SGE Fantasy Baseball Preview: Catchers

Sleeper Pick

With Major League Baseball Opening Day just 20 days away its time to prepare yourself on who to draft for your fantasy baseball team and Sports Grind Entertainment is here to help you. We’ll provide you with a few list of things you don’t do on draft day and what to keep your eye on in the season but first we are going to breakdown each position everyday starting with the catchers.

The catcher position is not one your going to find a whole lot of power from but  looking for a player that is going to be solid as rock in the consistency department. Your not looking to draft catchers extremely early in the draft but don’t miss out by waiting to long. At the end of the year normally the fantasy teams sitting at top the rankings had an above average catcher they could just plug into the lineup from day one and never worry about. If your searching the waiver wire all season long for a catcher, its because you made the mistake here in at the draft.

Now lets move into the rankings. It’s easy to write that you should draft American League MVP Joe Mauer or Boston Red Sox’s Victor Martinez or Atlanta Braves Brian McCann but lets face it, everyone can’t get the best. If they do end up on your roster you’ve surely made a few people jealous.

Breakout Player: Mike Napoli, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

• Napoli has come up through the Angels organization and steady increased his plate appearances and the amount of time he’s seen behind the plate each season. Even playing in a part time role Napoli has managed to crank out 20 home runs the last two seasons and his highest plate appearance being that of 382. Another plus for Napolis is that he definitely with see all action against opposing lefties since he hit .330 against them last season. He could even get days off behind the plate and stay in the lineup at the DH spot when Hideki Matsui needs a day off.

Sleeper Player: Baltimore Orioles, Matt Wieters

• Wieters came up to the majors May 29 and did a respectable job as Baltimore’s starting catcher. He is a talented young hitter and should come to improve. In just a 169 game minor league career he hit 32 home runs. He spent most of last season batting in the seventh or eighth spot while getting adjusted to the big leagues but is likely to move into the fifth spot or fourth spot in the everyday lineup.

Risky Player: San Francisco Giants, Bengie Molina

• Molina did hit 20 home runs last season but at 35 the questions of his body being at risk for injury is highly of concern here. Add to the fact the Giants are waiting for any sign to turn the page and hand over the  responsibilities to future, Buster Posey. He’s gone from top prospect to starter waiting to be and that’s not a good sign for Molina.

Slipping Player: Los Angeles Dodgers, Russell Martin

• Martin is only 27 but seems as if he’s playing with a body of 38 year old. Martin has led National League catchers in at-bats for three consecutive years, but all the wear and tear behind the plate is taking its toll and catching up to the All-Star. Martin’s body may fall him taking him out of the game before it was meant to be. Don’t look for a 20 steal season from Martin ever again either.

Be sure to come back tomorrow for the preview of first base.