Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2010 20:23:50 GMT -5
I think it might be a good time to start keeping track of All-Star candidates.
I can list my take on the five best candidates per position per league, but if you guys feel somebody else is seriously deserving bring that person to my attention.
My NL All-Star Candidates
1B:
Albert Pujolz---STL
Ryan Howard---PHI
Chipper Jones---ATL
Brandon Allen-ARI
Todd Helton---COL
It'll be hard to unseat Pujolz who has an OPS over 1.100, but Ryan Howard has kept the Phillies alive with 17 home runs, Chipper Jones is having a stellar season at 38 with 1 .308 average and 13 home runs, Brandon Allen is having a phenomenal start to his career with a .344 average and a league-leading 16 doubles, while Todd Helton is on pace for a historical season in terms of walks, and is third among 1B in runs scored.
2B:
Brandon Phillips---CIN
Chone Figgins---SF
Placido Polanco---PHI
Skip Schumaker---STL
John McDonald---WASH
Brandon Phillips should win this pretty easily, but if want to thumb your nose at the Reds, Chone Figgins is tied with Phillips for the 2B lead in steals, Placido Polanco has a solid .292 average, Skip Schumaker has more runs, hits, and is only one home run behind, and since the hitting class is pretty weak, I thought I'd throw in John McDonald who is having a stellar defensive year.
3B:
Pablo Sandoval---SF
Mark Reynolds---CIN
Jorge Cantu---FLO
Chase Headley---SD
Ryan Zimmerman---ATL
Pablo Sandoval has been amazing, hitting near .400. His competition is Mark Reynolds and his 12 home runs, which has added a different dimension to Cincinnati's lineup, Jorge Cantu who has the Marlins in the hunt with 12 home runs and a near .300 average, Chase Headley who has 12 home runs and an average on the plus side of .300, with Ryan Zimmerman's tremendous defense, .280 average and .887 OPS rounding out the candidates.
SS:
Troy Tulowitzki---COL
Jose Reyes---NYM
Jimmy Rollins---PHI
Hanley Ramirez---CHC
Ian Desmond---WASH
Troy Tulowitzki may be the best offensive shortstop and defensive shortstop in baseball. Jose Reyes leads baseball in runs, and leads the NL in stolen bases. Jimmy Rollins has 16 steals and 10 home runs, to go with the second highest OPS among NL shortstops. Hanley Ramriez has an .819 OPS with 15 steals. Ian Desmond has smashed the second most home runs and triples among NL shortstops, plus he plays much better defense than Felipe Lopez.
C:
Yadier Molina---STL
Russell Martin---LAD
Jeff Clement---FLO
Chris Ianetta---COL
Tony Sanchez---HOU
John Baker---CIN
Yadier Molina has been the best offensive catcher in the NL with a .360 average. He also has a sterling defensive reputation. Russel Martin is also hitting over .300 and has five home runs. Jeff Clement is third in average and OPS among catchers, and second in home runs and RBI's. Chris Ianetta has been solid on defense and is fourth in OPS. Tony Sanchez is fifth in OPS and has been decent defensively.
Baker would qualify for the best average for catchers with more at bats, as his .323 average and .821 OPS would each be second among catchers.
LF:
Ryan Braun---LAD
Kyle Blanks---SD
Collin DeLome---HOU
Brandon Moss-PHI
Seth Smith---COL
Braun leads all left fielders in average, on base percentage, hits, and VORP, and is second in OPS and steals. Kyle Blanks leads left fielders in home runs, RBI's, and OPS. Collin DeLome is second in home runs with 11. Brandon Moss has an .880 OPS and 13 doubles. Seth Smith is second in hits and runs, plus plays an outstanding left field.
CF:
Dexter Fowler---COL
Dustin Ackley---ATL
Matt Kemp---LAD
Carlos Beltran---STL
Chris Dickerson---CIN
Dexter Fowler has an .OPS over 1.000 in limited at bats due to injury. Dustin Ackley has exploded in June and leads all center fielders in average, OBP, SLUG, OPS, VORP, hits, triples, and RBI's. Matt Kemp is hitting .297 with 11 home runs and 19 steals. Carlos Beltran is second in OPS and VORP thanks to a .315 average and nine home runs. Chris Dickerson is third in average, first in steals, and first in runs.
RF:
Jay Bruce---CIN
Andre Ethier---LAD
Domonic Brown---PHI
Jeff Francoeur---NYM
Carlos Gonzalez---COL
Bruce leads right fielders in OPS, homers and RBI's by a wide margin. Andre Ethier is second in OPS. Domonic Brown has impressed with seven home runs and eight steals. Jeff Franceour is third among right fielders and VORP. Carlos Gonzalez has played all outfield positions and has an .840 OPS along with stellar defense.
SP:
Ricky Nolasco---FLO
Roy Halladay---PHI
Clayton Kershaw---LAD
Tim Lincecum---SF
Micah Owings---CIN
Johnny Cueto---CIN
Aaron Harang---CIN
Adam Wainwright---STL
Ricky Nolasco has a 7-1 record, with a 2.24 ERA that's good for second in the NL, and a 0.82 WHIP that's easily the best in the NL. Roy Halladay is a solid 7-3 with a 2.66 ERA, and 81 strikeouts---third most in the NL. Clayton Kershaw is 8-3 with a 2.82 ERA. He's second in strikeouts, and first in strikeouts per nine innings.
Tim Lincecum is only 4-4, but he has the fourth best ERA, the most strikeouts, the second most K/9 ratio, the third best WHIP, and the best FIP. Micah Owings has the best record in the NL at 8-1, with a 2.72 ERA.
Johnny Cueto leads the National League with a 2.15 ERA, and Aaron Harang is 7-1 with a 0.98 WHIP, the second best mark in the NL. Adam Wainwright is having another solid season---7-1, with a 2.35 ERA that's third in the NL.
I can list my take on the five best candidates per position per league, but if you guys feel somebody else is seriously deserving bring that person to my attention.
My NL All-Star Candidates
1B:
Albert Pujolz---STL
Ryan Howard---PHI
Chipper Jones---ATL
Brandon Allen-ARI
Todd Helton---COL
It'll be hard to unseat Pujolz who has an OPS over 1.100, but Ryan Howard has kept the Phillies alive with 17 home runs, Chipper Jones is having a stellar season at 38 with 1 .308 average and 13 home runs, Brandon Allen is having a phenomenal start to his career with a .344 average and a league-leading 16 doubles, while Todd Helton is on pace for a historical season in terms of walks, and is third among 1B in runs scored.
2B:
Brandon Phillips---CIN
Chone Figgins---SF
Placido Polanco---PHI
Skip Schumaker---STL
John McDonald---WASH
Brandon Phillips should win this pretty easily, but if want to thumb your nose at the Reds, Chone Figgins is tied with Phillips for the 2B lead in steals, Placido Polanco has a solid .292 average, Skip Schumaker has more runs, hits, and is only one home run behind, and since the hitting class is pretty weak, I thought I'd throw in John McDonald who is having a stellar defensive year.
3B:
Pablo Sandoval---SF
Mark Reynolds---CIN
Jorge Cantu---FLO
Chase Headley---SD
Ryan Zimmerman---ATL
Pablo Sandoval has been amazing, hitting near .400. His competition is Mark Reynolds and his 12 home runs, which has added a different dimension to Cincinnati's lineup, Jorge Cantu who has the Marlins in the hunt with 12 home runs and a near .300 average, Chase Headley who has 12 home runs and an average on the plus side of .300, with Ryan Zimmerman's tremendous defense, .280 average and .887 OPS rounding out the candidates.
SS:
Troy Tulowitzki---COL
Jose Reyes---NYM
Jimmy Rollins---PHI
Hanley Ramirez---CHC
Ian Desmond---WASH
Troy Tulowitzki may be the best offensive shortstop and defensive shortstop in baseball. Jose Reyes leads baseball in runs, and leads the NL in stolen bases. Jimmy Rollins has 16 steals and 10 home runs, to go with the second highest OPS among NL shortstops. Hanley Ramriez has an .819 OPS with 15 steals. Ian Desmond has smashed the second most home runs and triples among NL shortstops, plus he plays much better defense than Felipe Lopez.
C:
Yadier Molina---STL
Russell Martin---LAD
Jeff Clement---FLO
Chris Ianetta---COL
Tony Sanchez---HOU
John Baker---CIN
Yadier Molina has been the best offensive catcher in the NL with a .360 average. He also has a sterling defensive reputation. Russel Martin is also hitting over .300 and has five home runs. Jeff Clement is third in average and OPS among catchers, and second in home runs and RBI's. Chris Ianetta has been solid on defense and is fourth in OPS. Tony Sanchez is fifth in OPS and has been decent defensively.
Baker would qualify for the best average for catchers with more at bats, as his .323 average and .821 OPS would each be second among catchers.
LF:
Ryan Braun---LAD
Kyle Blanks---SD
Collin DeLome---HOU
Brandon Moss-PHI
Seth Smith---COL
Braun leads all left fielders in average, on base percentage, hits, and VORP, and is second in OPS and steals. Kyle Blanks leads left fielders in home runs, RBI's, and OPS. Collin DeLome is second in home runs with 11. Brandon Moss has an .880 OPS and 13 doubles. Seth Smith is second in hits and runs, plus plays an outstanding left field.
CF:
Dexter Fowler---COL
Dustin Ackley---ATL
Matt Kemp---LAD
Carlos Beltran---STL
Chris Dickerson---CIN
Dexter Fowler has an .OPS over 1.000 in limited at bats due to injury. Dustin Ackley has exploded in June and leads all center fielders in average, OBP, SLUG, OPS, VORP, hits, triples, and RBI's. Matt Kemp is hitting .297 with 11 home runs and 19 steals. Carlos Beltran is second in OPS and VORP thanks to a .315 average and nine home runs. Chris Dickerson is third in average, first in steals, and first in runs.
RF:
Jay Bruce---CIN
Andre Ethier---LAD
Domonic Brown---PHI
Jeff Francoeur---NYM
Carlos Gonzalez---COL
Bruce leads right fielders in OPS, homers and RBI's by a wide margin. Andre Ethier is second in OPS. Domonic Brown has impressed with seven home runs and eight steals. Jeff Franceour is third among right fielders and VORP. Carlos Gonzalez has played all outfield positions and has an .840 OPS along with stellar defense.
SP:
Ricky Nolasco---FLO
Roy Halladay---PHI
Clayton Kershaw---LAD
Tim Lincecum---SF
Micah Owings---CIN
Johnny Cueto---CIN
Aaron Harang---CIN
Adam Wainwright---STL
Ricky Nolasco has a 7-1 record, with a 2.24 ERA that's good for second in the NL, and a 0.82 WHIP that's easily the best in the NL. Roy Halladay is a solid 7-3 with a 2.66 ERA, and 81 strikeouts---third most in the NL. Clayton Kershaw is 8-3 with a 2.82 ERA. He's second in strikeouts, and first in strikeouts per nine innings.
Tim Lincecum is only 4-4, but he has the fourth best ERA, the most strikeouts, the second most K/9 ratio, the third best WHIP, and the best FIP. Micah Owings has the best record in the NL at 8-1, with a 2.72 ERA.
Johnny Cueto leads the National League with a 2.15 ERA, and Aaron Harang is 7-1 with a 0.98 WHIP, the second best mark in the NL. Adam Wainwright is having another solid season---7-1, with a 2.35 ERA that's third in the NL.