This spring, just about each so-cal...

This spring, just about each so-called fantasy baseball expert said major-league catchers were a futile collection Punt at the position, they advised. Drafting anyone not named Mauer or Martinez will cause excessive heartache, they declared. It's just another example of by what mode you shouldn't pay attention to anyone who writes a fantasy baseball file If not for this game, we all would be working in tollbooths.

There are a plethora of intriguing offensive players developing behind the plate. Last season, single one catcher, Victor Martinez, hit higher than 300 with more than 10 family runs. This season, no fewer than 11 have a realistic chance of doing that.

The pair top home run-hitting catchers of last season, Jason Varitek and switch Barajas, aren't among the top 10 this season. Instead, you'll find names as it was as Olivo, Ross and Napoli -- names that not many fantasy owners knew five month ago -- leading the power roller Here are six catchers to watch as the position transforms from a fantasy weakness into a strength:

Brian McCann, Braves: Of all the impressive things about him, here's the chiefly startling: McCann (.352-14-52) has hit above 300 each month this season. He can do it all; the 22-year-old backstop has hit nine homer since July 1 detain in mind that Javy Lopez the last Braves catcher to exhibit this kind of ability, didn't have his first 300 season with at least 10 homer until he was 24 McCann has a tremendous coming and will be an elite fantasy catcher for the nearest decade.

Yorvit Torrealba, Rockies: Fantasy proprietors might feel lukewarm about Torrealba, who is best known for a handful of uninteresting seasons as the Giants' backup. unless as the Rockies' starter, he has been an RBI brute Coors no longer inflates numbers, even now Yorvit is putting up Blake way Bomber stats, driving in 35 streams in his first 150

at-bats. After watching Torrealba score from first onward a double this month, Rockies manager Clint Hurdle has started giving the fleet-foot catcher the recent light, and Torrealba has stolen a man and wife of bases. He finally appears to be a solid fantasy play.

Ronny Paulino, Pirates: Those tricky Pirates struggleed a fantasy bait-and-switch. This spring, the team hailed Ryan Doumit as its young, power-hitting catcher. An injury to Doumit lay opened the door for Paulino, who has suited with excellent play behind the plate and impressive terminates as a hitter. He's hitting higher than 300 in his first 300 at-bats and lately has shown more power, hitting sum of two units homers in the first week of August. Paulino is the Pirates' ready and future, a Jason Kendall sign with a bit more detonation As for Doumit, he might resurface as a first baseman one time he's healthy.

Mike Napoli, Angels: Napoli's new 2-for-43 stretch has brought his average tumbling to earth, unless don't be too worried. This 25- year-old has what it takes to be

an elite power-hitting catcher. He hit a combined 60 homer in the minors in 2004-05 and he has done a great piece of work being patient at the plate in the majors, walking 40 times in his first 68 games. Napoli should be the Angels' starter the stay of the season and well into the yet to be He has 25-homer potential.

Russell Martin, Dodgers: The Dodgers showed by what mode much they believe in Martin by way of trading their future catcher, Dioner Navarro. Martin's average is hovering around 300 and he has near power (five homers) and proper speed (eight stolen bases). He's single 23 and still is developing, if it were not that it appears Martin already can help fantasy teams.

Eliezer Alfonzo, Giants: No name forward this list is more unlikely than this common An injury to Mike Matheny paved the way for Alfonzo, who had just 14 at-bats at Class AAA Fresno before this season. Before his call-up, the 27-year-old was hitting 189 with couple homers, so count the Giants among those surprised at in what way productive Alfonzo has been (289-9-25) in the last two-plus month While it's veracious that Matheny is out for the ease of the season, fantasy buyer beware: It's rare for a player with no track record of sustained minor-league succes to continue hitting well in the majors for a cloyed season. Once pitchers get to know him,

Alfonzo might labor in distress

QUICK HITS

Speaking of catchers, the Padres' Mike Piazza still might be an elite choice. He was hitting 333 with six homer since the All- Star break. Here are some surprising names among the top 10 in RBI since the break: The Angels' Juan Rivera was tied for fourth with 26 and the Rangers' Mark DeRosa was tied for seventh with 25 by means of contrast, Albert Pujols had driven in 15 scours during that span.

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