Comments on Fantasy Baseball: Top Twenty Catchers For 2008

OK, I can see why Posada is so highly ranked this ...

2008-01-13T09:32:00.000-08:00

OK, I can see why Posada is so highly ranked this year, after his monster year last year.

But Varitek 6th? Really? Color me shocked. And I do think Salty is high for 2008, at least. Maybe after a full season playing in 2008, I might rank him 7th, but before the 2008 season has even started? I'd hesitate to put him in the top 10 at this point.

And Ruiz, I-Rod, and possibly

I like his plate discipline and his power. But som...

2008-01-11T09:13:00.000-08:00

I like his plate discipline and his power. But someone who had even better plate discipline in the minors, Chris Iannetta. Catching is the toughest out of the box when they first get to the majors. Not to mention, Pinella isn't the kindest to rookies.

ZiPS projection for Soto:284/44R/20HR/73RBI in 458...

2008-01-11T09:04:00.000-08:00

ZiPS projection for Soto:
284/44R/20HR/73RBI in 458AB.
That sort of production is hard to come by from a catcher. I've watched him for three years at AAA Iowa, and the guy's changed from a scrub project to a MLB ready starter. He lost all sorts of weight and started hitting to all parts of the park.

I'll eat my words if he sucks.

Soto looks like he can be very good. He has a pati...

2008-01-11T08:06:00.000-08:00

Soto looks like he can be very good. He has a patient eye at the plate and power. But you're talking very long odds that he's going to breakout in a big way. The last time a catcher won ROY was Piazza in '93. Catcher is the toughest position to play and it taxes the offensive numbers. Can Soto be ROY? Sure, but the horn isn't the safest bet on the craps table either. Can he simply be productive?

Soto, Towles? Soto had a monster year last year i...

2008-01-11T06:55:00.000-08:00

Soto, Towles? Soto had a monster year last year in AAA, and was solid after the callup. Towles could steal 15 bases and hit 15 hrs.