MLB's Top 15 Catchers of the 2000s

With the World Series over, so is this decade of baseball, so what better time to look back at the top players of the great decade that was the 2000s?

This will be the first in a series running down the top 15 players at each position in the last decade.

The only stipulation is that players must have played in at least five seasons during the decade, so sorry Dodgers fans, but no Russell Martin.

I hope this can spark some debate, as these players and their achievements should be fresh in everyone's minds.

Without further ado, we will start with No. 15...

No. 15: Paul Lo Duca

Age in 2000: 28
Decade Stats: .287 BA, 77 HR, 469 RBI
162-Game Average: .287 BA, 13 HR, 74 RBI
.300+ BA Seasons: 2
20+ HR Seasons: 1
80+ RBI Seasons: 2
All-Star Appearances: 4 (one start)

Lo Duca burst onto the scene in 2001 as a 29-year-old career journeyman with 174 career at-bats. He put together a .320 BA, 25 HR, 90 RBI season and garnered MVP consideration.

His appearance on the Mitchell Report and subsequent statistical drop-off makes you wonder how legit his rise from minor league obscurity was, but nonetheless he was one of the more productive offensive catchers of the decade.

No. 14: Brad Ausmus

Age in 2000: 31
Decade Stats: .245 BA, 39 HR, 357 RBI
162-Game Average: .245 BA, 6 HR, 49 RBI
.300+ BA Seasons: 0
20+ HR Seasons: 0
80+ RBI Seasons: 0
Gold Gloves: 3

Sure, Ausmus was a pedestrian hitter, but there is no question he was one of the best defensive catchers of the decade. His ability to handle a pitching staff and his veteran presence in the clubhouse made him a favorite with teammates and fans alike.

He caught an average of 119 games a season for the decade, and while he was an admittedly poor hitter, he did top 30 RBI eight times.

He also had three home runs and five RBI in 29 postseason games for the decade, decent numbers in the clutch for a defensive player.

No. 13: Jason Kendall

Age in 2000: 26
Decade Stats: .283 BA, 44 HR, 500 RBI, 106 SB
162-Game Average: .283 BA, 5 HR, 56 RBI, 12 SB
.300+ BA Seasons: 3
10+ SB Seasons: 5
80+ Run Seasons: 4
All-Star Appearances: 1 (one start)

As you can see, I went with slightly different statistics to show the success that Kendall had this past decade.

He was the rare leadoff-hitting table setter at the catcher's position. He was really the first such player since Craig Biggio first came up with Astros and the only other than Russell Martin since.

Kendall had a pair of top 10 finishes in the batting title race, hitting .325 in 2003 to finish sixth and .319 in 2004 to finish eighth.

His success in Pittsburgh netted him an obnoxiously large six-year, $60 million contract following the 2000 season, which made him the second highest paid catcher in the game behind Mike Piazza at the time.

No. 12: Ramon Hernandez

Age in 2000: 24
Decade Stats: .262 BA, 139 HR, 618 RBI
162-Game Average: .262 BA, 19 HR, 82 RBI
.300+ BA Seasons: 0
20+ HR Seasons: 2
80+ RBI Seasons: 1
All-Star Appearances: 1

Hernandez was part of an exciting youth movement in Oakland at the beginning of the decade, but like many of those young stars, he left for greener (think money) pastures following the 2003 season.

He had his best season in 2006, his first season with the Orioles, when he set career highs with 23 HR and 91 RBI while hitting a respectable .275.

Now with the Reds, Hernandez' career seems to be winding down, as he is playing more and more first base and hitting less and less, but he was still one of the best power hitters at the position for the decade.

No. 11: Yadier Molina

Age in 2000: 17
Decade Stats: .269 BA, 35 HR, 263 RBI
162-Game Average: .269 BA, 8 HR, 64 RBI
.300+ BA Seasons: 0
20+ HR Seasons: 0
80+ RBI Seasons: 0
All-Star Appearances: 1 (one start)
Gold Gloves: 1

Forget the offensive numbers—Molina has thrown out 46 percent of would-be base runners, including a mind-blowing 64 percent in his first full season in 2005.

Molina is quickly establishing himself as one of the best catchers in all of baseball and will undoubtedly be near the top of the "Best Catcher of the 2010s" list.

He has also consistently stepped up in the postseason, with a career line of .315 BA, 2 HR, 11 RBI in 32 career postseason games, including .358 BA, 2 HR, 8 RBI during the Cardinals' 2006 World Series run.

No. 10: A.J. Pierzynski

Age in 2000: 23
Decade Stats: .286 BA, 111 HR, 545 RBI
162-Game Average: .286 BA, 15 HR, 73 RBI
.300+ BA Seasons: 3
20+ HR Seasons: 0
80+ RBI Seasons: 0
All-Star Appearances: 2

As much as I hate the man, being a Cubs fan, he is a very good offensive catcher and someone who makes your team better in a number of ways.

He has always hit for a high average, dating back to his days with the Twins, where he made his first All-Star appearance.

The thing he will be perhaps most remembered for, however, is the the incredibly lopsided trade that brought him to the Giants as the Twins sent him and cash to San Francisco for Boof Bonser, Francisco Liriano, and Joe Nathan.

No. 9: Brian McCann

Age in 2000: 16
Decade Stats: .293 BA, 91 HR, 389 RBI
162-Game Average: .293 BA, 24 HR, 103 RBI
.300+ BA Seasons: 2
20+ HR Seasons: 3
80+ RBI Seasons: 4
All-Star Appearances: 4
Silver Sluggers: 2

McCann, despite not becoming a full-time starter until the 2006 season, is still among the decade leaders at the position in most offensive categories.

He and Joe Mauer are currently in a class of their own when it comes to production at the catching position.

In his first season as a starter, McCann put together a line of .333 BA, 24 HR, 93 RBI as he quickly cemented himself as the future behind the plate in Atlanta.

McCann should only get better in the years to come, as he is just now entering his prime, and I would not be surprised at all if he put together a string of .300 BA, 30 HR, 100 RBI seasons.

No. 8: Mike Matheny

Age in 2000: 29
Decade Stats: .244 BA, 45 HR, 298 RBI
162-Game Average: .244 BA, 10 HR, 61 RBI
.300+ BA Seasons: 0
20+ HR Seasons: 0
80+ RBI Seasons: 0
Gold Gloves: 4

Matheny was the premier defensive catcher of the 2000s and is probably one of the best defensive catchers in the history of the game.

He threw out 39 percent of would-be base stealers for the decade, but above that he called a great game and helped make some less than stellar Cardinals pitching staffs shine.

He even put together a decent offensive season in the second to last year of his career, hitting .242 BA, 13 HR, 59 RBI in 2005 for the Giants, setting career highs in HR and RBI in the process.

No. 7: Mike Piazza

Age in 2000: 31
Decade Stats: .285 BA, 187 HR, 567 RBI
162-Game Average: .285 BA, 33 HR, 99 RBI
.300+ BA Seasons: 2
20+ HR Seasons: 5
80+ RBI Seasons: 3
All-Star Appearances: 5 (four starts)
Silver Sluggers: 3

For the first three seasons of the decade, he was still hands down the best hitting catcher in baseball as he averaged .301 BA, 36 HR, 102 RBI, but after that Piazza was just another above average offensive catcher who was a defensive liability.

From 2003 to 2007, when he retired, Piazza averaged a less than Piazza-like .271 BA, 16 HR, 51 RBI as he spent time with the Padres and A's in the twilight of his career.

Don't get me wrong, Piazza is the best offensive catcher of all time, but when it comes to the 2000s, he was simply not the Mike Piazza of the 1990s.

No. 6: Bengie Molina

Age in 2000: 25
Decade Stats: .276 BA, 138 HR, 665 RBI
162-Game Average: .276 BA, 19 HR, 90 RBI
.300+ BA Seasons: 0
20+ HR Seasons: 1
80+ RBI Seasons: 3
Gold Gloves: 2

Molina has been perhaps the most well-rounded catcher outside of Ivan Rodriguez this past decade, as he not only played stellar defense but was also one of the more underrated run producers, catcher or otherwise, in the past 10 years.

He had the second most RBI at the position over the last 10 years, as he drove in at least 40 runs every season and at least 60 six times.

Equally impressive are his contact numbers, as he has never struck out more than 68 times in a season and averages just 40 punchouts per season.

No. 5: Victor Martinez

Age in 2000: 21
Decade Stats: .299 BA, 111 HR, 559 RBI
162-Game Average: .299 BA, 21 HR, 103 RBI
.300+ BA Seasons: 4
20+ HR Seasons: 4
80+ RBI Seasons: 5
All-Star Appearances: 3 (zero starts)
Silver Sluggers: 1

Martinez was at the heart of the Indians' early decade youth movement, as he burst onto the scene and immediately became one of the game's top hitting backstops.

He has hit at least .283 BA, 16 HR, 80 RBI in each of the five full seasons that he has played, and while he has begun to play more and more first base, he still spent the majority of his games behind the plate last season.

Still just 30 years old, Martinez should have at least a couple .300 BA, 20 HR, 100 RBI seasons left in him, as he put up a stellar line of .303 BA, 23 HR, 108 RBI last season with the Indians and Red Sox.

No. 4: Ivan Rodriguez

Age in 2000: 28
Decade Stats: .298 BA, 161 HR, 643 RBI
162-Game Average: .298 BA, 22 HR, 86 RBI
.300+ BA Seasons: 5
20+ HR Seasons: 2
80+ RBI Seasons: 3
All-Star Appearances: 6 (five starts)
Silver Sluggers: 1
Gold Gloves: 5

Rodriguez has been so good for so long, it is easy to take for granted the type of career he has had. Now the leader in career games caught, Pudge has been one of the best for 19 seasons and counting now.

While he was at his best with the Rangers, he has made some significant contributions late in his career with other teams. As a Cubs fan, I won't soon forget his .321 BA, 2 HR, 10 RBI line in the 2003 NLCS that netted him NLCS MVP and sent the Cubs home.

He was also a key member of the Tigers' World Series run, as he won the Gold Glove and hit over .300 for them that season.

No. 3: Jason Varitek

Age in 2000: 28
Decade Stats: .257 BA, 148 HR, 596 RBI
162-Game Average: .257 BA, 20 HR, 80 RBI
.300 BA Seasons: 0
20+ HR Seasons: 2
80+ RBI Seasons: 1
All-Star Appearances: 3 (one start)
Silver Sluggers: 1
Gold Gloves: 1

It's hard to measure Varitek's worth with statistics, although he did put up very good numbers throughout the decade. He brings so much to the table as far as intangibles go that the numbers really do not tell the whole story.

The fact that he has caught four no-hitters in his career is perhaps the most telling stat of all, as it shows how much his pitching staff trusts him and what a great game he calls.

As his career wraps up in the next few seasons, the Red Sox will not only be losing a good catcher and teammate, but also just their third team captain in the last 100 years.

No. 2: Joe Mauer

Age in 2000: 17
Decade Stats: .327 BA, 72 HR, 397 RBI
162-Game Average: .327 BA, 17 HR, 92 RBI
.300+ BA Seasons: 3
20+ HR Seasons: 1
80+ RBI Seasons: 3
All-Star Appearances: 3 (two starts)
Gold Gloves: 1
Silver Sluggers: 2

Mauer just wrapped up the third AL batting title of his six-year career. And to think, the Twins were second-guessed when they passed on a flame-throwing can't miss pitcher out of USC with the first pick in the 2001 draft.

Ask the Cubs how Mark Prior is doing these days.

But back to Mauer—he is unquestionably the best hitting catcher in the game today and just might be the best hitter in all of baseball outside of Albert Pujols.

His line this season of .365 BA, 28 HR, 96 RBI is absolutely sick when you consider the fact that he was hurt for over a month and did it all while playing great defense.

No. 1: Jorge Posada

Age in 2000: 28
Decade Stats: .283 BA, 208 HR, 819 RBI
162-Game Average: .283 BA, 26 HR, 102 RBI
.300+ BA Seasons: 1
20+ HR Seasons: 8
80+ RBI Seasons: 8
All-Star Appearances: 5 (two starts)
Silver Sluggers: 5

Posada has been as much a part of the Yankees over the past decade as guys like Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter.

A great run producer despite having to hit towards the bottom of the Yankees order most seasons, the Yankees showed how much Posada meant to the team after the 2007 season when they gave the then 36-year-old a four-year, $54 million contract without hesitation.

He had perhaps his best season in 2003, hitting .281 BA, 30 HR, 101 RBI and catching a whopping 137 games while finishing third in MVP voting.

He also made a run at the batting title in 2007, hitting .338 and finishing fourth in the AL.