MLB Showdown Cards

MLB Showdown 2011: Corner Outfield

Corner outfield has been a transition position over the last 5 years. The dinosaurs who lumber in the outfield so they can swing the lumber in the box are near extinct. The league MVP put himself in the astrick club while clubbing a 33/33 season. Let me come out and say MLB showdown does not support the use of substances that MLB and Surgeon General do not deem appropriate. That being said, showdown has always been a fan of pure statistics. The MVP compiled plenty of those. Carlos Beltran was a hot commodity by a playoff contender for the second time. The giants were not as fortunate as the Astros were. Nelly Cruz had a fantastic play off run. Jayson Heyward had a sizable sophmore slump. Carl Crawford had an amazingly bad year for his new team. The potential is out there in the future for Mike Stanton, LoMo, Desmond Jennings, Brennan Boesch and other young players is there. Will they up the standard in 2012? time will tell.

Remember the days of Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Manny Ramirez roaming the corner outfields for your showdown team. Those days are not today. The game has become more athletic and less powerful. You can hardly find a speed C in the corners any more. There are only 3 players with good power this year. The Hebrew Hammer, Ryan Braun had a fantastic year yielding a 570 points 10, speed A with a 19-20 homer. He has more extra base hits then most traditional power hitters enjoy. He can bat third. If you some how find power elsewhere he can even bat second for really deep pocketed players. You have to run a hybrid line up with him and Kemp/Granderson/Ellsbury and figure it out. . Take him in the 2-4 range if you like him. A side kick to that line up is Justin Upton. 470 point 9, speed A, 18-20 is no slouch. Bat him second or fifth in that fictional line up. The odd one out of this mix is Mike Stanton. The showdown world is excited for this cat. For right now the kid is an 8, speed B, 17-20 player. He can bat 5 or even 6 for the richest offensive owners.

For my friends who would rather have the desire long line ups over long balls there are some players. Andre Ethier is the traditional late line up player that is sought after. 240 point, speed B, +2 outfielder. He can bat 2,5,6 or 7. Markakis, Joyce and Boesch are solid 5,6,7 players as well. It is an odd bunch to try and find spots for these guys. They are 10-15 round players but someone may cheat and take them a hair early. The extra athletisism hurts these guys because there are a lot more speed A's. Money Ballers have a gold mine. Nick Swisher a great money ball player traditionally answered the bill. 350 point for a 10, speed B. His +0 fielding will hurt depending on your league rules for outfield throws. He is a 6-10 round player who may be worth more to pure Money Ballers. Alex Gordon is a much more well rounded player for 40 points more. The triple may serve as artificial power. He could even bat fourth in some situations. I can imagine some Headley/ Kotchman/ Gordon 1/2/3 line ups being created. Gag me with a spoon with all those walks but it is a solid strategy. Matt Holliday may be a 4 hitter for these players in the 11-15 range. If you liked him in 09 and 10 then you will like him this year. He is nearly identical to those 2 years.

Small ballers benefit from the jump in league wide athleticism. Braun and Upton can easily bat 4. Those hybrid line ups may jump his value. Hunter Pence and Cargo are good, not great for these players. Desmond Jennings is an entertaining 2 batter who can really do some good things. 350 point player who has a lot of ways to get himself into scoring position. 10-15 round player. Cheap steals may come with a familiar name with Eric Young jr. His dad may have provided cheap steals for you in years past. There may be the chance to get a player who played against EY, Bobby Abrue has finally lost enough power to be just a pure base stealer in showdown. These guys are 16-20 round players.

Corner outfield is usually a gold mine for cheap productive players. Sam Fuld is a 10 point pinch runner with a league high 23 speed. Ichiro for 8 points is a 22 speed and a +2 fielder. Juan Rivera gives a 7 hitter for 8 points with the discount. Fukudome is a nice 8 hitter option for 26 points with the discount. Fred Lewis is a great deal for 18 point speed A who is a 7. There are 4 players who cost 2 points with the discount here. Do not reach if you are cheap. There are options.