As I continue to evaluate the catcher position in fantasy baseball, there are always multiple strategies to look at. While many like to focus on acquiring a top, everyday catcher who remains in their lineup for the entire season. A new strategy has emerged, similar to that of what of what some major league teams do at catcher.
Rather than send out the same catcher every day, teams have two or three catchers who they rotate in different ways. It might be one catcher starts versus right-handed pitchers and the other against lefties. Other teams just do it on timing, letting one catcher start four games in a week and the other starts two, then rotating week to week. It’s a strategy the Oakland Athletics have found great success with this season. Now the question is for fantasy owners, is streaming the Athletics’ catchers an effective strategy?
The rotation of Derek Norris and John Jaso has been tremendous so far this season for the Athletics. Oakland leads the majors in runs scored (369) and on-base percentage (.337), and the catching duo has been a big part of that.
Jaso has started 30 games this season and has been reliable driving in runs and getting on-base. Jaso has 21 RBI’s on the season with a .359 on-base percentage. He has shown some nice pop with six home runs, nine doubles and 25 runs scored. While they aren’t great numbers overall, it’s more impressive considering Jaso has done it as the lower man in this platoon.
Norris is the real star of this platoon and the driving force as to why it might be a good idea to employ the A’s approach. Norris has started 40 games this season, all behind the plate, and is a prime example of why Oakland has been so good this year.
The 25-year-old has shown nice power with eight home runs, but his real dominance comes with the hits he racks up. Norris has a .312 batting average to go along with a .417 on-base percentage, second only to Russell Martin. Norris has been a great source of RBI’s with 34 along with outstanding discipline at the plate, drawing 28 walks to just 29 strikeouts.
When you combine those numbers, you get a player who has a .287 batting average, 14 home runs, 55 RBI’s and 49 runs. That would put them right up there with Evan Gattis in terms of home runs, more RBI’s than any other catcher and a batting average similar to Yadier Molina.
You have to always be aware and make sure you have the right starter in your lineup on a daily basis, but the extra work is clearly worth the reward. It’s rare a platoon system can work in fantasy baseball but the A’s have given fantasy owners a great option.