In what portends to be a very slow release series, I've taken the SS post and run with it. Looking at the Catcher Seasons from the past 50 years.
Reminder: to qualify, the player must have played the most at that position for the team in that season.
Rankings show Top 10 using www.baseball-reference.com WAR (showing oWAR/dWAR) and by OPS+
Here we go....
Top 10 Worst Catcher Seasons (by WAR)
# | Year | Player | WAR | oWAR | dWAR | OPS+ | G |
1 | 2001 | Hatteburg, Scott | -1.4 | 0.6 | -2.0 | 78 | 72 |
2 | 1993 | Pena, Tony | -1.3 | -1.4 | 0.1 | 32 | 125 |
3 | 1969 | Gibson, Russ | -1.1 | -0.9 | -0.2 | 66 | 83 |
4 | 1965 | Tillman, Bob | -1.1 | -0.6 | -0.5 | 66 | 106 |
5 | 1987 | Sullivan, Marc | -0.9 | -1.5 | 0.6 | 14 | 60 |
6 | 1968 | Gibson, Russ | -0.8 | 0.2 | -1.0 | 66 | 74 |
7 | 1966 | Ryan, Mike | -0.6 | -0.4 | -0.2 | 54 | 114 |
8 | 1967 | Ryan, Mike | -0.5 | -0.2 | -0.3 | 56 | 79 |
9 | 1963 | Tillman, Bob | -0.4 | 0.5 | -0.9 | 81 | 95 |
10 | 1979 | Allenson, Gary | -0.3 | -0.4 | 0.1 | 49 | 104 |
Comments: With Salty/Tek manning the position for the present, lamentations run amok about the Sox catching situation. From this list, it seems like they've had these problems before. Hatteburg always had an average bat, but man did he suck something awful behind the plate. In 2001 he was pretty pedestrian with the bat and criminaly awful as a backstop. Think Salty/Tek are bad throwing out runners? Try 115 SB given up in a mere 72 games with only 12 CS! - For the math challenged that's a 9% success rate. Number of these years are from the 60's (Pre-69) which of coure was the era of pitching and catcher was often overlooked as an offensive need. Still its not like we have defensive catching stalwarts here.
Top 10 Worst Catching Seasons (by OPS+)
# | Year | Player | WAR | oWAR | dWAR | OPS+ | G |
1 | 1987 | Sullivan, Marc | -0.9 | -1.5 | 0.6 | 14 | 60 |
2 | 1993 | Pena, Tony | -1.3 | -1.4 | 0.1 | 32 | 125 |
3 | 1979 | Allenson, Gary | -0.3 | -0.4 | 0.1 | 49 | 104 |
4 | 1966 | Ryan, Mike | -0.6 | -0.4 | -0.2 | 54 | 114 |
5 | 1967 | Ryan, Mike | -0.5 | -0.2 | -0.3 | 56 | 79 |
6 | 1992 | Pena, Tony | 0.2 | 0.4 | -0.2 | 62 | 132 |
7 | 1969 | Gibson, Russ | -1.1 | -0.9 | -0.2 | 66 | 83 |
8 | 1965 | Tillman, Bob | -1.1 | -0.6 | -0.5 | 66 | 106 |
9 | 1968 | Gibson, Russ | -0.8 | 0.2 | -1.0 | 66 | 74 |
10 | 1991 | Pena, Tony | -0.2 | -0.3 | 0.1 | 66 | 140 |
Comments: During the barrage of offense that was 1987 (Boggs hit 24 HR), Marc Sullivan managed to be 86 pts below average. If you remember, he was the owner/general partner's son (Haywood Sullivan). Tony Pena, I loved his catching "style" but he sucked at the plate by the time he was with Boston.
and now for the good stuff.....
Top 10 Best Catching Seasons (by WAR)
# | Year | Player | WAR | oWAR | dWAR | OPS+ | G |
1 | 1972 | Fisk, Carlton | 7.1 | 6.8 | 0.3 | 162 | 131 |
2 | 1977 | Fisk, Carlton | 6.8 | 5.6 | 1.2 | 138 | 151 |
3 | 1978 | Fisk, Carlton | 6.1 | 5.9 | 0.2 | 125 | 154 |
4 | 1985 | Gedman, Rich | 5.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 126 | 139 |
5 | 2004 | Varitek, Jason | 4.1 | 3.9 | -0.2 | 121 | 130 |
6 | 2005 | Varitek, Jason | 4.0 | 4.4 | -0.4 | 122 | 130 |
7 | 1976 | Fisk, Carlton | 3.9 | 3.4 | 0.5 | 109 | 133 |
8 | 1986 | Gedman, Rich | 3.4 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 99 | 134 |
9 | 1973 | Fisk, Carlton | 3.4 | 3.0 | 0.4 | 105 | 131 |
10 | 1980 | Fisk, Carlton | 3.3 | 3.2 | 0.1 | 118 | 115 |
10 | 2003 | Varitek, Jason | 3.3 | 3.2 | 0.1 | 120 | 137 |
Comments: Ah Mr. Fisk, how we all will remember you waving that 1975 HR fair. Only 3 position players in 1972 had a 6+ WAR and Fisk was one of the three. He occupies 6 of the 10 spots here. Tek's 03-05 run was pretty impressive. Gedman while not the best hitter, was outstanding behind the plate.
Top 10 Best Catching Seasons (by OPS+)
# | Year | Player | WAR | oWAR | dWAR | OPS+ | G |
1 | 1972 | Fisk, Carlton | 7.1 | 6.8 | 0.3 | 162 | 131 |
2 | 1975 | Fisk, Carlton | 3.1 | 3.1 | 0.0 | 150 | 71 |
3 | 1977 | Fisk, Carlton | 6.8 | 5.6 | 1.2 | 138 | 151 |
4 | 1985 | Gedman, Rich | 5.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 126 | 139 |
5 | 1978 | Fisk, Carlton | 6.1 | 5.9 | 0.2 | 125 | 154 |
T6 | 2005 | Varitek, Jason | 4.0 | 4.4 | -0.4 | 122 | 130 |
T6 | 2010 | Martinez, Victor | 3.0 | 3.8 | -0.8 | 122 | 110 |
T6 | 1996 | Stanley, Mike | 2.3 | 3.7 | -1.4 | 122 | 105 |
9 | 2004 | Varitek, Jason | 4.1 | 3.9 | -0.2 | 121 | 130 |
10 | 2003 | Varitek, Jason | 3.3 | 3.2 | 0.1 | 120 | 137 |
Comments: Victor slips onto this list in a tie for the #6 slot with another newcomer - Mike Stanley, both of whom were pretty poor backstops who moved from behind the plate. Fisk dominates this list as most would expect. 154 games at catcher? :()
Next Up: 2B