a future behind the plate.

TEXAS - Einar Diaz 30 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 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 2002 CLE 102 320 66 19 0 2 34 16 17 27 206 258 284 0 1       Some new economics in Texas: Diaz bats .206, so the Rangers decide that he's the man to replace Ivan Rodriguez. Diaz was a decent player from 1999-2001, and could be a bargain if he regains his old form. But holy smokes, last year was a really, really, really awful season, and Diaz isn't that young anymore.

KANSAS CITY - Brent Mayne 35 L/R and Mike Difelice 34 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS MAYNE 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 2002 KC 101 326 77 8 2 4 35 30 34 54 236 309 310 4 4 DIFELICE 2000 TAM 60 204 49 13 1 6 23 19 12 40 240 280 402 0 0 2001 TAM-ARI 60 170 32 5 1 2 14 10 8 49 188 239 265 1 1 2002 STL 70 174 40 11 0 4 17 19 17 42 230 297 362 0 0       Two aging catchers. Mayne's greatest asset has always been his ability to get on base, but he didn't do a good job of that last season. Difelice has always had more power than the typical second-string catcher, but hasn't done that the past two years. Not a lot of upside here.

DETROIT - Brandon Inge 26 S/R and Bill Haselman 37 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS INGE 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 2002 DET 95 321 65 15 3 7 27 24 24 101 202 266 333 1 3 HASELMAN 2000 TEX 62 193 53 18 0 6 23 26 15 36 275 329 461 0 1 2001 TEX 47 130 37 6 0 3 12 25 8 27 285 331 400 0 1 2002 TEX 69 179 44 7 0 3 16 18 11 25 246 297 335 0 0       The catcher of the future for the Tigers is seven years old and growing up in Lewistown, Montana; meanwhile, the Tigers will have to make do with Inge and Haselman. Inge has a good defensive reputation but will never hit major league pitching; Haselman used to be a great second-string catcher but is now 37 years old.

CATCHERS - BOTH LEAGUES
1 Mike Piazza	11 Charles Johnson	21 Javier Lopez
2 Ivan Rodriguez	12 Toby Hall	22 Chad Moeller
3 Jorge Posada	13 Benito Santiago	23 Wiki Gonzalez
4 Mike Lieberthal	14 Victor Martinez	24 Ramon Hernandez
5 Jason Kendall	15 Damian Miller	25 Geronimo Gil
6 Paul Lo Duca	16 Brad Ausmus	26 Ken Huckaby
7 A.J. Pierzynski	17 Jason LaRue	27 Einer Diaz
8 Ben Davis	18 Mike Matheny	28 Brent Mayne
9 Jason Varitek	19 Bengie Molina	29 Brandon Inge
10 Michael Barrett	20 Sandy Alomar	30 Robert Machado