Around the Division - First Base
by jmarter on Feb 7, 2010 7:49 PM EST
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I did catchers a week or so ago, here's a look at the firstbasemen around the NL Central.
Firstbase
Cardinals: Albert Pujols (backup plan – forget about it)
2009 (160 games) – 327/443/658
Career (1399 games) – 334/427/628
Best season 08 (148 games) – 357/462/653
My assessment – Arguably, the best hitter in the majors. Now he has Holliday to protect and McGwire to teach him the “tricks” of the game. Grade: A
Brewers: Prince Fielder (backup plan – Casey McGehee)
2009 (162 games) – 299/412/602
Career (675 games) – 284/381/550
Best season 09 (162 games) – 299/412/602
My assessment – I hate seeing this guy in the batter’s box. Grade: A-
Reds: Joey Votto (backup plan – Adam Rosales)
2009 (131 games) – 322/414/536
Career (306 games) – 310/388/536
Best season 09 (131 games) – 322/414/536
My assessment – Has as bright of a future as any young 1B. Grade: B+
Cubs: Derrick Lee (backup plan – Micah Hoffpauir)
2009 (141 games) – 306/393/579
Career (1681 games) – 284/369/504
Best season 05 (158 games) – 335/418/662
My assessment – D Lee may be falling out of favor in Chicago as he Hoffpauir has his fans. But he can still swing it. Grade: B
Astros: Lance Berkman (backup plan – Geoff Blum)
2009 (136 games) – 274/399/509
Career (1507 games) – 299/412/555
Best season 06 (152 games) – 315/420/621
My assessment – Not the All-Star he once was as age becomes a factor. Grade: C+
Pirates: Jeff Clement (backup plan – Garrett Jones)
2009 (0 games) – no plate appearances
Career (75 games) – 237/309/393
Best season 08 (66 games) – 227/295/360
My assessment – Well, at least Clement is in the same post as the likes of Pujols, Fielder, and company. The Pirate grade here is based on them finding production at 1B (Jones) even if Clement isn’t the answer. Grade: C
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the managing editor (Charlie) or SB Nation. FanPosts are written by Bucs Dugout readers.
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Firstbase is stacked in the NL Central.
"Baseball is better than football. Think about it, eighty degrees, a cold beer and a short-sleeve shirt is better than 30 degrees, a hip flask and six layers of clothes under a lap blanket. Take your pick: suntan or frostbite. " - Thomas Boswell
That goes without saying. We really haven't had a good firstbaseman since Pops.
"Baseball is better than football. Think about it, eighty degrees, a cold beer and a short-sleeve shirt is better than 30 degrees, a hip flask and six layers of clothes under a lap blanket. Take your pick: suntan or frostbite. " - Thomas Boswell
by Ketcham Bruce on Feb 7, 2010 8:48 PM EST up reply actions
Kevin Young?
The dude was amazing. It’s incredible that a guy can hit so poorly while using steroids.
Simply amazing
http://www.points2shop.com/?ref=GJS867
I'd say at least a solid B
Last 9 seasons, he’s played at least 130 games with a .301/.415/.588 line, averaging 32 HRs and 107 RBI. He’s definitely one of the best hitters of this decade that no one talks about, and he’s a switch hitter to boot. Very tough out, even when he doesn’t make you pay.
He’s one guy that has at least been worth his paycheck.
"Straight ball I hit very much, but curveball, bats are afraid." - Pedro Cerrano
+1
Not safe to make a grade on this position until we know for sure that A) Clement has played well enough in ST to earn the job, or B) Clement starts the year in Indy and GFJ gets the 1B job.
Ask me again April 1.
"Straight ball I hit very much, but curveball, bats are afraid." - Pedro Cerrano
Besides the fact
they taste like crap, this is why I don’t drink Bud or Miller. The less money the beer companies have to relay to the baseball teams, the sooner Pujols and Fielder can get out of town.
Our division has 3 of the 6 best first basemen in the league (and the best two), so this is the position where we stack up the worst.
4 of the top 7 or 8 without question
Pujols, Lee, Fielder, and Berkman are the best 1B group in any division, hands down
"Straight ball I hit very much, but curveball, bats are afraid." - Pedro Cerrano
RANDALL SIMON?
The guy was a stud we haven’t seen sausage smashing production out of the 1B position since he left town…
Benny Benack III
pics
There were a bunch when McGuire was announced as coming back to be hitting coach and one of them was his hulk body next to an almost skinny Pujols. It made me think that maybe he did teach him a trick or two.
Also, Derrek Lee started off ice cold which makes his numbers last year even more outstanding. Maybe its the wrist injury takes a year to heal completely thing happening.
so...
that mean we can look forward to interesting things from Doumit? (Provided nothing else goes bung.)
by BlindSquirrel on Feb 8, 2010 7:11 PM EST up reply actions
NOOOOO!
You just jinxed him now. Cross your fingers on both hands, circle three times and throw salt over your shoulder immediately. His hamstring is counting on you.
"Straight ball I hit very much, but curveball, bats are afraid." - Pedro Cerrano
This is where the Pirates are at their greatest disadvantage.
The Central has probably the best crop of first basemen of any division in baseball.
Pujols is the best player on the planet. Fielder is a top five power hitter in baseball. Votto and Lee are both studs. Berkman is great, but it’s about time for him to start declining steeply.
If the Pirates can get 20 HR out of Clement or Jones or whoever is playing first base, they’ll have bridged the gap between themselves and the rest of the division considerably.
The rest of the National League is fairly uninspiring at first. Loney, Howard, Dunn, and Gonzalez are the only other above average first basemen in the Senior Circuit.
After the guys in our division plus those four I mentioned, there are LaRoche, Glaus, Sanchez, Huff, and Murphy.
If Clement lives up to half the hype and stays healthy, I’d expect Clement to be a better option than at least Loney, Huff, LaRoche, Sanchez, and Murphy.
After that, Glaus is a toss-up, as well as Dunn because of his defense.
by Adam Reynolds on Feb 9, 2010 4:36 AM EST up reply actions
Gonzalez and Howard
Are superstars, although I assume you went with “above average” as the description to include more than 2 guys.
If Gonzales played home games at Citizens on that Phillies team he’d have a shot at 61
RIP NATE. RIP TONY PLUSH.
"I'D BE A CHEF"
-TONY PLUSH
Garret Jones might see a boost at Citizens as well. He hit the longest HR there last year despite 150 pound weaklings like Howard and Utley playing half their games at the stadium.
by Adam Reynolds on Feb 9, 2010 4:10 PM EST up reply actions
Well
1. I wasn’t suggesting Howard couldn’t hit HR’s anywhere else. In fact, “on that Phillies team” was a reference to the lineup protection he would enjoy playing on a good team, rather than the one he currently hits in.
2. Hitting the longest HR in a small park doesn’t really prove too much regarding an increase in total at a different stadium.
RIP NATE. RIP TONY PLUSH.
"I'D BE A CHEF"
-TONY PLUSH
I still remember this BOMB of O-dorf to dead center at PetCO (or however you write it)
http://www.hittrackeronline.com/hrdetail.php?id=2009_581
RIP NATE. RIP TONY PLUSH.
"I'D BE A CHEF"
-TONY PLUSH
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