Category: Rankings
3 Impact Middle Infielders in 2012
Two of the games most demanding positions are second base and shortstops, and for this reason, impact players up the middle of some of the games most sought-after commodities. Here are 3 middle infielders who are off to strong starts in 2012:
Photo form USA today
Elvis Andrus: The Rangers 23 year-old shortstop, Andrus has already made a name for himself over his first two years and is continuing his success in early 2012. So far Andrus has posted a .319 average along with 5 stolen bases. Andrus is a great table-setter for the Rangers offense, as he is frequently on base and supplies strong speed once on. Beyond his offensive contributions though, Andrus is one of the games best defensive shortstops and has not made an error yet this season. Andrus supplies his team with solid offense while supporting his pitcher with strong defensive range and consistency.
Dustin Pedroia: This former MVP has been a rare bright spot for the Red Sox this season. Pedroia has continued the success of earlier in his career, posting a .309 average with four home runs and an impressive ten doubles. Pedroia offers an especially strong bat considering he plays second base, a notoriously weak offensive position. Beyond Pedroia’s impressive performance with the bat, he is the clear clubhouse leader for Boston. Pedroia is one of the games best middle infielders at the plate, in the field, and in the clubhouse.
Derek Jeter: The long tenured Yankee shortstop has had an impressive resurgence in 2012. Jeter is hitting an impressive .388 and has already nearly matched his home run total from 2011. The 37-year-old shortstop is clearly on top of his game, as he posses’s an incredible 1003 OPS, one of the games top. Much like Pedroia, Jeter is also a leader in the clubhouse, as the veteran is the captain of the Yankees and a respected member of baseball. Jeter’s resurgence has been very impressive and has once again placed him among the games best infielders.
5 Elite Rotations
In the hunt for the playoffs, a elite rotation can be a very valuable weapon, so here are the five teams that have top-of-the-line rotations:
Washington Nationals: The Nationals, a team clearly on the rise, have one of the games best rotations. Former #1 overall pick Stephen Strasburg leads the rotation, and while he may be on an innings limit this season, he is still a clear ace even at 23 years of age. Beyond Strasburg, the Nationals have another extremely talented pitcher in Jordan Zimmerman who is quikcly becoming a strong number#2, as well as the newly acquired flamethrowers Gio Gonzalez and Edwin Jackson. These four offer a very strong front to the rotation, while Ching Ming Wang and John Lannan offer substatial rotation depth. All in all, the Nationals have a deep and talented rotation.
Photo From Business Insider
Tampa Bay Rays: The Rays have had very strong rotations in recent years, and this year they may have the strongest of all. The Rays rotation is lead by a pair of aces in the form of David Price and James Shield. The pair are both perenial Cy Young contenders and offer one of the best 1-2 punches in the majors. Behind them, the Rays have a plethora of young, talented pitchers including last years ROY Jeremy Hellickson and the leagues top pitching prospect Matt Moore. After this elite four pitchers, the Rays also posses endlesss depth including the likes of Wade Davis, Jeff Nieman, and Alex Cobb, all very credible rotation options
San Francisco Giants: The Giants have a rotation that is lead by the very formidable trio of Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, and Madison Bumgarner. Cain and Lincecum are considered indisputable aces and form the games best 1-2 at the top of the Giants rotation, while Bumgarner, at just 22, is already one of the games best left-handed pitchers, possesing a nasty fastball-slider combination. Behind this trio is one of last years great breakout players Ryan Volgelsong as well as Barry Zitto. While neither of these players have overpowering stuff, they are both smart, crafty pitchers who give the Giants significant innings. The Giants have a great top of the rotation while also having enviable depth.
Photo from the inquisitr
Anaheim Angels: The Angels have a very strong, deep rotation with last years Cy Young runner-up and is clearly an ace. Behind him, the Angels rotation consists of Dan Haren, Ervin Santana, and the newly acquired C.J. Wilson. While these three may not be true aces, they are all very close as they consistently throw strikes and attack hitters. This very strong front four will help keep the Angels in most came and in the playoff hunt down the stretch.
Philadelphia Phillies: Entering the 2011 season, the Phillies were the talk of the league with their four-ace staff, but even after losing Roy Oswalt, the Phillies still have a very strong rotation. With ace Roy Halladay, the Phillies have arguably the games best pitcher and a consistent strike thrower, while behind him they have two more elite pitchers in the form of lefthanders Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels. These three are one of the best trio’s in the game, while last year, youngster Vance Worley erupted onto the scene as a young, strike throwing right-hander who consistently kept the Phillies in the game. The Phillies rotation is full of elite pitchers who should give the team a chance to compete for a playoff spot and potentially a world series.
So there are my five top roations. What are yours? Who has the leagues best Rotation?
5 Elite Left Handed Pitchers
Last week, we talked about the valuable commodity that is left handed hitting. By the same token, elite left handed pitchers are just as rare, and therefore, just as valuable as elite left handed hitters. Here are my top 5:
Cliff Lee: The softest-thrower on this list, Lee has made a career of changing speeds and throwing strikes. Lee makes lineups beat him, as evident by his incredible 5.50 strikeout to walks ratio last year. Suprisingly for a softer throwing pitcher, Lee is a fly-ball pitcher, using great location to get hitters to fly out weekly. Lee has developed himself into one of the games greatest pitchers by throwing strikes and having strong command and control.
C.C. Sabathia: Lee’s former teammate has had similar success, but done so in a much different manner. Unlike Lee, Sabathia is a flame-throwing lefty who attacks hitters with his fastball early and often. While Sabathia has always had his fastball, over time he has developed a nasty slider and, recently, a change-up that some consider to be his best pitch. While Sabathia reached the big leagues because of his fastball, his ability to develop strong secondary pitches has made him one of the games best pitchers.
Photo form TVnewser
David Price: Price, the former #1 overall pick, possess an incredible fastball with exceptional late life. Price is in the top 5% in the league when it comes to using his fastball, throwing it nearly 60% of the time. Beyond his fastball, Price possess’s a good slider and a developing change. Even without a strong secondary arsenal, Price has dominated hitters over the last few years. What should scare hitters is that, as Price ages, Price will develop his secondary pitches and could become the games most feared pitcher.
Clayton Kershaw: Kershaw, last years National League Cy Young, is a flame-throwing lefty who reached the big leagues at the ripe age of 20 in 2008 and has sense developed into one the games top pitchers. Last year, Kershaw saw both his curveball and change up take great jumps in term of location, helping him to a 9.6 K/9 with just a 2.3 BB/9. These staggering numbers helped Kershaw to a 2.38 ERA and placed him in the discussion as the best pitcher in the league.
Cole Hamels: Hamels barely beats on fellow left John Lester because of his strike-throwing mentality and good circle-change. Hamels is notorious for working backwards, throwing his change up, clearly his best pitch, and breaking stuff early in the count while finishing hitters with his fastball. Hamels ability to consistently get ground balls as hitters roll-over his off speed offerings have made him one of the most frustrating at-bats in all of baseball.
So there are my five best lefties, Whats your opinion? Which lefty is the leagues best?
5 Elite Left-Handed Hitters
In the modern game, their is no commodity more valued than an elite left handed hitters. Because there are fewer lefty pitchers, teams have come to value the elite left handed hitter beyond any other player. Here are the five best left handed bats in the league right now:
Prince Fielder: This offseason, Fielder proved just how much teams value left handed bats with his monster $214 million dollar contract. Fielder offers special power from the left side of the plate, while also compiling a surprisingly high average for such a power focused hitter. Fielders stellar .930 career OPS shows just how valuable he is to a lineup, as he hits for very high power, while still reaching base at a high clip.
Robinson Cano: Unlike Fielder, Cano is not a hitter focused on power, instead using the whole field to hit for a very high
Photo from Hall of Fame Memorabilia
average and consistently contend for the batting title. Although his focus is not power, Cano still offers around 25 home runs a year while leading the league in doubles over the last 6 years. This combination makes Cano one of the leagues most dangerous middle of the order bats.
Josh Hamilton: Hamilton, a previous number one overall pick, is one of the games most talented hitters. A true five-tool player, Hamilton offers his club a consistent middle of the order bat combining both elite power and a very strong batting average. Hamilton, the 2010 MVP, is arguably the games best offensive player when healthy, but has been hampered by a series of injuries over the last few seasons. If Hamilton can remain healthy, he offers the Rangers one of the games best left handed bats.
Joey Votto: Much like Hamilton, Votto offers his club an extrodinary blend of power and average. Votto is a sure-fire .300+ hitter who also offers nearly 30 homers per season. As his national league leading 70 extra-base hits in 2011 showed, Votto’s ability to make consitent contact with his powerful stroke makes him a true cog in the middle of any order and a player any club would love to build around.
Adrian Gonzalez: The older player on this list, Gonzalez is a very powerful hitter who’s game has become more polished as his career has progressed. While Gonzalez has always had elite power, he has learned to use the whole field later in his career, making him not just a consistent home run threat, but also a high average, high on-base player. This ability to use the whole field, as well as great plate discipline, has turned Gonzalez into one of the games best hitters and a perennial MVP candidate.
So there are the best five lefties in the league. Who is the best? Who else deserves to be on this list?
Top 3 NL Offenses
While the cliché states that “pitching wins championships”, the recent success of teams such as the Texas Rangers proves that offense can be just as, if not more, useful in the hunt for a championship. That being said, here are my rankings for the NL’s three best lineups:
3. Atlanta Braves: For Atlanta, last years offense was strong for all of five months, but many of those strengths were hidden by the orders abysmal final month. For the Braves, their offensive strength lies not in a few specific slugger’s, but in the depth of their lineup, which is arguably the deepest in the national league. If Atlanta receives a bounce-back year from Jason Heyward and a healthy season from veteran Chipper Jones, the club would two middle of the order bats to pair with slugger Brian McCann. Beyond the heart of the order, lead off man Michael Bourne is a great table-setter for the club and the lineups length means that the there are no easy stretches for opposing pitchers.
2. Cincinnati Reds: Unlike the braves, the strength of the Reds order lies not in their depth, but in the top of their order.
Photo from Zimbio
With Drew Stubbs leading off, the Reds have a dangerous combination of power and speed, while the newly-extended Brandon Phillips offers a high OBP with decent power in the two-hole. Beyond this though, the Reds true lineup prowess lies in the 3-4 lefty combination of Joey Votto and Jay Bruce. Votto, arguably the best hitter in the national league, is the linchpin to this lineup, while Bruce’s extraordinary power provides Votto with good protection. The Reds currently have a distinctly dangerous lineup that has the potential to carry them into October.
1. Arizona Diamondbacks: Last years top NL offense should be even more formidable this year, as the addition of Jason Kubel gives their lineup added depth and power. The D-Backs lineup relies extensively on the long ball from their plethora of power hitters such as Chris Young, Arron Hill, Justin Upton, Jason Kubel, Miguel Montero and Paul Goldschmidt. One side effect of this is the large strikeout quantity of this offense, causing many of there streaky tendencies. Beyond their power, the Diamondbacks offensive strength lies in their bench, which consists of strong options such as outfielder Gerardo Parra, first baseman Lyle Overbay, and infielder Willie Bloomquist. The Diamonbacks added depth to an already elite offense this offseason, which should allow them to repeat as the top national league offense.
So there are my thoughts on the top National League run-producing squads. What are your top 3? Who will lead the National League in runs in 2012?
Leagues 5 Best Bullpens
In the heat of a pennant race, nothing can be more disheartening than blowing a late game lead. These five teams understand the importance of an elite bullpen and have built one from the ground up:
5. Washington Nationals: Over the last few years, the Nationals have worked hard to build a young, talented bullpen. Leading the way is closer Drew Storen, taken 11th overall in the same draft as Stephen Strasburg, and Tyler Clippard, acquired from the Yankees. These two give the Nationals a dominant combination for the last two innings who should be reliable for years to come. The Nationals also have young flamethrower Henry Rodriguez, who was able to use his fastball to work around his 6.2BB/9, and veteran addition Brad Lidge for the middle innings.
4. Cleveland Indians: Much like the Nationals, the Indians have developed a dominant bullpen from within. Anchoring this bullpen is homegrown closer Chris Perez, while a plethora of young flamethrowers such Tony Sipp, Vinnie Pestano, Joe Smith, and Rafael Perez. Last year this group helped the Indians to the fifth-best bullpen ERA in the league, and with more seasoning this group should continue to improve. While the Indians currently have a weak starting rotation, the depth and talent of their bullpen keeps them in games despite there signifigant innings load.
3. San Francisco Giants: Last year, the Gaints posted the second-best ERA in the league even with
Photo from Bleacher Report
closer Brian Wilson limited because of injuries. Even with Wislon though, Sergio Romo may be the Giants most dominant reliever, as he held right-handers to a league best .404 OPS. At the same time, the Giants used left-handers Jeremy Affeldt and Javier Lopez to dominant left-handed hitters late in the game, as the pair held them to a .154 average. These four elite arms give the Giants one of the games most dominant back ends to go with their elite rotation.
2. Atlanta Braves: Last year, Atlanta showcased the best, and most improved, bullpen in the AL. Anchored by ROY winner and closer Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta’s bullpen led the national league in relief ERA, average against, fielding independent pitching, and baserunners allowed per nine innings. Along with Kimbrel was young setup man Jonny Venters, Eric O’Flaherty, and the leagues best long-man in Christhian Martinez. The only concern for this group may be their incredible inning load last season, as four of the Braves relievers were in the top five for bullpen innings pitched. If the braves can lesson the workload on some of their elite relievers, then they should once again have the National Leagues best bullpen.
1. New York Yankees: The Yankees bullpen is still anchored by long time closer Mariano Rivera, who doesn’t appear to be in decline at all. For the first time in his career though, the ever consistent Rivera has a great supporting cast behind him. With David Robertson and Rafael Soriano the Yankees have the best seventh-eight inning combo in the game, while left-hander Boone Logan continues to get left-handers out in high leverage situations. The Yankees bullpen could even continue to improve as past set-up man Joba Chamberlain could return from Tommy John surgery midseason.
So there are my top five bullpens for the 2012 season. Your thoughts and opinions?
Baseball Talk 