Catcher Rankings Update – June 2011

As we get ready to head into a new month, it’s time to update the 2011 Catchers Rankings once again.  Remember, the criteria for these rankings is as follows:

1.  Current performance level

2.  Expected performance for rest of season

3.  Value based on standard 5×5 categories (avg over OBP)

The arrows are used to highlight a player moving up or down in tier, but you’ll also notice some minor tweaks within the tiers as well.  Some that will obviously have more impact than others.

Penthouse on Park Avenue

Brian McCann

Victor Martinez

Russell Martin

Miguel Montero

Only two of the original top 4 remain due to injuries.  But with some strong performances, and strongly sustained for that matter, both Martin and Montero get a bump to the Penthouse.  Martin has been a fantastic rebound this season and looks like he’ll continue to play at a high level in his new home in the Bronx.  Montero is lving up to that potential we were all expecting last season before he got hurt.

Comfy Living

Alex Avila

Mike Napoli

J.P. Arencibia

Carlos Santana

Matt Wieters

Geovany Soto

Joe Mauer

Joining this tier are Avila and Arencibia, two young power hitting backstops that have really taken the league by storm this year.  We all knew that both had the potential to be productive backstops and now they are both exceeding expectations.  Santana gets pushed a little further down and will stay where he is until he starts to pull that average up.  Until I hear better progress regarding Mauer’s recovery, I can’t help but drop him down.

Small House in the ‘Burbs

Jonathan Lucroy

Yadier Molina

Kurt Suzuki

Chris Iannetta

Yorvit Torrealba

Carlos Ruiz

John Buck

Jorge Posada

Lucroy has been fantastic since coming back from his opening season DL stint.  He continues to hit for a high average and has some good pop in his bat as well.  He’s climbing tiers at a rapid rate, so if he continues to perform well, he’ll be in Comfy Living in no time.  Buck gets a small bump, but could stand to improve that plate discipline.  Posada is rapidly losing time now that lefties are befuddling him.  At 39 years old, he’s got no where really to go anymore but down.

Shoebox Apartment

Ramon Hernandez

Rod Barajas

Wilson Ramos

Miguel Olivo

A.J. Pierzynski

Nick Hundley

Humberto Quintero

John Jaso

This tier has stayed predominantly the same, but Hernandez gets a big bump to the top of a new tier based on what he’s done recently.  Still splitting time with Hanigan, he’s put together a .300+ average and continues to hit with decent pop.  If he received more ABs, I’d be inclined to throw him into the tier above.  Hundley drops due to his lengthy recovery.  Are you ever coming back, Nick?

Sharing a Room

Chris Snyder

Jarrod Saltlamacchia

Ryan Doumit

Hank Conger

Josh Thole

Ryan Hanigan

J.R. Towles

Matt Treanor

Brayan Pena

Ronny Paulino

Nothing new from this tier.  Paulino joins as he seems to be garnering a little more playing time and not just against lefties anymore.  Salty gets a big bump within the tier due to his little power surge.  Everyone else is….well, everyone else.

Shanty-town

Ivan Rodriguez

Jeff Mathis

Kelly Shoppach

Jesus Montero

Jason Kendall*

Jason Castro*

Buster Posey*

Nothing makes me sadder than to have to put Posey down here.  His 2011 is finished and his only value remains in keeper leagues.  His surgery was successful, so there’s hope, but that’s what they said about Kendrys Morales.

* injured player