Top 10 1B and 3B for 2012
Hey everyone,
On today’s show, we began our 2012 position by position preview by unveiling our top-10 first basemen and third basemen:
FIRST BASE
1. Albert Pujols
2. Adrian Gonzalez
3. Joey Votto
4. Miguel Cabrera
5. Prince Fielder
6. Mark Teixeira
7. Ryan Howard
8. Paul Konerko
9. Lance Berkman
10. Eric Hosmer
Honorable Mentions: Mike Morse, Mark Trumbo
THIRD BASE
1. Jose Bautista
2. Evan Longoria
3. David Wright
4. Aramis Ramirez
5. Michael Young
6. Alex Rodriguez
7. Ryan Zimmerman
8. Kevin Youkilis
9. Brett Lawrie
10. Adrian Beltre
Honorable Mentions: Pablo Sandoval, Mark Reynolds
***Tomorrow, we’ll cover the middle infield, but first we want to hear your top-10 second basemen and shortstops. Feel free to comment here and we will put some of your lists on the show.
-Zach
mlbtstufantasy411
I think the top 10 2B/SS is a mess, but here’s what i think about 2B and SS:
SECOND BASE
1. Robinson Cano
2. Dustin Pedroia
3. Ian Kinsler
4. Dan Uggla
5. Ben Zobrist
6. Rickie Weeks
7. Brandon Phillips
8. Chase Utley
9. Neil Walker
10. Howie Kendrick
Honorable Mention: Jemile Weeks, Dustin Ackley
SHORTSTOP
1. Troy Tulowitzki
2. Hanley Ramirez
3. Jose Reyes
4. Asdrubal Cabrera
5. Starlin Castro
6. Elvis Andrus
7. Erick Aybar
8. Jimmy Rollins
9. J.J. Hardy
10. Alexei Ramirez
Honorable Mention: Yunel Escobar, Stephen Drew
hanley ramirez should definetely not be number 2 with the terrible season he had last year and derek jeter should definitely be in the top 10 if not he top 5. and johnny peralta should also definetely be in the top 5 too, he batted well over .300 and had good home runs for a shortstop
Jeronimo,
Keep in mind that our rankings aren’t based solely on 2011. If they were, Hanley wouldn’t even be in the top-15! We also heavily value track record, and that’s why we ranked him at 2. I expect a major bounceback. Using the same criteria, Peralta at top-5 is a reach. Top-10 yes, but not top-5.
Zach
Second Base
1.Robinson Cano
2.Dustin Pedroia
3.Rickie Weeks
4.Ian Kinsler
5.Chase Utley
6.Brandon Phillps
7.Ben Zobrist
8.Dan Uggla
9.Kelly Johnson
10.Ryan Roberts
Honorable Mentions: Micheal Young (isn’t a true 2nd Baseman), Howie Kendrick (see: Young), Micheal Cuddyer, Neil Walker, Martin Prado
Short Stop
1.Jose Reyes
2.Troy Tulowitzki
3.Hanley Ramirez
4.Sartin Castro
5.Asdrubal Cabrera
6.Jimmy Rollins
7.Elvis Andrus
8.Jhonny Peralta
9.J.J. Hardy
10.Derek Jeter
Honorable Mentions: Emilo Bonifacio, Erick Aybar, Alexei Ramirez, Cliff Pennington, Ian Desmond
Jon from Texas
2B
1. Robinson Cano
2. Dustin Pedroia
3. Michael Young
4. Brandon Phillips
5. Michael Cuddyer
6. Dan Uggla
7. Ben Zobrist
8. Chase Utley
9. Ian Kinsler
10. Howie Kendrick
Honorable Mentions: Martin Prado, Rickie Weeks, Casey Mcgehee, Kelly Johnson, Aaron Hill
SS
1.Troy Tulowitzki
2. Hanley Ramirez
3. Derek Jeter
4. Alexei Ramirez
5. Jose Reyes
6. Elvis Andrus
7. Jimmy Rollins
8. Starlin Castro
9. Erick Aybar
10. Asdrubal Cabrera
Honorable Mentions: Jhonny Peralta, Emilio Bonifacio, JJ Hardy
Dan from Los Angeles
Does Steven Drew crack the top 10. I have him for $1 in a keeper league so I hope so!
cqp,
Not quite. I can definitely think of 10 shortstops I’d rather have than Drew. That said, if you don’t have any better keeper options you can do a lot worse than Drew for a buck. I don’t think I’d trust him as my starting SS but he makes for a great MI.
Zach
Second Base
1. Robinson Cano
2. Dustin Pedroia
3. Ian Kinsler
4. Rickie Weeks
5. Brandon Phillips
6. Chase Utley
7.Dan Uggla
8. Ben Zobrist
9. Danny Espinosa
10. Kelly Johnson
Honorable Mention- Neil Walker, Martin Prado
Short Stops
1. Jose Reyes
2. Troy Tulowitzki
3. Hanley Ramirez
4. Asdrubal Cabrera
5. Starlin Castro
6. Jimmy Rollins
7.Jhonny Peralta
8. JJ hardy
9. Emilio Bonafacio
10.Derek Jeter
Honorable Mention – Elvis Andrus, Alexei Ramirez
Also Where would Casey McGehee go on 3rd baseman ?
Dalton,
Thanks for the list! As for McGehee, I don’t even see him as being that close. There are a few guys not even on your list who I’d rather have than Casey.
Zach
ian kinsler sucks! he should be nowhere near the top 5 and is debatable for a number 10 spot he was a leadoff hitter for the best team in the al and hit around.240, that’s just unnacceptable
Jeronimo,
First off, Kinsler batted .255, not .240. Big difference. And you mean to tell me you’re not interested in a second baseman who’s a yearly 30/30 120+ runs threat? I understand he’s injury prone (though he got through 2011 injury-free) but #3 is very reasonable for him and no way is he below top-5.
Zach
Was Juan Fransisco’s Home Run the Longest of the year
502 feet i think is the longest but not sure
Dalton,
Looks like it was the second longest to Fielder’s.
http://www.hittrackeronline.com/top_true_distance.php
Zach
I think Jemile Weeks needs a little love at 2B. I would place him 9th or 10th on the lists above, in front of Kelly Johnson. In a full season he’ll swipe 40 bases.
I would like to know where Freddy Freeman landed on your 1B rankings… Boy that kid can hit!
Here’s my MI list.
2B
1. Robinson Cano
2. Dustin Pedroia
3. Ian Kinsler
4. Chase Utley
5. Brandon Phillips
6. Rickie Weeks
7. Dan Uggla
8. Ben Zobrist
9. Neil Walker
10. Danny Espinosa
Honorable Mentions: Ryan Roberts, Martin Prado
SS
1. Troy Tulowitzki
2. José Reyes
3. Asdrúbal Cabrera
4. Hanley Ramírez
5. Starlin Castro
6. Jimmy Rollins
7. Elvis Andrus
8. Johnny Peralta
9. Derek Jeter
10. Alexei Ramírez
Honorable Mentions: JJ Hardy, Yunel Escobar
José M. Cobos from Caracas, Venezuela
Jose,
Thanks for your list. I’ll post our list shortly so be sure to check that out. As for Freeman, he definitely belongs in honorable mentions but isn’t quite top 10 material, though an argument can be made for him over Hosmer, Morse or Trumbo.
Zach
Here goes:
Second Base
1. Robinson Cano
2. Dustin Pedroia
3. Ian Kinsler
4. Rickie Weeks
5. Dan Uggla
6. Zobrilla
7. Brandon Phillips
8. Chase Utley
9. Danny Espinosa
10.Neil Walker
Shortstops
1. Tulo
2. Jose Reyes
3. A-Cab
4. Han-Ram
5.J-Roll
6. Peralta
7. Hardy
8. Andrus
9. Castro
10. Jeter
Second Baseman
1. Robinson Cano
2. Dustin Pedroia
3. Ian Kinsler
4. Dan Uggla
5. Chase Utley
6. Rickie Weeks
7. Ben Zobrist
8. Neil Walker
9. Brandon Phillips
10. Martin Prado
Honorable Mention:Howie Kendrick, Jemile Weeks
Shortstops
1. Troy Tulowitzki
2. Hanley Ramirez
3. Jose Reyes
4. Starlin Castro
5. Asdrubal Cabrera
6. Elvis Andrus
7. Jhonny Peralta
8. Jimmy Rollins
9. Derek Jeter
10. Yunel Escobar
Honorable Mention: Erick Aybar, Alcides Escobar
hey what about freddie freeman? young stud already with a good season under his belt?
Stephen,
Freeman definitely deserves an honorable mention. He’s no worse than #13 in my opinion.
Zach