MLB Playoffs: Joey Votto and the 2010 All-Postseason Team
With the 2010 MLB postseason fast approaching, the regular-season awards will be announced in the coming weeks.
One thing baseball lacks, unlike the NFL and NBA, is an All-MLB team. They simply hand out individual awards. Given the timing, I decided to make an all-playoff team that consists of nine players from teams still in contention who need to come up big for their team to advance in the playoffs.
These players have displayed not only excellent skills, but also that clutch gene, which so many great athletes possess. So let's start it off with an obvious name...
Catcher: Joe Mauer
1 of 9
The only choice for catcher really. Mauer's power numbers have dipped quite a bit, but he's still hitting .331 for the team that may end up with the best record in the AL. He has been huge down the stretch, performing well even without slugger Justin Morneau hitting behind him. Mauer will need to step up especially if Morneau isn't ready for the ALDS.
First Base: Joey Votto
2 of 9
The catalyst for an improbable season from the Reds, Votto is the easy choice for NL MVP posting career highs in HR (37) and RBI (111) while leading the league in on-base percentage (.425) and slugging percentage (.603).
Votto has also had his share of clutch moments this year with several big hits and walk-off home runs. Without this big bat, Cincinnati would be nowhere near postseason play.
Second Base: Robinson Cano
3 of 9
Cano finally looks like the player that the Yankees always said he would be, although he took his sweet time getting there.
Cano is a definite candidate for the AL MVP, despite dropping in production during the second half. Cano was on fire early, hitting .336 up until the All-Star break, He'll likely finish the season with 200+ hits and perhaps 30 HR if he can take out the boom-stick during the final series. Hitting fifth in the Yankees' lineup, he picked up the production that a struggling Mark Teixeira left on the field.
Shortstop: Juan Uribe
4 of 9
Had the Colorado Rockies snuck into postseason play, this would be without a doubt Troy Tulowitzki's spot.
However, due to down years from Derek Jeter and Jimmy Rollins, Uribe is easily the most productive SS. In a free agent year, he is sure to have made himself millions of dollars more than what he would have gotten. Uribe hit just .246 for the Giants, but belted a much needed 23 homers and drove in 84 while playing solid defense at short. Without his production, it is doubtful the Giants would be staring at a division title.
Third Base: Evan Longoria
5 of 9
This was a tight call between Longoria and A-Rod. In the end, I gave Evan the nod because of his high caliber of defensive play. He is the superstar who fuels the Rays' engine. He took a step back in power with 11 less HR than a year ago, but he is hitting 13 points higher than last year with less strikeouts and more walks. His glove has been a real asset at third and he has one of the best arms in baseball at third base.
Left Field: Carl Crawford
6 of 9
Out of all the candidates here, Crawford surely stands out. He put together on of his best big league seasons during his first free agent year, coincidence?
In the absence of a true leadoff hitter, Crawford served as the de facto leadoff man from the two hole in the majority of Joe Maddon's lineup cards. Crawford had a career high 88 RBI with 17 homers and a league leading 13 triples. His glove and speed in both the outfield and on the basepaths kept opponents' pitchers on their toes and allowed the man behind Crawford to see better pitches to hit.
Center Field: Josh Hamilton
7 of 9
Hamilton is an AL MVP frontrunner despite not playing the last month of the season. His bat has been a huge boost for the Rangers' offense this season, and he, Vlad Guerrerro, and Nelson Cruz have made for a very formidable middle of the order. He whacked 31 homers and 97 RBI, bear in mind this is without any September action, and hit for a league best .361. He may now be the best outfielder in the game. Although he played the majority of his games in left field, he still showed good range and a sure-handed glove in center.
Right Field: Jayson Werth
8 of 9
There was some consideration here for Nick Swisher and Nelson Cruz, but neither of those guys were asked to carry the offense the way Werth was while his battery mates were on the shelf.
Werth was the only big bat in Philly who was healthy for the majority of the season, at least that's how it seemed. He stepped up big time, clubbing a career high, league leading 45 doubles with 26 HR and 83 RBI. He surely would have had more RBI if even two of the big three Phillies' bats were to remain healthy. Werth, along with Crawford, is the big name offseason hitter and may be a target for the Giants, Mets, Angels, or Red Sox.
Pitcher: Roy Halladay
9 of 9
In his first season with an actual contending team, "Doc" Halladay did not disappoint. He leads the Majors in wins with 21, 250.2 innings pitched, and a 2.44 ERA. This was hands down the biggest offseason acquisition by any team and did he ever deliver. A lock to take home the Cy Young, Halladay will undoubtedly be the Phillies' Game 1 starter in the postseason. By the way, this will be Halladay's first appearance in the playoffs. It only took him 13 years to get there.
