Greatest Catcher - 1990's

[Stars_Rangers_82]

This thread will allow you to vote for who in your opinion feel is the greatest player at his position for a particular decade. The criteria I will be using is 1,000 games played for position players (except for Catchers, 850 GP for them), 250 games started for SP's, and 400 appearances for relief pitcher's.

Here are the candidates for the 1990's Catchers, and the poll will be closed at 11:30 am CST on Tuesday, June 21st.

G R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB BA OBP SLG OPS WAR
Mike Piazza 981 611 1200 173 4 240 768 381 563 13 0.328 0.391 0.575 0.966 43.2
Ivan Rodriguez 1169 649 1333 261 20 144 621 237 571 60 0.300 0.337 0.465 0.802 35.8
Chris Hoiles 888 415 738 121 2 151 448 434 613 5 0.263 0.367 0.468 0.835 23.5
Terry Steinbach 1184 490 1120 225 16 128 592 322 759 18 0.269 0.324 0.424 0.748 21.1
Mike Stanley 1123 524 915 186 5 162 580 525 718 8 0.275 0.377 0.481 0.858 21.0
Mike Macfarlane 1017 420 811 199 17 123 466 265 634 12 0.252 0.324 0.440 0.764 15.3
Benito Santiago 1036 396 927 158 21 123 484 256 675 32 0.259 0.309 0.418 0.727 13.0
Sandy Alomar 888 372 841 178 6 85 411 149 345 22 0.275 0.314 0.421 0.735 12.1
Todd Hundley 943 389 690 132 7 148 452 343 737 14 0.236 0.319 0.438 0.757 10.6
Darrin Fletcher 939 289 789 169 7 89 445 206 298 1 0.269 0.321 0.422 0.743 5.5

[daddies4angels]

this shouldnt even be close...Pudge was a stud

[Mudge]

Could be a sweep here.

One qualification might be in order: catchers should have a lower cut-off than regular players -- say, 850 rather than 1000. It would make Piazza qualify for the 1990's with just over 900 games at catcher, and I think it's a fairer representation of the way managers use that position.

FYI: Piazza's WAR in the '90's is 45.4, not bad even though he did not start playing on a regular basis until 1993.

[Stars_Rangers_82]

You know, I didn't even think about that Mudge. I'll redo the stats and edit this after I get done with the SP of this decade.

Thanks

---------- Post added at 12:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:25 PM ----------

Changed the poll to include GP for Catcher's to 850. If you wish to vote for someone not on the poll just say so and it'll count.

[CoreyR]

Mike Piazza --- He is my catcher on my all-time team (http://baseballnation.net/showthread.php?2125-All-Time-Team&p=28460&viewfull=1#post28460). (Great suggestion, Mudge!)

[RickD]

I got to go with Pudge here. I like Piazza but yeah, Pudge just walks away with it IMO!

[Scoobean]

I am sticking with Pudge. He may have never had the true power that Piazza had, but his defensive skills were much better.

[Mickey Mental]

Pudge Junior

[BobH]

Ivan Rodriguez-BH

[wassit3]

Mike Piazza, no contest

[soberdennis]

Nothing against Piazza. But IMO, there is only one catcher that I have seen play that could even come close to Pudge Rodriguez. And Johnny Bench did not play in the 90s.
One note on another player on the list. I remember Santiago's rookie year with the Padres when, among other things, he set the record for hitting streak by a rookie, which I believe still stands. He never could match that great rookie year, though he had a long career. But that 1989 season was special.
I also remember him having a rifle arm and that he could throw runners out while still in a squatting position.
But my vote goes to I-Rod hands down.