Updated Catcher Rankings — September 2011
Time to re-visit those monthly rankings, again. As always, the criteria used for these 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)
One note, despite the fact that it is late in the season, we are not accounting for keeper value right now. We are staying within the parameters of this season alone. Keeper league rankings will be done at season’s end. Injured players remain on the list at the bottom so we can just see who was up there from start to finish. That being said, here’s how the catching position looks right now….
| Penthouse on Park Avenue |
| Brian McCann |
| Victor Martinez |
| Mike Napoli |
| Miguel Montero |
| Alex Avila |
Absolutely no need for a change here in the top tier as all five backstops have continued to perform on a level that maintains their status amongst their peers.
| Comfy Living |
| Carlos Santana |
| J.P. Arencibia |
| Joe Mauer |
| Yadier Molina |
 Matt Wieters |
The top four in this tier, again, have all done enough to maintain their positions in the rankings. You’ve got power but minimal average from Santana and Arencibia and minmal power with a solid average from Mauer (who will hopefully do a little more in September) and Molina. Wieters joins the second tier with a very strong August and red-hot start to September. To think that he may have finally turned a corner would be nice for the depth at the position now and moving forward.
| Small House in the ‘Burbs |
| Chris Iannetta |
| Russell Martin |
 Jonathan Lucroy |
| Geovany Soto |
| Miguel Olivo |
| Jarrod Saltalamacchia |
| Kurt Suzuki |
| Carlos Ruiz |
| John Buck |
Both Lucroy and Soto get the bump down in tier for failure to keep pace with the players in the above tier. Lucroy shows minimal power with a decreased average over the past month while Soto may have decent power, but a .193 August that had a dismal 0-for-25 stretch in there isn’t doing anyone any good. Saltalamacchia, on the other hand, gets the bump for maintaining the consistent power over the past two months. Sure, the August average could have been better, but Salty has proven to be a little better than most.
| Shoebox Apartment |
| Wilson Ramos |
| A.J. Pierzynski |
| Rod Barajas |
| Jorge Posada |
| Humberto Quintero |
| Ryan Doumit |
| Nick Hundley |
| Yorvit Torrealba |
More of the same from the veterans in this tier. Some decent play, some poor play…just toeing the line, so to speak. Doumit finally makes it back from the DL and has garnered solid time with his play in Pittsburgh and given his power potential, gets a bump to here. Hundley, has also made it back from the DL and has gone back to hitting the way he did to start the season. He should continue the trend through the end of the year.
A few new faces here with one player, McKenry, dropping down. Mikey Mac drops with the loss of time to Doumit and, well, a real lackluster follow-up to a strong July. Alfonzo just makes the cut here due to the potential of what he has done and could do in Colorado while stealing time from Iannetta. Flowers is doing the same on the South Side. Perez definitely has potential and the Royals will use him as much as possible, but he still needs time to grow as a hitter. And finally there’s the arrival of Montero (::cue angelic chorus::). Outstanding power potential, but his inefficiency in the field will limit him to a DH platoon.
| Shanty-town |
| Ivan Rodriguez |
| Jeff Mathis |
| Kelly Shoppach |
| Hank Conger |
| J.R. Towles |
| Matt Treanor |
| Chris Snyder* |
| Jason Kendall* |
| Jason Castro* |
| Buster Posey* |
Again, just gross. Nobody wants these guys. Treanor slides down here with his trade to Texas, lack of playing time, and current concussion.
*denotes injured player
Howard Bender has been covering fantasy sports for over 10 years on a variety of websites. In addition to his work here, you can also find him at his site, RotobuzzGuy.com, Fantasy Alarm, RotoWire and Mock Draft Central. Follow him on Twitter at @rotobuzzguy or for more direct questions or comments, email him at rotobuzzguy@gmail.com
Humberto Quintero in the tier above Jesus Montero!?
Even with the limited playing time for Jesus, he needs to be ranked higher than Humberto just based on the potential and the team. Add to that, Montero has as many HRs in 4 games as Quintero does in almost 70 games.