NL Central 2011: The Best and Second Best at Each Position
This slideshow will describe the best and the second best at each position in the NL Central. Inbox for fantasy baseball questions or opinions.
The NL Central has been dubbed one of the worst divisions in baseball—but in a way doesn't that make it the best? Last year one of the best races came out of the NL Central. It is certainly the most unpredictable division in baseball. I can tell you now the Colorado Rockies or San Francisco Giants are winning the West, the Philadelphia Phillies are winning the East, the Boston Red Sox are winning the AL East, the Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox will compete for the AL Central and the Texas Rangers are going to take the AL West crown.
Who knows what could happen in the NL? Nobody saw the Cincinnati Reds coming last year (except me). The Chicago Cubs have made two big offseason acquisitions, the Milwaukee Brewers have as well. The Reds have signed some meaty contracts and the real best pitcher in the division just went down for the year for the St Louis. Cardinals. The Houston Astros did not finish as poorly as everyone thought they did last year, though I doubt they will make a big push. The Pittsburgh Pirates are the Pirates.
Catcher
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1. Geovany Soto
In a weak catching division, you have to show Geo some love. He won the 2007 Rookie of the Year over Joey Votto, which I will not even begin to list the reasons why that should not have happened. With the loss of Derek Lee, Geovany will be placed higher in the batting order. Let's see if he can bounce back after a down year and give the Cubs their first World Series in 100 years.
2. Yadier Molina
The guy can't hit—we all know that. But Molina is one of the best catchers in the league. The way he was able to develop Jaime Garcia last year was amazing. He also has some of the best behind the plate skills in the league, and his little pickoff play with Albert Pujols is one of the sneakiest there is. He should not, however, be picking a fight with Brandon Phillips anytime soon—Phillips is no kind person in a heated situation.
Honorable mention
Ryan Hanigan—A .300 batter and a good defender
First Base
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1. Albert Pujols
Though he may not be able to hold this title for long—whether age takes him over or he leaves the division—Albert remains the best...for now. A career .331 hitter, Pujols is one of the best there ever was. His power mixed with average is outstanding, and his lack of strikeouts is simply stunning. The future Hall of Famer will be remembered forever.
2. Joey Votto
In his first game after being snubbed from the 2010 All Star Game, Votto got himself ejected in the first inning. What did he do next? He hit two home runs and one double, going 3-4 against the New York Mets the following night. The guy battles off pitches like it's his job and can hit opposite field against anybody. If you haven't seen him play, go check him out. He will soon be Albert's successor.
Honorable mention
Prince Fielder—The giant would contend for first in any division but this one
Second Base
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1. Brandon Phillips
This guy is the final player remaining on the Reds' roster since 2006. Dwyane Wade may have gotten LeBron James and Chris Bosh, but it's still his team—the same goes for Phillips. Phillips once went 30-30, and, after an injury plagued 2010, don't count it out again. The 29-year-old is a hustler and one of the best defensive players I have ever seen. If you haven't seen the video of him hitting a 450-foot grand slam off the slide in Miller Park, you probably ought to check it out.
2. Rickie Weeks
This guy has some of the most unbelievable raw power I have ever seen in a middle infielder. I watched him hit a 440-foot home run off the jumbotron in center field off Bronson Arroyo. A combination of speed and power fuels the young leadoff hitter to being one of the better second baseman in the league.
Honorable mention
None
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Third Base
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I'm not really sure where to go in this slide. There is really no amazing third basemen in the division.
1. Casey McGehee
No all-star, and shadowed by the first four batters in the lineup, McGehee quietly puts up some amazing numbers. He's got some great power and can hit around .280. He produces incredible RBI, considering the first four in the order are Weeks, Corey Hart, Ryan Braun and Fielder.
2. Pedro Alvarez
Alvarez is one of the best young third basemen in the league. With such little known about him, Alvarez has no pressure. He plays for Pittsburgh—a small market team—and can just go out every day and do what he has fun doing. He gets paid little money but can still hit the ball into the river at PNC.
Honorable Mention
Aramis Ramirez, Scott Rolen
Shortstop
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Another very difficult position to find in the division.
1. Starlin Castro
Castro's name was lost amongst the 2010 NL Rookie of the Year talks, shadowed by names like Buster Posey and Jason Heyward. Castro batted leadoff almost immediately after his first game in the bigs and finished the year with a .300 average.
2. Yuni Betancourt
He was the other guy in the Zack Greinke trade. Betancourt hit 16 homers last year and should be a nice addition to the back of the Brewer lineup.
Honorable mention
Ronny Cedeno, Ryan Theriot
Outfield
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1. Ryan Braun
The all-star is probably behind only Carl Crawford and Josh Hamilton as far as outfielders go in the MLB. Braun fits nicely into the Brewers' lineup, batting behind Fielder, Hart and Weeks. He'll always have a good chance at an RBI or run-scoring opportunity, and his power mixed with his average makes him one of the best. Remember when he was a third baseman?
2. Matt Holliday
Holliday is one of the more underrated outfielders in the game. Shadowed by Pujols, Holliday can put up 30+ homers and bat .320+. The all-star had a nice performance in the home run derby, and even more importantly he was able to stay in stride after it, something most players who participate aren't able to do.
3, Andrew McCutchen
Figured I'd add a third spot for the outfield position because there are so many, and because McCutchen deserves it. A powerful and fast player, McCutchen is one of the most explosive and exciting young players in the game. He carries the lowly Pirates on his back, all 55 of their wins have probably had something to do with him.
Honorable mention
Marlon Byrd, Jay Bruce, Hunter Pence,
Pitchers
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1. Zack Greinke
He shouldn't be rewarded too well, because Wainwright would probably win this position had he not exploded his elbow. But Greinke is still one of the best pitchers in the game and will be a nice ace on that staff to go along with Yovani Gallardo and Shaun Marcum.
2. Chris Carpenter
The guy has still got it. He's still one of the toughest pitchers to face in the game. He's one of the best sportsmen and he's extremely competitive. Hard to believe he's not even considered the ace of the staff. The question is, will he be a Hall of Famer? He's surely got enough years to be considered.
Honorable mention
Marcum, Gallardo, Adam Wainwright, Brett Myers
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