MLB Showdown Cards

MLB Showdown 2011 Time Machine: Third base

Bill Mueller 00 I will start by saying Wade Boggs career deserves this spot more then Bill Muellers. They are the same points and on-base. Mueller will be remembered for that great 2003 season which won him a batting title batting eighth for one of the better offensive teams every assembled. In 1999 he was a slap hitting third basemen who had a .388 OBP. His 00 card is one of the great cheap On-Base cards in showdown history. At a position that is traditionally pretty expensive to hit at he gives you a 9 speed B for 220 points. Granted he doesn't homer and takes a 12 to get a single. He won't drive in a bunch of runs but he will get on base for cheap. His +3 fielding is what really puts his card well above Wade Boggs.

Jeff Cirillo 00 The upgrade to Bill Mueller was Jeff Cirillo. The man lived with a consecutive errorless game streak. There seemed to be a lot of line ups where he made sense to people. For a 10, 20 HR, 18-19 2B and only needing a 10 or higher to single he had a good card. Throw in the speed B and +3 fielding for 370 points you had a deal who solved more problems then he caused. He would go on to Colorado and have a little more success offensively. The 2000 Pennant Run would allow you to pay 20 points more for almost the same player.

Troy Glaus 01 One of the most talented players of the era by many who watched him. He could fielding being a shortstop at UCLA. He was a stacked 6'5”. In 2000 he would club 47 homers and draw over 100 walks. That amounted to a 440 point 9, speed B with a 17-20 homer. 1-3 out and 12 or higher for a single. Power hitting managers dream. His +2 fielding was nothing to scoff at. He could bat 5 in a power hitting line up and do plenty of good things. Sad to see such a promising career come up short with so many chronic injuries.

Scott Rolen 00 The best third basemen every made for the points. 9, speed B with the 17-20 HR and 15-16 2B like Glaus. Fields at a +3 instead of Troy's +2. For 20 points more is that worth it? I would say yes. Those who disagree with me and go with Glaus I understand that as well. Rolen allows for a lot more creative options. Not that this counts for anything but Rolen was one of if not the best fielding third basemen of all time. The starter on the no salary cap All Star team of showdown is …

Chipper Jones 00 The 610 point 10 speed A, 18-20 HR, 16-17 2B with a +2 fielding. I don't think he is worth the points in a salary cap league. The card is just impressive though with no restrictions. He can run. He switch hits. He fields well enough. The impressive thing about Chipper is just how great his career was though. He is the best switch hitter in a generation unless you are related to Bernie Williams for Lance Berkman. He played for a lot of winning teams. You critics who hold the Braves lack of World Series success are out there, I know. He amazingly statistically looks like the same player left handed and right handed. I can't think of a switch hitter with as much success who didn't have a “power side” and an “average side”. It will be a sad day when he retires.