Tagged: 1B

MLB Network’s “Top 10 Right Now” Rankings Entering 2015

Each year I compile MLB Network’s “Top 100 Players Right Now” which airs annually before the regular season begins.

Beginning last year, I decided to supplement those rankings by giving you a place to find all of the Top 10 Right Now positional rankings as well.

I’ll add to this post as the episodes air on MLB Network over the next few weeks.

On Thursday, January 15, 2015 the rankings for both Centerfielders and Shortstops were revealed. January 22nd had both Right Fielders and Left Fielders. Starting Pitchers and First Basemen will be revealed on January 29th. Lists for Relief Pitchers and Second Basemen came on February 5. Catchers and Third Baseman round things out on February 12.

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MLB Network’s “Top 10 Centerfielders Right Now”

  1. Andrew McCutchen – Pittsburgh Pirates
  2. Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
  3. Yasiel Puig – Los Angeles Dodgers
  4. CARLOS GOMEZ – MILWAUKE BREWERS
  5. Adam Jones – Baltimore Orioles
  6. Jacoby Ellsbury – New York Yankees
  7. Adam Eaton – Chicago White Sox
  8. A.J. Pollock – Arizona Diamondbacks
  9. Lorenzo Cain – Kansas City Royals
  10. Denard Span – Washington Nationals

The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode also provides two additional lists: One from Brian Kenny and one from an MLB Network analyst, who for the Centerfielders was Darryl Hamilton. Here are their individual Top 10’s.

Kenny: Trout, McCutchen, Puig, 4. GOMEZ, Jones, Ellsbury, Cain, Pollock, Eaton, Leonys Martin (TEX)

Hamilton: McCutchen, Trout, 3. GOMEZ, Puig, Jones, Ellsbury, Eaton, Cain, Marcell Ozuna (MIA), Span

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MLB Network’s “Top 10 Shortstops Right Now”

  1. Troy Tulowitzki – Colorado Rockies
  2. Jhonny Peralta – St. Louis Cardinals
  3. Ian Desmond – Washington Nationals
  4. Jose Reyes – Toronto Blue Jays
  5.  J.J. Hardy – Baltimore Orioles
  6. Jordy Mercer – Pittsburgh Pirates
  7. Erick Aybar – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
  8. Alexei Ramirez – Chicago White Sox
  9. Jed Lowrie – Houston Astros
  10. Andrelton Simmons – Atlanta Braves

The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode also provides two additional lists: One from Brian Kenny and one from an MLB Network analyst, who for the Shortstops is Bill Ripken. Here are their individual Top 10’s.

Kenny: Tulowitzki, Peralta, Reyes, Simmons, Desmond, Brandon Crawford (SF), Hardy, Jimmy Rollins (LAD), Starlin Castro (CHC), Aybar

Ripken: Tulowitzki, Desmond, Hardy, Simmons, Castro, Crawford, Peralta, Ramirez, Aybar, Rollins

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MLB Network’s “Top 10 Right Fielders Right Now”

  1. Giancarlo Stanton – Miami Marlins
  2. Jose Bautista – Toronto Blue Jays
  3. Bryce Harper – Washington Nationals
  4. Jason Heyward – St. Louis Cardinals
  5. Michael Cuddyer – New York Mets
  6. Carlos Gonzalez – Colorado Rockies
  7. Hunter Pence – San Francisco Giants
  8. Brandon Moss – Cleveland Indians
  9. Matt Kemp – San Diego Padres
  10. J.D. Martinez – Detroit Tigers

The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode also provides two additional lists: One from Brian Kenny and one from an MLB Network analyst, who for the Right Fielders is Cliff Floyd Here are their individual Top 10’s.

Kenny: Stanton, Bautista, Harper, Heyward, Kemp, 6. RYAN BRAUN (MIL), Shin-Soo Choo (TEX), Pence, George Springer (HOU), Gonzalez

Floyd: Stanton, Bautista, Kemp, Harper, Moss, Martinez, Pence, Kole Calhoun (LAA), Heyward, 10. BRAUN

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MLB Network’s “Top 10 Left Fielders Right Now”

  1. Hanley Ramirez – Boston Red Sox
  2. Jayson Werth – Washington Nationals
  3. Michael Brantley – Cleveland Indians
  4. Starling Marte – Pittsburgh Pirates
  5. Alex Gordon – Kansas City Royals
  6. Nelson Cruz – Seattle Mariners
  7. Matt Holliday – St. Louis Cardinals
  8. Corey Dickerson – Colorado Rockies
  9. Justin Upton – San Diego Padres
  10. Christian Yelich – Miami Marlins

The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode also provides two additional lists: One from Brian Kenny and one from an MLB Network analyst, who for the Left Fielders is Eric Byrnes Here are their individual Top 10’s.

Kenny: Gordon, Marte, Brantley, Werth, Upton, Ramirez, Holliday, Brett Gardner (NYY), Cruz, Melky Cabrera (CHW)

Byrnes: Brantley, Upton, Werth, Gordon, Holliday, Marte, Cruz, Dickerson, Ramirez, Yoenis Cespedes (DET)

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MLB Network’s “Top 10 Staring Pitchers Right Now”

  1. Clayton Kershaw – Los Angeles Dodgers
  2. Felix Hernandez – Seattle Mariners
  3. Chris Sale – Chicago White Sox
  4. Adam Wainwright – St. Louis Cardinals
  5. Max Scherzer – Washington Nationals
  6. Johnny Cueto – Cincinnati Reds
  7. Corey Kluber – Cleveland Indians
  8. David Price – Detroit Tigers
  9. Madison Bumgarner – San Francisco Giants
  10. Jordan Zimmermann – Washington Nationals

The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode also provides two additional lists: One from Brian Kenny and one from an MLB Network analyst, who for the Starting Pitchers is John Smoltz Here are their individual Top 10’s.

Kenny: Kershaw, Hernandez, Sale, Scherzer, Wainwright, Kluber, Cueto, Yu Darvish (TEX), Jon Lester (CHC), Anibal Sanchez (DET)

Smoltz: Kershaw, Sale, Bumgarner, Scherzer, Hernandez, Cueto, Lester, Wainwright, Price, Kluber

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MLB Network’s “Top 10 First Basemen Right Now”

  1. Miguel Cabrera – Detroit Tigers
  2. Paul Goldschmidt – Arizona Diamondbacks
  3. Jose Abreu – Chicago White Sox
  4. Joey Votto – Cincinnati Reds
  5. Freddie Freeman – Atlanta Braves
  6. Edwin Encarnacion – Toronto Blue Jays
  7. Anthony Rizzo – Chicago Cubs
  8. Mike Napoli – Boston Red Sox
  9. Adrian Gonzalez – Los Angeles Dodgers
  10. Carlos Santana – Cleveland Indians

The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode also provides two additional lists: One from Brian Kenny and one from an MLB Network analyst, who for the First Basemen is Carlos Peña. Here are their individual Top 10’s.

Kenny: Goldschmidt, Cabrerea, Abreu, Votto, Rizzo, Freeman, Gonzalez, Encarnacion, Santana, Prince Fielder (TEX)

Peña: Cabrera, Goldschmidt, Abreu, Encarnacion, Gonzalez, Albert Pujols (LAA), Justin Morneau (COL), Votto, Freeman, Rizzo

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MLB Network’s “Top 10 Relief Pitchers Right Now”

  1. Wade Davis – Kansas City Royals
  2. Greg Holland – Kansas City Royals
  3. Craig Kimbrel – Atlanta Braves
  4. Dellin Betances – New York Yankees
  5. Joaquin Benoit – San Diego Padres
  6. Aroldis Chapman – Cincinnati Reds
  7. Mark Melancon – Pittsburgh Pirates
  8. Koji Uehara – Boston Red Sox
  9. Zach Britton – Baltimore Orioles
  10. Tony Watson – Pittsburgh Pirates

The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode also provides two additional lists: One from Brian Kenny and one from an MLB Network analyst, who for the Relief Pitchers is Dan Plesac. Here are their individual Top 10’s.

Kenny: Kimbrel, Holland, Chapman, Betances, Davis, Uehara, Huston Street (LAA), Steve Cishek (MIA), Kenley Jansen (LAD), Andrew Miller (NYY)

Plesac: Kimbrel, Chapman, Betances, Davis, Holland, Jansen, David Robertson (CHW), Britton, Street, Uehara

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MLB Network’s “Top 10 Second Basemen Right Now”

  1. Robinson Cano – Seattle Mariners
  2. Dustin Pedroia – Boston Red Sox
  3. Ben Zobrist – Oakland Athletics
  4. Neil Walker – Pittsburgh Pirates
  5. Ian Kinsler – Detroit Tigers
  6. Jose Altuve – Houston Astros
  7. Howie Kendrick – Los Angeles Dodgers
  8. Chase Utley – Philadelphia Phillies
  9. Brian Dozier – Minnesota Twins
  10. SCOOTER GENNETT – MILWAUKEE BREWERS

The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode will also provide two additional lists: One from Brian Kenny and one from an MLB Network analyst, who for the Second Basemen is Harold Reynolds. Here are their individual Top 10’s.

Kenny: Cano, Altuve, Walker, Utley, Zobrist, Kinsler, Pedroia, Kendrick, Dozier, Jason Kipnis (CLE)

Reynolds: Cano, Pedroia, Altuve, Kinsler, Kendrick, Brandon Phillips (CIN), Dozier, Dee Gordon (MIA), Omar Infante (KC) , Kolten Wong (STL)

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MLB Network’s “Top 10 Third Basemen Right Now”

  1. Adrian Beltre – Texas Rangers
  2. Josh Donaldson – Toronto Blue Jays
  3. Josh Harrison – Pittsburgh Pirates
  4. Anthony Rendon – Washington Nationals
  5. David Wright – New York Mets
  6. Kyle Seager – Seattle Mariners
  7. Matt Carpenter – St. Louis Cardinals
  8. Evan Longoria – Tampa Bay Rays
  9. Juan Uribe – Los Angeles Dodgers
  10. Nolan Arenado – Colorado Rockies

The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode will also provide two additional lists: One from Brian Kenny and one from an MLB Network analyst, who for the Third Basemen is Mike Lowell. Here are their individual Top 10’s.

Kenny: Beltre, Donaldson, Wright, Longoria, Rendon, Carpenter, Seager, Todd Frazier (CIN), Arenado, Manny Machado (BAL)

Lowell: Beltre, Donaldson, Rendon, Wright, Longoria, Harrison, Arenado, Seager, Carpenter, Pablo Sandoval (BOS)

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MLB Network’s “Top 10 Catchers Right Now”

  1. Buster Posey – San Francisco Giants
  2. JONATHAN LUCROY – MILWAUKEE BREWERS
  3. Yadier Molina – St. Louis Cardinals
  4. Yan Gomes – Cleveland Indians
  5. Russell Martin – Toronto Blue Jays
  6. Devin Mesoraco – Cincinnati Reds
  7. Salvador Perez – Kansas City Royals
  8. Brian McCann – New York Yankees
  9. Derek Norris – San Diego Padres
  10. Wilson Ramos – Washington Nationals

The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode will also provide two additional lists: One from Brian Kenny and one from an MLB Network analyst, who for the Catchers is Dave Valle. Here are their individual Top 10’s.

Kenny: Posey, Molina, Lucroy, Martin, Perez, Mesoraco, Gomez, Carlos Ruiz (PHI), McCann, Norris

Valle: Molina, Posey, Perez, Lucroy, Martin, Gomez, Mesoraco, McCann, Ramos, Mike Zunino (SEA)

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So there you have it. All 10 positions worth ranking in MLB by the Shredder and the MLB Network personalities.

There were five Brewers among the 100 names listed by The Shredder in 2014. They were: Carlos Gomez (CF, 6th), Jean Segura (SS, 5th), Ryan Braun (RF, 2nd), Aramis Ramirez (3B, 7th), and Jonathan Lucroy (C, 6th).

Which Brewers will be ranked by The Shredder heading in 2015? Turns out fans in Milwaukee get three this year. Carlos Gomez (CF, 4th), Scooter Gennett (2B, 10th), and Jonathan Lucroy (C, 2nd).

Brewers Announcement Clarifies First Base Situation

ReynoldsOverbay

On the heels of yesterday’s revelation that Juan Francisco’s locker at Maryvale Baseball Park was empty, the Brewers announced this morning that Mark Reynolds and Lyle Overbay have been informed that they have made the 25-man roster.

Both men were signed to minor-league deals (with invitations to Major League camp) in the off-season and given the opportunity to compete for what was basically an open position in first base.

Francisco put in a lot of time at first for Milwaukee in 2013, a season which saw a historically poor combined statistical performance. He was learning first base on the fly last year which showed in his lackluster defense. He also struck out at an alarming rate, which caused the Brewers to suggest a change to his batting mechanics, something that was showing improvement over winter ball and so far this spring.

For his part, Francisco hit well this spring — .346/.500/.731 with 8 BB, 9 K in 26 AB, displaying his known power and increased patience albeit while still striking out. There wasn’t much else that he could have done make the roster. It was his track record over parts of five seasons in the big leagues that truly worked against him in the end.

Overbay, 37, hit very poorly this spring — .114/.279/.114 with 8 BB, 15 K in 35 AB — but his bat wasn’t why he was signed in the first place. Long regarded as an above average defender at first base, Overbay gives the Brewers a level of certainty that they at  no time had in 2013. Even more than Reynolds who is a natural third baseman but who has played his fair share of first over the last few seasons, Overbay is a true first baseman who can still pick it. His 6’2″ frame adds to his ability to stretch for balls and he’s maintained much of his defensive value.

For the record, Overbay did hit okay against just right-handed pitching in 2013. But he absolutely shouldn’t ever start against a left-handed pitcher. Manager Ron Roenicke should be monitoring the opposing probable starters when determining appropriate days to move Reynolds off of first either to spell Aramis Ramirez at third or just to give Reynolds himself a day off.

As for Francisco’s future? Nothing was announced officially by the team but he won’t be with the team. Whether the specific language is DFA so they have the chance to trade him or simple release waivers, there is the three day window in which other teams have a chance to claim the high-potential, low-results slugger.

Reynolds will be the primary starting first baseman, with Overbay providing relief. Reynolds doesn’t own much of a career platoon split at all. I’ll get more into that tomorrow though as it’ll be Reynolds’ turn in “Brewers By the (Jersey) Numbers” then.

For now, congratulations to Reynolds and Overbay. Let’s hope it’s the right combination for success on the field.

Let’s also hope that losing Francisco doesn’t come back to haunt Milwaukee.

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UPDATE: Click for the original JSOnline article for the following quotes from Ron Roenicke regarding the decision. The JSOnline blog post was written by Todd Rosiak.

“We’re going with two guys that their track record is what we’re looking at,” said manager Ron Roenicke. “We feel we have better defense that way. I’ve been frustrated a little bit with the way we’re playing our defense, as has Doug (Melvin).

“We really feel like we’re going to pitch well this season. And because of that, we feel like we need to play good defense. When they talk about your defense being strong up the middle, we think we should be.

“I know how important it is at first base, to make plays there and pick up your pitching staff. That’s kind of what we’ve done. Reynolds is the versatile guy that Francisco was with first and third, and they’re kind of the same guy as power numbers and strikeouts.”

“Spring training is to get in shape. Spring training is not to see who you think should be on the team. If you did that, there would be some weird stuff happening every year,” he said. “Any of these guys, the veterans, could walk in and hit .200. Does that mean you don’t keep them on the team?

“Spring training is not on numbers. It isn’t. That’s the misleading thing that people don’t understand. The people that I look up to in this game always say, ‘Do not be misled by spring training,’ and it’s the truth.

“There is that occasion when you have two guys coming in and you’re not familiar with them and then you may make a decision on spring training.”

“Juan, he has improved. We all saw it,” Roenicke said. “Is some of it because he was coming out of winter ball? I don’t want to downplay what Juan did here because Juan did everything he could to help himself make this team. But the skill set, we feel, of the other two really fits better with what we’re trying to accomplish.”