Fantasy Baseball Lacks Depth at Second, Catcher In 2009

As you start to analyze positions in fantasy baseball, depth is a key factor in determining how you should approach your draft.

There are certain positions that may require you to reach for a given player earlier than you might otherwise like to do. In other spots, however, you can wait longer to fill a starting role.

Third base, the outfield, and pitching are all traditionally "deeper" positions than others. Waiting for regulars in these categories isn't going to drastically hurt your team in one way or another.

Certainly, if you have a higher pick, you wouldn't be wasting it in taking a player like David Wright or Alex Rodriguez. Those who are in the back-half of the first round though can rest easy knowing the difference between No. 1 and No. 10 in these positions is nowhere near as drastic as it is in other roster spots.

While third base is top-heavy with Evan Longoria in addition to the two mentioned above, there are players such as Mark Reynolds and Mike Lowell hanging around later in drafts and still providing .280-20-90 type numbers.

Alex Gordon isn't making early appearances in drafts, and Garrett Atkins is still available come the sixth round.

The same is true in pitching, which I discussed in detail in this related post here.

Most leagues require multiple outfielders, but players such as Ryan Ludwick and Rick Ankiel are going very late in drafts. They can still provide a power boost for those needing it in later rounds, especially for those that filled other positions earlier.

I'd look at these specifically as positions that you can gamble with and play the waiting game. I wouldn't want to be picking from the bottom of the barrel, but there are going to be spots when you do have to compare players at different positions.

When that debate arises, knowing the depth will be a key factor in your success.

While we haven't put up our full position rankings and projections, there is little doubt that the two positions with the most concerns of depth are second base and catcher. Some might argue shortstop as well, but let's start with the first two pieces here.

The first key component to understand is the number of positions required in your league. Those that require two catchers or a middle-infield position—in addition to a second basemen—means that position scarcity is doubly important.

You might have been able to wait to fill a spot if only one player were required, but needing two players for these positions changes the game.

Let's start by examining second base. The top-five, in some order, consist of Chase Utley, Dustin Pedroia, Ian Kinsler, Brandon Phillips, and likely Dan Uggla. Beyond these five, you get in to Brian Roberts, Robinson Cano, and Jose Lopez. Certainly, that's a definitive break.

The first five provide numbers across multiple categories. The next three represent one-category players who are simply average across the board. The Mariners are considering moving Lopez to first. Cano is coming off an off year and always struggles before the All-Star break, and Roberts is rumored to be on the trading block.

Want to push the envelope past eight? In those cases, Placido Polanco, Howie Kendrick, and Kelly Johnson become your next options. Admittedly, we don't know where Orlando Hudson will land, and he represents an upgrade over these three. That said, this is another big drop in talent—and it only gets worse.

How could a draft play out? Expect Utley to be off the board in the first round with Kinsler and Pedroia not far behind (likely round three). Suddenly, three of the best five in a shallow position are gone. Phillips and Uggla? I've seen them gone by the fifth round. 

Shortstop is slightly better, but in 12-team formats, fellow fantasy writer Jason Collette has seen half of the required 36 middle infielders needed in starting lineups gone by the end of round eight. Even with more moderate depth, the top-20 at short and second are virtually gone in under 100 picks.

Catcher is another position where depth is not strong. While participants in single-catcher leagues can hold out on prospective starters, those that require two are in a much more difficult position.

How tough? Jason Varitek is currently the 24th catcher being taken, according to MockDraftCentral.com. Don't think that's a bad thing? Check out his 2008 numbers.

I'll wait.

All set?

So we're in agreement then. This is a bad thing.

Being 24th is moderately important. In 12-team leagues, you might have to consider drafting the (former?) Boston backstop. Four catchers are currently going in the top-75. Russell Martin, Brian McCann, Geovany Soto, and Joe Mauer are all off the board by the end of round six.

Now, that isn't to say there is no talent. The catching position this year is filled with potential beyond the above mentioned few. Ryan Doumit showed glimmers of potential last season, as did Kelly Shoppach. Shoppach, though, is likely going to see significantly fewer games with the return of Victor Martinez.

Looking deeper, Matt Wieters is being noticed as a "sleeper" (that no longer is because everyone is talking about him). Wieters, though, has never seen big-league pitching.

The usual suspects then start to move into view. You'll see love for A.J. Pierzynski in some circles, or for an aging Jorge Posada (coming off shoulder surgery). Then there are the upside names, such as Jeff Clement, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Taylor Teagarden, and Miguel Montero.

Combining the lack of depth with playing time issues is what makes drafting catchers look like taking a mid-tier running back—you don't know who will get the bulk of the games. Seattle, Texas, Arizona, and Cleveland cause immediate issues.

Looking at the stats and the problems across these positions, the quesiton comes to how an owner should strategize.

At second base, I'm going to pay closer attention to what goes on this year in any draft. Once I see Pedroia and Kinsler come off the board, I'd start to plan on Phillips or Uggla, or whomever you deem fit to be in those four and five spots.

Sure, you can end up with Alexei Ramirez (who I rolled into shortstops), but you don't want to be too shut out. This is especially true in the leagues discussed above requiring the additional middle infielder. For certain, you don't want to be "stuck" settling for a lower-tier position player in favor of starting to build your rotation.

What about catching? Participants in two-catcher leagues need to make moves early on to protect one of the two spots. I'm willing to settle on my second catcher, but only if I've grabbed a top-seven or top-ten player for the first spot. I don't normally advocate early moves for players behind the plate, so I'm likely passing on the guys in the top-five.

Once they come off the board, start looking at trends. You don't want to start a run, but you don't want to be late on one either. I'm high on Ryan Doumit to follow his successful 2008 campaign, and think that Ianetta will get more at-bats. Look for those guys in early middle rounds first. Then, snag your second catcher in a later round.

In one-catcher leagues, you can wait longer and not dramatically impact your overall offense. Drafting ten to 12 catchers between all your teams is very different than needing 20 to 24.

This depth factor weighs on my mind when I'm debating between closely-ranked players at various positions. It should be on yours as well when making drafting decisions.

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