Early positional preview: Catchers 

One of the few true mysteries to me in the realm of fantasy sports is the requirement in many baseball leagues to start two catchers.

It isn’t like real MLB teams start two catchers behind the plate each game.

What makes this roster requirement extra ridiculous, in my humble opinion, is that the catcher position has historically been so shallow in reliable talent.

It would be like a fantasy football league that required starting two kickers.

The bottom line when considering your catcher position in the draft this spring is that doing your homework is very, very critical. Typically 12 teams vying for up to 24 catchers (in two-catcher leagues) when realistically there are only four decent options at the position (again, in my opinion), means more than with any other position, you need to correctly identify the sleeper talent to be successful in most leagues.

Here is my early breakdown of the catcher position:

Reliable options are few and far between. I’d feel pretty good about my team if I had Joe Mauer, Brian McCann or Victor Martinez in my lineup. Matt Wieters, the second-year player from Baltimore has a high ceiling and the ability to be a top fantasy catcher for years to come.

After that, there are more questions than answers.

Russell Martin was projected to be a fantasy darling last spring. One of the only options at the position to provide some pop and speed. However, Martin turned in one of the most disappointing fantasy seasons in recent memory. When looking back at the past three seasons, Martin’s numbers have dramatically declined in every critical category. It would be easy to write off the home runs and stolen bases, but how do you defend his .250 batting average, a major drop from the .280 in 2008 and especially the .293 in 2007. Overall, I’m really leary of Martin in 2010.

Bengie Molina saw a small uptick in runs scores and home runs in 2009 with the Giants, but his batting average and RBI dropped considerably. He’s on the wrong side of 35.

Geovany Soto was another young catcher primed for big things last spring coming off his 2008 National League Rookie of the Year campaign. However, the 2009 season was a lost campaign after drastic drops in all major stat categories, including a nauseating .218 batting average. Some may call this a sophomore slump, and they may overpay for Soto because of that. Don’t be one of them.

Chris Iannetta was a sleeper pick by many before the 2009 season. He came out of the gates on fire, but quickly cooled and lost his everyday job to Yorvit Torrealba. Iannetta may relinquish his role behind the plate to start 2010, but has done little to justify any confidence from any fantasy manager. 

That all being said, what is a fantasy manager to do in 2010? First, I would make it a priority to draft Mauer, McCann, Martinez or Wieters. These are the only guys who can actually help carry a fantasy team from the catcher position. With the rest, you’re just hoping they don’t hurt your stats throughout the season.

It is unconventional to consider drafting a catcher super-early in your fantasy draft. Many “experts” would advise against it, saying instead to snag sleeper talent at the end of your draft. However, if you do spend a second or third-round pick on a catcher, you have an instant advantage over most other teams in your league who will be trotting out guys with a much more shady track record.

Secondly, it is important to know your catching value picks. A few of mine include:

Miguel Montero, ARI. Taking advantage of a Chris Snyder injury last June, Montero was impressive at the plate with by far his most productive campaign to date. Especially exciting about Montero was that his performance surged the later the season went on … pointing to good things in 2010. He isn’t going to provide any real speed on your roster, but around 20 (or more) HR and a batting average near .300 provides a decent baseline for what Montero could do for you this season.

Kurt Suzuki, OAK. Another late-bloomer in 2009, Suzuki doubled his first-half homer total after the All-Star break and finished the season fourth among all catchers with 88 RBI. In one less game than 2008, Suzuki more than doubled both his home run production and RBI last year, while stealing four times as many bases (albeit he only stole two in 2008). He is one of just a few catchers whose stats are going in the right direction, and at only 26 years old, Suzuki has yet to hit his prime.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia, TEX. Before shoulder issues derailed the last two months of his season, Saltalamacchia was showing a genuine improvement in his power numbers. He had a good  track record of hitting the long ball in the minors, and should continue to improve his power numbers with more time at the plate. His batting average slipped last season, but still is above par for many of the catchers that will likely be drafted ahead of him this spring in fantasy leagues. There has been some talk about Saltalamacchia changing venues, and as long as he doesn’t find himself behind a more established catching option, a move would likely be a good thing for a player with his potential. Jarrod is a guy you should be able to draft in the last round or two of your respective leagues (unless you’re in one of those dreaded two-catcher leagues).