2 years ago
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Who are the top five catchers in all of baseball?
I’m not sure there are five catchers in either league that would make a list, so I decided to go with a top five in all of baseball. Obviously most are going to pick someone like Joe Mauer to be on this list, but after him, the talent pool seems to thin considerably. So who do you think are the best five catchers in baseball, and why? Defensive minded catchers can certainly go on this list, as there simply aren’t that many great offensive backstops in the game these days.
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M$1 Answer
Since the 2010 season is only half over, I am going to rank the catchers according to 2009 full season statistics. Offensively, the top five catchers are as follows:
1. Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins: Mauer had a .365 batting average, 30 doubles, 28 home runs, 94 runs batted in. His OPS (on base percentage and slugging percentage) was 1.031.
2. Victor Martinez, Cleveland Indians: Martinez lead all catchers with 108 runs batted in. He added 23 home runs, 33 doubles and a .303 batting average.
3. Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves: McCann lead National League catchers with 21 home runs. He also had 35 doubles, 94 runs batted in and a .294 batting average.
4. A.J. Pierzynski, Chicago White Sox: Pierzynski had 13 home runs and a .300 average and only struck out 52 times in 502 at bats.
5. Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals: Molina had a .293 average, 23 doubles and only 39 strikeouts in 481 at bats.
I believe defensively, the best ways to judge a catcher are by caught stealing percentage and pitcher earned run average with that catcher in the game.
Yadier Molina was second the league in throwing out base runners with 47.4% success and pitcher's era with him catching was tops in the league at 2.79.
Miguel Olivio of the Colorado Rockies threw out a league leading 51.3% of stolen base attempts but was a below average offensive catcher so he doesn't make the top five.
A.J. Pierzynski was sixth in the league with 30.0% success at throwing out base stealers. Brian McCann ranked 8th, Joe Mauer ranked 10th and Victor Martinez ranked 16th.
McCann and Mauer ranked 5th and 6th, respectively, in pitcher's earned run average with them catching.
Putting it all together, I would have to rank the catchers as follows:
1. Joe Mauer
2. Yadier Molina
3. Brian McCann
4. A.J. Pierzynski
5. Victor Martinez
http://triplesalley.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/joemauer1.jpg
http://www4.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/St+Louis+Cardinals+v+Baltimore+Orioles+JIwytQnKp_tl.jpg
1. Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins: Mauer had a .365 batting average, 30 doubles, 28 home runs, 94 runs batted in. His OPS (on base percentage and slugging percentage) was 1.031.
2. Victor Martinez, Cleveland Indians: Martinez lead all catchers with 108 runs batted in. He added 23 home runs, 33 doubles and a .303 batting average.
3. Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves: McCann lead National League catchers with 21 home runs. He also had 35 doubles, 94 runs batted in and a .294 batting average.
4. A.J. Pierzynski, Chicago White Sox: Pierzynski had 13 home runs and a .300 average and only struck out 52 times in 502 at bats.
5. Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals: Molina had a .293 average, 23 doubles and only 39 strikeouts in 481 at bats.
I believe defensively, the best ways to judge a catcher are by caught stealing percentage and pitcher earned run average with that catcher in the game.
Yadier Molina was second the league in throwing out base runners with 47.4% success and pitcher's era with him catching was tops in the league at 2.79.
Miguel Olivio of the Colorado Rockies threw out a league leading 51.3% of stolen base attempts but was a below average offensive catcher so he doesn't make the top five.
A.J. Pierzynski was sixth in the league with 30.0% success at throwing out base stealers. Brian McCann ranked 8th, Joe Mauer ranked 10th and Victor Martinez ranked 16th.
McCann and Mauer ranked 5th and 6th, respectively, in pitcher's earned run average with them catching.
Putting it all together, I would have to rank the catchers as follows:
1. Joe Mauer
2. Yadier Molina
3. Brian McCann
4. A.J. Pierzynski
5. Victor Martinez
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