MLB Showdown Cards

MLB Showdown: Corner Outfield 390 points and less

           Corner outfield is a diverse group with lots of young talent. The 390 point cap also lets us focus on some guys who normally wouldn’t get any love. Josh Willingham clubbed 35 homers and 30 doubles for the Twins in a very underrated season. Justin Upton had a bad year by his standard which is still pretty darn good for most players with 17 homers, 4 triples and 24 doubles with 17 steals. Diamondbacks would like more than that but still productive. Josh Reddick was the surprise with 32 homers last year after being a reserve for the Red Sox the year before.

               Obviously under 390 points is going to buy you a flawed power hitter but there are some here. Willingham at 390 points as a 9, 18-20 HR, 16-17 2B with speed B (13) is a tweener here. Not a true power hitter but he is likely the best all-around 5-6 hitter you will find. I like Beltran as a 6 hitter for 300 points as an 8, 18-20 HR, 16-17 2B with B (17) speed. The extra double and lower speed for 10 more points by Ludwick doesn’t do it for me. Jay Bruce at a 7, 16-20 HR, 15 3B, 12-14 2B with B (15) speed for 330 points is expensive. Too many extra base hits, but he will scare low control pitchers. I like him more than Reddick as a 6, 16-20 HR, 15 3B, 12-14 2B for 280 points. All flawed players but that comes with the territory. Next week will be more exciting.

               I think the Moneyballers are going  to like David Murphy. For 370 points to gets a 10, 20 HR, 19 3B, 17-18 2B with speed B (17). This guy may go as a 3 or 4 hitter to some Pingers. He is too cheap to not be on someone’s team. The dream player for the Pingers is Nick Markakis as the traditional 9, speed B(15), 20 HR, 19 2B, 17-18 2B for 250 points. Alex Gordon for 20 more points has 2 more doubles. Don’t be surprised to see both of them make up the corners of a very unexciting line-up. Torii Hunter has the 20 HR, 18-19 2B for 240 points. Too many options for the Pingers for my liking. Moneyballers may want Juan Pierre as a 7-8 hitter for 100 points as a 8, 20 3B with A(22) speed. Not that they will use him for that but nice to have.

               Small Ballers are going to fight for Pierre more though since Revere, the next closest player has 1 more triple, same speed, for 70 more points. Andy Dirks is not a real productive player but may get some love. He is a 9, 20 HR, 18-19 3B, 16-17 2B with speed A(18) for 380 points. His best part is his 1-2 out. I think Jason Heyward as an 8, 18-20 HR, 17 3B, 14-16 2B, 13 1B+ with A(19). He can bat as a 3 or 5 hitter likely. Not a lot of great picks here but some useful players.