MLB All-April Team: Ranking Both Leagues' Best Player at Each Position
With one month in the books, I think it's fair to say that there were some predictable, and some unpredictable, events from the month of April around the baseball world. While the Philadelphia Phillies' rotation has them sitting atop the National League East, who would have imagined that the Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals sit one-two atop the American League Central, while the Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox are both 10 games out?
Those teams feature some of the league's best players, and in the same surprising fashion, some of the league's most surprising players to date. Whether it was a likely source propelling the Tribe to the top of the standings, or a clutch hitter keeping the Phils' on top, April saw some surprising contributions.
So without further adieu, let's take a look at the best player at each position in both the National and American Leagues. Will they still be there in May?
National League Catcher: Brian McCann
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The Atlanta Braves aren't exactly off to the start that they'd like to be as a team, but at the very least, they're getting a hot start out of their All-Star catcher. Though he's had some stiff competition for the honor of April's best behind the plate in the likes of Buster Posey and Nick Hundley, McCann was the best all-around hitter behind the plate throughout the first month of the season, and as usual, was a rock behind the plate for the Braves' staff.
He played in the most games behind the plate last month, catching 26 games to start the season. That shouldn't come as a surprise, since he's much more than the team's catcher, but also one of the top offensive threats. He posted a slash line of .301 / .363 / .376 (.730 OPS) with two home runs. As a major cog in the lineup, McCann scored six runs and drove in 14 more while posting strong strikeout and walk rates.
With 29 hits through the first month of the season, it's clear that he's picked up right where he left off last season and is on pace to become the National League's starting catcher come the All-Star game.
National League First Baseman: Joey Votto
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Speaking of guys picking up right where they left off, last season's NL MVP is off to a scorching start in 2011. Even without Adrian Gonzalez amongst their ranks, the NL's crop of first baseman are off to a collective hot start, so for one man to be singled out from the likes of Prince Fielder, Ryan Howard and Ike Davis, you know he's had an incredible April, and incredible hardly describes the month that Joey Votto had.
He posted an astronomical slash line of .372 / .504 / .628 (1.094 OPS), with five home runs. In the month of April, Votto drove in 16 runs and scored 24 more. Already having collected 2.3 WAR to this point in the season, it's going to be tough for someone to steal his MVP title. His walk rate of 20.7 percent is by far the best amongst National League first baseman, and he's even stolen four bases.
National League Second Baseman: Brandon Phillips
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The duo of Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips are a huge reason the Cincinnati Reds are sitting two games out of first place at the end of April, which is of course, not exactly where the Reds would like to be. However, with a lack of pitching and injuries piling on top of each other, leave it up to Votto and Phillips to keep the Reds afloat while key components of the team heal.
With Chase Utley spending April on the disabled list and Dan Uggla off to the slowest start of his career, Phillips didn't have much competition this month. He posted a slash line of .355 / .413 / .527 (.954 OPS), with three home runs. He's scored 21 runs for one of the league's most potent offenses and has driven in 13 more.
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National League Shortstop: Troy Tulowitzki
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Though he's cooled off in recent weeks, Troy Tulowitzki got off to arguably the hottest start in baseball, pushing the Colorado Rockies to one of the best records in all of baseball and giving them a comfortable lead in the National League West. That said, as was the case at the second base position in the NL, there really wasn't another shortstop that posed much of a challenge.
Tulowitzki posted a slash line of .298 / .385 / .617 (.988 OPS), with seven home runs. He scored 16 runs and drove in 17 more, becoming the main threat in an intense Rockies' lineup. Tulowitzki also displayed great discipline at the plate over his hot streak, posting one of the lowest strikeout rates among National League shortstops over the first month.
National League Third Baseman: Placido Polanco
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Surprised? The Philadelphia Phillies and Placido Polanco aren't.
Over the last few years, he's gained a reputation as one of the best hitters in baseball, rarely striking out and driving in clutch runs with means other than power. He's an old-school hitter who sprays the ball to all fields and makes good contact, and so far this season, it's paying off. He's been the best hitter in the Phils' order despite suffering a hyper-extended elbow at the end of spring training.
Through the first month of the season, it was Polanco that anchored the Phillies' lineup. He posted a line of .398 / .447 / .524 (.938 OPS), with two home runs. He's been the main cog in the order, driving in 19 runs in the month of April and scoring 18 more. At the top of the order, he struck out just five times in the month of April, good for a strikeout rate of just 4.9 percent.
If he continues his hot start into the month of May, there may not be any competition as the league's top third baseman. As David Wright continues to struggle, David Freese and Pablo Sandoval, Polanco's main competition, will join Scott Rolen and Ryan Zimmerman on the disabled list.
National League Left Fielder: Ryan Braun
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Nine out of 10 times, I think you give the guy who hit above .400 for an entire month the honor of the best at his position at that time. However, when you crunch the numbers that Matt Holliday and Ryan Braun put up, I find it extremely hard to leave the latter off of the list.
Though he didn't hit .400, Braun did post a slash line of .367 / .457 / .724 (1.153 OPS) with 10 home runs. His contributions to the Milwaukee Brewers lineup should exemplify what constitutes a player of the month. Braun has posted strong strikeout and walk rates while being the best hitter in a lineup composed of several very good players. Drove in 23 runs and scored 24 more, swiping three bases and collecting 36 total hits over the month of April.
National League Center Fielder: Matt Kemp
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After last season, Matt Kemp has most Los Angeles Dodgers fans terrified. Once hailed as one of the greatest center fielders in baseball, Kemp flopped throughout the 2010 season, and many had given up for him. Through the first month of the 2011 season, however, it appears as though Kemp is back and here to stay.
In 28 April games, Kemp exemplified what a true "five-tool" outfielder looks like. He posted a slash line of .368 / .446 / .613 (1.057 OPS), while blasting six home runs and playing average defense in center field for the Dodgers. Included in his 39 total hits were a couple of walk-off hits and eight doubles. Kemp scored 20 runs in April, driving in 19 more and even swiping eight bags.
National League Right Fielder: Lance Berkman
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Admittedly, I wasn't a huge fan of the St. Louis Cardinals signing Lance Berkman in the offseason. Like many, I thought he was washed up as an outfielder and wouldn't be able to hit unless he was able to stay healthy playing first base in the National League, or more preferably, as a designated hitter in the American League.
Needless to say, it looks like Berkman has proved the doubters and I wrong. Not only has he kept himself healthy, but who would have thought it would be Berkman that carried the Cards' offense while Albert Pujols struggled early in the season?
The month of April was kind to Berkman, who posted a slash line of .393 / .455 / .753 (1.209 OPS). While Pujols adjusted to playing in a contract year and Matt Holliday needed to undergo an emergency appendectomy, Berkman thrived. He blasted eight home runs, driving in 22 runs. His high on-base percentage allowed him to come around the bases 23 more times.
In short, if Berkman is able to maintain his success, and all three of he, Pujols and Holliday are able to get on the same page, the Cardinals could be a big threat in the National League Central.
National League Starting Pitcher: Roy Halladay
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Looking at the numbers that Josh Johnson put up for the Florida Marlins throughout the month of April, even as a Featured Columnist for the Philadelphia Phillies, I thought it was going to be hard for someone to topple him as April's best. However, a pitcher's success lies much deeper than wins, losses and ERA, and Roy Halladay is probably the best pitcher in the game right now.
To probably no one's surprise, Halladay threw the most innings in the month of April, posting a record of 4-1 with an ERA of just 2.14. Some of his advanced numbers are simply incredible, though. He posted a FIP of just 1.57. He's already thrown two complete games, struck out 47 and walked just seven. Halladay has allowed just one home run and 11 earned runs, giving up just 39 hits total.
Some people say that Halladay is getting older, but from someone who watches every start he makes, it looks like he just keeps getting better.
National League Closer: Joel Hanrahan
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When I took a look at some top trade targets for the Philadelphia Phillies last week, Joel Hanrahan was a guy that immediately came to mind. If the Pittsburgh Pirates were anywhere close to contention, they wouldn't even consider trading their breakout closer. However, they're not. If they deal him now, they hold all of the cards. Hanrahan is a controllable, inexpensive talent, and the Bucs' should be able to receive a nice haul.
That said, right now, Hanrahan is the closer for Clint Hurdle and his Pirates and doing a great job. Despite an 0-1 record, he's posted an ERA of just 1.80. Through the month of April, Hanrahan has converted nine saves, and his 0.5 WAR is almost half of his total WAR from 2010 through just a month of the 2011 regular season.
American League Catcher: Russell Martin
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I think that when the season began, people would have expected Joe Mauer to occupy this spot, but as it turns out, the Minnesota Twins' catcher is currently a resident of the disabled list, opening a spot for a new American League catcher to claim the spotlight, and claim the spotlight he has.
Of course, that catcher is Russell Martin of the New York Yankees, who has torn the cover off of the ball and handled a questionable staff very well since being ousted by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Martin has turned a position in the Yanks' lineup with some question marks before the season to a productive spot in the order, posting a slash line of .293 / .376 / .587 with six home runs. Appearing in 23 games behind the plate, Martin drove in 19 runs for the Yankees, positioning himself on the base paths to score 13 more.
With Mauer no closer to returning in May than he was in April, the spotlight could be Martin's for quite some time.
American League First Baseman: Miguel Cabrera
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Miguel Cabrera brought a lot of baggage to the Detroit Tigers' spring facilities this year, and many questioned whether or not he could continue to be the phenomenal first baseman that propelled the Tigers in the past couple of seasons. Luckily for the squad from Detroit, Cabrera brought his bat with him to the regular season, picking up right where he left off in 2010.
Drama or no drama, this guy can flat out hit. Playing in 27 games in the month of April, he posted a slash line of .333 / .454 / .635 (1.086 OPS), and his seven home runs were most among American League first baseman. Though he's never been much of a talent with the glove, he more than makes up for that with the bat. He's already driven in 19 runs and scored 24 more.
Cabrera is on pace to, once again, be a major challenger for the American League MVP Award.
American League Second Baseman: Robinson Cano
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As is usually the case with lists like these, the New York Yankees occupy several spots. We've already taken a look at surprising free agent signing Russell Martin, and now, the not-so-surprisingly good Robinson Cano.
That said, this was no easy selection. Ben Zobrist has propelled the Tampa Bay Rays thus far this season, and Howie Kendrick has been a pleasant surprise for the Los Angeles Angels. But Cano has the superior skill set, and as a by-product, has been the most productive second baseman in the American League thus far.
After contending with Josh Hamilton for the MVP award last season, Cano has picked up right where he left off. Throughout the month of April, he posted a slash line of .320 / .340 / .639 (.970 OPS) with eight home runs (more than Miguel Cabrera, if you're counting) and 21 RBI. His walk rate is surprisingly low (just 2.9 percent), but hasn't hampered he or the Yanks' to date. He's also swiped two bases and scored 18 runs.
Cano is my early pick for American League MVP.
American League Shortstop: Asdrubal Cabrera
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Without sounding too harsh, the American League shortstops have pretty much stunk to date (Okay, so that was pretty harsh.). With no standout performer, I got a little creative with this pick. As the only AL shortstop hitting over .300 in the month of April, Maicer Izturis may have been an easy pick for some, but not this guy.
In order for teams to surprise people, they need to receive surprise performances out of their players. The Cleveland Indians shocked the baseball world in the month of April and in turn, Asdrubal Cabrera shocked the Indians. He may be the second Cabrera on this list, but that shouldn't take anything away from him. In the long run, he's contributed more to his team from the shortstop position than any other regular in the American League.
His slash line isn't stunning—.262 / .33 / .458 (.790 OPS)—but it is effective. He's had some of the most "clutch" hits in baseball, including his five home runs, which is most amongst AL shortstops. He's scored as many runs as he's driven in, which is 17 apiece.
He may not be winning any awards any time soon, but if the Tribe are going to continue their winning ways, they'll need more clutch hits from the lesser-paid Cabrera in the AL Central.
American League Third Baseman: Adrian Beltre
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This was another tough choice, as there was really no third baseman absolutely tearing the cover off of the ball at the end of April. With that in mind, I took a look at the three first basemen tied at 1.1 WAR—Alex Rodriguez, Adrian Beltre and the surprising Jack Hannahan—and narrowed those three down to one. In the end, it's hard not to go with Beltre, who is doing his best to erase those doubters that believe he only performs well in contract years.
While he isn't hitting the ball like he did with the Boston Red Sox at this point, he is making good contact with it. At the conclusion of April, Beltre had posted a slash line of just .269 / .306 / .529 (.787 OPS) with seven home runs. I had to dig a little deeper to give him this honor. Despite early questions about his health, Beltre appeared in the most games at third base to start the season, and as a result, logged the most plate appearances. He played well above average defensively and led AL third baseman in RBI, runs scored and K percentage (just 9.6).
Whether or not he can continue this success over the course of the entire season is yet to be determined, but if I had my guess, I'd say that playing in that ballpark in Arlington over the summer months can't hurt.
American League Left Fielder: Alex Gordon
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As was the case with the American League shortstops, this crop of AL left fielders weren't exactly doing great things. Their collective OPS is low, and for a group of corner outfielders, the fact that Nelson Cruz was the only left fielder with more than five home runs was kind of surprising. That said, it wasn't very hard to give the honor of league's best to Alex Gordon, who has exemplified every reason a team should not give up on a top prospect by finally breaking out for the Kansas City Royals.
One of the most clutch hitters in baseball over the month of April, Gordon was scorching. He posted a slash line of .339 / .395 / .541 (.940 OPS) with a pair of home runs. His high on base percentage allowed him to score 20 runs for the month, and at the dish, he drove in 19. He'd like to improve his strikeout and walk rates over the rest of the regular season, and some worry that he's been a bit lucky (.407 BABIP), but even with that said, there's no reason to believe that Gordon can't be a quality outfielder for the Royals and a very nice complementary piece when some of their top prospects arrive.
American League Center Fielder: Curtis Granderson
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If you had asked people around the sport of baseball, all things considered, Curtis Granderson had a pretty successful season in his first year with the New York Yankees in 2010. However, if you asked Granderson the same question, he'd have told you it could have been better. Even after blasting 24 home runs from the center field position, Granderson, like most players, had areas he could improve on, and if April was any indication of things to come, improve he has.
Through the first month of the season, Granderson is just under a third of the way to matching his home run total from all of 2010—and that's just April, where he smashed seven dingers. Combined with a slash line of .271 / .323 / .612 (.953 OPS), the Yanks' are finally getting the outfielder they thought they had acquired from the Detroit Tigers prior to the 2010 season.
He's been an above average defensive center fielder to date, and he's even swiped a pair of bags. Looks like the Yanks' center fielder is aging like a fine wine—only getting better.
American League Right Fielder: Jose Bautista
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Speaking of doubters, when Jose Bautista hit 54 home runs last season, a lot of people thought it was a fluke, and why not? His season high prior to that was just 16. The Toronto Blue Jays had no doubt in their right fielder, however, and they decided to sign him to a five year, $65 million contract to become the face of the Jays, and so far, he hasn't disappointed, tearing the cover off of the ball in the month of April.
Will he hit 50 home runs again? Who knows, but it doesn't really matter. One thing is certain—Bautista has developed into one of the most feared hitters in all of baseball, and he's off to a scorching start to the 2011 season. When April concluded, his slash line read .336 / .532 / .780 (1.292 OPS), and his nine home runs were third to just Ryan Braun and Alfonso Soriano, who each had ten.
He's been the total package, playing above average defense in right field. Bautista's eye at the plate just keeps getting better, and he's walking at an incredible clip of 25.2 percent. With 25 runs scored in the month of April and 15 driven in, Bautista is going to be a force to reckon with throughout the 2011 season.
American League Designated Hitter: Michael Young
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I'm not sure there's been a more controversial man in baseball over the last couple of months than Texas Rangers' everything-man Michael Young. After switching positions for the team not once, but twice, they asked him to move again—this time to DH—and he was not happy about it. After the team shopped him around for months to no avail, he opened the season crushing the ball, and as the Rangers sit tied atop the American League West, they won't be trading him any time soon. That said, any person who thinks they won't make him available for the perfect package is out of their mind.
But that's beside the point. Right now, Young is on fire. He's posted a slash line of .342 / .353 / .495 (.856 OPS), with a home run. He's taken his super utility role by storm, though, logging most of his at-bats from the DH slot. Through the first month of the season, he's collected 38 hits, driven in 19 runs and scored 15.
If I had my guess, I'd say he won't be with the Rangers for the entire season, but he will be making contributions wherever he goes.
American League Starting Pitcher: Jered Weaver
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Looking back over performances over the month of April, was there any other option?
Jered Weaver took the American League by storm through the first month of the season and is a huge part of the reason that the Los Angeles Angels sit tied atop the American League West with the Texas Rangers early in the year. With pin-point control, he shut down the opposition, posting a record of 6-0 with an ERA of just 0.99 (2.12 FIP).
The rest of his numbers are just flat out incredible. In the month of April alone, Weaver logged 45.1 innings. The only pitchers to log more innings were Roy Halladay and James Shields. He struck out more than nine batters per nine innings while walking less than two, and he surrendered just a pair of home runs.
While May hasn't been as kind to Weaver, I think it's hard not to choose him as an early favorite for American League Cy Young. If the Angels were to make the postseason, it'd have been because they were carried by he and Dan Haren.
American League Closer: Mariano Rivera
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Yes, he's blown two saves to start the season, but even the best in baseball have off days. Mariano Rivera is the best in the world at what he does, and he's had plenty of opportunities to start the season. Through the month of April, Rivera logged 12.2 innings for the New York Yankees, posting a record of 1-0 to go with an ERA of just 2.13 (1.87 FIP).
Over that span of time, he converted nine saves for the Yanks', striking out more than seven batters per nine innings and walking less than two. He hasn't allowed a home run, and his cutter is just as nasty as it ever was. In short, even with two blown saves in a month, Rivera is the best in the game.
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