Thursday, July 2, 2009

MLB All-Star Ballot - NL Edition

I admittedly don't watch nearly as much NL baseball, but let's give this a shot:

1ST BASE - Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
Pujols is so much better than everyone else that this isn't even a discussion. Other guys have had nice years, but Pujols leads them all in every major stat category (including stolen bases!).
Next (way back) in line...Adrian Gonzalez, Prince Fielder
Actual Leader in votes - Pujols

2ND BASE - Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies
There is just about as clear of a case for Utley as for Pujols. I'd listen to an argument for Orlando Hudson, but then I'd promptly disagree with you.
Next in line...Orlando Hudson, Freddy Sanchez
Actual Leader in votes - Utley

3RD BASE - David Wright, New York Mets
This one was tough, but I think that Citi Field has sapped much of Wright's power. That said, he's still near the top of NL 3Bs in OPS, and has stolen 20 bases. The Mets are a mess, but it isn't Wright's problem.
Next in line...Pablo Sandoval, Ryan Zimmerman
Actual Leader in votes - Wright

SHORTSTOP - Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins
Ramirez stinks in the field, but he makes up for it by being an offensive monster. He could play the field while drinking a beer in a lawn chair and still be the best SS in baseball.
Next in line...Miguel Tejada (quick note...Shortstops in baseball stink. Seriously, what happened? Back in the day there were 6 elite players at the position, now there's Hanley, big drop to Jeter/Tejada then it falls off a cliff. Don't give me Jason Bartlett either, he was a bag of crap until this year).
Actual Leader in votes - Ramirez

CATCHER - Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals
Whatever...the catching situation is worse than the shortstop situation. NL catchers are terrible, no ifs, ands or buts about it. Sandoval doesn't catch all that much, otherwise he runs away with this position.
Next in line...anyone, doesn't really matter
Actual Leader in votes - Molina

OUTFIELD - Brad Hawpe, Colorado Rockies; Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers; Justin Upton, Arizona Diamondbacks
OK, I know Carlos Beltran and Raul Ibanez should be on there, but they're on the DL and wouldn't play in the game anyway. So, these are the next three that you get. Overall though, Hawpe and Braun would give some really nice power to the middle of the lineup and Upton is a budding superstar.
Next in line...Matt Kemp, Hunter Pence, Carlos Lee, Adam Dunn
Actual Leaders in votes - Ibanez, Braun, Beltran

STARTING PITCHER - Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants
Lincecum is flat out awesome. He's really fun to watch, and as long as his arm doesn't explode, will be playing in this game for a long time to come. Apologies to Dan Haren who has a better WHIP and BAA, but I just like watching Lincecum more than you.
Rest of the staff...Haren, Johnny Cueto, Yoveni Gallardo, Matt Cain, Josh Johnson, Heath Bell, Francisco Rodriguez, Jonathan Broxton, Francisco Cordero, Ryan Franklin, Trevor Hoffman

No comments:

Post a Comment