2046 UMEBA Postion Rankings (Catchers)

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2046 UMEBA Postion Rankings (Catchers)

Post by mragland » Wed Mar 17, 2021 12:58 pm

Gareth Hale
Baseball Research International Contributor

Here is a look at each team's starting catcher in the UMEBA. Catcher is not normally known as a glamour position, but the Unified's two highest paid players both set up shop behind home plate. This warrants some attention. All referenced 2046 stats are current as of 6/09.

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Baden Dutton (60/60), Jerusalem

The Hammers drafted this twenty-seven year old Australian in 2038. He's made solid contributions at the plate in the past three seasons and is poised for great things this year, putting up an OPS+ of 153 in 38 games. A passable defensive catcher with a plus arm, Dutton should be good enough behind the dish to get regular playing time, but he has split duties with Sergio Cortesini, whose struggles with the bat make for tough viewing. Expect Dutton to take over catching duties full time the remainder of the season.

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Tokimasa Yano (60/60), Athens

Yano was the third overall pick in the 2044 draft, and he was moved up to the big club last year, contributing his 2.9 WAR to the Centaurs' cause. It looks like the Sakurai, Japan native is really putting things together at the plate so far in 2046, posting a healthy .864 OPS. Defensively, he's a work in progress, but the team is pleased with his potential to be an above average defender and his inclination to put in the work to get there. Yano may be a fixture near the top of this list for years to come.

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Dan Clapper (50/50), Mumbai

Clapper is a BBA veteran looking to extend his career in the UMEBA. He signed with Kuwait City in 2043 (after a release by Portland) and has never left the Unified. Clapper's offensive output has been 'meh' the past two seasons, but he's been on fire to start 2046, with an OPS+ of 135. His value to Mumbai is only enhanced by his plus defense. The 2.3 WAR he has accumulated on the year is already a career best. Let's hear it for late bloomers.

Hsin 'Hollywood' Mei (60/60), Bucharest

Hailing from Zouxian, China, Mei is a sixteen-year BBA veteran. Bucharest signed Mei to a hefty one-year, $12.8M contract to play in the Unified. It's been said that there's no such thing as a bad one-year contract, but Mei is testing that notion. Bucharest appear to have caught him at the steep end of the aging curve. Mei no doubt hoped to extend his career against lesser competition, but it looks as though he's a step behind UMEBA pitching. His 79 OPS+ in 184 at-bats does not bode well for his tenure in the Unified, which may be brief, but there is possibly an even worse contract further down this list.

Takanobu Nishikawa (50/50), Tripoli

This thirty-four year old Japanese BBA veteran has spent the past four seasons in the UMEBA, with his offensive production taking a sharp downward turn in 2045. This season looks like more of the same. As with Manama's Veenman (more on him later), Nishikawa's decline may open the door for his backup, Ares 'The Steamboat' Papadias, no spring chicken himself. Tripoli may soon be looking for help at the catcher position.

Mike 'Prison Break' Schofield (40/40), Riyadh

A native of New York City, Schofield had an undistinguished six-year career in the BBA where he was known as a power bat who didn't make contact nearly often enough. He's been serviceable for Riyadh with an OPS+ of 99 and a WAR of 0.7 so far this season. Riyadh's other backstop, Pablo Espinoza, a near equivalent player defensively, and who's had some good at-bats, may make a bid for increased playing time in 2046.

Wyle 'Staple Nose' Tupin (40/40), Baghdad


A defense first catcher, this alleged native of Germany knocked around the BBA for six seasons, spending 2045 in AAA Commerce. Baghdad signed him to a free agent contract this off-season in an effort to right the ship. While his bat is nothing to sing about (69 OPS+), his defense keeps him in the lineup. Tupin has thrown runners out 20 times in 37 stolen base attempts (54.1% of the time), effectively controlling the running game.

José Barajas (45/45), Beirut


If Barajas left the BBA to gain a new lease on life, he hasn't gotten what he bargained for. The twenty-eight year old Cuban ought to be in the prime of his career, but his defense is unremarkable, and his offensive production is no better so far in 2046, with an OPS+ of 74. “Just above replacement level” was likely not what this transplant was hoping to see written about him this season. José 'Goose' Alba, a solid framer with 'good enough' offensive skills, may have already taken the top spot in the depth chart.

Diesel 'All-Star' Dave (55/55), Cairo

This Utah native was last an all-star in 2044, a selection that will forever live in infamy. A seven-year BBA veteran, Dave posted a career OPS+ of 91 in that league. And while he may insist that this stat is for suckers, it's a fair reflection of the value he brought to his BBA clubs. Diesel came to Cairo with a one-year $12M contract with a player option in 2047 (the exercise of which ought to expose him to prosecution for larceny). He promised dingers. And he's delivered … seven of them in 204 at-bats. The Pharaohs captain may struggle to perform at replacement level this season.

Hedde Veenman (55/55), Manama

This thirty-two year old Dutchman is another former BBA player. While he's had some success in Manama in the past four seasons, he may have entered the heart of his decline phase. With barely above average defense and an OPS+ of 54, Veenman may be fading away, and fast. It may fall to erstwhile backup Iemitsu Chikafuji to shoulder the workload behind the plate the rest of the way in 2046.
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Re: 2046 UMEBA Postion Rankings (Catchers)

Post by usnspecialist » Wed Mar 17, 2021 1:00 pm

now this is some good stuff.
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Re: 2046 UMEBA Postion Rankings (Catchers)

Post by jleddy » Wed Mar 17, 2021 1:27 pm

Nice work...start banking that PP!
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Re: 2046 UMEBA Postion Rankings (Catchers)

Post by chicoruiz » Wed Mar 17, 2021 1:56 pm

Great job... hmm, I’m going to have to go back into the game and see why Cortesini is playing a lot.
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Re: 2046 UMEBA Postion Rankings (Catchers)

Post by woods » Wed Mar 17, 2021 2:05 pm

I'm thoroughly impressed by all the research that must have gone into this. Although Diesel Dave says position rankings are for suckers.
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Re: 2046 UMEBA Postion Rankings (Catchers)

Post by jgg614 » Wed Mar 17, 2021 2:19 pm

This is amazing. Sad to see Nishikawa is dropping though :(

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Re: 2046 UMEBA Postion Rankings (Catchers)

Post by tylertoo » Wed Mar 17, 2021 3:02 pm

Great article, Morris!

Tripoli is now platooning Nishikawa and Papadias (claimed on waivers from division rival Bucharest) but you are right that neither is much of a solution. Still, they're fairly affordable, and they like to play practical jokes on all the youngsters on the team for clubhouse levity.

Wondering if All-Star will get any All-Star votes....
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Re: 2046 UMEBA Postion Rankings (Catchers)

Post by Fat Nige » Wed Mar 17, 2021 3:08 pm

I’m pleased with my duo :D
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Re: 2046 UMEBA Postion Rankings (Catchers)

Post by jtannehill » Wed Mar 17, 2021 3:30 pm

Nice Article Morris! Looking forward to seeing more

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Re: 2046 UMEBA Postion Rankings (Catchers)

Post by allenciox » Thu Mar 18, 2021 6:34 pm

Great job!

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Re: 2046 UMEBA Postion Rankings (Catchers)

Post by mragland » Mon May 24, 2021 4:55 pm

Hindsight Rankings:

1. Yano, Athens

2. Clapper, Mumbai

3. Dutton, Jerusalem

4. Sang-duk Sim, Bucharest

5. José 'Goose' Alba, Beirut

6. Iemitsu Chikafuji, Manama

7. Tupin, Baghdad

8. Roberto Souza, Cairo

9. Pablo Espinoza, Riyadh

10. Ares 'The Steamboat' Papadias, Tripoli
Morris Ragland
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President, Baseball Ops, Valencia Stars (10/24/47 - present)
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Re: 2046 UMEBA Postion Rankings (Catchers)

Post by tylertoo » Mon May 24, 2021 8:09 pm

mragland wrote:
Mon May 24, 2021 4:55 pm
Hindsight Rankings:


10. Ares 'The Steamboat' Papadias, Tripoli
Tripoli demoted both ML catchers by August or so in favor of guys who can catch a baseball.
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