Picking up where I left off yesterday, if I was looking for a catcher, the sort by plate appearances isn’t a bad place to start.

Here’s the top 15 catchers by total plate appearances with percent-ownership in ESPN leagues:

1. Russell Martin: 142 PA, 100% owned
2. Kurt Suzuki: 140 PA, 35.5%
3. Geovany Soto: 132 PA, 100%
4. Brian McCann: 131 PA, 100%
5. Ivan Rodriguez: 126 PA, 96.5%
6. Josh Bard: 120 PA, 0.6%
6. Jason Kendall: 120 PA, 15.8%
6. Joe Mauer: 120 PA, 100%
9. Yadier Molina: 116 PA, 5.3%
10. A.J. Pierzynski: 115 PA, 84.3%
11. Bengie Molina:113 PA, 100%
12. Ramon Hernandez: 111 PA, 23.2%
13. Gerald Laird: 107 PA, 0.9%
14. Kenji Johjima: 105 PA, 29.4%
14. Jason Varitek: 105 PA, 58.4%

In the top ten, four players stand out: Suzuki, Bard, Kendall, and Yadier Molina. One or more of these should be available in most leagues. If not, I’ll add the little-owned Laird to the list, despite the fact that he’s about to start losing time to Jarrod Saltalamacchia. This is how they look on offense:

Suzuki: 36 for 127, 12 runs, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 1 steal, .350 OBP
Bard: 22 for 105, 8 runs, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 0 steals, .303 OBP
Kendall: 30 for 105, 14 runs 0 HR, 10 RBI, 1 steal, .361 OBP
Molina: 32 for 106, 7 runs, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 0 steals, .353 OBP
Laird: 26 for 97, 14 runs, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 0 steals, .324 OBP

These aren’t great players, but their playing time offers promise. First, it demonstrates that they have the confidence of their managers; someone besides their moms thinks they should start. Second, just by hacking away at the plate every day, they’re bound to drive in a few runs or even score on occasion.

Surprisingly, only Bard and Laird really draw down your average (or OBP). Even they are worth the pain (really). Certainly Laird has some pop. And while Bard plays in a terrible hitter’s park, has little power, and mostly bats eighth in front of a pitcher, his career average is .270 and his career OBP is .338, so he could improve. To be honest, I wouldn’t touch him, but he’s better than no catcher at all.