MLB Showdown Cards

 MLB Showdown Time Machine: Second Base 

Jeff Kent: Remembered by many for his altercation with Barry Bonds in the dug out when Barry Bonds was at his apex. Others remember him as the guy who looked like your red neck uncle at the gun range. This was a guy who could swing the stick. He was like having two first basemen out there offensively and defensively often. He had 33 homers with 7 triples and 41 doubles in 2000. The guy will fall short of the Hall of Fame and should but remember he was maybe the best hitting second basemen of a generation. This guy was a 10 on base for 580 points, 18-20 homer, 17 3B, 15-16 2B with a 14 single+, 9 or higher for a walk. The guy was runs. He fielded for +2 and was a speed B. Made a lot of showdown all star teams. 

Terry Shumpert: From one of the most consistent players of the era to the pinch runner who got a freak card. Terry Shumpert's 10 home runs in 262 at bats were pretty average in that time. He did steal all 14 bases he attempted. He had 26 doubles which would be just just short of 50 in a full season or so. What happened was he got an OBP of .413. He got the 10 which he would not get in our current system due to at bat minimums. Because that was not in place his pro rated stats yielded a 10, speed A, 19-20 homer, 15-18 double with a single+ for 560 points. His +4 fielding made him an elite player for a second basemen. Not bad for a guy who would finish his career with 49 home runs and less then 500 career hits. 

 

Edgardo Alfonzo: Making the cover of Sports Illustrated with his other infield mates was Edgardo Alfonzo. The question on the cover was “best infield all ever?”. That is a debate for another day. In the showdown world the 2000 Mets had a perfect 14 infield score matched only by the 2010 Yankees. Edgardo Alfonso had one of the few +5 fielding cards in the game. Unless you wanted to bat with Pokey Reese (who is one of the great fielders all time at the middle infield) then fielding gurus were stuck with Edgardo Alfonzo. There are worse fates in the world. For 350 points you got a 9, speed B, 19-20 homer, 17-18 2B. In draft leagues this guy is what we call a “problem solver”. He is a top 10 pick in a league where every card is available. The card is that good. He fits every line up. He fits every budget. He can bat 7 if you want to hit the cover off the ball. He can bat fourth if you are tighter then a drum. I can not say enough about this card. 

Jay Bell: I have no idea where Jay Bell came from or where he went after this card. The guy had 195 home runs on the career and 38 of them were in 1999. For an 18 year career that means he averaged less then 10 every other year. Some will say injuries. Others wills say...let us just leave it at everyone agrees with injuries for now. All that to say the guy had a great year for a second basemen. He got a 9, 18-20 homer, 17 3B, 15-16 2B and +2 fielding. He can mash for 410 points he is a steal. You do not pay for the speed of most second basemen. Bell enjoyed his 2000 World Series with the Diamond Backs and enjoys a spot on many power hitting line ups today in Showdown. 

Roberto Alomar: Kids prepare for a history lesson. There was a day when Roberto Alomar was viewed as a five tool player potentially superior to Alex Rodriguez. He had the pedigree. He stole bases in a time when few people not named Rickey Henderson stole bases. He won World Series with the Blue Jays. He played a great second base. He earned his 560 point 10, speed A, 19-20 homer card much more then Shumpert did. His career took a sharp decline when he went to the Mets (which was a common trend for players in the early 2000's). He never did become the player he was in 1999-2001 ever again. Those who did watch him, besides that poor umpire his spat in the face of, will say he was a joy to watch.